Epsom Salt - Analysis and Buying Guide - 2023
If you're ready to try it for yourself, you won't be disappointed with our trusty Epsom salts. Not sure if these products are right for you? Read on for our detailed guide to everything you need to know about these multifaceted and powerful salts.
What is Epsom Salt?
Epsom salt is a mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate (which is a combination of sulfur and oxygen). Although its translucent crystals closely resemble table salt, table salt is an entirely different compound (sodium chloride to be exact). It is slightly more powdery and can clump if exposed to moisture. Epsom salt was originally distilled from the mineral water of Epsom, England, and is now largely extracted.
Epsom Salt Uses
The most common use of Epsom salts is in baths. Typically one to two cups are added to hot or lukewarm bath water. The granules will dissolve naturally, although it helps to sprinkle them evenly around the tub as it fills to ensure it spreads evenly and dissolves into the water.
It is normally recommended to soak for at least 20 minutes, with 40 minutes being the optimal time to reap the health benefits. When you soak in an Epsom salt bath, the compound's magnesium and sulfate can be absorbed through your skin. Magnesium is an important nutrient for the body that is in charge of more than 300 enzymes and in which many people are deficient.
A magnesium deficiency contributes to our stress reactions and can lead to heart problems, hyperactivity, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases. If you don't want to take magnesium supplements, which can have side effects (particularly gastrointestinal), Epsom salt baths can increase levels by up to 35 percent.
Magnesium also acts as a muscle relaxant and relieves stress, so taking an Epsom salt bath before bed also helps you sleep. Magnesium can also reduce inflammation, and arthritis sufferers especially benefit from Epsom salt baths to ease the pain of inflamed joints.
The sulfate in Epsom salt helps the body detoxify itself and is a very popular ingredient in detox bath remedies. Some alternative health practitioners claim that this mineral, along with magnesium, triggers a kind of reverse osmosis that draws toxins out of the body when soaked long enough.
- Feet Get Wet
Another common use for Epsom salt is as a foot soak. Half a cup of the compound is added to a large pot of hot water in which the bare feet are immersed. This provides relaxation, especially at night, and relieves pain in sore feet. It can be a good self-care practice, especially for diabetics, as it reduces inflammation and helps manage foot care.
- Internal U
Under the supervision of a physician or licensed health care professional, ingestion of small amounts of Epsom salt dissolved in warm water may help constipation by providing a laxative effect by increasing water in the intestines and cleansing the colon. A bowel movement of 30 minutes to 6 hours within consumption is expected.
- Skin Care
For itchy skin, sunburn, or insect bites, Epsom salt is used topically in DIY remedies. Dissolve a tablespoon of Epsom salt in the water in a spray bottle. Spray onto skin as needed. Using less water can also create a paste, which can be rubbed into the muscles to relieve pain (although it will leave a chalky, salty residue until washed off).
- Gardening
For organic gardening, Epsom salt is a cheap solution. Rather than a chemical fertilizer, Epsom salt has been used for generations to help encourage plant growth, making your plants bushier and enhancing blooms, especially when the soil's magnesium content is deficient.
Dissolve two tablespoons of unscented Epsom salts in a gallon of water and water your plants once or twice a month with this solution. Roses, tomatoes and peppers are plants that require a lot of magnesium and could benefit from Epsom salts.
To prevent slugs from eating your plants, sprinkle your walkways with Epsom salts for a non-chemical slug solution. Again, unscented is best for outside use.
Considerations
Ready to buy? First, consider the following.
- Quantity :
Epsom salts come in resealable bags by the pound, from one to six pounds. The package usually has a ziplock bag type closure to ensure closure and prevent moisture. Larger quantities, such as 19, 25 or 50 pound bags, are also available to the general public. Ordering the largest bag is inexpensive and makes sense if you know you'll be using a lot, but they're heavy and bulky.
- Grades :
There are two grades of Epsom salts — USP and agricultural grade. USP is tested for quality and safety for use in personal care and consumption. Agricultural grade — also known as industrial or technical grade — doesn't have to pass as strict regulations and may contain impurities.
- Crystal/Granule Size :
Epsom salt sold for personal care tends to have larger crystals or granules than table salt. The size of the granules varies by manufacturer, but they will all dissolve equally in hot water.
Characteristic
- Aroma/Aromatherapy
They can be added to scented Epsom salts to add a spa experience in the comfort of your own bathtub. Lavender is a popular aroma that induces relaxation. Mint, eucalyptus or menthol is another that revitalizes you and helps cleanse your sinuses. If you are sensitive to fragrance, select products scented with essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances. Pure Epsom salt is unscented.
- Added Ingredients
Additions like shea butter and coconut or avocado oil can be found in some Epsom salts to help moisturize the skin. Baking soda is another added ingredient designed to soak your feet and detoxify them.
Tips
To make it easier to remove a splinter, soak the area with hot water and Epsom salt, which will draw out the splinter.
Store your bag of Epsom salt at room temperature and away from heat and moisture.
If an Epsom salt bath isn't doing the trick for relieving your stress, try floating in a flotation tank. These silent, unlit, "deprivation" tanks contain 800 to 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt dissolved in the water. Many people find this an extremely relaxing, if not profound, experience.
Try Epsom salts as a DIY bathroom tile cleaner by mixing equal parts Epsom salts and liquid dish soap. This solution also works effectively on grout.
Other Products We Consider
One of the purest Epsom salts on the market is SaltWorks Ultra Epsom Premium Epsom Salt. If you prefer the smaller granules, this product offers fine crystals that dissolve quickly in water. It also offers bags of different sizes up to 50 pounds. We love that it's cruelty-free and Kosher, not to mention non-GMO. All in all, this is a very high quality, USP grade Epsom salt.
Value often comes with larger amounts, but who has room to store a 50-pound bag of Epsom salts in their bathroom? That's why we love Solimo Epsom Salt Soaking Aid for its inexpensive 3 and 1.5 pound bags that come in packs. With a choice of lavender or eucalyptus scent, you can reap the relaxing benefits of salts and aromatherapy that'll fill your bathroom sanctuary.