Beauty and recovery are two important aspects of our lives that might require some extra effort to make time for self-care. You see without self-care we will not be able to relax and recover nor feel true beauty from within. Interestingly, it’s also often the little adjustments that have the most pleasing outcomes. There is a lot of existing information available which points to the health and beauty benefits of having regular Epsom salt baths. It makes sense since the sea is full of it and so are our bodies.
We find salt in most living things including our food and bodies. That’s most likely why it’s also so versatile to use in beauty products and as an antiseptic, preservative, cleanser, and healing resource. We use salt for many different reasons knowing very well that it can help to dry things out, but also help hold moisture in. For example, in hair products, salt builds texture to give you beachy waves. Or in body scrubs, it exfoliates and purifies the skin. And then in bath soaks, salt helps relax both the body and spirit. It can supposedly help combat the drying effects of hot water on the skin. Or so we are told by many different people in the wellness industry. But do Epsom salts really improve our beauty and physical wellbeing?
Let’s take a closer look.
Beauty and Recovery Tricks
The question we have today is whether taking regular Epsom salts baths actually works.
Apparently, just one cup or two of Epsom salt in a bath can help relieve pain, especially muscle pain from over-exerting yourself. You might be experiencing conditions like myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia or a minor injury like a muscle strain and tendinitis. Epsom salts are said to be brilliant at improving any kind of pain and promoting recovery. This is because of the high magnesium content in Epsom salts. In fact, they could even be better than taking magnesium pills. Although there’s no such thing as a ‘detox.’ The Epsom salt bath comes pretty close to a beauty and recovery detox.
If you type Epsom salts into Google right now. You will see thousands of people stating that they’ve experienced massive benefits from taking these baths. Just take a look at the packaging. You’ll see that the instructions suggest dissolving 1-2 cups in a hot bath. This will then produce a mineral water treatment to aid in the relief of muscular aches and pains.
Not All Salts For Beauty And Recovery Are Equal
You can’t just use any old salts since they’re all treated differently when produced. Some are treated with added chemicals, and we don’t see that being an effective beauty treatment. You need to use clean salts. Apparently, the best clean salts have additional benefits, from essential minerals to nutrients leached from the sea. Epsom salts get their name from the British town they’re found in. You can use different kinds of salts for different health or beauty reasons. The point is that you need to ensure you’re using high-quality salts only.
Whether it’s more restful sleep, smoother skin, or a tastier rice bowl, high-quality salt plays an amazingly beneficial role in our lives.
What Are Epsom Salts?
Before we get into the research about these beauty salts. Let’s chat about what they really are. Many people have no clue what Epsom salts are.
Epsom salt is a pure mineral compound made of magnesium and sulfate. This is amazing for muscle recovery because this mineral performs multiple functions in the body. It’s also a key electrolyte involved in your muscles. Ever experienced muscle cramps at night? This is quite a common deficiency. Sulfates are essential to the production of protein in joint tissues. This might explain why Epsom salts can assist in relieving muscle tension or joint pain. And you know what? When you’re relaxed that’s when you feel a sense of beauty inside and out.
There is no concrete scientific research to prove that you can improve muscle recovery and soreness by taking Epsom salt baths. However, we can’t disregard the amount of anecdotal information out there, including the fact that it’s been used in the naturopathic realms for years. This study was done by Pain Science and clearly demonstrates that there isn’t any real science to back the use of Epsom salts for beauty promotion and muscle recovery. However, it does give credit to the fact that many wellness therapists make use of it.
You Can Use Epsom Salts At Home For:![beauty with epsom salts [longevity live]](https://imagedelivery.net/HAvMvOPTyLdpmveDzqzNvg/c2d617c6-149f-4863-6f2b-c59819a1dd00/w=213,h=320)
- Arthritis pain and swelling
- Bruises and sprains
- Fibromyalgia, a condition that makes your muscles, ligaments, and tendons hurt. It also causes tender points throughout your body.
- Ingrown toenails
- Insomnia
- Psoriasis, a disease that causes red, itchy, scaly skin.
- Sore muscles after working out.
- Soreness from diarrhea during chemotherapy
- Sunburn pain and redness
- Tired, swollen feet
We have room to believe that Epsom salts can help make your skin smoother and more radiant. This is a great beauty hack. All in all, there are so many ‘folk’ remedy claims and very few scientific studies. However, it certainly won’t hurt you to try taking a bath with Epsom salts. You’ve got nothing to lose and if the claims are true then you’ve got nothing but beauty and recovery benefits.
While there are plenty of folk remedy claims, there aren’t a lot of studies to back them up. However, taking this type of bath won’t hurt you, and it’s worth a try especially since so many people are discovering the benefits.
Beauty For Your Soul
Three Ways To Use Epsom Salts
- Add Epsom Salts & Lavender Oil to your bath and enjoy a relaxing soak.
- Foot soak: add ½ cup of Epsom salts to a large pan or bucket of warm water. Soak your feet for as long as desired, rinse then dry.
- Skin exfoliator: massage handfuls of Epsom salts over your wet skin in a circular motion. Rinse off in a shower or bath.
If you are unsure about the effect on your body then you can always chat with your doctor first. But as far as we know, there are very few risks to report.
Bottom Line
Epsom salts are not a beauty or muscle recovery or ‘detox’ miracle. However, there is evidence that it’s still possible that we are a living experiment in absorbing magnesium sulfate ions every time we bathe in dissolved Epsom salts! So it’s possible that Epsom salts might do something worthwhile once they get past the skin. Better yet, they’re very cheap, and almost certainly safe. Just don’t fool yourself into thinking that you’re getting some kind of miracle cure out of Epsom salt baths.
So, why not? There’s no doubt that they’ll make your bath feel silkier! You could be getting some of those supposed magnesium and sulfate ions and their ‘healing beauty powers.’ It’s not impossible. Just don’t let yourself buy into all the nonsense about osmosis and detoxification. We always say it’s wise to keep an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.
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References
The Beauty Benefits of Salt (They May Surprise You!). GOOP. https://goop.com/beauty/bath-body/the-beauty-benefits-of-salt-they-may-surprise-you/
Does Epsom Salt Work? Pain Science. https://www.painscience.com/articles/epsom-salts.php
Our Top Reasons to relax with Epsom salts. The Source Bulk Foods. https://thesourcebulkfoods.com.au/blog/our-top-reasons-to-relax-with-epsom-salts/
Why Take an Epsom Salt Bath? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/epsom-salt-bath
