Epsom Salts….Who Knew?

I wiped out the other day, for no particular reason. Next thing I knew, I was going down. I twisted my ankle and it didn’t initially hurt, but it began to swell. My husband immediately got some ice and we had it on there for a while. Then I mentioned maybe I should soak it in some Epsom Salts, which he said, “Epsom salts aren’t for sprains and swelling.” Well, I always thought they were. So, before a debate broke out, I whipped out my iPhone and did a little Googling.

I came across a website for the Epsom Salt Council. Here’s the link, if you want to check it out for yourself:

Here (and some things I will just copy and paste) is what I found out:

Epsom salt is made up of magnesium and sulfate, which can help improve health in numerous ways. A lack of magnesium—which helps regulate the activity of more than 300 enzymes in the body—can contribute to high blood pressure, hyperactivity, heart problems and other health issues, doctors warn. Sulfate is essential for many biological processes, helping to flush toxins and helping form proteins in joints, brain tissue and mucin proteins.

Interesting, no?

In further researching, the Epsom Salt Council website also offers the following uses:

– Pedicure soak (seems reasonable)

– Exfoliant (interesting, but still reasonable)

– Facial (hmm… more interesting)

– Bath crystals (no brainer)

– Hair volumizer (say what!?!?!) This one I found extra interesting (seeing as I have fine, flat hair). It says to mix equal parts of epsom salts and a warm conditioner – I don’t know if that’s a regular conditioner or a deep conditioner, or maybe either will work. Mix it up, needs to be warm, work it through your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes. I’m sooo tempted to try this one, but I’m afraid it may dry out my hair or strip out the color that is so valiantly hanging onto my gray. If anyone has tried this, pleeeaasse let me know.

– Gardening – There were a number of uses (some of these I may or may not have gotten right off the back of the package). Keeps your lawn green, helps plants absorb the fertilizer you are giving it, good for tomatoes, peppers, roses, house plants. I immediately gave some to all my house plants. Being that it’s January in the Chicagoland area, my garden will have to wait for spring, but watch out when March rolls around!

– Laxative (read the directions and see if you are a candidate, I can’t go recommending that!)

– Soaking for: mild sunburn, stings, poison ivy, sore muscles, splinters, who knew?

The following two I took from the SaltWorks website, where if needed (and I am tempted), I could buy in BULK!

Helps prevent hardening of arteries and blood clots

Epsom salt is believed to improve heart health and help prevent heart disease and strokes by improving blood circulation, lowering blood pressure, protecting the elasticity of arteries, preventing blood clots and reducing the risk of sudden heart attack deaths.

Makes insulin more effective

Proper magnesium and sulfate levels increase the effectiveness of insulin in the body, helping to lower the risk or severity of diabetes.

Seriously, if these things are true, how am I not soaking, scrubbing and slathering myself with this stuff daily?

As for my ankle, it’s bruising, a little scraped up, but fully functioning. So I’m not putting out false information, I did follow the soak with horse liniment (a suggestion from an older country woman who uses it for all her aches and pains, but that’s a story for another day).

Take the beautiful, sparkly salts and soak yourself to good health!