Epsom salts are named as such because they were first discovered in the 17th century near the town of Epsom, England. Though there is scientific evidence supporting many of the health claims behind Epsom salt, and it is approved as a laxative by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there has been little research on Epsom salt as a bath additive.
Composition
Epsom salt is the common name for magnesium sulfate, a crystalline molecule consisting of a sulfur atom, a magnesium atom and four oxygen atoms. According to the Epsom Salt Council, the health benefits of Epsom salt are primarily the result of increasing magnesium levels in the body, an element in which it is claimed 80 percent of Americans are deficient.
Benefits
The Epsom Salt Council claims several benefits from magnesium exposure can be gained by soaking in a bath containing Epsom salt. These include stress relief, flushing toxins, improved circulation and improved utilization of insulin in diabetics. Though how exactly soaking in Epsom salts might provide these benefits is unclear, magnesium itself is recognized as an important element in neurotransmitters and muscle function.
Sulfates
There are also important functions sulfates play in the body, and the Epsom Council claims these can be realized through soaking in Epsom salt baths as well. Like magnesium, sulfates are a crucial part of brain chemistry. They also play an important part in the digestive tract, serving in pancreatic function and in the formation of mucus that protects the stomach and intestines from digestive acids.
Skin Softening
Perhaps most importantly for at least some users, Epsom salts are reported to soften the skin. Unlike sea salt and other salts, Epsom salt washes away completely and does not leave a residue. And though the reason is unexplained, the Epsom Salt Council refers to widespread reports of a skin-softening effect. Nevertheless, if you experience positive results from soaking, that is enough reason to continue.
Detoxification
According to Regeneration Training, the most implausible benefit of soaking in Epsom salt is the purported detoxification. While this claim is ascribed to a wide variety of products, it is actually quite ambiguous and difficult to prove. It is also questionable whether the process of osmosis can raise magnesium or sulfate levels in the body by any significant measure simply by absorption through the skin during a bath. Overall, despite the long history of Epsom salt use in soaking, it remains classified as a folk remedy with little science behinds the claims.
Member Comments