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Health Benefits of Salt Baths

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is salt healthy importance of salt 300x224 Health Benefits of Salt Baths Most people are deficient in Magnesium… in fact, you probably are too.

Magnesium is the second most abundant element in our bodies, and is used in regulating over 300 enzymes and reactions in the body.

I’ve written before about how the depleted magnesium levels in our food and water, and the imbalance of nutrients in the foods that we eat have left most of us dangerously deficient in Magnesium.

Most of us also have too much calcium in our bodies, relative to our magnesium levels (thanks to fortified foods and imbalanced soils).

Many forms of magnesium are difficult to absorb when taken orally, especially for those with a damaged gut (that is most of us too).

Here is where Magnesium Salt Baths and Transdermal Magnesium Oil can make a big difference…

The skin is the body’s largest organ, and as such, has an amazing ability to absorb, filter toxins, and deliver nutrients to the body. It is also a visible sign of the health of the body as a whole.

When the skin has rashes, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, acne, or other problems, this is often a sign of deeper issues within the body. As the skin is also an elimination organ, the body will push out toxins through the skin when the other organs of elimination (gut, liver, kidneys, etc) are taxed or burdened.

A damaged gut can also make absorbing magnesium and other minerals through the digestive system more difficult, so topical magnesium oil or magnesium baths are a great solution.

Magnesium/Salt Baths are great for…

  • Stress relief
  • Muscle aches
  • Increasing insulin sensitivity
  • Improving circulation
  • Better nutrient absorption
  • Headache relief
  • Speeding up wound healing
  • During illness, especially respiratory illness
  • For children to help mineral absorption and improve sleep
  • For acne, eczema or other skin problems
  • For joint pain relief
  • To help relieve poison ivy or skin reactions
  • Improving skin hydration

How to Incorporate Magnesium/Salt Baths

I regularly add a cup of epsom salts or magnesium flakes and a few tablespoons of Himalayan salt to my kids baths. When I have the time, I take relaxing baths in this mixture also.

When I can’t take the time for a bath, magnesium oil also helps. Amazingly, I notice the benefits of transdermal magnesium (baths or magnesium oil) much more quickly than when I take internal forms of magnesium.

My favorite magnesium bath recipe is:

  • 1-2 cups of epsom salts or magnesium flakes(magnesium flakes are absorbed much more easily)
  • 1/2 cup Himalayan or Sea Salt
  • 1/2 tsp of natural vanilla extract
  • 10-15 drops of essential oil of choice (I love lavender and mint)

I mix the salt and magnesium flakes and then sprinkle with the vanilla and essential oil. The whole mixture gets added to a warm bath, and I soak for at least 20 minutes, though 30 is preferable.I try to make time for this at least once a week, though my kids get it added to their bath each night.

For intensive therapy (illness, eczema, etc) these baths can be done daily, though you should check with a doctor if you have any medical conditions.

Do you ever take relaxing baths? Ever added magnesium? Will you try it? Share below!

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Wellness Mama is a full-time housewife with a background in nutrition, journalism and communications. Her passion is helping others achieve optimal health through a “Wellness Lifestyle.” She has helped hundreds of clients lose weight, increase athletic performance, improve fertility, and overcome numerous health problems and diseases. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, & Pinterest.

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  • Jess @ Crunchy Hot Mama

    Love this recipe!  My massage therapist told me about doing 2 cups of epsom salts, 1 Cup hydrogen peroxide, & 1/2 cup of baking soda in a bath to relax sore muscles.  I like your idea of adding the vanilla though…may make me hungry ;)   So glad I found you from Everyday Paleo!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=569565614 Anita Baker Rozendaal

    I did start to take magnesium about a week ago. I think I read somewhere to take larger doses when you begin and to reduce them when the stools get loose.  It’s been a week and I couldn’t really say I’ve had a “loose” stool. I’m not bound-up at all, but not loose. So…. should I increase the dosage? The recommended dosage is 3 tablets and I’m taking 4.

  • Lara

    I’m ordering the epsom salt and himalayan salt right now for my kids’ baths. My youngest has persistent (though not terrible) eczema. And, anything to help the kids sleep better is worth trying!

  • Cathy

    I use Epsom salts in my baths but have not tried the magnesium flakes.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I would hold at that for a while and see how you do. If you aren’t noticing any changes after a couple of weeks, up the dose, or try a transdermal dose..

