Epsom Salt Baths OR How I Survived COVID
Neo: Why do my eyes hurt?
Morpheus: Because you've never used them before.
As we round out the summer, sudden temperature drops trigger all kinds of physiological changes. Most particularly, water weight that we've been carrying all summer vacates, presenting a unique detox opportunity.
During COVID, when my back pain and stress were at an all time high, I discovered, among other self-care modalities, a very hot, very salty epsom salt bath. There are a number of positive benefits, some physical, and others psychological.
Epsom salt is a mineral compound called “magnesium sulfate heptahydrate,” or MgSO₄·7H₂O. Epsom salt is named after the town in England where the compound was first discovered in the water of a spring located there. For hundreds of years, Epsom salt has been touted as a cure-all for a myriad of issues, from constipation (it’s actually FDA approved as a laxative), to sleeplessness, to muscle and joint pain. (From Support the Foot Blog)
The salt actually leeches toxins from the body, aided by the high temperature of the water, which dilates the cell membrane of the epidermis. Magnesium does not necessarily penetrate the skin, rather, the saltiness of the water draws impurities from the blood at high traffic areas like the ankle, wrists, and neck.
For individuals experiencing physical pain, icing the affected area immediately after an Epsom salt bath can amplify the relief. It's like telling your body to send blood and enhanced circulation, which can accelerate healing.
Perhaps the most interesting effects of an Epsom salt bath are psychological. As ESB's became part of my routine, I began to find that my hottest, saltiest baths were accompanied by an epiphany.
As we sweat, and water, which makes up 70% of our physical being, leaves the body. Frequently I would become aware of false hopes, or a situation in my life that I needed to let go of. My theory is that all water has intelligence, and that as our equilibrium changes, we go from who we were to who we are. Better put, in order to let go of toxins, we need to affirm the benefit of the toxic behavior and let it go.
Which brings us back to honesty. If you drink too much, for example, you are unlikely to slow your roll until you weigh the benefits as well as the cost. Then, by knowing what you are letting go, you can more easily select a better alternative.
Let's be honest about what we like, and discover why we like it. Then let the salt sift through the impurities in our method of achieving that end.
In the Disney movie, Frozen 2, the beloved character Olaf points out that not only are we made of water, but that our current "water" has been through between 3 and 4 people, and that it carries the memory of their experiences. This point is made scientific by Dr. Emoto's famous ice crystal experiments.
People from all walks of life projected their intentions into water in petri dishes that were then frozen. The patterns in which the crystals of ice froze was directly related to the intention that was projected on the water.
We are water! This perspective has led me to think less hard and fast about reality, but understand myself as a creature that chages states and shapes. So try a super-hot, salty Epsom salt bath today, and please comment with your experiences. Thank you!
JDub
17 September 2021