Many Health Benefits of Epsom Salt

I believe Magnesium "Chloride" to be the best commonly used magnesium to use. https://www.health-science-spirit.com/MagChlor.pdf

Epsom Salt Baths: An Old-School Way to Feel Better Fast?

by Steven Wright

Hello MTM ! Sorry about the bold title !

Just finished a quick read of the above and thought I should share it with you.

Useful OR not??

Been fascinated with Magnesium for a long time now.

Such an easy fix for many who are suffering from lots of conditions but possibly too easy to be taken seriously??

Most people are deficient in this stuff anyway.

Not easy to absorb enough into one's body though.

Of course I was immediately drawn to the "Old-School" (and "fast") bit - ha ha!

Regards, Michael

I am thinking about trying Epsom salt, but I have a shower not a bath. I was thinking about soaking a towel in a dissolved solution of water and Epsom salt. and putting in on my skin, leg, stomach. What do you guys think it will work? any other suggestions to get the Epsom salt thru my skin. What about putting this solution on a spay bottle then spraying after shower. Would it irritate my skin?? Thanks!

I believe you can make a "magnesium oil" type solution by just dissolving a small amount of espom salt perhaps a quarter cup with just enough hot water to dissolve the epsom salt crystals. By doing this you will have a solution you can rub on or spray on that should be easily absorbed into the skin. Of course you can buy ready made magnesium chloride oil but it is much more expensive, typically $9-15 for 8oz.

Hello. I am Analia from Argentina but I live now in Wellington, New Zealand. I would like to get some Epsom salt for a liver cleanse, I must take some of that salt with orange and lemon juice, and follow a certain precedimiento. My particular query is Where I can get Epsom salt for oral consumption, here in Wellington?
I hope you can answer me soon. A big hug.

Dear Earthclinic, If you are doing a liver flush cleanse, what is the nutrient that you need to replenish after using the epsom salts? It is Potassium, or Magnesium? I have had difficulty afterward and want to be prepared. Ann

Hi Ash, Some people have 1/2 teaspoon on rising and again in the evening, some take 1 teaspoon on rising (in a glass of water). But always start with a lower dose like 1/4 teaspoon. Epsom Salts can be laxative in larger doses and it varies from person to person. I don't know anyone who takes it in a litre of water but I think start with 1/4 of a teaspoon and build up to 1 teaspoon.

In regards to your high blood pressure magnesium, especially when combined with some potassium, may lower it.

You can also use it in foot baths as there is only a certain amount of magnesium we can absorb orally with epsom salts.

Epsom Salts are magnesium chloride. typically the sodium chloride found in table salt is the problem with high blood pressure due to the irritation it causes in the blood vessels.

Moi...Thanks for your comment but I think, perhaps that you are mistaken. Here is the very last paragraph of Janice's post again:

"I am concerned because I truly LOVE the taste, but I've also been unable to digest food almost from eating way too much and drinking (which I never do) on New Years Day.....and I don't have aches and pains myself but I have a lot of waste I am trying to get rid of, and I went to the bathroom every day at least once until drinking the Epsom Salts.....WHY?"

She is implying that the Epsom salts is causing the constipation which is very unlikely. Also in Janice's post she says that she takes "a few flakes of Epsom Salts in your tea or room temperature water". How much is a few flakes?

As Ted says, Epsom salts can be used in two ways. You can take 1/8 to 1/4 of a teaspoon of Epsom salts in a glass of water frequently to replace electrolytic balance or you can take 1 to 2 teaspoons in half a glass of water, at a much higher concentration, to act as a laxative.

I suspect that Janice was not taking enough Epsom Salts to act as a laxative, which is why I tried to help her by giving the proper laxative amounts.

Esther, what a wise piece of advice for your grandchild's Eczema. Can you tell me what measure of Epsom Salts you used please?

