Epsom salt has a number of well being benfits together with ache reduction, constipation remedy in addition to many haircare and skincare makes use of.

Be it ache reduction, skincare, hair care or treating anxiousness and stress, Epsom salt is your one-stop answer. Epsom salt is a mineral compound composed of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen. Due to this fact, it could actually take the type of an efficient tub salt, a well being complement or one thing to loosen up these muscular tissues.

Nonetheless, whereas Epsom salt has a number of well being advantages, it must be used with warning as there are some uncomfortable side effects related to this compound as nicely. Well being Pictures received in contact with dietician Kejal Shah and dermatologist Dr Priyanka Kuri to know how the usage of Epsom salt may also help us, in addition to the uncomfortable side effects related to it.

What’s Epsom salt?

Epsom salt is one other identify for magnesium sulphate. Magnesium is a mineral that we don’t get sufficient of in our every day diets, and therefore, Epsom salt helps us get the required quantity. Whereas it’s chemical in nature, it is rather completely different from the common desk salt that we use every day. In actual fact, it is rather bitter in style and this is the reason most individuals hesitate from including it to meals.

Epsom salt helps relieving constipation. Picture courtesy: Freepik

How does Epsom salt work?

Epsom salt works by being absorbed into the physique or crops and offering magnesium and sulfate ions. “Within the physique, magnesium is important for varied enzymatic reactions and performs a job in nerve and muscle operate, whereas sulfate aids in cleansing processes. Moreover, the presence of those ions may also help to cut back irritation and promote rest when utilized in baths or skincare merchandise,” explains Shah.

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Advantages of Epsom salt

There are a number of advantages related to the usage of epsom salt.

1. Muscle rest

Epsom salt may also help loosen up and soothe sore muscular tissues by growing magnesium ranges within the physique. Magnesium performs a vital position in muscle operate, and its deficiency can contribute to muscle cramps and stress.

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2. Ache reduction

The anti-inflammatory properties of Epsom salt can present reduction from varied kinds of ache, together with muscle aches, joint ache, and complications. It may possibly assist cut back irritation and swellings, selling consolation and assuaging discomfort.

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3. Stress and anxiousness discount

The magnesium in Epsom salt may also help promote rest and quietness. It may possibly assist in decreasing stress ranges and assuaging anxiousness by regulating neurotransmitters that promote rest.

4. Hair and pores and skin advantages

An Epsom salt tub may be soothing, decreasing irritation, and softening your pores and skin. Soaking ft in scorching water with Epsom salt is useful on the subject of treating fungal infections. It may be utilized in dry pores and skin situations like psoriasis and atopic situations. For hair, dissolving Epsom salt in water and utilizing it as a masks could assist take away extra oil and product build-up. You too can create an exfoliating scrub by mixing Epsom salt with a service oil, selling circulation and eradicating useless pores and skin cells.

Are you able to eat Epsom salt?

It’s not beneficial to incorporate Epsom salt in your food plan with out consulting a healthcare skilled. Whereas Epsom salt is used as a laxative, it’s primarily meant for exterior use, equivalent to in baths or skincare merchandise. “If you’re considering of utilizing Epsom salt orally, it’s essential to seek the advice of a health care provider, who can present acceptable steering on dosage and utilization,” says Shah.

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Tips on how to use Epsom salt for pores and skin and hair?

Listed below are some methods to make use of Epsom Salt for pores and skin and hair:

1. Epsom salt tub

In your pores and skin, dissolve Epsom salt in heat bathwater and soak to probably soothe sore muscular tissues, cut back irritation, and soften the pores and skin. In your hair, you can too dissolve Epsom salt in water and use it as a hair masks. This will likely assist take away extra oil and product buildup from the scalp.

2. Exfoliating scrub

Combine Epsom salt with a service oil (like coconut or olive oil) to create an exfoliating scrub. Gently therapeutic massage it onto moist pores and skin to take away useless pores and skin cells and promote circulation. An identical combination may be utilized to the scalp to exfoliate and enhance total scalp well being.

A woman scrubbing her face
Epsom salt can be utilized as an exfoliating scrub as nicely. Picture courtesy: Freepik

3. Hair volumizer

Mix Epsom salt along with your conditioner to create a volumizing hair remedy. Apply this combination to your hair, depart it on for a couple of minutes, after which rinse completely.

What are the uncomfortable side effects of Epsom salt?

Whereas Epsom salt is usually protected for most people, it might trigger uncomfortable side effects in some instances.

1. Diarrhea

Taking Epsom salt orally or in extreme quantities can result in diarrhea because of its laxative impact.

2. Dehydration

Diarrhea attributable to Epsom salt can result in dehydration, particularly if not sufficient fluids are consumed to replenish the misplaced fluids.

3. Pores and skin irritation

Some people could expertise pores and skin irritation or allergic reactions when utilizing Epsom salt in baths or skincare merchandise. It’s advisable to carry out a patch check earlier than making use of it to bigger areas of the pores and skin.

4. Magnesium toxicity

Overuse or extreme ingestion of Epsom salt can result in elevated magnesium ranges within the physique, leading to signs equivalent to nausea, dizziness, low blood stress, and irregular heartbeats.

5. Drug interactions

Epsom salt could work together with sure drugs, equivalent to antibiotics, diuretics, and anticoagulants. You will need to seek the advice of with a healthcare skilled earlier than utilizing Epsom salt if on any remedy.