Bath Salts
One of my favorite indulgences is reading a good book while soaking in a warm bath. My favorite bathes include a healthy amount of bath salts and I especially enjoy making my own. I follow a basic recipe of Epsom salt, Dead Sea salt and baking soda. Depending on how I am feeling, whether it be tired, cranky, relaxed, unmotivated, stressed, or anxious – I add correlating essential oils to bring my body back into balance.
Epsom salt is not actually salt but a naturally occurring mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate. Magnesium is the second most abundant element in human cells and helps regulate the body’s enzymes. It also plays an important role in bodily functions such as muscle control, reducing inflammation, elimination of toxins and helps prevent artery hardening among others. Sulfates help improve the absorption of nutrients, flush toxins, and help ease migraine headaches.
How does it work? The theory is that when dissolved in warm water the compound breaks down into magnesium and sulfate and the body is able to easily absorb through your skin. The recommended soaking time is normally around 20 minutes. Just fill a bath tub with warm water, add one to two cups of your bath salts and swirl to dissolve.
Epsom Salts have been used as a naturalistic treatment for:
- Arthritis pain and swelling
- Sore muscles
- Psoriasis
- Sunburn
- Ingrown toenails
- Migraine headaches
- Swollen feet
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Eczema
How are Epson salts different for Dead Sea salts? Both provide nutritive elements through the absorption by the skin. While Epson salts are a compound of magnesium and sulfate, Dead Sea salts contain magnesium, potassium, calcium chloride, sodium and bromide. Additionally, Epson salts while made famous by the mineral baths in Epsom, England, may be derived from a variety of natural sources. However Dead Sea mineral salts must come from the Dead Sea.
For my bath salt recipe I like to use a one to one ration. One part Epson salts to one part Dead Sea salts with 2 teaspoons of Baking soda per cup of salts and about 20-30 drops of essential oils.