I get eczema from milk and ice cream. It only occurs on my wrists and lower arms where they rest on the desk, or where my watch band is. Not on the topside of my lower arms at all. It started in grade school, and I thought maybe it is a reaction to the soap they cleaned the desks with. Maybe try avoiding milk and ice cream, too.

Eczema is related to Celiac disease. I would do a lot of reading and get on a gluten free diet immediately. A good book is "Breaking the Vicious Cycle-Intestinal Health Thru Diet" by Elaine G. Gottshall

Hi, I read all your comments about eczema and have been battling with it myself for nearly 40 years. Currently I have EXTREME itching all over my body and I just cannot stop scratching - to the point that I look like I've gone ten rounds with Mohammed Ali because of all the bruises from the scratching. Would it be good to take Epsom Salts internally and if so, in what kind of dosage??

Hi, in the countries around here a kind of Epsom salts is sold in small quantities in pharmacies and health shops not for bathing, that they have never heard about but to take internally, mainly to relieve constipation. Whether it works for other ailments I don't know!

Try avoiding dairy to eliminate excema.

It could be tooth fillings. Metals in your system like mercury, copper etc.

If you prefer lotion, Magnesium comes in lotion form, used for eczema. Epsom salt is Magnesium. They are on Amazon.

Try using extra virgin olive oil. I have seen three kids healed from using it and another is much better with less itching and breaking out. She has not been using it but about three weeks but every day her mom reports she is looking and feeling better. It works according to the severity of each person and like all things some may heal or get better sooner than others, but it works for all that I recommended it too.

I have suffered with GH for close to 30yrs. One of the things that has helped stop an outbreak is to soak in a hot bath with epsom salts or other mineral salts. When I feel an outbreak coming I soak in the saltbath and the blisters either do not come out or go directly into the scab phase leaving out the painful part in the middle. I will try cutting out the sugar in my diet.

Using the Ecalyptus oil cures eczema.. Try using it and ou will see the relief.

I saw an article online today about how Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) was used to prevent Cerebral Palsy in babies. Just google "epsom salt" and "Cerebral Palsy" if you are interested to read some of the articles about this. Very interesting. Keep up the GREAT work. I LOVE this site! -Tom

I came to this site, because I use epsom salt and wanted to know what it could do. It cannot cure Cerebral Palsy, and you need to research what it is. It is not something you are born with like down syndrome or hydrocephalus. It is caused by damage to the cerebral and can be caused during birth, which is common, or from an injury later on in life. Which quite common is it caused by the suction cup at birth. Not everything you read on the internet is true.

For decades my wife has taken 5 or 6 400iu Vitamin E tablets before doing unaccustomed exercise, moving, extra gardening, etc. with no stiffness or aches after. If she forgets to take them she has all the normal problems that follow these actions. She then has to take two to three times the dosage several time to get rid of the aches. For some reason I am one of the lucky ones and rarely have any aches following an unaccustomed exercise but the vitamin E works well for her.

For my toenail fungus, I've noticed with various soaking type remedies that the infection actually spreads--too much moisture for me. I was a little skeptical of the epsom salts in very hot water, but nonetheless I purchased the epsom salts and microwaved a couple of cups of water in a bowl. Stirred in the salts and then began dipping my feet in the water. It's too hot for me to leave in for more than a second or two, but it quickly cools down and the feet do get used to the hot water. I just keep dipping a second or two at a time. Normally, when I do use a remedy, I do both my big toenails. But this time, due to my problem with too much moisture, I decided to only treat my toenail with the most stubborn long standing fungus as I didn't want to make my "good" toenail worse. So then a month goes by and I notice that my "bad" toenail is half "pinkish" and I start to wonder why my toenail with the long standing stubborn infection is looking better than the other. Then the lightbulb comes on in my head. I did treat it differently. Then about a week ago, once I realized that it must have been the epsom salts and the very hot water, I did it again, on both feet. Then the next day, I didn't feel very good and I realized that I was probably experiencing the die-off effect, with the fungus releasing their toxins as they're dying. I still am doing multiple (6 or so) remedies, concurrently. In addition, I stopped drinking alcohol and having any sugar--cakes, donuts, candy bars, ice cream, etc. I still do have pasta, potatoes and bread. Since I just did the other toenail only one week ago, I'll still have to wait to see the effects. But I am extremely gratified to see the worse toenail now is half pink with the outer half being brown with white marbling growing out.

