Why Are Epsom Salt Foot Soaks So Good For You?

We’ll find out why Epsom salt foot soaks are so good for you. Who should use them. When to use them. And how to have a great one!

Before we moved to New Zealand I never knew walking around barefoot was a thing. My kids embraced it from Day 1 and took quite badly to being made to wear shoes for certain occasions! It took me a while longer to get used to.

I do the barefoot thing a lot more these days. It’s beneficial for many reasons. And sometimes it’s simply too hot in Northland to want to wear shoes, even jandals!

One downside of this is that my feet feel rougher and more calloused. Which is great for protection if I encounter a sharp stone but doesn’t look or feel very pleasant.

Do you experience foot pain?

I have plantar fasciitis which causes my feet to ache. So soothing foot soaks are right up my alley and something I’m fitting more regularly into my weekly ‘self-care routine’.

Soaking your feet in a tub of warm water is pleasant enough, but why not supercharge the experience?

Add a handful of our bath soaks and you’ve got yourself a boost of magnesium sulphate from the Epsom salt. Plus all the minerals and nutrients contained in the Himalayan pink salt* for good measure.

* If you have SO:Active, instead of the pink salt you get organic sodium bicarb which is a natural deodoriser. Great for feet that have been stuck in trainers or work boots for hours. In this house that means great for the husband and teen boys!

Epsom salt helps remove toxins from your body, can reduce inflammation, increase circulation and ease cramps.

All you have to do to get the benefits is sit and relax with your feet in a tub of warm water!

Imagine the bliss after a long day on your feet at work, a day spent gardening, or even running a half marathon if you’re that way inclined! It can also help ease the pain and pressure of ingrown toenails.**

Our soaks also contain essential oils to add that little something extra to your relaxing spa-like treatment. For example, SO:Relaxing contains lavender. As well as being known as the relaxation essential oil, it’s also a natural pain reliever. SO:Active contains lavender too, and wintergreen. This is used to lower pain and swelling, and feels almost cooling and refreshing on your tired feet.

HOW TO ENJOY A SOOTHING MAGNESIUM FOOT SOAK:

• Simply add a handful of our bath salts to a tub of warm (not overly hot) water. Soak your feet for at least 15 minutes. If you don’t have any Salt & Oil to hand, Epsom salt or even sea salt or pink salt from the pantry will do the job.

• If you have areas of dry, rough skin, wet your feet then rub a small amount of the salts into your feet. This is a great way to exfoliate them naturally before soaking them in the tub.

• Next Level – For a really smooth, moisturising treat, add a carrier oil to your mix.

Last night I added a few tablespoons of SO:Uplifting salt mix to a container, with 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil. I gave it just a gentle stir to keep the grains from dissolving. I wet one foot at a time then massaged in a fingerful of the mixture for a minute. I rinsed it off then repeated with the other foot before soaking them both for 10 minutes.

My skin felt so smooth and refreshed afterwards. And, even better, my hands (which are notoriously dry because I’m rubbish at using hand cream) were also soft and moisturised.

Adding a moisturising cream afterwards would help lock in the moisture.

TOP TIP 1 -Make sure you have a towel beside you before you put your feet in the water. It kind of ruins the relaxing vibe to tiptoe through the house trying not to make the carpet all soggy.

TOP TIP 2 – Bribe someone to keep you topped up with hot water. Or boil the jug and have it to hand.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM A MAGNESIUM FOOT SOAK?

• If you’ve been on your feet all day it’s an instantly refreshing and soothing pick-you-up. This is for you nurses, teachers, farmers, checkout staff…

• If you need to de-stress but don’t want a full-on bath. You’ll still be absorbing enough magnesium to activate your parasympathetic nervous system. That’s the ‘rest and digest’ part of your brain that will help you relax.

• If you’re an athlete or sports player who needs a magnesium boost to ease muscles after a game. Or soothe an anxious mind before one! Particularly useful for runners and endurance athletes who burn through a lot of magnesium during their activity.

• If you have a teen who’s had a tough day at school. They’ll benefit from a bit of a body and brain boosting pamper. And they can do it whilst watching Netflix or Snapchatting. You’ll earn bonus mum points for this one. Try not to nag when they leave the wet towel on the floor though!

** If you do have an ingrown toenail, use an Epsom salt-based soak several times a day. Use very warm water. As your skin becomes soft and loose, you can gently rub/pull it in an outwards motion away from the nail. Make sure to dry your feet thoroughly afterwards to lessen the chance of further infection.

OTHER BENEFITS OF AN EPSOM SALT FOOT SOAK:

• Helps relieve athlete’s foot and other fungal infections.

• Draws out splinters from skin.

• Can ease the pain and swelling of sprains and bruises.

• Said to ease the inflammation and discomfort of gout.

PLUS – even though only your feet are submerged, your whole body and mind will benefit from the absorption of magnesium into your skin. Magnesium helps ease stress and irritability. I don’t know how our household would manage if our tween didn’t take himself off for an Epsom salt bath a few times a week! It also has physical benefits like easing cramps, helping your muscles work properly, and even bringing relief from constipation!

Hmm, we can’t end a blog on that bum note! So I’ll add – enjoy your foot soak in the evening and the magnesium may help you have a better sleep too.

What an easy way to feel great! Try our unscented or scented blends. All natural and made with ethically sourced ingredients. If you’re sending some as a gift, remember to add a note saying who it’s from!

Dionne x