How to Use Epsom Salt for Constipation Relief

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Taking Epsom salt by mouth has a laxative effect. It can increase the amount of water in your intestines and make stool easier to pass but may cause mild side effects.

Constipation happens when your stool takes longer to move through your digestive tract and becomes hard and dry. This can lead to fewer bowel movements or none at all. It may be chronic or temporary. Either way, the condition can be very uncomfortable.

Epsom salt is known for its ability to soften skin, soothe tired feet, and relieve muscle aches. It’s often used in do-it-yourself bath salts and skin scrubs. You can take it by mouth to relieve constipation.

It’s thought to be easier on the body than stimulant laxatives.

Epsom salt looks like table salt, or sodium chloride, but it isn’t made of the same ingredients. It’s made from the minerals magnesium and sulfate. It was first discovered centuries ago in Epsom, England.

Epsom salt is available at drugstores, grocery stores, and some discount department stores. It’s usually found in the laxative or personal care section. When you take Epsom salt for constipation, use plain varieties. Don’t ingest scented varieties, even if the scent is made from natural oils.

In most cases, Epsom salt is safe for adults and children over 6 years old to use. Infants and children under 6 years old shouldn’t use Epsom salt internally or externally.

Consuming Epsom salt increases the amount of water in your intestines, which softens your stool and makes it easier to pass.

To treat constipation with Epsom salt, follow dosage guidelines.

For adults and children 12 years old and older, dissolve 2 to 4 level teaspoons of Epsom salt in 8 ounces of water and drink the mixture immediately.

For children 6 to 11 years old, dissolve 1 to 2 level teaspoons of Epsom salt in 8 ounces of water and drink immediately.

If you find the taste is hard to tolerate, try adding fresh lemon juice.

Epsom salt usually produces a bowel movement within 30 minutes to six hours.

After four hours, the dose can be repeated if you don’t get results. But taking more than two doses of Epsom salt daily isn’t recommended.

Don’t use it for more than one week without consulting your doctor, and contact your doctor if you don’t have a bowel movement after two doses.

Using Epsom salt externally might also relieve constipation. Soaking in it may help relax your gut and soften your stool as you absorb magnesium through your skin. This may help produce a bowel movement.

Talk to your doctor before using Epsom salt if you have:

• kidney disease
• a magnesium-restricted diet
• severe stomach pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• a sudden change in your bowel habits lasting two weeks or more

Side effects of Epsom salt | Side effects

When it’s used correctly, Epsom salt is considered safe. Since it has a laxative effect, it’s important to drink plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration while using it.

All laxatives, including Epsom salt, may cause mild gastrointestinal issues like:

• nausea
• cramping
• bloating
• gas
• diarrhea

If they’re overused, laxatives may cause an electrolyte imbalance in your body. This may lead to symptoms like the following:

• dizziness
• weakness
• an irregular heartbeat
• confusion
• seizures

Causes of constipation | Causes

Constipation is often caused by lifestyle factors, such as:

• a low-fiber diet
• a lack of exercise
• dehydration
• stress
• laxative overuse

Women may also experience constipation during pregnancy.

Serious conditions that are linked with constipation include:

• intestinal blockages
• pelvic floor muscle problems
• neurological conditions, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, or Parkinson’s disease
• diabetes
• thyroid problems

Epsom salt is just a temporary fix. If you don’t identify the cause of your constipation and take steps to prevent it, you’ll likely experience it again. Your constipation may even become chronic. Ironically, the more you depend on laxatives, the worse your constipation may become.

Try the following tips to avoid chronic constipation:

Move more

The more you sit, the harder it is for waste to move through your intestines. If you have a job where you’re sitting most of the day, take a break and walk around each hour. Try setting a goal of taking 10,000 steps per day. Regular cardio exercise also helps.

Eat more fiber

Add more insoluble fiber to your diet from food sources like:

• fruits
• vegetables
• whole grains
• nuts
• seeds

Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool and helps move it through your intestines. Aim to consume 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day.