Do you still take the ACV, or do you just avoid certain trigger foods?

First, I am thrilled to know there is an option to surgery! I have never done a "flush" and am going to try the epsom salt, olive oil. Any advice? I'll welcome anything that could help me. Without being too obvious, Passing a walnut size stone can't be comfortable. Is it? Thank you.

Melissa:

Hulda Clark's well known procedure detailed is available on http://scribd.com here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/449808/Gallbladder-Liver-Flush
And here ('Recipes' Chapter, P. 552 ):
http://www.scribd.com/doc/24912928/Hulda-Clark-The-Cure-for-All-Diseases-With-Many-Case-Histories-of-Diabetes-High-Blood-Pressure-Seizures-Chronic-Fatigue-Migraines-s-Parkinson

Some people for over a decade have used Citro-Mag instead of Epsom salts, since it tastes better. It's in some sites' instructions. 1 10-oz bottle will easily do for an adult. It is magnesium citrate.
http://www.rougier.com/newEnglish/display_products.asp?sectionid=13&pid=111
It is in fact used medically as a purgative before colonoscopies, etc.

I tried the gallstone cleanse and couldn't believe the amount of "stones" and "gravel" I passed. I showed the stones to my doctor and he agreed that they were indeed gallstones. Then he suggested that another ultrasound be done and whoops! All the original stones were still sloshing around in there. So we sent some "stones" to a lab and the report came back - "These are NOT gallstones". So I have concluded that the ingredients of the cleanse form the stones, with the oil stimulating the gallbladder enough to add bile for the greenish coloring.

S: The method of topical administration is called "poultice" and is effective. You may also use a warm epsom salt footbath w/ good results. Taking magnesium orally would also help. I take a capsule once daily of "triple magnesium" which is 3 different covalent bonds to mag.

Sure. That'll work fine. Never had a shower, but since childhood have had many an Epsom salts compresses. Never known it to irritate skin either. Seems to cool off real fast though, so keep your basin of solution handy. Don't have exact measurements though. I just put in two handfuls or so in a basin of hot water.

Try using a spray bottle with hot epsom salt solution and spray down whole body in the shower.

Any supermarket will have Epsom Salts. If you can't find it there, go to a pharmacy but it is so common, you shouldn't have any trouble.

There are many posts about Epsom Salt Baths. I would like to know the best way to have an Epsom Salt Bath for muscular aches and pains and for High Blood Pressure. I have some questions:

1) How much Epsom Salts do you put into a Small Bath full of water?

2) Is it better to have a Warm, Hot or VERY HOT Bath - Floatation tanks are just warm - 37.9 F?

3) How long should you soak in the Bath -20 Mins- 30 Mins or 1 Hour?

4) How many times a WEEK is it safe to do it - is Daily OK?

5) Are there any side effects?

Many thanks and God Bless,

Ash

Hello,

Epsom baths have eased my muscular aches and pains and I read that taking it internally also works. I am thinking of of taking Epsom Salt in Water to drink daily. How much can I add to a Litre of Water without having any laxative effect?

I also have high blood pressure - are there any side effects?

Thank you for a great web site!

Ash

Maria,

Be careful. My Mom didn't want her doctor to know she had gained weight so took Epsom salts regularly before her appointments. This made her blood pressure go down temporarily and she appeared pink and healthy. But she died of a heart attack due to high blood pressure that no one knew she had.

Epsom Salts and Constipation

I read on Earthclinic about adding a few flakes of Epsom Salts in your tea or room temperture water to relieve aches and pains.....and sent to a friend who's mother and her are in a great deal of pain.....

