10 Top Health Benefits Of Epsom Salt Bath For Weight Loss, Detox, Pregnancy & Hemorrhoids

What Is Epsom Salt Bath?

Epsom salt bath is nothing but soaking ourselves in water in which Epsom salt is mixed. Usually herbs and other ingredients are added along with it. Using baths to treat illness has been done for centuries and they are very healing. I can never forget the bath that we had in the the freezing Himalayas.

We were on our foot for days and were really exhausted, we didn’t get proper south Indian food there and that made things really worse. We were all very tired and all my enthusiasm for seeing all the exotic places in the Himalayas was fading. I am a home bird and I was feeling very homesick too.

My aunt kept on comforting me, she kept on repeating about the natural hot water springs in the Himalayas. But when we reached that place, I was already too bone tired to notice anything but then the white steam rising from that whole area was so mesmerizing and brought me back to life a little.

There were separate baths for men and women and I can never forget the experience of immersing myself in the natural hot water bath in the freezing cold and immediately feeling so relaxed and so one with nature. I felt so very relaxed for the first time in that trip and to this day I cherish that experience.

The simple act of a bath treating all my aches and pains was so new to me. This experience also convinced me of the benefits of healing baths and though we can’t go to these exotic places for having healing baths often, we can make equally effective baths at home.

Side Effects Of Epsom Salt Bath:

10 Top Benefits & Uses Of Epsom Salt bath:

1. Epsom Salt For Detox: 

Epsom salt  baths are great for detoxing. Bath salts apart from giving a smooth, soft skin detoxes our body very well and it is one of the best ways to relax. After a soak in these bath salts, we feel relaxed, uplifted and calm. Both the magnesium and sulfate in the Epsom salt are very good in bringing out the toxins from the body.

Now it has been proven that weekly twice soaking in Epsom salts keep our skin younger and supple. Make sure to hydrate yourself well before and after taking the bath. Also plan ahead to get a good nights rest that day as you might feel a bit tired after the bath.

We can either use bath salts from the shops or make it ourselves at home. Homemade bath salts are fun to make at home and very cost effective. You can also customize it to your liking, if you are making it at home.

2.Epsom Salt Bath For Weight Loss:

I know many will be wondering how a simple act of bathing induces weight loss. Epsom salt baths reduces stress levels and we all know stress is the major reason for weight gain. Epsom salt contains magnesium and sulphate, both important ingredients which help in detox. Any detox bath will reduce stress levels and heal our body.

Epsom salt bath also treats water retention. When our body is rid of toxins, our digestive organs work in peak order, resulting in natural weight loss. Of course a regular exercise regimen and a great diet is the key to weight loss but detox baths speeds up the process. Start with weekly once bath and increase it to weekly twice to see results.

3. Epsom Salt Bath For Sore Muscles:

Epsom salt bath is the best treatment for sore muscles and everyone can benefit from it from young to old. For old people Epsom salt foot soak is a blessing, whenever they complain of leg pain and cramps, make them soak their feet in warm Epsom salt foot soak.

Magnesium in the Epsom salt treats stiff muscles, relaxing and healing it. Also try to make Epsom foot bath salts at home yourself and present them, I think nothing will make our grandparents happy than a thoughtful present like that.

Even people who are weight training will find Epsom salt bath very useful to treat the infamous soreness after workouts called DOMS, especially for beginners in weight training, it will be very useful. Get creative while making the bath salts at home and try to include your favorite herbs that relaxes you.

4. Epsom Salt Bath For Cold & Flu:

Next time you are suffering from clod and flu, instead of buying over the counter medicines, try Epsom salt bath. It treats blocked nose and headaches associated with cold and flu. Even doctors advice patients to take Epsom salt bath for cold & flu as it helps them recover faster.

But take an Epsom salt bath when you first start getting the symptoms of cold and flu itself, to see good results. Epsom salt baths also helps to get a good nights sleep, thus helping in faster healing. Epsom salt is easily available everywhere and is quite cheap.

In my personal opinion I prefer to try these kind of home remedies first and only if doesn’t work, which is very rare then I prefer to take medications. If you don’t want to take a whole body bath, you can also try the foot bath.

