4 Epsom Salt Benefits: The Best Ways to Use This All-Natural Home Remedy

Epsom salt benefits are widely touted. But did you know that Epsom salt does much more than just soothe sore muscles?

From helping to rid your body of toxins to relieving fatigue, Epsom salt benefits your health in a variety of ways. So, let’s a look at exactly how it supports your health and wellbeing and learn more about how it works.

Keep reading because you could be just a few soaks away from some amazing health benefits and a little much-deserved relaxation!

What is Epsom Salt?

You may be surprised to learn that Epsom salt isn’t exactly a salt in the way you’re used to. While it may look similar to table salt or sea salt, it’s actually very different in terms of its chemical makeup.

Interestingly, Epsom salt is named after a town called Epsom in England, where it was originally found in a spring. The water tasted bitter due to the Epsom salt, which is made up of magnesium, sulfate, and several water molecules.

So, what makes Epsom salt so beneficial for your health? Well, it’s largely due to its magnesium content. One teaspoon of Epsom salt contains about 5 mg of magnesium. [1]

As you may recall, magnesium is responsible for many of your bodily functions—from regulating your heart rate to helping your body eliminate toxins.

In fact, magnesium is an important mineral that has over 800 different essential roles within the body. As a result, your body can’t function without it.

It’s also a co-factor in over 300 enzymes—which means that it is essential for making those enzymes work properly. Basically, any process that requires energy requires magnesium.

And while it’s necessary for many bodily processes, including regulating blood pressure, blood sugar control, and building proteins, an astonishing 45 percent of Americans are estimated to be deficient in this mineral.

Shocking, huh? Given this importance and the fact that Epsom salt serves as a rich source of magnesium, let’s take a look at some of the amazing Epsom salt benefits you can get from using this popular home remedy.

4 Epsom Salt Benefits

Here are four of the top Epsom salt benefits you may want to take advantage of.

1. Helps soothe muscle pain

Arguably the most well-known and well-studied Epsom salt benefit is its ability to help soothe muscle aches and pain. But how does it work?

Well, according to studies and basic body physiology, we know that muscle spasms and cramps are typically due to high calcium levels in relation to the magnesium levels. [2]

Interestingly, one study showed that taking Epsom salt baths is a safe and effective way of increasing the amount of magnesium in your body.

The researchers found that Epsom salt baths increased magnesium levels in the participants’ blood and urine, which helped to ease pain and discomfort throughout their bodies. [3]

Pretty incredible how Epsom salt can help to balance out that mineral status, isn’t it?

2. Supports the body’s stress response

One of my favorite Epsom salt benefits is the way it supports the body’s stress response.

I’ve spent a lot of time talking about sharing how stress is arguably the leading cause of many of today’s modern diseases and poor health states. As a result, it’s more important now than ever to support your body’s ability to handle your stress.

As we’ve discussed, mineral deficiencies and stress fuel each other! When your body is under stress, it tells your kidneys to remove minerals from your system via your urine. This results in your body having lower levels of these health-promoting minerals, such as magnesium.

As magnesium levels drop in your blood, it causes further stress on your body. Why? Well, magnesium is highly involved in producing “calming” neurotransmitters and stress-related hormones used for stress management (such as cortisol).

Without magnesium you can’t properly manage stress. And when you’re stressed, you have lower magnesium levels. It’s a vicious, and far too common, cycle.

Fortunately, studies have shown that Epsom salt can help your body manage stress.

According to a 2018 study, 50 people diagnosed with anxiety and stress-related disorders benefited greatly from floating in Epsom salt water for one hour.

The participants reported significant reductions in stress, muscle tension, pain, depression, and negative affect. They also reported significant improvements in overall mood as well as increases in serenity, relaxation, happiness, and overall wellbeing. [4]

3. Fights fatigue

Due to its high magnesium content, Epsom salt benefits those with fatigue as well.

In fact, studies have shown that people with chronic fatigue who were treated with magnesium reported to have improved energy levels, better emotional states, and less pain. [5]

Meanwhile, one of the first signs of a magnesium deficiency is fatigue, so it stands to reason that increasing your magnesium content would help to fight fatigue and provide more energy throughout the day.

Because Epsom salt soaks are a safe and effective way to increase the magnesium in your body, it stands to reason they’re also a great way to help relieve fatigue.

4. May help draw out toxins

Finally, it’s widely believed that Epsom salt benefits your body by helping to draw out toxins.

And studies have shown that soaking in Epsom salt baths can help to reduce inflammation. [6]

But, once again, it’s the magnesium that’s largely to thank, because it’s known to help break down and eliminate toxins in the body.

Common efforts to detoxify the body include ridding toxins from environmental exposures, general cleansing or preventive measures, or even those resulting from gastrointestinal disorders. [7]

As you can see, you really have nothing to lose from indulging in an Epsom salt bath. So, now let’s take a quick look at how to do just that.

Taking an Epsom Salt Bath

To take advantage of Epsom salt benefits, run some very warm water and add 1 to 2 cups of Epsom salt.

Depending on your desired benefit, you can soak anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. For example, a 15-minute soak will help soothe sore muscles while an hour-long soak will help to relieve stress, anxiety, and fatigue.

You can also take it up a notch and incorporate the relaxing benefits of hygge by lighting candles and playing soft music.

Make it an experience for yourself and use it as an opportunity to disconnect from the world a bit to take full advantage of this chance to relax and support your body’s stress response. Trust me—your body will thank you.

Key Takeaways

• From helping to rid your body of toxins to relieving fatigue, Epsom salt benefits are varied and plentiful.
• Epsom salt is also known as magnesium sulfate, and it’s the magnesium that’s responsible for many of its health benefits.
• Some common Epsom salt uses include soothing sore muscles and detoxifying the body. Meanwhile, other interesting Epsom salt benefits include supporting your body’s stress response and fighting fatigue.