Magnesium Bath Salts - 3 Reasons To Add Them to Your Self-Care Routine

Are you feeling stressed and exhausted after a long day at work? Or maybe you're struggling with sore muscles and achy joints? If so, it's time to add some magnesium bath salts to your self-care routine! Magnesium is an essential mineral that our bodies need for proper functioning, but many of us don't get enough of it in our diets. By soaking in a warm bath infused with magnesium-rich salts, you can reap the benefits of this miracle mineral and feel rejuvenated from head-to-toe. In this blog post, we'll explore why adding magnesium bath salts should be your next self-care ritual. So grab a towel and let's dive in!

Intro to Magnesium Bath Salts

Magnesium is an essential mineral that our bodies need for many different functions. It's involved in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body and is important for energy production, muscle contraction, nerve function, and blood sugar regulation. Magnesium is also known as the relaxation mineral because it has a calming effect on the nervous system.

Unfortunately, many of us are deficient in magnesium due to factors such as stress, diet, and certain medications. This can lead to a number of health problems, such as anxiety, muscle cramps, insomnia, and headaches. It's estimated that up to 80% of us don't get enough of this important nutrient.

Fortunately, there are many ways to get magnesium into your body, including dietary sources such as dark leafy greens, nuts, and seeds, or through supplements. But one of the most enjoyable ways to get your magnesium fix is by soaking in a hot bath with magnesium-rich bath salts.

The salts - also known as Epsom salts, named after a bitter saline spring at Epsom in Surrey, England, are a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium sulphate. Magnesium sulphate is easily absorbed through the skin. This makes it an excellent way to increase your magnesium levels if you're deficient.

Benefits of Magnesium Bath Salts

Here are 3 specific reasons why you should consider incorporating magnesium bath salts into your next at-home spa day:

- Stress Relief & Relaxation

There are a lot of things that can contribute to stress and tension in our lives. From our jobs to our personal relationships, it can sometimes feel like we're constantly under pressure.

Magnesium is a mineral that's known for its ability to relax the muscles and calm the nerves. It has an important effect on our central nervous system.

So when you add magnesium bath salts to your self-care routine, you're giving yourself a chance to unwind and de-stress.

The relaxing effect of hot water combined with the magnesium can also be very helpful in promoting better sleep.

- Easing Pain, Headaches & Muscle Tension

Magnesium also helps to maintain normal muscle and nerve function and keep heart rhythm steady. It's also needed for energy production and protein synthesis.

So by increasing your magnesium levels in the bath, you're giving your muscles what they need to work well.

Magnesium sulphate also works by drawing out toxins from the body and helping to reduce inflammation. This in turn helps reduce pain and muscle tension. Similarly, some people find salts baths helpful for alleviating headaches.

- Improved Skin Health

Magnesium is an essential mineral for our bodies and it plays a key role in many of our bodily functions, including our skin health. Magnesium helps to keep our skin cells healthy, flushes out toxins and it also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help to reduce the appearance of blemishes, acne, and other skin conditions. Some eczema sufferers swear by Epsom bath salts.

Rather than putting them in the bath, you can also use Epsom salts as a skin scrub. - The particles are very effective at sloughing away tired, dead skin cells. (We wouldn't recommend this on eczema-prone or broken skin though.)

The other bit of good news is that Epsom salts are not too expensive at around £2 per 100g. That's around £1 per bath.

Side Effects of Magnesium Bath Salts

Magnesium bath salts are a great way to relax and improve your health. However, like all things, there can be some side effects. Here are some of the most common side effects of magnesium bath salts:

1. Skin irritation: Despite being fantastic for many skin conditions, occasionally people experience skin irritation after using magnesium bath salts. This is usually due to an allergic reaction or sensitivity to the magnesium sulphate in the salt. If you experience skin irritation, discontinue use and consult your doctor.

2. Muscle cramps: If you have muscle cramps, magnesium bath salts can help relieve them. However, if you use too much salt, you may end up exacerbating the cramps. Start with a small amount of salt and increase as needed.

3. Nausea or Diarrhoea: Some people may experience nausea and vomiting after using magnesium bath salts. This is usually due to an allergic reaction or sensitivity to the magnesium sulphate in the salt. If you experience these symptoms, discontinue use and consult your doctor.

These side effects are relatively rare and usually limited to people with pre-existing conditions such as kidney impairments or myasthenia gravis, a skeletal muscle disorder.

Most people can happily have a magnesium salt bath every week or even every 2-3 days and reap the benefits.

Difference between Regular Bath Salts and Himalayan Pink Bath Salts

Most magnesium bath salts or Epsom salts are white in colour, but you can also get Himalayan pink bath salts. Both types of salt contain magnesium, but Himalayan pink salt also contains over 84 other minerals and trace elements. These include calcium, potassium, iron, and copper. Himalayan pink salt is also said to have detoxifying properties due to its high mineral content. Regular Epsom Salts can work wonders for you, but some people consider Himalayan pink bath salts to be the Rolls Royce option!

How to Use Magnesium Bath Salts

To use magnesium bath salts, just add them to your bath of with warm water. For a typical bath, you'll need about 50g of Epsom salt. Choose your time wisely: Ensure you won’t be disturbed and you have no pressures on your time to be somewhere or do something. Soak in the tub for 20 minutes. After your bath, rinse off with warm water and pat yourself dry with a towel.

DIY Kit for Magnesium Bath Salts

At Acala we love to bring the sanctity, tranquillity and relaxation of a spa atmosphere and experience to your home.

For the ultimate relaxation experience, choose our Spa Gift Set with its lavender-infused Soothing Bath Salts, Sensual Jasmine Candle, and delicious Luscious Lemon Whipped Body Butter.

Alternatively, with the Acala DIY Bath Salts Kit you can create the scents and salts that work for you.

You can use just one or all the different flowers in your bath to augment the relaxing effect of the salts.

For additional relaxation we include a generous bottle of pure lavender essential oil (just add a few drops to your bath):

• 250g Epsom salts in a glass jar
• 10g dried lavender flowers
• 10g chamomile flowers
• 10g dried calendula flowers
• 10ml lavender essential oil in glass bottle with pipette.
• 1 muslin cotton bag to pop your flowers in whilst bathing

Each kit makes approximately 5 baths worth of salts.

Conclusion

Magnesium bath salts are an excellent way to help your body and mind relax. Not only do they provide relief from stress, but they also offer a variety of health benefits that can improve your overall well-being. Taking time for yourself is essential in today's busy world, so why not incorporate some magnesium bath salts into your self-care routine? With the right combination of minerals, you can look forward to a calming soak that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Buy magnesium bath salts (Epsom Salts) here at Acala.