However as much as I loved the taste of a few flakes of Epsom Salts in room temperature water and drank a few times a day.....I loved the taste and the warmth or sensation it gave me (like a inside body bath)...but I found it quite odd that I didn't go to the bathroom that day, and I believe it may have hindered the working department down there or something. Does it ever do that?

I am concerned because I truly LOVE the taste, but I've also been unable to digest food almost from eating way too much and drinking (which I never do) on New Years Day.....and I don't have aches and pains myself but I have a lot of waste I am trying to get rid of, and I went to the bathroom every day at least once until drinking the Epsom Salts.....WHY??

this is weird because at higher doses epsom salt actually relieves constipation!

i would suggest that you take a higher dose - look on the back of the package - it has directions - and that should help a lot.

also make sure you are drinking water also. it could be that the small amount of the epsom salts have a dehydrating effect.

Hi Janice...I take Epsom Salts also, but I take it as a supplement to support the magnesium requirements in my body and not as a laxative. I take about 1/4 teaspoon Epsom Salts occasionally in a glass of water. This amount in solution will NOT act as a laxative. You would have to increase your dosage from a couple of flakes to considerably more in solution to act as a laxative. Unfortunately I can't tell you the exact dose for Epsom Salt to be used as a laxative, since I use it in a different way.

Why not just buy some Milk of Magnesia (without aluminum) and use that as a laxative?

Hi Janice...On my pack of Epsom Salts which is pure and organic, the laxative dosage is:

"For Adults, 12 yrs and older: 1 to 2 teaspoons in 1/2 glass of water.

For children under 12 yrs: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon in 1/2 glass of water."

Hope this helps.

Bill,

If you read her post again, she does not state that she wanted the Epsom salts to be a laxative, she was enjoying a few flakes of it in water, but it was causing constipation. She was taking it for aches and pains and whilst that seemed to be working it was also causing constipation which she found confusing.

Bill,

You are right, I did not see the last part of the post. Sorry.

To Bill from San Fernando, Philippines: Where i can buy Epsom Salt in Philippines? Thanks!

Hi Rocky...In the Philippines, you can buy organic Epsom Salts(in 2 lb milk cartons) at 'Healthy Options' stores that are always in any SM Mall. 'Healthy Options' are a major Asian supplement and natural food chain.

Re: Epsom salt causing one to use the bathroom less frequently- Yes, this *can* happen, as epsom salt is hydrophilic; you need to increase your water intake a bit if you plan to use the salts. That's all you should have to do. Using them as a laxative is unnecessary and could be harmful if you are already dehydrated.

My bag of epsom salts says to take 2-4 teaspoons in "8 oz" of water. I use one Tablespoon (3 tsp) and a LOT more water because a) it tastes *blech* and b) you will lose a lot of water. If you are on the smaller size, use the lower dose; larger size, use the higher dose. I use it as an inexpensive colon flush. Not really a cleanse in the strict sense, but like someone said, a bath. Almost to the point of a purge out that end. You'll know. For me it takes about 6-8 hours to take effect, so keep that in mind.

How often do you take the epsom salts. Can I do a colon cleanse once a week?? Is that too often?? Can the epsom salts cause high blood pressure?? How much is too much?

How do you soften caked epsom salt?

EC: Article on Reuters
Epsom salt can prevent cerebral palsy: U.S. study

Jan 31, 2008

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Giving a woman an infusion of Epsom salts when she goes into premature labor can help protect her baby from cerebral palsy, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.

Magnesium sulfate, popularly known as Epsom salts, cut the rate of cerebral palsy in half, Dr. John Thorp, a professor of obstetrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and colleagues reported.

"We have a cheap, widely available treatment already in hand that cuts in half the risk of babies being born with an extremely disabling disorder," Thorp said in a statement.

"And virtually every delivery room in the United States is already stocked with magnesium sulfate solutions that are given to pregnant women during childbirth for other reasons."

Dr. Alan Fleischman, medical director of the birth defect charity March of Dimes, was more cautious. "I think it is an important study," he said in a telephone interview.

