Is Epsom Salt Good for You?

Epsom salt boasts a number of health benefits. Both holistic healers and traditional physicians tout the benefits of the crystallized salt, also known as hydrated magnesium sulfate. It can be taken orally or as a body soak.

Restores Balance

• Stress, caffeine excess, prescription medication and even alcoholism can cause an electrolyte imbalance. Symptoms range from tremors and muscle cramps to high blood pressure, diabetes and heart attacks. Epsom salts, either in oral form or as a bath soak, can help balance the enzymes by regulating magnesium.

Cosmetic Benefits

• Less drying than sea salt, an Epsom salt body scrub helps to exfoliate excess skin as well as flush out internal toxins, resulting in a glowing complexion. Try melting the salt crystals in water and adding to your hair conditioner to add body.

Energy Booster

• Because magnesium encourages the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the body, bathing in Epsom salts may raise your energy level and increase stamina.

Promising Research

• Epsom salt therapy shows promising results in treating autism, Alzheimer's disease and other serious disorders. Scientists suspect that autism, for example, causes an inability to break down sulfur in certain foods. But by absorbing the sulfate through Epsom salt baths, the imbalance can be corrected.

Trivia

• Epsom salt is named after one of the first English "spa" towns known for its healing drinking water. A 1695 patent proposed making salt from the waters of the famous Epsom well.