10 Benefits of Foot Soak in Epsom Sea Salts

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Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 10:28pm UTC
10 Benefits of Foot Soak in Epsom Sea SaltsPhoto from Unsplash

Originally Posted On: https://hebebotanica.com/blogs/news/10-benefits-of-foot-soak-in-epsom-sea-salts

Magnesium sulfate, commonly known as Epsom salt, is a natural compound made of oxygen, sulfur, and magnesium. Although Epsom sea salts have a structure similar to sodium chloride (table salt), it has excellent antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties. Today’s article will list the top ten benefits of foot soak in Epsom sea salts.

1. Relieves Pain

Epsom foot soaks can reduce muscle soreness and relieve discomfort and pain. When you soak your feet in Epsom salt and water, the magnesium penetrates your skin, triggers cellular mechanisms, and encourages intracellular and intercellular activities to provide pain-relieving nutrients to the affected area.

For instance, if your job is physically demanding and requires you to spend more time on your feet, you will experience soreness, discomfort, and inflammation in your feet. Research shows that soaking your sore feet in Epsom salt and water can remove toxins, generate new cells, and reduce muscle cramping.

2. Eliminates Bad Odors

Extra sweaty feet provide a favorable environment for bacteria and fungus to accumulate and grow. Bacteria produce organic acids that cause foul and stinky odors due to volatile sulfur compounds.

If your feet smell bad, we recommend soaking them in a mixture of water, vinegar, Epsom salts, and water. Combine half a cup of Epsom salts in a tub with warm water and soak your feet for ten to fifteen minutes to eliminate foul odors.

3. Removes Splinters

Your skin is the largest organ in your body and acts as a barrier or first line of defense against external pathogens and allergens. However, not taking care of your skin can take a toll on the epidermis.

For instance, a minute puncture or break of the skin can cause bacteria to enter your feet and cause splinters. Although a small and painless wound is not a sign of discomfort, you must seek immediate treatment if the splinter is deep and painful.

Although you can apply topical medications to relieve splinters, we suggest soaking your feet in Epsom salts to alleviate swelling, inflammation, and pain around the affected area.

The reason is that Epsom sea salts contain natural ingredients, such as oxygen, magnesium, and sulfur, to pull-out pus by softening the skin and loosening the splinter for easy removal.

4. Exfoliates Cracked Heels

Dryness, thickness, and lack of moisture can cause cracked heels. The problem occurs due to increased pressure on your heels, causing the skin to split. However, obesity, wearing open-heel sandals, and cold temperatures can cause cracked heels.

Epsom sea salts are a natural remedy for cracked heels because they contain essential nutrients that can remove dead skin cells from cracked heels and make them softer, smoother, and healthier.

In addition, Epsom sea salts are also helpful for skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema on the feet. According to Women Health Mag, magnesium is an essential ingredient in Epsom sea salts. When combined with water, it penetrates the skin and fights dryness, cracks, and inflammation, maintaining a healthy skin barrier.

5. Treats Fungal Infections

Fungal infections can take a massive toll on your feet and affect your day-to-day life by preventing mobility. A whitish-yellow or brownish nail color indicates toenail fungus infection, causing discomfort and pain.

Your toenail will appear more brittle and thicker due to fungus infections. Warm, humid climate and excessive sweating due to physical activities are the primary cause of a fungal infection.

The fungus requires a moist and warm environment to grow. You can prevent the risk of toenail fungal infection by not walking barefoot in damp places, such as showers, locker rooms, and gyms.

However, if you have already developed an infection, you can soak your feet in Epsom sea salts for relief. According to Epsom Salt Council, although Epsom sea salts do not eliminate fungus or kill them, they remove the extra moisture and make the environment less favorable for fungus.

In addition, Epsom sea salts can soften your skin and draw out the infection. We recommend taking the medications prescribed by your doctor, but at the same time, you can soak your feet in Epsom salt solution to boost the effects.

Pour enough water into a pan to cover your feet. Add one cup of Epsom sea salts and two cups of white vinegar, and soak your feet for ten to twenty minutes. Sulfur is an essential ingredient of Epsom sea salts, and one study highlights that Epsom salts have good antifungal properties.

6. Relieves Stress

Stress is the root cause of several physical and mental conditions because it disrupts your body functions and deteriorates hormonal balance. Epsom salt relaxes your muscles and increases blood flow to the brain, causing it to release serotonin and dopamine. These two chemicals improve your mood and relax your mind.

At the same time, magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen penetrate your body via the skin, triggering the brain to suppress cortisol, a hormone that increases stress. However, there is a need for more research to confirm the efficacy in different population groups.

7. Increases Blood Circulation

Soaking your feet in Epsom salt solution can increase blood flow and relax your muscles, tissues, and nerves. Magnesium and sulfur absorbed in warm water push the blood through your veins and arteries to relieve pressure.

These two ingredients, combined with other essential nutrients in the blood, ease muscle and joint pain, inflamed and swollen feet, and fight off toenail fungal infections. Research shows that Epsom sea salts can increase blood circulation and reduce swelling in musculoskeletal structures.

8. Promotes a Good Night’s Sleep

A good night’s sleep for seven to nine hours improves your overall wellbeing. However, stress, anxiety, homeostatic imbalance, chronic illness, and smartphone usage at night (blue light can disrupt circadian rhythm) can affect your sleep.

Although you can take tranquilizers and muscle relaxants to promote a good night’s sleep, these medications can cause side effects, especially when taken for a prolonged period.

On the other hand, soaking your feet in warm water with Epsom sea salts can improve blood flow, reduce stress and depression levels, and trigger melatonin production due to magnesium to promote sleep.

9. Sanitizes Your Feet Skin

Dead skin cells accumulated between your toes and fingers can cause chronic conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Likewise, this creates a favorable environment for fungi and bacteria to grow on your feet.

Epsom sea salts are an effective cleanser and sanitizer that reduce the growth of fungus and bacteria on your feet, thanks to their antimicrobial properties. According to the blog, soaking your feet in Epsom salt can clean and sanitize your feet and prevent the risk of infections caused by bacteria and fungus.

10. Relaxes Muscles and Tissues

Inadequate blood flow through your body can make your legs fatigued. It also affects your body’s lower parts because it becomes harder for veins to transport the blood upward toward your heart. As a result, blood accumulates in your legs, feet, and ankles.

A recent study shows that soaking feet in Epsom sea salts allows magnesium to penetrate the epidermis and reach the lower dermal layers to relieve muscles and tissue tension, inflammation, and pain.

Final Words

Epsom sea salts contain natural ingredients/compounds that improve your feet’s health and overall wellbeing by increasing blood flow to all body parts. Contact us today for more information!