Uses and benefits of bath salts

Uses and benefits of bath salts

Bath salts are very common to add in your bath but did you know that there are different kinds of bath salts you can add in your bath. You can mix it in you bath bomb or maybe in your bath soak. This post will give you a list of how to use and the benefits of bath salts.

Bath salts have long been used as an easy and inexpensive way to treat mental and physical health ailments. Bath salts, which are commonly made from magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) or sea salt, are easily dissolved in warm bath water and used for everything from stress relief to aches and pains.

Salts are absorbed into the body via your hair follicles and work on a deep cellular level. Not all of them are the same: each type has its own attributes, from detoxing the body to soothing the skin, but they can be used together or alternated to create a bespoke bath and maximize the benefits. For an intensive kick-start, try adding 500g of your chosen salt blend to your bath three times a week for three weeks, then reduce to a good handful, or 250g, in your bath two to three times a week.

Just a few warning: Bath salts combine the benefits of essential oil aromatherapy with the muscle relaxing and skin exfoliating benefits of Epsom salts. The magnesium in Epsom salts may help you sleep better, too. You can use bath salts in the bath, in your shower, in a foot soak, or to make an exfoliating body scrub. If you add essential oils, they need to be properly diluted in carrier oil or in the salts so you don’t get burned. Try adding lavender oil, peppermint oil, citrus oils, rose petals, or baking soda to your bath salts to maximize the benefits.

  • For detox: use Epsom salt. The minerals in a detox bath are believed to help remove toxins from the body to improve your health, relieve stress, treat constipation, and assist with weight loss. Magnesium absorption is another important benefit of Epsom salt detox baths. This may be beneficial to those with a deficiency, such as people with fibromyalgia.
    • How to make a detox bath with Epsom salt: pour 2 cups of Epsom salt in your warm bath; soak for 12-20 minutes. Add essential oils like lavender or peppermint for better relaxation.
  • For skin inflammation or irritation: you can use table salt. Bath salts can be used to relieve skin inflammation and irritation caused by eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and athlete’s foot. The National Eczema Association recommends adding 1 cup of table salt to your bath during a flare-up to help prevent stinging when bathing.
    • How to prepare a bath with table salt: Add one cup of table salt to warm bath. Tea tree oil has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties that may make it effective for treating eczema and minor skin infections. Essential oils should be diluted before use, but tea tree oil does come in much strength, some already diluted. Adding 3 or 4 drops to your salt bath can provide additional relief of inflammation and irritation. Soak in your bath for 20 minutes.
  • For itchy skin: you can also use Epsom salt. Add 1 to 2 cups in your bath with a tablespoon of olive oil. Soak in the tub for at least 12 minutes. Do this 2 or 3 times a week. You can also add almond oil, oatmeal, or powdered milk to bath salts to soothe and moisturize the skin.
  • For arthritis: you can also use Epsom salt. The Arthritis Foundation recommends soaking and stretching in a warm Epsom salt bath to help relieve stiff and aching joints and for relief of muscle soreness after exercising. 
    • How to prepare the bath: Add 2 cups of Epsom salt to your bath. For better treatment, add ginger oil. Studies show that ginger has anti-arthritic and joint-protective effects in arthritis. Adding a few drops of diluted ginger essential oil to your bath salts may offer additional benefits. You can also target specific joints by using bath salts and ginger oil mixed with some warm water to make a paste that can be rubbed on the joint.
  • For exfoliation: you can use sea salt. To very gently exfoliate and soften your skin, combine 1/2 cup sea salt with a drizzle of body oil like sweet almond oil or coconut oil, and scrub trouble spots like elbows and knees, or bottoms of the feet. Sea salts are way too abrasive for the face, so use as a body scrub only, and again, gently so as not to create micro-tears in the skin with those salt crystals.
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