7 Epsom Salt Bath Benefits So Good You’ll Never Want to Get Out of the Tub
Have you forgotten what it feels like to take a bath? I shower in the mornings because I am often in a rush to get out the door – setting aside another half hour to wash my body seems like a waste of time. However, if you’re anything like me, you’re also missing out on a health-generating ritual: soaking up the goodness of Epsom salt bath benefits.
Naturally rich in magnesium and sulfate, Epsom salts are inexpensive and highly beneficial–and as good an excuse as any to get cozy in that tub!
To improve on the Epsom salt bath benefits, add a few drops of your favorite essential oils while drawing the water. Lavender and rose are soothing choices.
7 Epsom Salt Bath Benefits
1. Improves Circulation
Immersion in water is an exercise for the heart, and you don’t have to do much else other than lie there in utter bliss. Water puts pressure on the body and increases the pumping of the heart, which boosts circulation and thus supplies oxygen more efficiently to all of your muscles, tissues, and organs.
2. Calms Muscles
If you exercise regularly (or intensely) and experience pain in the joints, tendons, and muscles, a warm Epsom salt bath can be a welcome addition to your routine. It stimulates blood flow and can help to heal pain and reduce inflammation.
3. Lowers Blood Pressure
A hot bath can lower blood pressure for up to a few hours. By dilating your blood vessels and relaxing your nervous system, you’ll often emerge from a warm or hot bath with a lower heart rate than you normally have. If you have a heart condition, consult your doctor first, as taking a hot bath or dipping into a hot tub can actually be dangerous.
4. Helps You Lose Weight
When the nervous system is relaxed, the body’s cortisol levels drop. When cortisol levels are high, the body actually resists weight loss. Lower cortisol levels are thus ideal for shedding those extra pounds more effectively.
5. Detoxes the Skin
In addition to improving your circulation and making your body more efficient at eliminating wastes, the Epsom salts aid in detoxification. Combine one cup Epsom salt to two cups baking soda and add the mixture while drawing hot bath water. Once the tub is two-thirds full, stop running the water and soak for at least 30 minutes. Epsom salts are highly alkaline and great for pulling toxins from the skin.
6. Gets Rid of Headaches
For most people, the source of headaches is the narrowing of blood vessels in the neck and head. With improved circulation from a bath, blood is able to move more freely throughout the body and thus prevent the onset of headaches.
7. Reduces Stress
A warm Epsom bath relaxes the nervous system and reduces levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Light a candle and bring a book to the occasion for ultimate relaxation!
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