7 Epsom Salt Bath Benefits So Good You’ll Never Want to Get Out of the Tub

Nikole Stewart |

Oct 18, 2024

Epsom Salt bath Benefits, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Have you forgotten what it feels like to take a bath? Showering in the mornings helps us get out the door faster — setting aside another half hour to sit in the tub seems like a waste of time. However, if this sounds like you, you are missing out on a health-generating ritual: soaking up Epsom salt bath benefits.

Naturally rich in magnesium and sulfate, Epsom salts are inexpensive and highly beneficial —and as good an excuse as any to get some relaxation. Keep reading to learn seven key Epsom salt bath benefits and see how adding bath time to your routine can improve your overall wellness.

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1. Improves Circulation

Epsom Salt Bath Benefits Circulation, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Water immersion is an exercise for the heart, and you don’t have to do much else other than lie there in utter bliss. Water puts pressure on the body and increases the pumping of the heart, which boosts circulation and thus supplies oxygen more efficiently to all of your muscles, tissues, and organs¹.

2. Calms Muscles

Epsom Salt Bath Benefits Muscle, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

If you exercise regularly (or intensely) and experience pain in the joints, tendons, and muscles, a warm Epsom salt bath can be a welcome addition to your routine. It stimulates blood flow and can help to heal pain and reduce inflammation¹.

3. Lowers Blood Pressure

Epsom Salt Bath Benefits Blood Pressure, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

A hot bath can lower blood pressure for up to a few hours. By dilating your blood vessels and relaxing your nervous system, you’ll often emerge from a warm or hot bath with a lower heart rate than you normally have. If you have a heart condition, consult your doctor first, as taking a hot bath or dipping into a hot tub can actually be dangerous.

4. Helps You Lose Weight

Epsom Salt Bath Benefits Weight Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

When the nervous system is relaxed, the body’s cortisol levels drop. When cortisol levels are high, the body actually resists weight loss². Lower cortisol levels are thus ideal for shedding those extra pounds more effectively.

5. Detoxes the Skin

Epsom Salt Bath Benefits Detox, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

In addition to improving your circulation and making your body more efficient at eliminating wastes, some Epsom salt bath benefits include detoxification³. Combine one cup of Epsom salt with two cups of baking soda and add the mixture while drawing hot bath water. Once the tub is two-thirds full, stop running the water and soak for at least 30 minutes. Epsom salts are highly alkaline and great for pulling toxins from the skin.

6. Gets Rid of Headaches

For most people, the source of headaches is the narrowing of blood vessels in the neck and head. With improved circulation from a bath, blood moves more freely throughout the body and thus prevents the onset of headaches. This is an easy preventative step to add to your routine — and it functions as a natural solution.

7. Reduces Stress

Epsom Salt Bath Benefits Stress, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Who doesn’t need more healthy ways to encourage stress relief? A warm Epsom bath relaxes the nervous system and reduces cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone. Light a candle and bring a book to the occasion for ultimate relaxation¹.