Epsom Salt (old messages listed together)

Hi,

For detoxing a lot of people seem to use or have tried with bathing in Epsom salt (also with mixing Epsom salt in their water, but I'm not discussing this here).

Epsom-enthusiasts: John, Shivani, Diane, Alison, bb, William and Sue (not at first). Ada too although she prefers sea salt (as Epsom salts were a little too strong for her) (16725).

For this method you also seem to be careful that you don't detox too much too fast, in message 4527 Ian mentions that his wife Sue first had probably overdone it.

It seems like you have to try for yourself what seems the perfect amount ofEpsom salt and time to start with. Diane first only tolerated a copple of minutes, later this was 40 minutes (11796).

Diane thinks (10579 + 10588) that the side effects from bathing in Epsom salt is probably the same than the side effects from ionic foot baths done with an ionisator (this is in my previous post). Side effects being: lymphatic overload -> robbing nutrients (electrolytes) from the adrenals. Diane solves this with taking Calcium AEP and pantethine.

Ian's message nr. 14761 (almost at the bottom of this e-mail) is also very interesting...

Stephen.

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John (1777):

For me, one of the most useful things I've learned for relief of elecrical
sensitivity symptoms is a bath in either salt(nacl) or epsom salt(mg2so4). A
pranic healing practicioner introduced me to it.

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Shivani (2942):

An Epsom salts soak (or standing on any equpotential plane, such as
aluminum foil) causes the high frequencies within the body to stop. This is
pure science.

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Snoshoe (3591):

I've done foot baths with epsom and dead sea salts,
and it does seem somehow beneficial. I've actually aborted a few
migraines with the dead sea salts. Just learned that by coincidence.

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Ian (4527):

In Sue's case it worked too well
- she had baths with Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) to try to get
inorganic sulphate into her system (a deficiency specific to her). She got
a bad reaction - too much was absorbed and it released too many built-up
nasties from her system! So it seems that the skin is more permeable than I
thought, and it should be possible to remove toxins through it.

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Ian (4541):

It was a whole body bath that Sue did, and we think that too many internal
toxins were released in one go, and couldn't be eliminated fast enough.
Since then she has taken magnesium sulphate by mouth or IV drips, but with
the latter she has to go very slowly or she gets side reactions.

I believe the magnesium sulphate does pass into your skin, but if your
levels of both ions are reasonably normal, it shouldn't have any effect.
However, Sue's "sulphation pathway" for liver detox is not working - this
was shown by specialized tests. This means that organic sulphur she takes
in from foods, supplements etc. doesn't get metabolized to inorganic sulphur
- shown by cysteine levels being normal to high, and sulphate levels very
low. Epsom salts are the easiest way of getting inorganic sulphate into
someone, but the bath overdid it for Sue.

Some research has suggested that a broken sulphation pathway is a common
factor for quite a number of sufferers from ME/CFS/MCS type illnesses.
Substances which should normally be detoxified by that route build up in the
body, and/or overstress the body's other detox routes.

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Ian (5126):

I was initially sceptical (some months ago) that substances could pass
through the skin. However, Sue was advised by the hospital to take Epsom
salts baths (magnesium sulphate) to try to correct her low inorganic
sulphate levels. This worked - too well initially, as she got severe liver
detox symptoms! So it is possible for molecules to pass through the skin,
though they probably have to be water-soluble (and there might be a size
limit on large organic molecules?)

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Snoshoe replying on 5126 (5135):

Yes, just think of the all the dermal patches to deliver meds now.--
Or the LSD tests from decades ago on the doorknobs.
There is a size limit to entering the skin, but I don't recall it.
Read years back when I did Neways. They talked about it in their
skin care videos.

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Diane (6044):

Also,
soaking in sea salts or epsom salts, various herbs helps alot. I get lymphatic
swelling alot in my ankles and behind my knees. The salts soaks do wonders
immediately.

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Diane (6113 and 6374):

Anyway, one way you can get more magnesium without a tummy ache is to soak in
epsom salts baths.

