Why Practically* Every Woman Should Be Taking Epsom Salt Baths

Really practically every woman should be taking Epsom salt baths? Yes! However, we are all about personalization here at SHE and educating others to understand that not everything works for everyone, even if “it's so good for you.” That’s why it’s *practically, because not everyone should do Epsom salt baths, therefore the * : )

As discussed in this blog, 50% of everyone in America is believed to be magnesium deficient. Plus, magnesium is responsible for being a part of more than 300 reactions in the body. Besides that, magnesium is essential for hormone and stress balance, as discussed in depth here. Therefore, if you want to balance your hormones, support your adrenals, and reduce stress, Epsom salt baths should become your go-to. Why?

Well besides most of us being magnesium deficient, many women also have what’s called leaky gut, which means you could be absorbing very little of what you are actually eating. Yet, another reason why we are magnesium deficient. Everything really does connect to everything. With that said, because absorption is reduced through gut absorption, supplementation or getting it from your diet can be hard until the gut is healed. SO skipping the gut and taking an Epsom salt bath is ideal, especially if you are having signs of a magnesium deficiency and you are consistently stressed.

Many women struggle with their sense of urgency vs. important. Depending on your people-pleasing button, you may create a strong stress response towards something that is not an emergency. Just one example can be your email inbox: it is almost always is not an emergency, nor is it urgent in 99% of all emails. It’s your perception that someone cannot wait a few hours for a reply. If you tend to make things “more important” then they are and increase your stress response in the process, we cannot encourage you enough to work on this. As two recovering “everything-is-an-emergency-to-keep-people-happy” people, we promise your health and life will change when your perception of what is important vs. urgent changes.

Whenever Heather and I have clients that commit to actually doing Epsom salt baths weekly, the reduction in the below complaints is noticeable:

• Muscle pain

• Fatigue

• Anxiety

• Poor sleep

• Muscle cramps

• Stronger sense of stress resilience

We also personally experienced these positive effects in our own healing journey. One of the most frustrating things on our wellness journey was that for a few years we did not have a bathtub, and finally made it a priority for the place we currently rent to have one because we fully understood that this was an important tool for our healing. So if you don’t have a bathtub, take heart, you can do foot soaks. We used a large pan or tub to do them sitting in front of the TV or just while relaxing. Hopefully, like us, you can have a bathtub in one of your future places.

PERSONALIZED CHECK-IN: SHOULD YOU TAKE A EPSOM SALT BATH?

If you answer yes, to 3 or more of these questions. an Epsom salt bath is probably a really good fit for you and your body right now.

On a scale of 1-10, I have been a 5 or above on the stress scale. Yes | No

I have been having consistent headaches or migraines. Yes | No

I have had increased leg cramps or muscle soreness. Yes | No

I have been more irritable or snippy than usual. Yes | No

I have been more tired because of restless sleep. Yes | No

I have noticed increase anxiousness. Yes | No

I have constant pain, including back, knee, or hand pain. Yes | No

I heavily sweat when I workout. Yes | No

I workout more than 3 times a week. Yes | No

I get period cramps & bad PMS. Yes | No

HOW TO MAKE YOUR EPSOM SALT BATH:

Fill your bathtub with warm water and add two cups of Epsom Salt. If you are extra sensitive, just start with 1/2 or 1 cup, and work your way up.

You ideally want to soak for at least 12 minutes, three times weekly.

To make it even more stress-relieving, add 1 tsp coconut oil with 3 drops of eucalyptus or lavender oil added to it and then add to water.

EPSOM SALTS BATHS ARE POTENTIALLY NOT FOR YOU RIGHT NOW IF YOU:

1. Have you been diagnosed with end-stage adrenal fatigue? If yes, then get clearance from your doctor to be taking these baths. You can potentially start with a very small amount 1/4 cup and work your way up. But its important to know that when your cortisol is completely flat-lined, these baths could make you even more tired. Once your cortisol rhythm is at a healthier place, these then transition to a healing tool.

2. Do you a sulfite allergy? If yes, these baths can give you hives. So you would want to work on your root issue for why this allergy is being triggered and skip the baths.

3. Do you have POTS or low blood pressure? Epsom salts relax the blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure, so talk to your doctor about adding these in.

4. Histamine intolerance? These can be a great addition to managing that root issues, however, you do not want to make your baths to hot as this can make you flush and then itch. So take Lukewarm baths if you have this issue.

WHAT EPSOM SALT SHOULD I GET?

All Epsom salt contains the naturally occurring minerals of magnesium and sulfate. There are different ways of manufacturing and packaging Epsom salt, but chemically, it’s all exactly the same. There are also different “grades” of Epsom salt for different applications such as human use and agricultural applications.

Any package that has a “drug facts” box or that’s labeled “USP” has been manufactured, tested and certified to meet regulatory standards of the FDA and the United States Pharmacopeia, and is deemed safe and acceptable for human use. For human use, the Epsom Salt Council recommends only Epsom salt with the USP designation.

This is our favorite brand we currently have:

Epsoak Epsom Salt 19lbs Magnesium Sulfate

We buy it in the 20-pound bag and store it in a cool glass jar in the bathroom! Right now it's 50% off!

We also often will pick up the Epsom Salt packs from Aura Cacia that combine Epsom salts and essential oils. Note: More companies are making these, but if they are really cheap or unclearly labeled, the quality of the Epsom salt and the essential oils is questionable.

We absolutely love Aura Cacia essential oils because they embody everything the SHE Changes Everything mission is about!

Their oils are made from simple and pure botanical ingredients, they openly share product information, & they encourage sustainable growing that preserves and improves land and resources for the future,  and while quality matters A LOT with essential oils, what makes @auracacia even more fabulous is that they also empower women and girls with the Aura Cacia’s Positive Change Project, which helps women & girls transform their lives!

Even when adding something like Epsom salts or essential oils into your wellness routine, you can consciously choose wellness for a positive change - for you, people, and the planet. And it’s so cool to know our choices have that much impact!

Sources:

1. De Silva DC, Wijesiriwardene B. The adrenal glands and their functions. Ceylon Med J. 2007 Sep;52(3):95-100. PMID: 18020028

2. https://www.livestrong.com/article/141120-the-dangers-epsom-salts/

3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321627.php

4. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/magnesium-is-essential-to-your-health-but-many-people-dont-get-enough-of-it/2017/06/09/77bc35b4-2515-11e7-bb9d-8cd6118e1409_story.html?utm_term=.f8b55f4eac51

5. https://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/faq/