Ever heard of Epsom Salt? Also known as magnesium sulfate, it has a wide range of uses that go from soothing sore muscles to enhancing beauty and even uses in the garden. First discovered in the XVII century by way of bitter saline spring water distillation in Epsom, England, it has become a staple of folk medicine.
Epsom salt consists of clear crystals and is a combination of magnesium and sulfate. This is a mineral form most of us lack. Magnesium is important for many processes in our bodies. It’s also important for gardens and plants as it helps them develop.
Epsom salt is a natural anti-inflammatory agent and a natural magnesium supplement. You can drink it dissolved in water to get your magnesium levels up or use it in your garden to boost your plant growth. It has a wide range of uses and is just as versatile as baking soda.
Below you can see how and when to use Epsom salt and enjoy its benefits.
Health Uses
Relieves Muscle Cramps
If you’re suffering from muscle cramps frequently, there’s a great chance you’re lacking magnesium. Instead of taking supplements on your own, Epsom salt can help. Take a relaxing bath with Epsom salt to relieve the tension in your muscles and prevent cramps.
Epsom salt is absorbed through the skin and can also reduce inflammation in your joints, so that relaxing bath will do your body a favor.
Improves Nerve and Muscle Function
Epsom salt baths or magnesium sulfate supplements will greatly improve your muscles and nerves work. It supports numerous enzymatic functions in your body, prevents cell fluid retention, and helps the body move calcium through tissues too.
Maintains Your Arteries
If you want to keep your arteries clean and healthy, magnesium sulfate supplements can help. They’ve been shown to prevent serious cardiovascular problems by reducing inflammation and protecting your arteries.
By lowering inflammation in your arteries and reducing the risk of blood clots, magnesium sulfate will keep your heart health in check.
Relieves Constipation
Epsom salt is a great saline laxative that can help even in tough cases of constipation. Just dissolve a teaspoon in a cup of warm tea and drink it, then let it do its magic. Keep in mind that you can only do this once per day.
Fantastic Skin Cleaner
Rubbing a handful of Epsom salts on your skin will exfoliate it better than anything else you’ve used. The coarse texture will remove dead skin cells and keep your skin smooth and fair.
Garden Uses
Adding some magnesium sulfate to the soil in your pots or all over the garden will do your plants a lot of good. It will fertilize them naturally and help them grow while keeping them fair and vibrant.
More importantly, Epsom salt can also eliminate many pests from the garden and keep your plants safe. Slugs and numerous insects are ‘scared’ of it, and will never visit your garden again.