In particular, I think that adding magnesium, both to my diet and in the form
of epsom salts baths, was one thing that personally helped my sleeping problem.
You might need to add only to diet or do the baths but not both.

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Julie (8176):

Another way to get magnesium without ingesting anything: take Epsom salt
baths.

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Bb (8713):

I also find warm
baths with a bit of salt (I use epsom + sea mixed) help.

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William (10030):

Traditional ionic bath (foot or anything) is Epsom Salts in water.
It's cheap, it works.

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Diane (10290):

Epsom salts baths have helped me overall, BUT oddly enough the cleaner I am,
the more I seem to react!! I think the ions on my skin change and create a
charge that attract the frequencies, but since I have no way to prove this,it
is just a theory of my own. I have read someone here recently mention bathing
helps them, but this is not my experience, tho it might be the epsom salts I use
to detox my skin is the difference.
Diane (10321):

I still use epsom salts baths for detoxing
instead.

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Alison (10371):

I am getting some good results from Epsom Salts baths
which detoxify you. If I have been on a computer for
a long time and have one of these baths, it takes away
that horrible numb feeling...it may help and it is
cheap to try.

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Diane (10579):

If epsom salts
where added, it could be that you had a quick imbalance of electrolytes. That
has happened with me during the salts baths that I use. I take calcium AEP and
pantethine--2 caps each every 20 mins or so until this resolves (for me, I also
get bp plummeting and I take my bp to check how this is resolving while
supplimenting the cal and pantethine). I do find that the cal AEP and
pantethine also help me after one of my "attacks" out riding around.

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Diane (10588):

Well, the thing these still all have in common is the ability to mobilize and
dump toxins into the lymphatic system (the footbath, epsom salts bath, and
emfs.) For the emfs, this is theory, we have discussed this in the past and
there are 2 camps of thought... they either kill cells or mobilize toxins,
either of which causes lymphatic overload. According to my nutritionist, when
the lymphatic system is overtaxed, it can rob nutrients from the adrenals, so
this makes alot of sense to me that panic attacks and adrenal stress would be
the result. I forgot to mention before, but I also have major temperature
dysregulation--sweats and chills--from this (besides bp plummeting, breathing
difficulty, and feeling of great anxiety and doom). That is another adrenal
dysregulation symptom. So I am fairly sure we are both experiencing the same
thing, Marc. Do you have a nutritionist? You might be able to get info on the
calcium AEP and pantethine I use for this from a
nutritionist.

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Diane (10919):

You might try epsom salts and or sea salts bathing or soaking which
helps the lymphatic system and see if this helps you   Bear in
mind that it takes at least 3 soaks before you will see a ANY difference with
this and it might even be uncomfortable to you at first   The first
time I tried this it felt like my skin was on fire and I could only tolerate
about 3 mins   Now it feels soothing and I stay in at least 30 mins
and often longer  

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Diane (11540):

Epsom salts baths is another help--helps you detox faster thru your skin. Make
sure you are drinking enough quality water. Alkaline water is most helpful.

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Diane (11544):

You might try epsom salts baths, too, as sometimes magnesium
imbalance can cause shakes/anxiety (or too much can do the same; if you have
been doing Epsom salts bathing, then consider that you might be getting toomuch
magnesium).

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Diane (11796):

When I first
started out, I could only tolerate being in the epsom salts soak for a couple
minutes. My skin felt like it was on fire! However, I can now tolerate 40min
soaks. Also, I use about 2 lb of epsom salts to a bath (but depends on howbig
your tub is). Or a liberal cup to 1 1/2 cup of sea salts. And sometimes Imix
these and use less of each. Your body will use up the amount of epsom salts it
needs. If the salts are gone in 5 mins, then you should use more, after you get
used to the soaks.

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Diane (13165):

Yes, I am the same--I react more and with worse symptoms on particular days.
For me, it depends alot on how much I happen to be detoxing (more detox=worse
symptoms) and when did I last take my epsom salts soak (I react much worse just
after having the bath, then I am usually much better for 2 to 5 days, then I get
worse again and know I need to take another soak.)

