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If anyone is sick, tired, or has aches, the first thing I will always recommend is an Epsom salt bath.
Every time.
Three times.
When I don’t feel good I easily take a handful of Epsom salt baths within two days, and by day three, well if there are any on day three that’s just an added bonus 😉
When my son was born, he had the cord wrapped around his neck THREE times, making it difficult to push him out and leaving him with tension in his neck, shoulders, and upper back.
Knowing what little I did about Epsom salt then, we were using them in almost all of his baths, mixing in essential oils, and letting the magnesium perform its magic.
The benefits were incredible, not only did it alleviate his tension and tenderness, but it has helped his immune system stay strong, his skin stay extremely resilient, and his sleeping habits regular and peaceful.
If you are a book lover and don’t find scouring the internet the best way to dive into more information and ways to use this incredible resource here are some of the top titles for Epsom salt:
Epsom Salt: 50 Miraculous Benefits, Uses & Natural Remedies for Your Health, Body & Home (Home Remedies, DIY Recipes, Pain Relief, Detox, Natural Beauty, Gardening, Weight Loss)Epsom Salt: 50 Miraculous Benefits, Uses & Natural Remedies for Your Health, Body & Home (Home Remedies, DIY Recipes, Pain Relief, Detox, Natural Beauty, Gardening, Weight Loss)
Epsom Salt Cures: The Healing Powers of Epsom Salts on the Body, Mind, and Soul
Where did Epsom salt come from?
Why, from Epsom, England of course!
The name Epsom didn’t apply to the salt until a scientist named Nehemiah Grew gave a name to the “bitter purging salts” in 1695, but the discovery was made in the summer of 1618.
Here’s more on the story of its discovery, from the Royal Society of Chemistry:
The summer of 1618 saw England gripped by drought, but as Henry Wicker, a local cowherd, walked across Epsom Common he came across a pool of water from which his thirsty cattle refused to drink. The water tasted bitter and on evaporation yielded a salt which had a remarkable effect: it was a laxative. This became the famous Epsom’s salts (magnesium sulfate, MgSO4) and a treatment for constipation for the next 350 years.
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-brief-history-of-epsom-salt-242655
Cows! So neat. Wicker also realized that the cows who walked in the pool, their injuries healed more quickly.
People came from far and wide to experience the healing power of the “bitter purging (laxative) water”.
Epsom salt is not actually salt
It is a mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate, both of which the body (especially today) is in desperate need of.
In Western cultures, we have a SIGNIFICANT deficiency in magnesium, especially over the last 40 or 50 years, since the soil has been depleted of nutrients, and our diet has gone away from whole foods, whole grains, leafy greens, and nuts.
Recent reports estimate that at least 60% of Americans do not consume the recommended daily amount of Magnesium.
Why magnesium?
Magnesium (Mg(2+)) is an essential ion to the human body, playing an instrumental role in supporting and sustaining health and life.
Only second to potassium, it plays a key role in over 600 enzymatic reactions.
It plays an essential physiological role, particularly in the brain, heart, and skeletal muscles, and supplementation has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of preeclampsia, migraine, depression, coronary artery disease, asthma, and more.
Magnesium has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is why it is sought after for muscle aches and injuries; also why it is my go-to when feeling a little under the weather systemically.
While I have not personally used Epsom salts as a laxative, that is a very powerful usage for them if ingested, and why they say to give constipated babies an Epsom soak. Do NOT let your babies drink Epsom salt water.
A long bath in Epsom salts is also known to have detoxifying effects, as it draws out toxins, heavy metals, and other accumulated substances through the skin.
Make sure to drink extra water before and after your soak, to help to flush everything out, and to of course stay hydrated.
Both magnesium and sulfate have been found to help blood sugar levels by improving not only the utilization of insulin but also its production.
This is super important for those with diabetes to help manage the disease.
Not only that it helps everyone manage their day-to-day levels, which leads to an increase in overall energy and feel-good kickass-ness.
The science isn’t definitive, but that’s not always important
When doing research on the benefits and uses of Epsom salt, I’ve been reading many scientific studies about the actual absorption of magnesium through the skin.
Some studies show the increase of magnesium in both the plasma and the urine after a set of people took baths for a certain period, being tested before and after.
Some studies show that just the act of taking a hot bath will provide the same effects of muscle relief and immune boost.
I include this paragraph to show that I actually do read stuff and am not ignorant of both sides of the coin. 🙂
I’m still pro Epsom salt baby.
Conclusion
Everything in this universe has a basis in intention. Where we focus our attention, our energy flows.
When I create an Epsom salt bath for myself or my son, my intention is powerful.
Start the hot water, pour in the Epsom salt (I pour it in, I don’t measure cups, just dump as much as I feel called to that day), knowing that choosing to add this will help us to feel better, to help restore our bodies from the play of the day.
I also LOVE essential oils. Add a few drops of one or two to some coconut oil and then let it swirl around in the tub.
I will write many articles on essential oils coming up.
Also the significance of ritual baths.
Getting off track.
I’m also a day late getting this out.
I had an Epsom salt soak earlier today, and it was glorious.
Followed by meditation and a nap.
Also, Aaron Rodgers & the Green Bay Packers beat Tom Brady & the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today.
I think it’s been a damn fine Sunday.
Stay lovely friends.
Love and vibes,
Self Adjacent Healing 