The Many Benefits of Epsom Salt
General Information, Related Research, Conventional & Holistic Treatment Options as well as Disease Prevention
The following information is for educational purposes and is not meant to treat or prescribe. GreenAndHealthy.Info is sharing what others have told us has worked for them as they pursue health for themselves, their pets and their plants.
⚠️ Important Precautions!
According to the National Academy of Sciences, most Americans are magnesium deficient, which helps account for high rates of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, digestive maladies, stress-related illnesses, chronic fatigue and other ailments.
Americans' magnesium levels have dropped by half in the last century due to changes in agriculture and diet. Industrial farming has depleted magnesium from soil, and the modern American diet with its fat, sugar, salt and protein actually speeds up magnesium depletion from our bodies.
Health Benefits of Epsom Salt
Magnesium Sulfate Properties
Epsom Salt is magnesium sulfate. It offers one of the most effective means of making the magnesium your body needs readily available.
Excess adrenaline and stress drain magnesium from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical that creates feelings of well-being and relaxation.
Heart & Circulatory Health
Researchers report that raising magnesium levels may:
- Improve heart and circulatory health
- Reduce irregular heartbeats
- Prevent hardening of the arteries
- Reduce blood clots and lower blood pressure
- Improve the body's ability to use insulin, reducing diabetes incidence
Nerve Function
Epsom Salt improves nerve function by regulating electrolytes. Calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
Sulfate Benefits
Epsom salt delivers sulfates, which are extremely difficult to get through food but readily absorb through the skin.
Medical research indicates sulfates are needed for brain tissue formation, joint proteins, and mucin proteins that line digestive tract walls. They also stimulate the pancreas to generate digestive enzymes and help detoxify medicines and environmental contaminants.
Gout Relief
Ease gout discomfort and reduce inflammation by adding 2-3 teaspoons of Epsom salts to a footbath. Use water as hot as comfortable and soak the affected foot/joint for about 30 minutes.
Usage Methods
🛁 Detox Baths
Standard Bath:
Add 2 cups Epsom Salt to warm water. Double for oversized tubs. Add ½ cup olive oil for moisturizing.
Instructions:
- Bathe 3x weekly, soaking 12+ minutes
- Don't use soap (interferes with salt action)
- Rest 2 hours afterwards
- Move arthritic joints after bathing
Foot Bath:
Add 1 cup Epsom Salt to warm water for aching feet relief.
💄 Beauty Applications
Hair Treatment:
Combine equal parts deep conditioner and Epsom salt. Warm mixture, apply to hair for 20 minutes, then rinse.
Facial Cleanser:
Add Epsom Salt to favorite face cream. Massage into skin and rinse with cold water for exfoliation.
Foot Care:
Soak feet in ½ cup Epsom salts + warm water for 20 minutes. Use pumice stone for calluses, then moisturize with natural oils.
🌿 Detoxification
Internal Use: Acts as colon cleansing detoxifying agent.
External Use: Bath draws toxins and heavy metals from cells through reverse osmosis, easing muscle pain and eliminating harmful substances.
Your skin is highly porous. Adding minerals to bathwater triggers reverse osmosis, pulling salt and harmful toxins from your body.
🐛 Natural Pest Control
Garden Use: Use on lawn and garden to safely eliminate plant pests.
Insect Spray: Effective against Mexican bean beetles and wheat wireworms when mixed with water.
Non-toxic Formula: Bran (60-65%) + molasses (15%) + Epsom salt (20-25%) + water. Safer than arsenic-based baits.
Special Applications
Lice Treatment
Make paste with warm water and Epsom Salt. Rub through scalp and hair shaft, working strands between fingers.
Rinse with hottest tolerable water, apply conditioner, comb with fine-tooth comb. Repeat as necessary - non-toxic formula allows frequent use.
Morgellons Disease Protocol
Solution: Fill pint bottle with 2 inches Epsom salt, add water, shake until dissolved.
Application: Shower with Dawn dish soap, pour salt solution head to toe, blow dry (don't towel dry).
Success Story: User reported first relief in 2 years after 3 nights of treatment. Continue for 3 months after symptoms stop.
Also effective for mites. Clean/disinfect brushes and combs.
⚠️ Important Safety Information
Contraindications
- Do not use if pregnant or allergic to sulfur
- Contraindicated for cardiovascular or high blood pressure conditions
- Do not use with kidney disease
- Consult physician if diabetic, thyroid, or adrenal issues
Hypermagnesemia Risk
Potentially lethal condition affecting 5.7% of hospital patients. Risk factors include:
- Kidney insufficiency (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min)
- Excessive magnesium intake from antacids, laxatives
- Other conditions: rhabdomyolysis, tumor lysis syndrome, adrenal/thyroid issues
Symptoms by Magnesium Level
3-4 mEq/L: Nausea, vomiting, feeling hot
4-6 mEq/L: Lost reflexes, ECG changes
6-10 mEq/L: Hypotension, bradycardia
10-15 mEq/L: Heart block, respiratory depression, coma
>15 mEq/L: Cardiac arrest risk
🩺 Always discuss use and application with your doctor before starting any Epsom salt regimen.