Drink more water

When your body becomes dehydrated, so does your colon. Be sure to drink plenty of water or other non-sugary beverages, like decaffeinated tea, throughout the day.

Reduce stress

For some people, stress goes right to their gut and causes constipation. Try managing stress through:

• meditation
• yoga
• psychotherapy
• walking

Talk to your doctor if your stress feels unmanageable.

Check your medications

Some medications, like opioids, sedatives, or blood pressure drugs, may cause chronic constipation. If you take medications that cause constipation, ask your doctor if a non-constipating alternative is available.

When it’s used as directed, Epsom salt is an effective alternative to stimulant laxatives for relieving constipation.

As long as you use Epsom salt in recommended doses, the side effects are generally mild. In the case of laxatives, less is more. Use as little as necessary to get results.

If you have any concerns about Epsom salt or you experience serious side effects, stop using it and contact your doctor.

Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects

Epsom salt can be used as a supplement, bath salt, or beauty product. It’s also associated with very few side effects and may offer several potential health benefits.

Epsom salt is a popular remedy for many ailments.

People use it to ease health problems, such as muscle soreness and stress. It’s also affordable, easy to use, and harmless when used appropriately.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of Epsom salt, including its benefits, uses, and side effects.

Epsom salt is also known as magnesium sulfate. It’s a chemical compound made up of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen.

Despite its name, Epsom salt is a completely different compound than table salt. It was most likely termed “salt” because of its chemical structure.

It has an appearance similar to table salt and is often dissolved in baths, which is why you may also know it as “bath salt. ” While it looks similar to table salt, its taste is distinctly different. Epsom salt is quite bitter and unpalatable.

Some people still consume it by dissolving the salt in water and drinking it. However, due to its taste, you probably don’t want to add it to food.

For hundreds of years, this salt has been used to treat ailments, such as electrolyte abnormalities, constipation, and eclampsia. Unfortunately, its effects on many other conditions are not well researched (1).

Most of the reported benefits of Epsom salt are attributed to its magnesium, a mineral that a lot of people do not get enough of (2).

You can find Epsom salt online and at most drug and grocery stores. It’s typically located in the pharmacy or cosmetic area.

Summary

Epsom salt — otherwise known as bath salt or magnesium sulfate — is a mineral compound believed to have many health benefits.

When Epsom salt is dissolved in water, it releases magnesium and sulfate ions.

The idea is that these particles can be absorbed through your skin, providing you with magnesium and sulfates — which serve important bodily functions.

Despite claims on the contrary, there is no good evidence that magnesium or sulfates are absorbed into your body through the skin (3).

Yet the most common use for Epsom salt is in baths, where it is simply dissolved in bathwater.

It can also be applied to your skin as a cosmetic or taken by mouth as a laxative or magnesium supplement. However, because of its laxative effects, it might not be an ideal choice as a magnesium supplement if your goal is to prevent deficiency (4).

Summary

Epsom salt dissolves in water and can be added to baths or used as a cosmetic. However, there is no evidence that your body can absorb its minerals through the skin.

Many people, including some healthcare professionals, claim Epsom salt is therapeutic and use it as an alternative treatment for several conditions.

Provides magnesium

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, the first being calcium (5).

It is involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions that benefit your heart and nervous system (5).

Still, many people do not consume enough magnesium (2).

While magnesium sulfate can be used as a magnesium supplement, some people claim that magnesium may be better absorbed via Epsom salt baths than when taken by mouth.

However, this claim is not based on any available evidence and research shows that magnesium sulfate is very poorly absorbed, even when taken orally (6).

Proponents of this theory point to an unpublished study in 19 healthy people. The researchers claimed that all but three of the participants showed higher blood magnesium levels after soaking in an Epsom salt bath.

However, no statistical tests were performed and the study lacked a control group (7).

