Magnesium Sulfate for Stress Relief
By Alexandra Nelson
6:30 AM, the alarm goes off, and our day begins. Unintentionally we start thinking and filling our brains with thoughts regarding money, family, housing, or work. All ideas landing in our minds are later transformed into stress, the mental consequence of an external cause.
Stress is the body’s natural reaction to pressure from a particular situation or event; consequently, we face emotional or physical tension, meaning that our mind can cause our bodies to feel tense, and, in most cases, if not handled correctly, we can even face long-term diseases.
In the past few years, recent studies have shown that 4 out of 10 people are highly stressed worldwide. More than 70% of our society reports physical and mental health issues linked with stress levels. This shows that most people around the world are experiencing stress.
Encouraging news is that we can help ourselves to improve the levels of pressure that disturb our bodies through daily stress aggressors.
Nowadays, scientific studies have shown how bathing can result in less stress, anxiety, and depression compared to a regular shower. Here is where the heart of this article is: Magnesium Sulfate, commercially known as Epsom Salts.
Magnesium Sulfate, or Epsom Salt, is a chemical compound defined as a “salt” since its structure is composed of little crystals. But why Epsom? The “Epsom” name is linked to a place in England where this salt can be found in natural springs. For bathing purposes, it is essential to use Magnesium Sulfate crystals (not the powder).
In water, Epsom salts break down into two main ingredients: Magnesium and Sulfate. Magnesium is vital in managing activities connected with stress; it helps to synchronize the neurotransmitters in our brain that cause us to be excited or calm down; it acts like an intermediary to keep all in balance.
Besides its relaxing properties, magnesium is a natural substance that aids in various healthy properties, and the removal of toxins is one of them.
Now, let’s review the other component of Epsom salts: Sulfate, which reinforces the walls of the digestive tract and makes the release of toxins effortless. Combining both ingredients revitalize detoxification pathways, restoring the natural balance and de-stress the digestive tract.
To better understand how toxins affect our bodies and how using Magnesium Sulfate can help, let’s go back to stress.
Stress is the most significant toxin found in the body. As these toxins accumulate, we start to feel physical symptoms such as extreme fatigue, low mood, muscle pain, and spasms, to mention just a few. This is why it’s relevant to detoxify our bodies from it.
THE USE OF MAGNESIUM SULFATE FOR BATHING TO REDUCE STRESS
Bath salts are analogous with peace and self-care, the luxury we seek after a long stressful day. In the 21st century, essential studies made by scientists in western Europe have proved how Epsom Salt has long been used to treat physical health issues. When incorporated into a warm bath, it dissolves easily in warm water and is beneficial for a variety of purposes, from stress relief to aches and muscle pains.
Some of the benefits we can take advantage of in the use of Epsom Salts are:
- Relief of muscle stiffness and pain
- Improvement of circulation issues
- Arthritis and headache relief
- Reduce stress and anxiety
HOW TO USE MAGNESIUM SULFATE CRYSTAL FOR SALT BATHING
It is suggested to use 1 or 2 cups of Epsom salt per gallon of warm water. If the purpose of the salt bath is to relieve aches or muscle pain, it is crucial to use warm water because it allows the crystals to optimally dissolve into magnesium and sulfate for proper use. Soak for at least 20 minutes. Not too hot, not too cold.
CONCLUSION
Stressful days are part of reality; the key to having a successful day is to feel good. It is essential to learn how to listen to our body’s needs. We can quickly get used to aches or muscle pain without even noticing. A good salt bath might be seen as a bit of a luxury here and there. Still, beyond some essential carefulness, it truthfully has scientifically demonstrated benefits for physical and mental health.
