How To Take A Super Detox Bath With 2 Salts That Will Change Your Life
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I remember when I had a surgery when I was young, my mother had taught me to take a detox bath with natural salts to speed up the wound healing. It may have stung a little initially, but the wound did heal up quickly and beautifully.
I had almost forgotten about salt baths until I was doing a research to help a client with severe skin problems. What would one give to eliminate the agony of never-ending itchiness and pain?
Whoa … I found an exciting salt bath combination: Epsom and Himalayan salts! Sure, each of these on its own is miraculous in its own right. Putting the two of them together in one bath soak just makes it a super duper detox bath! And the best part is, they are safe, inexpensive, effective, soothing and healing!
Epsom Salt (Magnesium)
Epsom salt is not actually salt. It is a mineral compound found in water containing high levels of magnesium and sulfate. It looks like large salt crystals, which is probably why it is called a “salt”. It was first distilled in the town of Epsom in Surrey, England, thus was named after that town.
There are different grades of Epsom salt—for agricultural, personal care and food grade. Just be aware of this when you buy your Epsom salt.
You have probably heard that your skin is the largest detoxification organ. When doing an Epsom salt bath, the two minerals—magnesium and sulfate—work together to draw harmful toxins out of the body (much like how a magnet works) through the skin. Then these minerals are also absorbed into the skin to improve the body’s magnesium and sulfate levels.
While the two key minerals are poorly absorbed through your diet, studies show an increase in magnesium level from soaking in a bath that is enriched with Epsom salt, without any adverse effects!minerals
Magnesium is a key cofactor in more than 300 enzyme-driven biochemical reactions, and a key mineral in hundreds of functions in the body. And because many people are deficient in this mineral, you can imagine when their bodies are suddenly gifted with the much-needed mineral, how it can help to reverse many ailments.
Read here about how you can become deficient in magnesium, and why excess calcium can cause inflammation that can be effectively reversed with magnesium.
Himalayan Salt
Himalayan salt is one of the purest, uncontaminated salt that is as old as the earth. Use the Himalayan bath salt for this purpose as it will cost a little less than the salt use for cooking. If your salts are chunky, you may have to let them sit overnight in a vessel with water so that it gets fully dissolved when you’re ready to take your bath.
Like the other natural salts, there is a wide range of naturally-occuring minerals in Himalayan salt that our body needs. I love how the pinkish hue adds a nice color to the water. Adding this unprocessed salt to your bath is like soaking in an ocean of energy.
When soaking in warm water with this salt, the minerals and salts that are released into the water may be absorbed through your skin. This is like soaking in a mineral spring and absorbing all of its healing powers due to the combination of the water temperature and its rich, natural minerals.
Related: The many health benefits of Celtic sea salt and Himalayan salt.
Why Take A Detox Bath With Natural Salts
Both Epsom and Himalayan salts provide almost all the same benefits when taken in a salt bath, except that their mineral contents are different.
There may be many more health benefits of soaking in a salt bath, but basically you can expect any of these that are commonly reported:
- Helps your body draw out toxins through the skin
- Gets absorbed readily into your skin to cleanse, purify and nourish your body with essential minerals, leaving you refreshed and nourished
- Reduces the acidity and rebalances the pH levels in your body
- Its antiseptic qualities treat skin conditions such as dry skin, psoriasis, eczema, acne and rashes
- Accelerates healing of small cuts, bruising, swelling, strained or torn muscles and ligaments
- Soothes insect bites and sunburn
- Provides relief for arthritic joint pains and muscle cramps
- Relieves premenstruation symptoms—cramps, bloating, migraines
- Reduces stress, relaxes muscles and promotes a better night’s sleep
- Increases blood circulation, reduces limb numbness
- Improves respiratory health
BUY EPSOM & HIMALAYAN SALT:
How To Take A Super Detox Salt Bath
You will commonly see directions suggesting 2 cups to a normal size bath, more for an oversized bath, with a 12-15 minute soak. Dr David Jockers—leading writer for “The Truth About Cancer”—suggests a much more individualized measurement and a longer soak. He recommends that the amount be determined by the individual’s weight.
The following is for a standard size bathtub that could probably hold about 25-30 gallons of water.
