Epsom Salt Benefits
Epsom salt has been used in American households for decades as a therapeutic soak for muscle sprains, but it also has a number of other benefits, both for health and personal grooming. Epsom salt is an affordable way to not only relax and soften skin, but help rid your body of harmful additives and provide it with some very essential nutrients.
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What is Epsom Salt?
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Epsom salt is a well-known medicinal salt that is comprised of several nutrients, one of which is magnesium. This all-important mineral not only promotes healthy nerve and muscle function, it helps to regulate more than 300 types of enzymes found in the body, reduces painful inflammation, fights against blood clots and promotes better usage of insulin and oxygen in the body. Magnesium is also known to help alleviate stress in the body and encourage better rest.
Other Properties
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Another key ingredient found in epsom salt is sulfate, a derivative of magnesium. Sulfate is very vital in helping to flush out harmful toxins from the body and helps in the absorption of other necessary nutrients such as calcium. The sulfate found in epsom salt is essential in helping the body to properly form healthy brain tissue and proteins for joints. The mix of magnesium and sulfate is believed to help lower the body's blood pressure and help to elevate serotonin levels in the brain, which is a natural mood enhancer.
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Health Benefits Through Soaking
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While taking sulfate and magnesium supplements can certainly help the body, contributing factors such as stomach acid or medications can often interfere with its absorption. Soaking with epsom salt is believed to be one of the most effective ways for the body to get the proper amount of these nutrients--by actually entering through the skin itself. Soaking with epsom salt can also help to draw harmful heavy metals from the cells.
Spa Results at Home
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People spend millions each year at expensive day spas, all in an effort to promote a feeling of well being and relaxation. Adding two cups of epsom salt to running bathwater can give you many of the same results as an expensive spa soak. Epsom salt acts as a natural exfoliant, helping shed away dead skin for a healthier glow and also leaves the skin feeling naturally soft. The addition of one-half cup of epsom salt to a warm foot soak can help to eliminate odor and soften calluses and other rough spots on feet. For a smoother complexion, add one-half teaspoon of epsom salt to your regular cleansing creme and wash before going to bed.
Epsom Salt Benefits for Hair
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For those with thin hair, epsom salt combined with an equal amount of your favorite hair conditioner can act as a great volumnizer. If hairspray buildup is a problem, add one cup of epsom salt and one cup of lemon juice to a gallon of water. Let the mixture sit for a full day, then apply to hair, washing after 20 minutes. Epsom salt is also effective in removing excess oil from the hair. This can be done by adding nine teaspoons of the salt to one-half cup of your shampoo and applying one tablespoon to dry hair. Follow with a rinse of lemon juice.
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