Some other studies have also evaluated the effects of Epsom salt baths on blood magnesium levels, but these studies have turned up conflicting results and are of questionable quality (3).

Therefore, while it may be possible for magnesium to be absorbed through the skin, more large, high quality studies are needed (3).

Promotes sleep and stress reduction

Adequate magnesium levels are essential for sleep and stress management, likely because magnesium helps your brain produce neurotransmitters that induce sleep and reduce stress (8, 9).

Low magnesium levels may negatively affect sleep quality and stress. Some people claim that taking Epsom salt baths can reverse these issues by allowing your body to absorb magnesium through the skin. However, this hasn’t been scientifically proven.

It’s also possible that the calming effects of Epsom salt baths are simply due to the relaxation caused by taking hot baths.

Helps with constipation

Magnesium is often used to treat constipation.

It appears to be helpful because it draws water into your colon, which promotes bowel movements (10).

Most often, magnesium is taken by mouth for constipation relief in the form of magnesium citrate, magnesium hydroxide, or magnesium oxide (11).

Taking Epsom salt may also be effective, although it is not as well-studied as other forms. Nevertheless, the FDA lists it as an approved laxative (4, 12).

It can be taken by mouth with water according to the directions on the package.

You should also know that consuming Epsom salt may produce unpleasant side effects, such as bloating and liquid stool (13).

It should only be used occasionally as a laxative, not for long-term relief.

Exercise performance and recovery

Some people claim that taking Epsom salt baths can reduce muscle soreness and relieve cramps — both important factors for exercise performance and recovery.

It is well known that adequate magnesium levels are helpful for exercise because magnesium helps increase the availability of glucose in the blood, muscles, and brain while reducing the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles (14).

While relaxing in a hot bath may help soothe aching muscles, there is no high quality evidence that people absorb bathwater magnesium through their skin (3).

On the other hand, oral supplements can effectively stave off magnesium insufficiency or deficiency.

Athletes are prone to low magnesium levels, so health professionals often recommend that they take magnesium supplements to ensure optimal levels (15).

While magnesium is clearly important for exercise, the use of bath salt to enhance fitness is not well researched. At this point, the supposed benefits are purely anecdotal.

Reduced pain and swelling

Another common claim is that Epsom salt helps reduce pain and swelling.

Many people report that taking Epsom salt baths improves symptoms of fibromyalgia and arthritis.

Again, the magnesium is deemed responsible for these effects, since many people with fibromyalgia and arthritis are deficient in this mineral (16, 17).

One 2015 study in 15 women with fibromyalgia concluded that applying magnesium chloride to the skin may be beneficial for reducing symptoms (18).

However, this study was based on questionnaires and lacked a control group. Its results should be taken with a grain of salt.

Summary

Most of the purported benefits of Epsom bath salts are anecdotal. On the other hand, oral magnesium supplements may benefit sleep, stress, digestion, exercise, and pain in people who are deficient.

While Epsom salt is generally safe, there are a few negative effects that can occur when you take it by mouth.

First of all, the magnesium sulfate in it can have a laxative effect. Consuming it may result in diarrhea, bloating, or upset stomach (4, 13).

If you use it as a laxative, make sure to drink plenty of water, which may reduce digestive discomfort. Furthermore, never take more than the recommended dosage without first consulting a doctor.

In extreme cases, magnesium overdose can lead to heart problems, altered mental status, and death. This is unlikely as long as you take it in appropriate amounts as recommended by a doctor or listed on the package (19, 20).

Contact a doctor if you experience signs of an allergic reaction or other serious side effects.

Summary

The magnesium sulfate in Epsom salt can produce side effects when taken by mouth. You can prevent these by using it correctly and talking with a doctor before increasing your dosage.

Here are a few of the most common ways to use Epsom salt.

Bath

The most common use is taking what’s called an Epsom salt bath.

