Epsom Salts?
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clicketykeys
Posts: 6,568 Member
Okay, so I hear that soaking in a warm bath with epsom salts is supposed to help sore muscles. But I haven't noticed any difference between that and just soaking in a warm bath without the salts. Is this an old wives' tale? Do I need to dump more salt in the tub? Swirl the water in a counter-clockwise motion? XD
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Replies
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It's the warm bath but having one of those salt lamps in the bathroom will help you align your chakras....or was it balance your chi?0
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I was curious about this the other day, so I tried looking up scientific studies that showed they were beneficial.... but I couldn't really find anything that wasn't anecdotal. The conclusion was more - hey, it can't hurt. I find warm baths feel good for sore muscles regardless.
If anyone else has more info to offer, I'm all ears.0 -
Well, mostly, I ran out. And I forgot to get more when we went grocery shopping. And I'm kind of not feeling like going out on a special trip just for that. (Although I did also forget to get asparagus. And laundry detergent. Sigh.)
Plus if it doesn't really do anything, I don't want to drop money on it cuz I'm cheap like that.2 -
The Epsom salt bath delivers magnesium through your skin. That magnesium help to reduce inflammation and it can act as a muscle relaxant. One cup for a bath that is about six inches deep should be enough. Make sure you stay in for at least 20min.11
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Jtalaskamom wrote: »The Epsom salt bath delivers magnesium through your skin. That magnesium help to reduce inflammation and it can act as a muscle relaxant. One cup for a bath that is about six inches deep should be enough. Make sure you stay in for at least 20min.
That's the claim. Now try finding research to back it up. AFAIK, there's only one small study that has not been reviewed. While I doubt it hurts anything, I also doubt it helps.3 -
Yeah, I think it's an old wives tale. If skin was that permeable, we'd be in trouble (think of all the crap we'd absorb through osmosis - a lotta chemcals floating around in our air).
But I love adding it to my baths because it makes the water feel softer and silkier, and my skin feels nice after. Makes my bath feel a little more Spa-Like. And the scented Epsom Salt smells super nice (I get Lavender).
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You know, when you said that, it reminded me that I might still have some bath oils up in the medicine cabinet. Well, I didn't. But you know what I did find?! Bath salts! WITH LAVENDER AND CHAMOMILE! So, hurray! I'm outta here, y'all!8
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clicketykeys wrote: »You know, when you said that, it reminded me that I might still have some bath oils up in the medicine cabinet. Well, I didn't. But you know what I did find?! Bath salts! WITH LAVENDER AND CHAMOMILE! So, hurray! I'm outta here, y'all!
Please don't eat any faces.11 -
Alluminati wrote: »clicketykeys wrote: »You know, when you said that, it reminded me that I might still have some bath oils up in the medicine cabinet. Well, I didn't. But you know what I did find?! Bath salts! WITH LAVENDER AND CHAMOMILE! So, hurray! I'm outta here, y'all!
Please don't eat any faces.
I find magnesium works for sore muscles. There is a topical spray too but I've never tried it.1 -
Jtalaskamom wrote: »The Epsom salt bath delivers magnesium through your skin. That magnesium help to reduce inflammation and it can act as a muscle relaxant. One cup for a bath that is about six inches deep should be enough. Make sure you stay in for at least 20min.
That's the claim. Now try finding research to back it up. AFAIK, there's only one small study that has not been reviewed. While I doubt it hurts anything, I also doubt it helps.
They helped me during and after my pregnancy. I had some pretty bad hip pain towards the end and taking a bath with Epsom salts helped alleviate that pain so I could sleep. Post delivery my care team made me Epsom salt packs to help treat my post delivery swelling and the swelling was gone within a day.
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Jtalaskamom wrote: »The Epsom salt bath delivers magnesium through your skin. That magnesium help to reduce inflammation and it can act as a muscle relaxant. One cup for a bath that is about six inches deep should be enough. Make sure you stay in for at least 20min.
Citation?
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Radox makes a Muscle soak bath salt with Sage in it... And That one really works for me.
Comes as a bath salt or a liquid version
https://boots.scene7.com/is/image/Boots/10098693?id=QTQau2&fmt=jpg&fit=constrain,1&wid=504&hei=5480 -
sevenofnine01 wrote: »Yeah, I think it's an old wives tale. If skin was that permeable, we'd be in trouble (think of all the crap we'd absorb through osmosis - a lotta chemcals floating around in our air).
But I love adding it to my baths because it makes the water feel softer and silkier, and my skin feels nice after. Makes my bath feel a little more Spa-Like. And the scented Epsom Salt smells super nice (I get Lavender).
Ah, you're skin is permeable4 -
The idea is that the Mg absorbs better through the skin than taken orally. Not sure if there are studies to back this up or not. If nothing else, the warm water feels good.0
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Epsom salts may not be much help in the bath but if you are constipated there is no finer cure on the planet lol. A couple of heaped teaspoons in a glass of warm water drunk down (as fast as possible - the taste is rank), within no time you be an Olympic grade pooper ;-)5
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I remember looking this up some time ago - at the time was interested in magnesium absorption in relation to skin problems (and sleeping) rather than muscle soreness/inflammation. Remember reading that transdermal absorption is better than oral, and that you need to avoid phosphates which bind with magnesium in the body making it less available. From my research at that time, I worked out I needed at least 500g (in a deep bath that I could sink into) for effective absorption and I tend to use up to 1kg which seems a crazy amount but works for me. Afraid this was quite a few years ago so can't remember where I sourced that information.
Anyway, I still do this now about once a month or so plus use occasionally a home made epsom salts based scrub as an exfoliant and pleased to report have had no skin problems since (didn't help with sleep though!). Haven't noticed any effect on muscles, though have only had one salts bath since I started exercising in anger again recently.1 -
Alluminati wrote: »clicketykeys wrote: »You know, when you said that, it reminded me that I might still have some bath oils up in the medicine cabinet. Well, I didn't. But you know what I did find?! Bath salts! WITH LAVENDER AND CHAMOMILE! So, hurray! I'm outta here, y'all!
Please don't eat any faces.
......protein.4 -
Try either the lavender fragrance Epsom salt (Family Dollar) or you can add aromatherapy lavender drops(10),Braggs organic apple cider vinegar(2 cups)to your bath water along with regular Epsom salt and soak. Teally, really works. Also Walmart carries a doctor teas bath soak in liquid or powder. The Epsom salts will also detox your body while soaking.0
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ladarius93 wrote: »Try either the lavender fragrance Epsom salt (Family Dollar) or you can add aromatherapy lavender drops(10),Braggs organic apple cider vinegar(2 cups)to your bath water along with regular Epsom salt and soak. Teally, really works. Also Walmart carries a doctor teas bath soak in liquid or powder. The Epsom salts will also detox your body while soaking.
Detox what? Did you overdose? Get the hospital ASAP.
Show me the research please.1 -
I bought epsom salts in bulk (25kilos for $35 -AUD). I use three heaped cups plus 1 cup bicarb soda in a warm to hot bath, always feels good afterwards, particularly as I have just taken up weights again and doing a personal training session twice a week.1
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