Measurement for Epsom salt:
- Children under 60 lbs: ½ cup
- Individuals between 60-100 lbs: 1 cup
- Individuals between 100-150 lbs: 1½ cups
- Individuals between 150-200 lbs: 2 cups
- For every 50 lb more—add an additional ½ cup of salts
You can take this salt bath with only Epsom salt, or you can add Himalayan salt as well. If you’re doing this for the first time with no other detox experience, then I suggest you start with only Epsom salt and add Himalayan salt the next time if you think you can handle it.
If desired, add ½ cup of Himalayan bath salt to the amount of Epsom salt according to your body weight as stated above, into the prepared water.
Important To Note:
Here’s what you need to do, and take note before you start your super detox salt bath:
Do not take this bath if you are pregnant, have open wounds or burns, or have cardiovascular disease (unless under your healthcare practitioner’s supervision). If you are on long-term medication, check with your doctor before performing any kind of detox.
- Allow about an hour of quiet (no-kids’ time) to enjoy this whole process of super detox salt bath.
- Thoroughly clean and rinse out the bathtub to ensure there are no dirt or mold in and around it.
- Fill it up with warm water that is approximately 37o Celcius (or 97o Fahrenheit) so as to avoid using your body energy to balance out the temperature. This temperature is warm enough to dissolve both the salts. A thermometer may be helpful to help you achieve the right temperature. Hot water is not recommended especially if you have high blood pressure.
- Do not use any bath additives like soaps, shampoos, or any oils. If you need to do a shampoo bath, do that before. After this salt bath soak, do not rinse, simply towel dry.
- Have a light and healthy meal before doing this detox bath so that you don’t get dizzy at the end, from low sugar or empty stomach.
- Stay hydrated. Make sure you drink plenty of water before and after the bath for the entire day. Also take a bottle of water with you to drink during the soak. You may put on some music to help you relax and enjoy the soak.
- Soak for at least 40 minutes for maximum benefit of the detox taking place and your body absorbing the minerals from the salts.
- This is a detox bath. Take precaution when coming out of the bath. You may feel dizzy due to all the detoxification activities going on in your body. Drain the water and get out slowly. Hold on to the safety bar to ensure you don’t fall while getting up.
Depending on your health, after the salt bath, you may notice that the water change into a milky color due to the toxins being drawn out from your body. For some, the water may even be a brownish tint especially if they are smokers, or are regularly exposed to industrial toxins.
How often can you take this salt bath? I would say once to three times a week the most, if you really enjoy it.
Some of the links I post on this site are affiliate links. If you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you). However, note that I’m recommending these products because of their quality and that I have good experience using them, not because of the commission to be made.
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I actually do this bath with a combination of essential oils premixed in my epsom salt. It is heavenly. I dubbed it Skinny Dipping, as detox is an important part of weight release!
Would this also work to remove the radiation out of my body, if I had an x-ray or CAT scan?
Hi Andrew, for radiation detox, I suggest using clay therapy instead. You can learn more from here, click on the links for instructions on how to use these clays for best effect: http://juicing-for-health.com/clays-detoxify-radiation-emr-heavy-metal-contamination.html.
The clay therapy is good, and also Epsom salt, sea salt and baking soda for radiation removal work well also. A half cup of each in a tub of water, same 20 min soak. Three times a week.
Can you do the salt bath with any ordinary salt apart from the ones mentioned.
No, never use any ordinary salt (table salt) as they do not have the same effect as what these recommended salts do, i.e. draw out toxins from your body.
Is it safe to do this whilst breast feeding?
Hi Erica, this detox bath is quite safe to be done while breast feeding as these are not something you ingest into your body. The two salts detoxify by drawing the toxins out of your body into the water.
Well I use Himalayan bath salt on regular basis and I must say it really is amazing. It makes my skin so smooth and refreshing. I also use Himalayan salt in cooking as well and recently I have bought a salt lamp form ittefaqco. This lamp is as good as the edible and bath salt.
Can you combine the clay and salts in the bath?
Yes, you absolutely can! They are both safe products and can be used together. In fact I do that a lot. Thanks for asking.
Great info! Thank you Sara! Could this be the answer to our current health crises?!