What do aches, pains, and sad-looking lawns have in common?
All these can be alleviated with the use of Epsom salts!
It’s fascinating all the different ways you can use this naturally occurring mineral. Wellness involves a healthy body, mind, and environment, and in this article we’re sharing 25 reasons you should keep Epsom salts around so you can achieve better wellness today.
But first, why Epsom salts?
What Are Epsom Salts, Anyway?
A long time ago, mineral salts were harvested from European bodies of water to use for various things. As the water evaporated, rock-like formations were left behind. These naturally occurring salts were supposedly discovered 400 years ago in a small town called Epsom (1).
What’s the difference between regular salt and Epsom salts? Regular table salt is made from a combination of sodium and chloride, whereas Epsom salts are made from a combination of magnesium, sulfate, and oxygen (2).
How does it work?
When you add a spoonful of Epsom salts to a warm bath, the heat dissolves the salts and releases magnesium and sulfate ions. These are two important nutrients your body needs, and the idea is that you absorb these through your skin (3).
Health Benefits of Epsom Salts
1. Promote Better Sleep
If you struggle to get a good night’s rest, there may be a hormone imbalance between your melatonin and associated neurotransmitters. Magnesium has been shown to help your body produce melatonin naturally (7), making an Epsom salt soak before bed a great way to usher in some quality zzzz’s.
2. Alleviating Migraine Symptoms
People with low levels of magnesium tend to experience more migraine headaches over those with healthy levels (4). Because Epsom salts contain magnesium, bathing may help offer relief.
3. Soothe Muscle Aches
Your muscles use glucose to expand and contract, and magnesium helps your body to use both glucose and lactic acid - what’s produced after muscle use (8). Epsom salt may help exercise recovery and performance.
4. Can Help Relieve Stress
Low magnesium levels have been linked to chronic oxidative stress (6). An Epsom salt soak may improve how well your body handles stress.
5. Helps Promote Regular Bowel Movements
If you often feel backed up or constipated, drinking a solution of Epsom salts in water can help. The magnesium in the salts brings water into your colon, which helps get things moving (5). Only use occasionally.
The rest of these uses are purely anecdotal. Even so, many swear that using Epsom salts makes a positive difference in these areas!
Garden Benefits
6. Nourishes soil
Magnesium helps your plants and flowers look and growth their best. Add about 1 cup of Epsom salts per 100 feet of soil for a natural fertilizer.
7. Gives you greener grass
Add 2 TBSP to a gallon of water and spray your lawn for greener grass. The magnesium and iron add extra nutrients to the soil.
8. Keeps slugs away
Slugs can ruin your gardening efforts. Sprinkling Epsom salts where slugs and snails trail will keep them away.
9. Grow, produce grow!
Adding 1 tsp to a gallon of water can help vegetables like peppers and tomatoes grow extremely well.
10. Deter Foxes and Raccoons
It’s said that these animals don’t like the smell of Epsom salts. Sprinkle some near garbage cans or other areas of concern to keep them away.
Around the House
11. Replaces fabric softeners
Swapping out your chemical fabric softeners of 2 TBLS of Epsom salts will keep your clothes soft.
12. Helps remove burnt food from pans/pots
Sprinkle about ¼ tsp Epsom salts onto dishes to help loosen up hardened food.
13. Make bathroom tiles sparkle
Mixing equal parts dish soap and Epsom salts to get the grime off your bathroom tiles.
14. Give your windows a frosty look
If you’re feeling festive this holiday season, give your windows a frosty look by boiling ½ cup of water, then adding 3 TBS liquid dish soap with 1 cup Epsom salts. Using a sponge, apply mixture to window corners and bottom. Allow to dry and enjoy!
15. Substitute eye rinse
If you suffer from sties or conjunctivas, rinsing in a saline solution of Epsom salts and warm water may provide relief
Other Ways to Use Epsom Salts
16. Reduce arthritic pain and swelling
Soaking sore ankles, wrists, or applying a warm compress of Epsom salts to your knees can help reduce pain and swelling associated with arthritis or joint pain.
17. Cleanse pores
Mix about ½ tsp Epsom salts with your favorite cleansing cream for a refreshing pore-cleaning boost!
18. Exfoliate skin
The rough texture of Epsom salts create a wonderful spa experience, exfoliating dead skin cells and revealing radiant skin.
19. Thicken hair
Warm up equal parts of deep conditioner and Epsom salt in a pan. Work mixture through hair and leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse.
20. Helps extract blackheads
Bring ½ cup of water to a boil. Combine 1 tsp with 3 drops of liquid iodine and add to water. Once cool, apply to blackhead on cotton ball. Repeat 3-4x if necessary.
21. Substitute for Aloe Vera
Mosquito bites, sunburn, or bee stings got you down? Soak a washcloth in cold water mixed with Epsom salts, apply to affected area, and experience relief in no time.
22. Helps remove splinters
Soak affected area in warm water and Epsom salts before extracting. This will help loosen the area and draw out the splinter.
23. Calms itchy skin
Can’t stand hearing your dog scratch? A bath with Epsom salt can help calm and soothe itchy and irritated skin, especially when related to allergies.
24. Extend car battery life
Car battery giving out on you? Mix an ounce of Epsom salts with warm water and apply the paste to each battery cell.
25. Create a homemade face mask
Great for acne, you can mix 1 tsp Epsom salts with 1 egg white, 1 tsp aloe vera, ½ tsp Vitamin B5 powder, 1 tomato, and 2 drops thyme essential oil in a bowl. Apply to face and rinse after 15 minutes.
A Word of Caution
While there are plenty of reasons to use Epsom salts, there are a few reasons not to.
A detoxing bath might sound relaxing, but if you have cuts, burns, or skin rashes, Epsom salts may irritate these sensitive areas and aren’t recommended.
Also, drinking a solution to help stimulate your digestion tract might sound like a quick fix, but taking too much may cause severe diarrhea. If you’re not careful, this could lead to dehydration.
Back to You
Nature is filled with incredible treasures, even if some looks like boring clumps of rock-like substances.
Epsom salts have been used for hundreds of years. This natural compound offers a host of benefits, from health to garden to house and more!
When applying it to your personal health, make sure you only take the recommended amounts. Taking too much can cause adverse side effects.
Have you experienced the wonders of Epsom salts yet? Tell us about it in a comment or email!
References & Disclaimers
1. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/7-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-epsom-salt/
2. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Magnesium-sulfate
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28788060/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31691193/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3348737/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21199787/
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6910806/
8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28846654/
✝✝This noted statement is based on independent research and is not necessarily the opinion of the author