5. Epsom Salt Bath For Constipation:

Though taking Epsom salts internally has been done by many to treat constipation and is quite effective for treating it, it does have it’s side effects. You can become dependent on it for bowel movement and it has other side effects like dryness in the mouth, stomach cramps and bloating.

Pregnant women should stay away from consuming Epsom salt internally and it might not agree with everyone. Taking Epsom salt bath for treating constipation, instead of taking it internally, is much gentler and does not have any side effects at all.

Magnesium deficiency is also the major cause of constipation and when we take an Epsom salt bath, it is absorbed through the skin but without the side effects like ingesting it internally. So if you plan on using Epsom salt for treating constipation, think twice before taking it internally and be correct about the dosage. Try to use the bath for treating the problem in a safer way.

6. Epsom Salt Bath During Pregnancy: 

Epsom salt bath can be safely used during pregnancy. Magnesium is very essential for a pregnant women and taking Epsom salt bath ensures that they get it. It treats aches, pains and cramps associated with pregnancy and will improve the mood.

Especially for mothers who are pregnant with their second or third child, it will be quite stressful as they have to take care of the first child, do the house work plus take care of themselves and if they are working they undergo a lot of stress.

For them having an Epsom salt bath will be greatly beneficial. Another important thing is, it also helps with pregnancy constipation and prevents hemorrhoids during pregnancy.

7. Epsom Salt Bath For Haemorrhoids:

Epsom salt baths eases the pain caused due to hemorrhoids or piles. Like I mentioned before, it can also be used to treat hemorrhoids in pregnant women very safely. To use for it for treating hemorrhoids, fill a tub with warm water till the water comes to hip level.

Add Epsom bath salt to it and sit in it for 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure the water is warm enough and try repeating this treatment everyday till the hemorrhoids shrinks.

8. Epsom Salt For Eczema: Babies & Adults

Eczema can affect anyone and is especially worse with children as they have to handle the itching and it affects them both physically and emotionally. There are a few things we could do for treating eczema at home. First try to avoid all creams and external applications that has strong perfume in it.

As we know what goes into it, try as much as possible to make homemade stuff for them like homemade bath powder. Keep them hydrated throughout the day to prevent dry skin which will make the condition even worse and stop using long hot showers or baths, especially with harsh soaps.

Though they might feel nice when they are having hot baths and might prevent itching for the time being, they really dry out the skin. The best thing for eczema is Epsom salt baths made without any added colors or perfume and give this bath as often as you can. After the bath make sure not to rub the skin hard, just pat dry.

I strongly recommend using homemade Aloe Vera oil for using as a moisturizer later as I have personally seen how effective it is for eczema. This treatment is very mild but very effective and is apt for using it for children. Try natural remedies before resorting to steroid creams.

9. Epsom Salt Bath For Psoriasis:

Psoriasis is a common, chronic skin disease that affects thousands of people. Many people suffer for years with psoriasis, especially the itch associated with psoriasis is vary bad. Epsom salt bath greatly reduces the itching associated with psoriasis. Like other baths, it does not dry out the skin and is very perfect for already irritated skin.

Try out Epsom salt baths whenever the itching gets bad. When making Epsom bath salts for treating psoriasis, make sure not to add artificial colors or perfumes, it might irritate the skin. add

10. Epsom Salt For Yeast Infection:

Yeast infections can be treated at home itself if we follow these simple procedures. Yeast infections can be treated first by cleansing the body to get rid of the infection and that is best done by taking Epsom salt baths. Try taking Epsom salt bath continuously everyday till the condition improves and then continue weekly once till you get complete relief.

Along with it try increasing garlic intake and try homemade preparations like garlic milk at home, as it helps fight yeast infections very well. Also try to up the intake of probiotics, preferably without any preservatives, sugar and added colors like homemade yogurt.

Also try to wear cotton clothes and make sure to eliminate harsh chemicals from contacting the skin and try to use homemade products as much as possible. For moisturizing the skin, try homemade organic coconut oil or homemade Aloe Vera oil.