The Ultimate Guide To Using Epsom Salt For Foot Pain Relief

Epsom salt is an age-old remedy for relieving muscle aches, soreness and stress.

It’s widely used in the form of Epsom salt baths for a wide range of foot-related issues and other painful conditions.

Epsom salt is a natural compound made up of magnesium sulfate in a crystallized form.

When dissolved in water, it ionizes to release magnesium and sulphate ions.

According to theory, when you soak feet in Epsom salt bath, magnesium penetrates through your skin to give relaxing effects.

This is why so many people suggest the use of Epsom salt for foot pain.

Magnesium present in the salt can help relax muscles and loosen stiff joints.

Therefore, the use of Epsom salt baths is common in conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, bruises, sprains, insomnia, ingrown toenails, post-workout soreness, psoriasis, sunburn related pain and redness, and tired and swollen feet.

In this article, we’ll be giving you a roundup of how to use Epsom salt for foot pain, its benefits, and more. So, let’s begin.

How To Use Epsom Salt For Foot Pain

When you add Epsom salt to warm water, the magnesium and sulfate are released from the salt crystals and they can be easily absorbed through the skin.

Magnesium boosts muscle function, energy production, and reduces pain and inflammation.

To use Epsom salt for foot pain, you will need the following things:

A tub or foot basin
Half a cup of Epsom salt
8-10 cups of warm, toasty water. The water should be sufficiently warm but not boiling or too hot to touch
A few drops of essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus or peppermint for an added aromatherapy boost
A clean and dry towel
Foot moisturizer

Simple Steps To Prepare Epsom Salt Foot Soak

Fill the tub with warm water and dissolve Epsom salt crystals in it. Add a few drops of your favorite soothing essential oil.

Dip your feet into the soak for a good 30-35 minutes and just relax. Let the salt penetrate deep inside your skin to relieve sore and tired feet.

After about half an hour, you can take out your feet and dry them thoroughly.

Use a nice foot moisturizer to massage your feet as the salt has a drying effect on the skin.

Repeat this procedure at least once or twice a day and you will start noticing a huge difference in how your feet feel.

Regular treatment with this foot soak is going to help you overcome a number of painful conditions related to the feet.

Benefits Of Using Epsom Salt Foot Soak

Here are some important benefits of using Epsom salt foot soak.

1. It Alleviates Symptoms Of Athletes’ Foot

Athlete’s foot is caused due to a fungal infection.

Epsom salt draws out the moisture from your foot, making the environment less favorable for the fungus to survive.

Just make sure that you properly dry your feet after soaking them. Once towel dried, also use a blow dryer to remove any remains of moisture.

2. It Eases Inflammation

Magnesium is known to have anti-inflammatory effects and may even help in the removal of toxins.

Reducing inflammation means that the pain and stiffness associated with conditions like gout and arthritis are significantly lowered with regular use.

Not just that, Epsom salt foot soak can help relieve tired and sore feet after a long day especially if you have been wearing uncomfortable shoes.

3. It Helps Remove Corns

Epsom salt foot soak relaxes your feet, makes the skin softer, and opens up pores.

This makes it easy for you to remove dead skin and corns from your feet.

Once you’re done soaking the feet, take out your pedicure tools to peel off dead skin and get rid of corns.

This way, Epsom salt not only makes your feet feel better but also leaves them looking soft and smooth.

4. It Helps Get Rid Of Foot Splinters

If you’ve got a splinter in your foot’s skin, don’t panic. Just soak your foot in an Epsom salt bath.

The mineral compounds in the salt help reduce inflammation around the affected region.

It will also soften the skin so that you can easily dislodge objects like a hangnail.

However, if the splinter is too large or deep or you see signs of infection and bleeding, it’s best to seek immediate medical help.

5. It Exfoliates The Skin

Epsom salt is also a great option for an effective and all-natural foot scrub. It can soften rough and cracked feet.

All you need to do is to massage a handful of the salt crystals on your feet once you’ve soaked them in the salt bath.

Repeating this once or twice a week will give you gorgeous looking soft feet.

6. It Eliminates Foot Odors

Epsom salt has astringent properties as well. It controls excessive sweat production. Thus, it helps in eliminating smelly feet.

Moreover, soaking your feet regularly ensures good hygiene and allows your feet to stay bacteria-free.

So, Epsom salt foot soak is beneficial for overall foot health.

Precautions

When using Epsom salt for foot pain, you need to take care of a few things.

Be sure you get Epsom salt that is intended for human use and is of the right grade. A good way to confirm this is by purchasing a product that has USP designated on the label. This means the product has been approved for human use by the United States FDA.
Do not use Epsom salt if your feet are very dry or talk to a healthcare professional before using it.
Foot soaks may not be safe for diabetics or those with open wounds and sores. Talk to your doctor before using a foot soak.