Epsom Salt for Foot Relief

Nothing makes tired or sore feet feel better than a nice foot soak. Foot soaks are so popular that you can find numerous types of foot bath products on the market, from those that simply vibrate and bubble, to those that give your feet a full massage while you are soaking them. However, one of the most popular remedies for foot relief is an Epsom salt soak, which can be done in a simple foot basin as well as a fancy foot spa.

What Is Epsom Salt?

• Epsom salt is so named because it was discovered in Epsom, England in the late 1600s. Its scientific name is magnesium sulfate, and it is the magnesium that gives the salt many of its soothing benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, magnesium helps maintain the proper functioning of muscles and nerves within the body, as well as regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and maintain bone strength. However, it is magnesium's effect on the muscles--and the fact that low magnesium can produce muscle cramping and muscle spasms--that make it an effective foot soak agent. Both the magnesium and the sulfate in Epsom salt cross the skin barrier and have a direct effect upon the muscles and tissues when used as a soak, according to a study conducted by Dr. RH Waring at the University of Alabama. What this means for you is that if you often experience sore, tired and achy feet, a foot soak using Epsom salts may provide you with relief.

How To Use It For Foot Relief

• To experience foot relief, grab a foot basin, foot spa, or simply use your bathtub. Fill the basin with enough warm water to cover your feet, up to your ankles, and then add 2 cups of Epsom salt. Stir the salt around to help it dissolve. Sit in a comfortable chair, insert your feet and relax. Allow your feet to remain in the soak for 15 minutes. You'll find that the foot soak not only relieves your feet, but the relaxation time will help relieve any mental stress you may be feeling as well. If you want the sensation of a foot massage in a simple foot basin, add some marbles to the bottom and while your feet are soaking, roll them around on the marbles.

Precautions

• If you are under the care of a physician for any medical condition, especially diabetes, talk to him before you decide to make a habit of soaking your feet in Epsom salts. The magnesium sulfite in Epsom salts is absorbed, and there is a chance that it could raise blood magnesium levels, which may interfere with certain medications.