Whether you're seeking relief from aches and pains, a way to melt away your stress and worries, or a soothing skin treatment to pamper yourself, an Epsom salt bath might just be the thing.
Epsom salt is a naturally occurring mineral with a reputation as a muscle relaxer. When dissolved in bathwater, its magnesium and sulfate ions are released, providing some surprising benefits. This simple ritual may help reduce stress, promote sleep, and generally relax you physically and mentally.
Making an Epsom salt bath is simple, and a few variations with natural ingredients you have around the house can make the already relaxing experience even more enjoyable.
What You'll Need
Instructions
Variations
To up your Epsom salt bath’s relaxation, add your favorite essential oil. Lavender and chamomile are known to have calming effects, which means they are great additions to an Epsom salt bath after a stressful day or as a sleep aid before bedtime.
Add about 20 drops of your preferred essential oil to your warm bath water after sprinkling in the Epsom salt, then mix it all together until the salt dissolves.
If you desire the relaxing effects of Epsom salts but don’t want to go through the process of taking a bath, make a warm Epsom salt compress.
In half a gallon of warm water, dissolve one cup of Epsom salt. Gently mix it all together for a minute to make sure the salt dissolves as much as possible. You can then soak a towel or washcloth in the mixture, wring out extra water, and apply the Epsom salt compress to your skin for 12 to 20 minutes.
Add 5 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil for aromatherapy effects.
Baths aren’t for everyone. If you prefer to take showers, you can still relax with Epsom salt.
To make an Epsom salt shower, simply sprinkle about one cup of Epsom salt around the bottom of your shower and take a shower with warm water as you normally would. As the warm water hits it, the Epsom salt will dissolve and release a soothing steam. Again, you can add a few drops of essential oil to make the experience even more relaxing.
Foot soaks are a great way to relax after a long and stressful day, especially if you spent much of it on your feet. Soaking your feet in an Epsom salt bath once or twice a week will help you relax and soothe your aching feet.
Make an Epsom salt foot soak by filling a bowl or bucket with warm water—enough to cover your feet up to your ankles, but not so much that it will overflow when you stick your feet in.
To the warm water, add about a half of a cup of Epsom salt and mix it around for a minute gently with your hands to dissolve it. You should be left with slightly cloudy water. Place your feet in the basin and soak them for up to half an hour to relax.
After you’re finished with your Epsom salt foot soak, dry your feet with a towel. You can apply an exfoliating foot scrub and moisturize your feet to add to your DIY spa experience.
