When I was growing up, Epsom Salts were the go-to treatment for sore muscles. (I envied the kids who got Ben-Gay.) I guess growing up with a Yankee mom, I should have expected she would choose the most frugal–and effective–soak for sore muscles.
I still keep a box of Epsom Salts underneath my bathroom sink, just in case. These days, with people looking to cut costs across the board, it seems Epsom Salt is hot. That’s because you can use Epsom Salt in all kinds of ways, including as part of your at-home spa treatments.
Here are four uses for you to consider, courtesy of The Epsom Salt Council (who knew such an organization exists?):
1. To exfoliate:
Mix 2 cups of Epsom Salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Use the mixture to gently scrub away dry skin patches.
2. As a Facial:
Mix 1/2 tsp of Epsom Salt into cleansing cream for a deep-pore cleansing. Massage on skin–gently. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry.
3. For a relaxing soak:
Add two cups of Epsom Salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a refreshing scent. (Gee, my Epsom Salt baths were always unscented. This sounds, er, smells nice.)
4. Homemade bath crystals:
Mix two cups of Epsom Salt with a few drops of fragrance to create a custom bath crystal. Add a few drops of food coloring or 1/2 tsp of glycerin if you like. Store in an air-tight container. (This sounds like a great, inexpensive gift to make for the holidays, teacher present or hostess gift!)
Do you have any other magical uses for Espom Salt?
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
I thought about making epsom bath crystals as Christmas gifts last year, but didn’t get around to it. Thanks for reminding me.
I used Epsom salt and baking soda together for a great bath! Makes my skin feel clean, smooth and soft. I use Baking soda like crazy too around the house. I did make a peppermint, epsom salt and baking soda bath thing as presents last year. It was a hit but weighs too much.
Epsom salts are great for soaking a foot injury, if its not severe enough to need a physician’s attention- try 1/4 to 1/2 cup salts in 2 gallons of water as warm to the touch as you can tolerate, yet still comfortably hold the injured area under the water. The salts are very alkaline, and if strong enough, will lyse many types of germ cells that come into contact with it- basically, they destroy them, rather like putting salt on a slug, as some of us tried when we were kids. Yuk. I suggest that after a very strong Epsom salts soak, one should then rinse the foot with clear, warm water, pat dry, then air-dry the skin before replacing socks and shoes. Heal that boo-boo!