To do this, add 2 cups, or about 475 grams (g), of Epsom salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub and soak your body for at least 15 minutes.

You can also put the Epsom salt under running water if you want it to dissolve more quickly.

While hot baths can be relaxing, there is currently no good evidence for the benefits of an Epsom salt bath in itself.

Beauty

Epsom salt may be used as a beauty product for skin and hair. To use it as an exfoliant, just place some in your hand, dampen it and massage it into your skin.

Some people claim it’s a useful addition to facial wash, since it may help cleanse pores.

Just a 1/2 teaspoon (tsp), or 2.5 g, will do the trick. Simply combine it with your own cleansing cream and massage onto the skin.

It can also be added to conditioner and may help add volume to your hair. For this effect, combine equal parts conditioner and Epsom salt. Work the mixture through your hair and leave for 20 minutes, then rinse.

These uses are entirely anecdotal and unsupported by any studies. Remember that it works differently for everyone and that you may not experience the reported benefits.

Laxative

Epsom salt can be taken by mouth as a magnesium supplement or as a laxative.

Though there are no official guidelines for how much you should take, many brands recommend taking 2–6 tsp (10–30 g) per day, dissolved in water, as a maximum for adults, or around 1–2 tsp (5–10 g) for children.

Consult with a doctor if you need a more individualized dosage or if you want to increase the dose to more than what is listed on the package.

Unless you have the consent of a doctor, never ingest more than the upper limit of intake stated on the package. Taking more than you need could lead to magnesium sulfate poisoning.

If you want to begin taking Epsom salt by mouth, start slowly and gradually increase the dose as needed.

Remember that everyone’s magnesium needs are different. You may need more or less than the recommended dose, depending on how your body reacts and what exactly you are using it for.

Additionally, when consuming Epsom salt, make sure to use pure, supplement-grade Epsom salt that does not have any added scents or coloring.

Summary

Epsom salt can be dissolved in baths and used as a beauty product. It can also be consumed with water as a magnesium supplement or laxative.

Epsom salt may be helpful for easing constipation when taken as a supplement. It can also be used as a beauty product or bath salt.

There isn’t a lot of evidence to support all of its reported benefits. Its positive effects are mostly anecdotal at this point, and more research is needed on its functions.

However, Epsom salt is generally safe and easy to use.

how and why to use epsom salt

Epsom salt is a popular remedy for many ailments. It can be used to alleviate health problems, as well as in beauty treatments. Here’s why you should stock up on Epsom salt.

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Epsom salt is a real trend in the field of beauty and wellness, and the scope of its application is truly impressive.

Contents of the article

Epsom salt is an affordable and harmless product for relieving muscle pain, relieving stress and even losing weight. We looked at all the nuances of using Epsom, as well as the pros, cons and side effects of this tool to improve well-being.

What is Epsom salt?

Epsom salt is also known as magnesium sulfate. It is a chemical compound consisting of magnesium, sulfur and oxygen. It takes its name from Epsom, Surrey, UK, where it was originally discovered.

Despite its name, Epsom salt is a completely different compound than regular salt. Most likely, it was called salt only because of its chemical structure.

Epsom looks like table salt. Because of this, it is often used during water procedures and is called bath salt. In fact, Epsom salts are quite bitter and unpleasant in taste. However, some people still take it internally, dissolving it in water and drinking it. However, due to the taste, despite all the benefits, it is impossible to use Epsom salt in cooking.

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Epsom salt has been used for hundreds of years to treat ailments such as constipation, insomnia and fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, its effect on these conditions is not well understood.

Most of the claimed benefits of Epsom salts are due to their magnesium content, a mineral that many of us don’t get enough of.

Have you heard about the benefits of Epsom salts before?

How does Epsom salt work?

When Epsom salt dissolves in water, magnesium and sulfate ions are released. It is believed that these particles can be absorbed through the skin, providing the body with magnesium and sulfates that perform important bodily functions. But nevertheless, at the moment, scientists do not have convincing evidence that magnesium or sulfates are absorbed into the body through the skin.