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Diane (13320):

I use sea salt (and epsom salts) for soaking toxins out of my body. I washthe
salts off before I get out of the tub--I tried leaving it on and it makes me
worse, es-wise. I do think this problem is due to a calcium ion channel
dysfunction (or tight junctions--same concept except tjs refer to the
blood-brain barrier cells.)

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Andrea (14041):

My acupuncturist who has treated me for EMF and other sensitivities and
allergies has recommended I do Epsom salt foot baths for 20 minutes each day.
He said it helps detox after the treatments. I have been doing them for over a
year and find I can skip a couple days, but if I skip about 5 days I start to
feel worse. Then if I do one I immediately feel better. I also notice if I'm
feeling particularly bad, my feet absorb all the Epsom salt and there is none
left after the 20 minutes. Most times there is some left. I've never had an
adverse reaction and it is cheap compared to other detox products.

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Ada (14091):

Hi steph. I used to do a decent cupfull after work in a foot bath , I thinkyou
need to tailor it to suit yourself. The problem ive had since being back inthe
uk is finding decent quailty epsom salts. What i find works just as well is
natural sea salt crystals , that one dissolves first on heat and then addsto
the foot bath water. I again use quite high quantities in myand find that the
tescos do a nice brand which I forget what its called , but begins with M.

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Ian (14593):

We think now that when she did magnesium
sulphate (Epsom salts) in a footbath early on and got a major reaction, it
detoxed too effectively and release lots of toxins that the body couldn't
handle - at the time we didn't know how low her sulphate levels were.

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Ian (14761):

In answer to Loni's question; magnesium sulphate is a simple compound and
both components can be beneficial. It also has the big advantage of being
cheap and easily available as "Epsom salts" - not a drug or supplement.

Magnesium is an essential mineral and can have particular benefits in
reducing inflammation etc. Sue has found it makes a big difference in
reducing the effect of her ES-induced tinnitus. It's considered to help the
nerve system, combat stress and some other diseases such as osteoporosis.

Sulphate is one of the 4 key "Phase 2" liver detox pathways which help us
metabolise the things we eat and drink. If it's very low, the extra load is
thrown on other detox pathways or the substance may not be metabolised at
all and just builds up. Normally supplementation with cysteine or MSM is
used to help increase sulphur levels and the body converts this to sulphate.
However in Sue's case we found her cysteine levels were OK but sulphate
appallingly low, so her body isn't doing the conversion process. So she
needs direct magnesium sulphate supplementation - which is cheaper than MSM
or cysteine anyway.

Magnesium sulphate can be taken in 4 ways:
1. Orally, by dissolving Epsom salts in water and drinking it. Cheap and
easy, but if your gut is damaged (e.g. failing a leaky gut test), it may not
absorb by this route.
2. Through the skin, by dissolving Epsom salts in a bowl of water and using
it as a footbath. Again cheap, and usually very effective. Keep the dose
low at first, as you may detox a lot of accumulated toxins from the body
very suddenly and feel ill - this happened to Sue.
3. By injections. Effective, but can be painful (not from the needle, but
localised cramps and pain)
4. By intravenous infusion. The most effective method, gives a precise
quantity and delivers it straight into the bloodstream, but expensive
because it must be done at a clinic or private hospital. Again, can give
pain and cramps if too high a dose is used.

In large doses, magnesium sulphate is a laxative, so take care :-) James
Herriot, who wrote a very popular and entertaining series of books about
life as a vet (familar to UK readers but probably not in North America?)
described how, in the days before drugs, he successfully treated calves for
lead poisoning (caused by them licking old paint) using Epsom salts, and the
farmer's comment "Eey-ar, you'll skitter the poor beggars to death!" But it
worked - basically another detoxification process.

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Ada (16725):

Thanks Evie. I find sea salt is a really nice detox compared to epsom salts
which appear to be a little too strong for me. Looking forward to see how the
dead sea salt goes.