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I noticed a definite diference about a week in. Our don’t have eczema, but they sleep much better. It has helped clients and some of my relatives a lot with eczema and psoriasis.

  • Katie

    Where do you buy the salt in bulk?  I have one baby with  eczema and one 3 year old with psoriasis on her scalp.  I thought not eating grains and raw milk would take care of that, but it hasn’t.  I would bathe my 4 kids twice daily if I thought it would help them sleep better.  :)   Thanks of the tip!

  • Kathryn

    This looks great!  I am always on the lookout for help with clearing up my daughter’s skin.  We eat a pretty clean diet and she still has bumpy arms and cheeks.  I have tried everything and am definitely going to try this.  Tell me, how much do you add to your kids bath?  Do you add that whole recipe?  It just seemed like a lot to me (2.5 cups or so) but perhaps not.  Thanks!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Have you tried probiotics with them? I open our capsules of probiotics and sneak them into my kids drinks during the day. I’ve had a lot of people say that it has helped with eczema and psoriasis. Here’s a link to epsom salts in bulk http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HIOTEI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbkati-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005HIOTEI and you may also be able to find them at a local store like Sam’s or Costco. This is the biggest magnesium flakes I’ve ever seen… http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G8LKBS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbkati-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001G8LKBS

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    You could use about half for kids baths, but for the first week or so, I’d use the full dose to get their levels up, or use more once a week or so.

  • 1feistysoul

    I’m new to your site and love it! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’m a huge fan of salt baths but love to add bubbles. Do you have a natural bubble bath recipe that could be added to the salt baths?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Cathy-Bromley-Long/1228261957 Cathy Bromley Long

    I’m going to give this a try.. I do have some achy joints from time to time but really just want the magnesium.. I also take magnesium….this wouldn’t be to much would it?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    It shouldn’t, but if you start getting loose stools, just reduce the amount you are taking a little bit.

  • Katieblume7

    I do a salt bath every night although I only use Epsom salt…maybe I need to switch to flakes and also add the himalayan salt too.  Any health benefit from the vanilla and essential oil except smell?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Just the relaxation. Lavender is also good for the skin.

  • Katie

    I have some “once daily- 5 billion CFU” Primadophilus Bifidus kicking around in my fridge, could I slip that into my one year old and 3 year olds food? Thanks for the links to the salt and such!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Absolutely… just open the capsule and put in smoothies, or sprinkle in applesauce or other foods.

  • Lenka LMT

    Great advice! I’m a massage therapist and I teach my clients about the benefits of epsom salt baths, but I love the idea of the transdermal magnesium. The other thing I tell them about salt baths is that they are able to pick up any “energetic junk” that gets stuck to sensitive people when they’re around stress, crows or negativity–for me it helps to do this 1-2 x/week, and works w/ epsom or dead sea salt (but more muscle relaxing benefits from the epsom, so that’s what I usually go for). BTW–Thank you Katie for all of your hard work on this amazing website! :)

  • http://www.rpsmiles.com/ Del Mar Dentist

    I’ve never tried having salt baths before even in spas. But I’ve read and heard a lot about its benefits. It’s a good thing I came across your post, now I know I really should be having one, especially now that I’ve been dealing with a lot of stress lately.

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  • http://www.acaiberryslim.co.uk/ Weight Loss Acai Berries

    Magnesium is one of the essential substance which is needed for proper functioning of the body. Magnesium is necessary for proper and smooth functioning of the body.

  • http://www.pillblue.co.uk/ Men Pills

     Bathing in magnesium, helps in increasing the magnesium level of the body, by absorbing the magnesium present in the salt. It helps in providing a right quantity of magnesium to the body.

  • Sarah

    Is there a specific brand of salt that you recommend?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I use epsom salts with some Himalayan or celtic salt added in for salt baths, but for eating, we stick to Himalayan.

  • mo bius

    I am so sold on Himalayan salt that I use Sole water in the morning, and use the fine ground Himalayan salt in all my cooking (looks pretty in pink in a little ramekin next to my stove top).

  • Jessica

    Would taking 400 mg of magnesium oxide have the same effect?

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  • http://www.facebook.com/jamie.senarighi Jamie M Senarighi

    I don’t have a bathtub so I use epsom salts in the shower…I put about 1 cup epsom salt in a cup and add a liquid soap to it and then scrub up. I suppose a shower isn’t the best way because you don’t actually soak in the water. It sure has made my skin nice and soft.