HEALING ARTS

EPSOM SALT TREATMENTS

Epsom salt is Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4 + 7H2O) and is a vital part of our rehabilitation program. Researchers in nutrition, through controlled experimentation, have found that Magnesium Sulfate accelerates the body's healing time by 1/3. As an example, if an injury required three weeks to heal under normal or standard conditions, it would only require two weeks to heal if Magnesium Sulfate was added to the diet as a nutrition.

If you read the package you will learn that you can use it for internal and external applications. Internally, it is used for irregularity and constipation and will promote bowel movement within 1/2 to 6 hours, if the instructions are followed correctly. Externally, it is used for soaking minor sprains (ligaments), strains (tendons), and bruises (as in muscles).

You can apply Epsom salts in two ways, externally:

Towel Soaking: By placing 2 cups (16 oz.) of Epsom salts in one gallon of water, mix well, and soak a towel or bandage. Next, apply the towel to the involved region or area for 30 minutes, 3 times daily.
Bath Tub Soaking: By placing 2 cups (16 oz.) in a bath tub of hot water. The water temperature should be as hot as you can take it but comfortable for 15 to 20 minutes. You can use 2 to 4 times this amount if your body conditions warrant it. You do not want to burn yourself. You want to rub your skin all over with a wash cloth to open up the pores for absorption of the Epsom salts. If some areas are sore, rub them a little longer. If you are treating an injury you should rub both the area of the involved site on one extremity and the same area on the other extremity (bilateral stimulation reflex). In rubbing both extremities you yield a little extra stimulation to the injured site. Don't rinse off before getting out of the bath tub. Just dry off and retire for the evening.

Epsom salt baths are taken routinely, just before going to bed, the night before a major competitive event or race. It also helps with combating jet lag. The bath will allow a more productive and restful sleep as well as produce an energy charging-up effect on your body for the next days performance. The addition of Apple Cider Vinegar aids this energy charging effect. Epsom salts, apple cider vinegar, and water are very therapeutic and help to prevent problems as well as help to solve them. If needed, the Epsom salt bath can be taken the night following the competitive event. If you are in doubt, take the bath. Do not rinse-off following the bath, just dry off and go directly to bed. The following morning you should notice that you slept better. Also the aches, stiffness, tightness, soreness, and pains should have noticeably decreased and continue to decrease with normal movement and activities. This indicates that the body's normal healing mechanisms are starting to be activated.

The problems that we have witnessed with these procedures are that they are so simple and easy to perform that often times people forget to take them.

Epsom salts are routinely used for:

soothing relief from arthritic pain
reduces stiffness, soreness, and tightness of joints
improves discomfort from muscle aches, pains and tenderness
soothing painful bruises, sprains and strains
alleviates pain from over exertion during sport activities
improve the body's sleeping and resting productivity
increasing and improves body energy levels
improving the rate of natural body healing
soothe away stress
deep clean skin and pores
taking the sting out of insect bites
draws out splinters


Apple Cider Vinegar
An addition to the Epsom salts soaking bath. Place 1/4 to 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar to the Epsom salt soaking bath treatment. The apple cider vinegar will leave the skin feeling soft and smooth similar to skin softeners and lotions, such as lanolin.

Both the Epsom salt soaking bath treatment and the apple cider vinegar addition are also used when you are going to need a lot of extra energy for the next day or when you really feel drained of energy. You can use both as often as you want without harm or problems as both are natures remedies for the above body ailments.