Most often, this salt is used during bathing: a large amount of it (about 400-500 grams) must be dissolved in warm water. Sometimes a concentrated solution of Epsom salts is applied to the skin as a cosmetic and taken orally as a magnesium supplement or in larger quantities as a laxative.

Epsom salt proven health benefits

Epsom salt is believed to have therapeutic properties. Because of this, a number of medical professionals (most often followers of non-traditional teachings) use Epsom salt as an alternative remedy for treating diseases.

Epsom salt provides the body with magnesium

Magnesium is considered the fourth most important mineral in the body. It is involved in over 325 biochemical reactions that benefit the heart and nervous system.

Many people do not get enough magnesium. Even if you monitor the level of this component, metabolic processes can affect how magnesium is absorbed by the body. In addition, some experts claim that while taking a bath, magnesium is absorbed better than if taken orally, but this fact does not have widely known evidence.

Promotes quality sleep and stress reduction

Adequate levels of magnesium in the body are needed to improve sleep and reduce stress, probably because magnesium helps the brain produce neurotransmitters that improve these factors. Magnesium also helps produce the “sleep hormone” melatonin.

Low magnesium levels can negatively affect sleep quality and stress levels. But in the case of Epsom salts, it is more likely that the calming effect is due simply to the relaxation caused by taking hot baths.

Helps with constipation

Magnesium is often used to treat constipation. Magnesium is most commonly taken orally to relieve constipation in the form of magnesium citrate or magnesium hydroxide. However, taking Epsom salt is also considered effective, although not well understood. Epsom salts are on the list of approved laxatives in a number of countries.

Salt can be taken orally with water according to package directions. Adults are usually advised to take 2-6 teaspoons (10-30 grams) of Epsom salts at a time, mixed with a glass of water. The laxative effect occurs after 30 minutes – 6 hours. However, be aware that epsom salts can cause unpleasant side effects such as bloating and loose stools. Epsom salts as a laxative should be used occasionally, in emergency situations. And better on the recommendation of a doctor.

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Exercise efficiency and recovery loads.

Of course, magnesium does help the body to tolerate exercise more easily, as well as to absorb glucose and lactic acid. In addition, relaxing in a hot bath does reduce muscle pain, but there is no reliable evidence that magnesium can be absorbed through the skin.

Professional athletes tend to be deficient in magnesium. And most often, doctors prescribe them magnesium supplements by mouth. If you want to increase your magnesium levels, it’s better not to count on the full effect of hot baths with Epsom salts. Start taking dietary supplements with magnesium, but only after consulting a specialist.

Reduced pain and swelling

Another common claim is that Epsom salt helps reduce pain and swelling. Many people report that taking Epsom salt baths improves symptoms of fibromyalgia and arthritis.

Magnesium baths are considered helpful in these cases, as many people with fibromyalgia and arthritis are deficient in magnesium. And by the way, one study in 15 women with fibromyalgia found that applying magnesium chloride to the skin could be helpful in reducing symptoms. However, these results are considered too small and not well-tested to provide a proven benefit for Epsom magnesium salt concentrate.

Safety and side effects

Although Epsom salt is generally safe, there are several negative effects that can occur if used incorrectly, all of which relate to ingestion of salt.

First, as we have already said, magnesium sulfate can have a laxative effect. Its use can lead to diarrhea, bloating, or indigestion.

If you are using Epsom salts as a laxative, drink as much water as possible to reduce GI discomfort. Also, never take more than the recommended dose without first consulting your doctor. Some cases of magnesium overdose have been reported when people took too much Epsom salt. Overdose symptoms include nausea, headache, dizziness and skin redness. In extreme cases, an overdose of magnesium can lead to heart problems, coma, paralysis, and death. But this is unlikely if you take the remedy in the appropriate amounts recommended by your doctor or indicated on the package

If you experience signs of an allergic reaction or other serious side effects after taking Epsom salt, contact your doctor immediately.

