Heath and Fitness

Here’s How to Benefit from Epsom Salts.

The healing power of magnesium sulfate based on experience

Purpose of the article

Some minerals are unique and essential for surviving and thriving. Magnesium is one of them.

In this article, I want to introduce Epsom salts, a magnesium sulfate form known as magnesium sulfate. I was surprised that some people haven’t even heard of it. When I mentioned it in my previous articles, some readers asked me how they could obtain it and whether it required a prescription.

I want to provide some helpful information on this essential chemical and highlight the key benefits based on my experience.

Background

People have used Epsom salts since the 17th century. English people named it after the town it was first found. They also call it Epsomite in some publications. The scientific name is magnesium sulfate heptahydrate.

I still remember my science-lover son memorizing the formula MgSO47(H2O) in the first trial of his Epsom salt bath years ago. By the way, sulfate and sulfate are used interchangeably.

They are the same thing. British people prefer using sulfate. More historical and medical background information can be obtained from this credible resource.

My Experience

Discovering the use of Epsom salts in my baths made a positive difference in my physical sensations. More specifically, Epsom salts helped relax my muscles, especially after a workout or a stressful situation.

Adding a few dinner spoons of Epsom salts to warm bath water can yield several benefits. The main benefit I experienced was reducing muscle pain substantially.

Having a bath with Epsom salts also helped me improve my sleep quality by reducing stress.

Magnesium is critical in our lives because our bodies use it for over 300 metabolic and biochemical processes. Magnesium deficiency can cause complications and trigger many ailments.

Nutritionists assert that leafy green vegetables are a good source of magnesium, but due to current soil conditions, having enough magnesium from plants is deemed questionable.

I used to eat many kales, spinach, and other leafy greens to meet my daily recommended dose. However, even though I loved green vegetables dearly, these plants caused autoimmunity and gut issues, so I had to remove them from my diet. As a result, I don’t consume any plant-based foods anymore. You can review my elimination diet from this article.

The best option for me was to supplement magnesium due to its criticality for our bodies. However, the problem with magnesium supplementation is our bodies can tolerate only a minimal amount via the digestive system.

Magnesium in tablet or powder format, usually more than 600 mg, may cause diarrhea. To supplement magnesium orally, I only take 400 mg before going to bed to avoid any digestive problems.

The reason I take it before bed is it helps me sleep better. Based on a review of the literature on magnesium, I believe that my body needed more magnesium to perform better.

In this case, my investigation was on how to consume magnesium optimally using other methods. I discovered that the best option for an adequate amount of magnesium without digestive discomfort was taking magnesium via the skin.

Skin intake of magnesium is where the magic of Epsom salts plays a crucial role. By using this ingredient in our bath or using it as a spray or cream, we can meet our daily magnesium requirements.

Having an Epsom salt bath can be enjoyable for kids. For example, one of my neighbors has several hyperactive kids who don’t want to go to bed on time. After introducing the kids to having a bath with Epsom salts, they stopped resisting going to bed.

As a by-product, I also use Epsom salts to wash my clothes. Many people are using it. You can find several cleaning recipes on the Internet, such as this one.

Conclusions

Apart from peace of mind from getting my minimum amount of magnesium daily, I also experience several noticeable benefits.

Having a bath with Epsom salts an hour before going to bed or applying Epsom salt cream, or spraying water Epsom saltwater provided distinctive benefits.

I felt relaxed and had a great sense of peace with reduced muscle soreness after exercise. My recovery time was shortened. Quality of sleep dramatically increased. I shared my experience in this article by introducing my sleep hacks, including Epsom salts.

One precaution I take related to overall magnesium consumption is the rare case of severe hypermagnesemia. The skin intake of magnesium has a low risk; however, ingesting magnesium orally in large amounts may cause this complicated health situation.

The usual culprit for hypermagnesemia is considered to be kidney failure. 2.6 mg/dL or above the amount of magnesium in the bloodstream is considered hypermagnesemia.

Overdose of magnesium is a rare case, but deficiency is widespread. Nowadays, functional medicine doctors first check about magnesium deficiency. Addressing a deficit can reduce many symptoms.

As confirmed by NIH, “Magnesium is a co-factor in more than 300 enzyme systems that regulate diverse biochemical reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation”.

Due to the mentioned benefits of Epsom salts for many years and overall health performance, I keep it at home and carry the spray and cream forms in my emergency bag as my essential tool.

Epsom salts are also affordable. For example, a kilo costs around six dollars.

Thank you for reading my perspectives.

Disclaimer: Please note that this post does not include health or professional advice. I documented my reviews, observations, experience, and perspectives only to provide information and create awareness.

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About the Author

I am a technologist, postdoctoral researcher, published author, editor, and digital marketing strategist with four decades of industry experience.

I write articles for Medium, News Break, and Vocal Media. On Medium, I established ILLUMINATION, ILLUMINATION-Curated, ILLUMINATION’ S MIRROR, ILLUMINATION Book Chapter, Technology Hits, and SYNERGY publications, supporting 16,500+ writers on Medium.

You can Join my publications requesting access here. I publish my lifestyle, health, and well-being stories on EUPHORIA. I wrote several articles on major diseases and valuable nutrients for health. My focus is on metabolic, cellular, mitochondrial, and mental health.

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