From heel to toes, soaking your feet in Epsom salts provides healing benefits. It can hydrate your skin, soothe your muscles and alleviate aches and pains.
- Epsom salts are often used as bath salts for a soaking solution. Epsom salts are distilled from water that has naturally occurring minerals. It is named after the town of Epsom in England about 15 miles from London. Epson salt was discovered in a bitter saline spring. The salts were acquired by boiling down the mineral water of the springs.
- The mineral name for Epson salt is magnesium sulfate heptahydrate. It is economical and can be readily found in drug stores and grocery stores. The salts are often used in bath salts, foot soaks, body scrubs, soaps and aromatherapy products.
A Foot Soak to Soothe Tired Feet
The feet are perhaps the most used and neglected part of the body. Not only do the feet support the whole body but they can have dry skin and feel achy from walking in tight shoes or standing for extended periods of time.
One of the best ways to relax your achy and tired feet is with an Epsom salt foot bath. Fill a small tub with enough warm water to cover your feet up to your ankles and add a half cup of salts. Soak your feet for up to one hour. It will help relieve aches and pains plus reduce stiffness. Moreover, an Epsom salt foot bath will soften the skin and help with foot odors.
What is more, many physicians recommend an Epsom salt foot bath for patients who suffer from diabetes, arthritis and athletic injuries. It helps relieve stress plus relaxes and detoxifies the whole body.
Assist with Anti-Fungal and Anti-Bacterial Issues
The feet absorb a lot of minerals in the salt. It is magnesium sulfate that helps eliminate joint and muscle pain. Epsom salts is also an excellent anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. It can assist with feet and toe fungal problems like athlete’s foot. For people with diabetes, soaking the feet is a significant procedure that helps circulation and heals infections.
For a good exfoliation foot scrub, make a paste by combining a few tablespoons of Epsom salts with water or oil such as grapeseed oil or Jojoba oil. The scrub can help remove bacteria and dead skin cells on the feet. Make sure to do a gently scrub using small salt crystal. Large crystal can scratch the skin. Essential oils can also be added for a more relaxing foot bath. There are numerous essential oils that can be added to a foot bath. Just add a few drops to the water. Popular choices include:
- Juniper berry oil eases muscle aches, including arthritis pain
- Rosemary oil has antiseptic properties and is soothing for tired muscles
Cypress oil is a natural deodorant and antiseptic. A few drops help with foot odor - Cedarwood oil is an anti-fungal and antiseptic. it is a good choice for athlete’s foot
- Lavender oil is a good for relaxation and to relieve pain. It is perfect for sore joints and muscles
- Wintergreen oil is deemed nature’s aspirin. It assists with swelling and pain. It has a cooling sensation that is helpful for tired feet
You can also add a teaspoon of quality oil or whole milk so that the essential oil mixes into the water. After a soak of 10 to 15 minutes, dry odd and avoid an oily residue. Finish the foot bath with a massage. Use lotion to soften calluses and so that the moisture is locked into the skin.
Epsom Salts Are a Healthy Solution for the Body
Minerals from Epsom salts are readily absorbed by the body. Current studies on magnesium sulfate heptahydrate report no negative effects on health. On the other hand, excess use of Epsom foot baths dry and crack the skin on the feet. Recommended use of a foot bath is two to three times a week for intervals of 30 minutes to one hour. People with very dry skin should use less Epsom salts plus massage their feet with olive oil or moisturizer after the feet have been dried. This is a great remedy but if you really want the best of the best then take a quick peek at our Bellezza Signature line.