Self-Sufficiency | Better health through soaking in Epsom Salt (You can grow your own)

Magnesium can be ingested as a nutritional supplement, but studies show that a wide variety of factors - the presence of specific foods or drugs, certain medical conditions, even the individual chemistry of a person's stomach acid - can interfere with their effectiveness.

But all of the subjects in a recent study experienced increased magnesium levels from soaking in a bath enriched with magnesium sulfate crystals, commonly known as Epsom Salt.

Magnesium - the key component of Epsom Salt -- performs more functions in more systems of the human body than virtually any other mineral, including regulating the activity of more than 325 enzymes.

Studies show that magnesium is:

• An electrolyte, helping to ensure proper muscle, nerve and enzyme function.

• Critical to the proper use of calcium in cells.

• An aid in helping to prevent heart disease and strokes by lowering blood pressure, protecting the elasticity of arteries, preventing blood clots and reducing the risk of sudden heart attack deaths.

Medical research also indicates that magnesium may:

• Increase the effectiveness of insulin, helping to lower the risk or severity of diabetes.

• Reduce inflammation and relieves pain, making it a beneficial in the treatment of sore muscles, bronchial asthma, migraine headaches and fibromyalgia.

Although magnesium can be absorbed through the digestive tract, many foods, drugs and medical conditions can interfere with the effectiveness of this deliver method. Therefore, soaking in an Epsom Salt bath is one of the most effective means of making the magnesium your body needs readily available.

Epsom Salt also delivers sulfates, which medical research indicates are needed for the formation of brain tissue, joint proteins and the mucin proteins that line the walls of the digestive tract. Studies show that sulfates also stimulate the pancreas to generate digestive enzymes and help to detoxify the body's residue of medicines and environmental contaminants. Studies indicate that sulfates are difficult to absorb from food, but are readily absorbed through the skin.

Studies show these benefits from the major components of Epsom Salt may:

Magnesium:

• Ease stress and improves sleep and concentration
• Help muscles and nerves function properly
• Regulate activity of 325+ enzymes
• Help prevent artery hardening and blood clots
• Make insulin more effective
• Reduce inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps
• Improve oxygen use

Sulfates:

• Flush toxins
• Improve absorption of nutrients
• Help form joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins
• Help prevent or ease migraine headaches

GROWING EPSOM SALT

You can find Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) in the laundry and pharmacy sections of most stores.

Epsom salt crystals are safe to handle, easy to grow, and form quickly. You can grow clear crystals or add food coloring if you prefer. Here's what you need to know to make your own crystals.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: A Few Days
Here's How:

1. Boil 1/2 cup water on the stove.
2. Remove the water from heat and add 1/4 cup epsom salts.

Stir the mixture until the salt is fully dissolved. If desired, add food coloring.

3. Pour the mixture over a piece of sponge (optional) or into a shallow container. You need just enough liquid to cover the bottom of the container.

4. Place the container in a warm or sunny location. Crystals will form as the water evaporates.

Tips:

1. The sponge provides extra surface area to allow the crystals to form more quickly and helps make them a bit easier to view and handle.

2. Compare the appearance of the epsom salts before stirring them into the water with the appearance of the crystals that are produced.

http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/