How to Use Epsom Salt

Here are some of the most common uses for Epsom Salt.

Salt bath

Epsom salts are most commonly added to bath water. Pour 2 cups (about 400–500 grams) of Epsom salts into hot water and take a bath for about 15 minutes. As we’ve said before, hot baths can be relaxing, but there’s currently no convincing evidence for a greater benefit from Epsom salt baths.

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Beauty

Epsom salt can be used as a cosmetic product for skin and hair. To use it as an exfoliator, simply take the granules in your hand, moisten and rub into the skin.

• Some internet users claim that salt can be used as a pore cleanser. To do this, mix 0.5 teaspoon of Epsom salts with a regular cleanser and apply the mixture on the skin with massaging movements.
• Epsom salts can also be added to the conditioner to add volume to the hair. To do this, mix equal parts conditioner and epsom salt. Apply the mixture to your hair and leave for 20 minutes, then rinse.
• In general, these uses of Epsom salts are not supported by any research and work in much the same way as adding table salt or sea salt to your beauty routine. So it’s not worth betting on the miraculous effect of epsom.

Laxative

And again, more about this method. Epsom salts can be taken orally as a magnesium supplement or as a laxative. Most brands recommend taking 2-6 teaspoons (10-30 grams) of Epsom salts daily, diluted with water. Children usually need 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 grams). However, it is undesirable to use the supplement without a doctor’s recommendation – especially in excess of the norm.

If you want to try taking Epsom salt by mouth, start the process slowly. Try 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 grams) at a time and gradually increase the dose as needed.

Remember that everyone’s magnesium needs are different. You may need more or less than the recommended dose, depending on how your body reacts to the supplement and what exactly you are using it for.

Also, when using Epsom salts internally, be sure to use pure Epsom salts that do not contain any flavoring or coloring agents.

Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate). Properties and uses

Epsom salt is a source of essential elements in the form of sulfur and magnesium. Also contains copper impurities. Such a set of ingredients has a valuable effect on the health and condition of the skin.
Sulfur has antifungal and antiseborrheic properties. Reduces inflammation and helps in the treatment of acne. It also has a positive effect on the scalp with excessive oily hair, seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.
Sulfur is also useful in relieving rheumatic diseases and pains – sulfur baths are recommended for arthritis. Also takes an active part in the removal of toxins from the body.
Magnesium has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Counteracts the effects of chronic stress, helps to relax tense muscles, relieves muscle, bone and joint pain, and helps to calm and regenerate the body.

Copper has a positive effect on the condition of the skin, hair and nails. Its properties are known for relieving inflammation and skin irritation.
Epsom Salt dissolved in water, applied topically helps to smooth and soften the skin, and the ingredients are absorbed into the body in a certain amount (through the sweat glands), relieving pain, relaxing and facilitating the elimination of toxins from the body.

Oral bitter salt has laxative properties. It helps to cleanse the intestines of old residues, so it is consumed in small quantities for constipation.
Bitter salt – laxative. How does oral magnesium sulfate work?
Epsom salt is available as magnesium sulfate heptahydrate and this form is approved for use in our country for both topical and internal use. Other countries use magnesium sulfate monohydrate. Indications for medical use, among other things, are poisoning and eclampsia during pregnancy.

Epsom salt is used internally primarily as a laxative for constipation. Magnesium sulfate is an osmotically active compound that is poorly absorbed in the digestive system, where it forms a hypotonic solution, that is, with a concentration higher than in body fluids. This increases the amount of water in the intestinal masses and prevents dehydration, making bowel movements easier.

The dose of Epsom salts used for drinking is 10-30 g (2-6 teaspoons) dissolved in a glass of water. The effect appears within 30 minutes, although sometimes up to 6 hours.