But he noted that more study was needed to understand how the treatment works, and said the children were not protected from more subtle brain damage that affected intellectual and cognitive function.

Thorp's team presented their findings to a meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Dallas.

They gave either magnesium sulfate or a placebo to 2,241 women going into early labor or with ruptured membranes. The women's pregnancies were at between 24 to 31 weeks -- a full-term pregnancy goes 40 weeks.

Read the rest of the article here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN3132603620080131

I need to know.. do new zealand doctors give epsom salts injections to women with pre-clasma.?

I would like to ask where can I purchase epsom salt in the philippines. Thank you. Michelle

Epsom Salts: walmart

Hi Michelle, You can find then at any Handy Man store usually found inside the Malls located at the laundry section ..rgds Arnold

you can buy epson salts at watsons stores and duty shops. i bought mine at duty free clark.

SnR baclaran philippines, it is a membership shop but you can purchase though with 1 day pass and a 5% charge to your purchase.

I bought mine from Healthy Options Megamall branch.

Epsom salt may be more appropriate for soaking, as the magnesium diffuses into the bloodstream more slowly, however heed to the warning labels on the bag. If you use Epsom internally as a supplement for magnesium you want to avoid giving yourself a potassium deficiency, and that goes with any magnesium supplement, but is especially important for those on a diet low in potassium, or have low blood potassium levels. Diarrhea is a sign you have taking too much, unless you're intentionally trying to use it as a laxative. I would include grapefruit and oranges in my diet especially if using Epsom, and would not use Epsom internally long periods; have a blood test done, or watch out for signs of potassium deficiency if you're a chronic Epsom user. I read that magnesium taurate was once said to be the best form of magnesium, citrate being next, especially for those with mineral imbalances and prone to heartbeat irregularities.

in response to catherine from wellington, new zealand - there must definitely be something to the magnesium thing and not having a 'butt'.

i have long been deficient in this and virtually have no butt - so what you said really makes sense to me - i look like a guy from behind! and epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) keeps my seizures under control. funny i how never thought of this. i also noticed that lots of people with no diabetes and or on insulin have no butt too. everyone else in my family have butts and don't have diabetes or seizures.
hmmmmmm
djh/austin, tx

I find that trying to avoid high fructose corn syrup is challenging, but avoiding MSG is almost impossible, because it can be hidden. Perhaps Earthclinic could start a page that lists products that are MSG free?

There is a grocery store in town that sells ground beef containing that mystery "flavor"... That's just creepy. Why are they suddenly adding "flavor" to the ground beef? Ground beef is ground beef. When you buy ground beef that's what you expect to get. JUST GROUND BEEF. You buy it because you want to flavor it YOURSELF. Who asked them, "This ground beef isn't flavory enough, would you mind flavoring it for me?" Who expects to find that in their meat??!!!! Is the meat so terrible that they actually had to add more cow flavor? Are we some day going to be buying lamb flavored pork chops?

For your creeped out viewing displeasure, Google "Umami the World"....... There on the left under the "What is UMAMI?" link you will find that "UMAMI is a pleasant savoury taste imparted by glutamate, a type of amino acid, and ribonucleotides, including inosinate and guanylate...." Please, folks... please do not umami the world......

Are you saying that MSG is in lean, round steak? The leanest steak there is, which I love. My mother cooked it for dinner a few times a week while I was growing up and I like it better than any other cut b/c it doesn't have that fatty taste and greasy texture which only gives me a stomach ache.

you can buy Epsom salts in a capsule from Colocaps balance made by colocaps pharmaceuticals

I would like to know how many ounces of Epsom Salts for the bottle of carbonated seltzer water?

I experienced heart palpitations and began taking equal amounts of calcium/magnesium capsules. It has helped tremendously.

Phillips MOM has bleach in it these days (April 2023) even though it doesn't say it on the bottle. Sodium hypochlorite. Most other previously safe brands also have sodium hypochlorite these days.