Just hearing ‘Epsom Salt Bath’ makes your shoulders relax and tension melt. You can almost smell the lavender essential oil as you imagine dipping into the hot water to ease the day’s tension. This relaxing self-care ritual isn’t only an effective way to soak away the day’s stress, it’s also a great way to ease sore muscles.
EPSOM SALT BATH BENEFITS
Lymphatic Movement
Immersing yourself in hot water helps move lymphatic fluid throughout the body. Your lymphatic system supports your immune system and aids the body in detoxification. When your lymph fluid isn’t circulating effectively, it can result in a less efficient immune system and build-up of toxins and other cellular byproducts in your tissues. What a bonus – your relaxing self-care bath ritual also comes with a side of immune system support! Speaking of immune support, if you need a little boost, make sure to check out our article on medicinal Mushrooms!
As you know from our post on How to Relieve Sore Muscles, strenuous physical activity results in inflammation and microtears in the muscles that cause the soreness you feel in the days following an intense workout. The increased lymphatic movement that a bath provides can help to reduce inflammation, providing sweet relief for those sore muscles!
Epsom salt baths for sore muscles
Epsom salts are actually magnesium salts. Magnesium is a very calming mineral, essential in over 300 reactions in the body. Magnesium is a proven therapy to relax and relieve sore muscles. While there’s not solid scientific evidence that the magnesium in a bath absorbs through the skin, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence supporting Epsom salt bath benefits for sore and aching muscles to make it a worthwhile addition to your soak.
Epsom salt baths for stress relief
Epsom salt baths are also an excellent way to relieve stress, given magnesium’s calming nature. Plus, we can think of no better way to end a stressful day than unwinding with a soak in salted aromatic hot water. Lighting a candle and adding some relaxing music is a great way to make it a luxurious spa-like self-care experience that melts away the stress of the day.
How often should you take Epsom salt baths?
Although there’s no hard and fast rules, Epsom salt baths can be enjoyed 3 times per week as a general guideline. It’s important to note that taking a hot bath increases circulation and causes sweating, making it vital to drink plenty of water afterwards to replenish your body’s hydration.
How much Epsom salt?
Adding 1 to 2 cups of Epsom salts to your bath is a good rule of thumb. Another option is to add a mixture of Epsom salt and sea salt, as sea salt offers additional minerals to elevate your soaking experience.
Essential oils have a powerful effect on the mind and body, making them a healthy (and easy) way to level up your bath. There are a vast number of oils to choose from to make your bathing experience unique. If sore muscles and stress relief are your goals, lavender and marjoram are excellent choices. Benefits of lavender essential oil include reducing stress, improving sleep, and alleviating pain, to name a few. Marjoram essential oil is especially beneficial for sore muscles and inflammation, but is also known to support sleep and detoxification. With both oils supporting sleep, this would be a great combination to use for those in-need of a good night’s rest.
Epsom Salt Bath Recipe
- In a small bowl add 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), then add the following essential oils: 5 drops lavender, 5 drops marjoram. NOTE: if you only have one of these essential oils, simply add 10-12 drops of that oil to the EVOO.
- Add 2 cups Epsom salts to the bowl of oils and stir to combine.
- Optional: add ½ cup of coarse sea salt to the mixture.
- Add the oil & salt mixture to a bath (or footbath) and soak as long as desired.
At the end of the day, if you’re struggling with sore muscles and stress, an Epsom salt bath is a soothing remedy. Light a candle, turn on some calming music and grab your favorite hydrating beverage to elevate this relaxing self-care experience.
Items for a relaxing epsom salt bath
Do you have a favorite Epsom Salt Bath Recipe? What’s your favorite way to relieve sore muscles and stress? #glowmode
If you’re looking for more ways to relieve sore muscles, check out our How to Relieve Sore Muscles post.
For another relaxing self-care ritual, see our post on Gua Sha: What It Is, Benefits & How-To
