Epsom Salt is used for WHAT???

Lately I’ve been feeling a special kind of sore because I’m doing so many flexibility exercises.  I hurt in muscle groups that I didn’t even know existed.  My dance teacher told me to start soaking in Epsom salt baths.  Ok, no big deal.  Then, after getting in the tub, I read the label on the package:

Epsom salt is used for minor sprains and bruises, as a plant food for bigger, more vigorous plants, and as a laxative?  What the hell was I sitting in?

After my bath my legs felt much better, and I’m also happy to report the contents of my stomach remained intact, and I did not grow any new plant parts.  Whew!  Then I had to Google Epsom salts to see why there are so many varied uses for this thing.

Did you know there is an Epsom Salt Council?  Me neither!  According to the site, “Epsom salt is made up of naturally occurring minerals 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.”

To soothe muscle soreness, add 1-2 cups of the salt to a full bath with warm (not hot) water, and soak for at least 12 minutes…Unless you’re diabetic, have high blood pressure or heart problems; then you need to talk to a doctor first.  (Source: Discovery Health).  Apparently if too much magnesium is absorbed through the skin it can unbalance  blood sugar levels.

What’s the deal about plants?  Apparently, magnesium and sulfur help plants grow greener and produce more blooms.  The Epsom Salt Council says it’s good for lawns, shrubs, roses, tomatoes, peppers and house plants.  Of course I had to look up the dosage for tomatoes.  A fuller rose is great, but I’m more interested in lunch.  “Tomatoes can benefit from Epsom salt every 2 weeks. Apply 1 tablespoon diluted in water per foot of plant height per plant.”   Yum!

And as a laxative?  According to WikiHow, “Magnesium sulfate, the primary ingredient in Epsom salt, is a mineral that occurs naturally in your body. Magnesium is important for several bodily functions: it supports the muscle and nerve systems and increases the amount of water in the intestines, which can stimulate defecation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the oral use of Epsom salt for occasional constipation.”  Of course, you should check with your doctor before using any sort of laxative.

Apparently, you can also use Epsom salts to exfoliate your skin, “volumize” your hair and remove splinters.   And you thought Siri was helpful…

How about you?  Did you ever use this stuff before?

Lisa

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