Whether you're a fan of ice baths or warm baths, there's nothing better than a good soak to help tired muscles recover after a run or race. But what about Epsom salts – are they worth the investment? What is an Epsom salt bath? You pulled a muscle lifting weights at the gym. Your skin won't stop itching. Or maybe your arthritis is acting up. Is there anything you can do, besides wait it out? This bath salts recipe is ideal for relieving exercise-related temporary aches and pains. Plus, the essential oils used in these DIY bath salts add the following benefits: You can still use bath salts and enjoy some of the benefits they provide even if you don’t have a bathtub. To do this, you simply create a shower scrub:

The Arthritis Foundation recommends soaking and stretching in a warm Epsom salt bath to help relieve stiff and aching joints and for relief of muscle soreness after exercising. To do this: As a folk remedy, Epsom salt is used on a widespread basis to provide relief for a variety of conditions. These include: Soaking in this soothing combination of essential oils and other natural ingredients relaxes both your muscles and your mind. Fang X, et al. (2016). Dietary magnesiumintake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and all-causemortality: A dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. DOI:I adore this quote from Elwood Richard, NOW’s former CEO: “You shouldn’t ask why we’re so affordable; you should ask why everyone else is more expensive.” Let that sink in for just a moment… Though both experts stress that there isn’t much in the way of evidence to support any specific bath soak’s benefits, Zellner says she regularly recommends that her patients soak in Epsom salts. “It’s a very low-risk and low-cost intervention,” she explains. “Advocates of Epsom salt baths say that the benefit really comes from the magnesium in Epsom salts increasing the amount of magnesium in our bodies. Magnesium plays a role in over 400 processes in our body, including facilitating proper muscle function and relaxation.” Some essential oils, such as ginger, may have anti-inflammatory benefits. According to a 2016 study, ginger was shown to have anti-arthritic and joint-protective effects in arthritis. Adding a few drops of diluted ginger essential oil to your bath salts may offer additional benefits. Soak for at least 15 minutes. If you’re soaking in an Epsom salt bath for aches and pains, make sure not to use water that’s too hot. This might worsen instead of reduce swelling. This easy bath salts recipe is made with magnesium flakes to help with muscle soreness recovery after a hard workout. In conjunction with an uplifting blend of essential oils, you’ll find these homemade bath salts are ideal for relieving sore muscles, as well as relaxing your mind!

The Mayo Clinic recommends adults use 2 cups of Epsom salt per gallon of warm water. More than that can make the water feel slippery. It may also be drying to your skin. Epsom salts can be dissolved in a warm bath, in the hope of aiding its relaxation and therapeutic properties. And that’s still not all. My absolute favorite thing about NOW is that they’re not interested in profiting from the 100-300% markup that’s typical in the health and beauty industry. Their products are of the highest quality, but are always priced lower, because they believe that’s what fair to their consumers.https://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/health/doctors-say-epsom-salt-helps-reduce-itching-from-summer-ailments/

This post was sponsored by NOW as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central, and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. Bath Salts Recipe + NOW Foods Most manufacturers and suppliers of Epsom salts recommend adding two cupfuls (around 500g) of salts into a warm bath, before soaking for around 20 minutes. However, if you accidentally pour in more than this, it won't do you any damage: recent research shows your skin is unlikely to absorb enough magnesium to cause harm. Instead, incidences of magnesium overdose tend only to occur when people ingest Epsom salts, with symptoms including nausea and headaches. Should you rinse off an Epsom salt bath? There’s some evidence that magnesium taken orally has a positive effect for several conditions, including: Han X, et al. (2017). Antiinflammatory activityof cinnamon ( Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark essential oil in a human skin disease model.DOI:Adding essential oils, such as lavender or peppermint, can offer additional aromatherapy benefits, such as relaxation and improved mood. Muscle aches Epsom salts dissolve in water. Enthusiasts believe this allows magnesium and sulfates to be readily absorbed into skin. Whether this is sufficient for various treatments or not, Epsom salt is considered safe. It’s also easy to use, easy to find, and inexpensive. How to do it

You can also target specific joints by using bath salts and ginger oil mixed with some warm water to make a paste that can be rubbed on the joint. In the shower Funk JL, et al. (2016). Anti-inflammatoryeffects of the essential oils of ginger ( Zingiberofficinale Roscoe) inexperimental rheumatoid arthritis. DOI: Easy-peasy, huh?! One batch of this bath soak recipe will produce about three of the 8-oz. containers I mentioned above.

Bath Salts Recipe + NOW Foods

Here at Allure, we're firm believers in self-care. Lately, one of our favorite activities for physically (and mentally) unwinding has been taking baths . Sure, there are quite a few ways to practice the art of caring for one's body and mind — but what can top the feeling of a steamy, bubble-filled bath after a long day? Proksch E, et al.(2005). Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skinbarrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopicdry skin. DOI: