I catch myself continuously asking if they have taken an Epsom Salt bath, and more commonly than not–they have not. Most think that something as simple or silly as a bath cannot be helpful for THEM. Or my other favorite is “I don’t like baths”. Well, get over yourself. If you want a good way to help yourself in an easy, passive way–try the bath.

Here’s all the scientific mumbo-jumbo for what and why it can work for you that I found on the Epsom Salt Council website:

Studies show these benefits from the major components of Epsom Salt may:

Magnesium:
*Ease stress and improves sleep and concentration
*Help muscles and nerves function properly
*Regulate activity of 325+ enzymes
*Help prevent artery hardening and blood clots
*Make insulin more effective
*Reduce inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps
*Improve oxygen use

Sulfates:
*Flush toxins
*Improve absorption of nutrients
*Help form joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins
*Help prevent or ease migraine headaches tell clients to try an Epsom salt bath

I will add that taking an Epsom Salt Bath does cost you some down time in the tub, but you will feel so much better when you go to move around later!

There are a few notes that I would like to add to heighten your enjoyment and knowledge of this awesome event….

*Make sure you HYDRATE–this means water–before, during and after. The metabolic waste and toxins will be pulled out of the tissue, but so will valuable water that you need to replace to get the full effect and benefit.

*Epsom Salts usually come in 3 sizes at any drug, grocery or health store. Small milk carton, large milk carton and 6 pound bag. If you are a fairly active person and don’t really like running to the store every time you may need to take a bath, do yourself a favor and buy the 6 pounder. I think the last time I checked it cost about $5.

*Use twice to three times what you think the instructions are telling you. I believe it reads something like “2 cups per gallon of bath water”–how many gallons is YOUR tub? Unless you are bathing in a Pyrex bathtub and know the exact amounts to use, let me help you out. For most tubs and baths so that the water covers up to your waistline–use most if not all of the small milk carton size of salts. This does mean that you use roughly half of the large milk carton size of salts if you bought that one and so on.

*Use water as hot/warm as you can handle and let it cool as you soak. BEFORE GETTING IN THE WATER, pour the salts in and stir/swish/mix the salts around until you don’t feel them anymore!! DO NOT SIT ON SALT CRYSTALS, they really wont help you since they haven’t dissolved into the water.

*Plan on hanging out in the tub for about 15-20 minutes to really let them soak.

That’s pretty much all my wisdom when it comes to this Epsom Salt Bath topic. Let me know if you have any other questions and I will attempt to get you the correct answer!

No-they are not a cure-all for all your muscular aches and pains. No-they wont help decrease cellulite. No-they cannot combat varicose veins or spider veins. No-they are not as good as getting a session with a massage therapist. That being said though, they CAN be a huge help for those who have chronic “tightness” issues, standing on their feet all day issues, “no time to get a massage” issues, people who “like feeling good on a regular basis” issues and finally those who “like knowing how to help themselves feel better” issues. Does that clear that up? Let me continue….

Now there is no substitute for getting a great massage therapist to work out your aches, pains and injuries. But the foam roller can help space out those visits to a manageable time frame for both you and your wallet. Foam rollers perform a type of self-massage that can be compared with myofascial release. Using your body weight and gravity, foam rollers “stretch” the fascia out and can help it become more pliable and “un-stick” it to itself and the underlying tissues (muscle). This gain of movement between the layers of tissue can help improve tightness, range of motion and gain some flexibility. Two important factors in using a foam roller best are breath and taking time/slowing down while on the roller. It is going hurt when you use the roller on a tight band of muscles. For sure. If there is no discomfort/pain, there’s nothing going on here–keep moving! Once you get past the initial OMG of it, you will see that when you breathe thru the tightness, the pain can and will subside. I would say you should roll on each muscle group for at LEAST one minute–at least. A huge thing that makes the foam roller so awesome is that it can be a completely passive event. You just lie on it and it does most of the work for you–depending on the muscles you are trying to work. You can watch TV (if you are so inclined), listen to the radio, hold a conversation, play with your kids and pets (not to mention they will love that you are on the floor with them) and all sorts of other fun things while you roll.

Did I mention breathing? You need to BREATH slowly and steadily while you are doing all this rolling. Hold your breath and you will see how quick your muscles can tighten up or simply refuse to let go of the tension–it wont be good, let me tell you from experience! You should roll the foam roller slowly while taking deep breaths and you will find that soon, you wont be feeling the pain much anymore. And it may not hurt so much when you go to reach over and pick up those groceries any more either.

You may not know right now what a foam roller is or what it feels like to use one, but soon after owning one you will wonder how you have gone this long without one! I promise! And if you don’t, I am HAPPY to show you some techniques for stretches in the office. Just bring your new foam roller in with you and I will gothrough and help you get the most out of your new piece of equipment!

1) PUSH THE FLUIDS. Water is optimal, but other liquids will do. Alcohol andcaffeine are not great, but what can I tell you–your gonna do it anyway! We want to get all those nasty metabolic wastes out of your body instead of allowing them to hang out in your muscle tissue any more, so hence the flush of fluids. I tell clients to act as though you have a cold and need to flush yourself with good stuff to get those germs out!

2) EAT SOMETHING. I have never had anyone have a negative reaction when I give this piece of advice. In my experience of almost 6 years of massage, there seems to be a “magic window” of time-about one (1) hour-after you are off the table that you have before all those metabolic wastes (see #1) re-circulate through your system and reach your stomach. If when they get to your stomach there is not much or nothing in there–you stand a healthy chance of feeling pretty crappy really soon. Nausea, body aches and general malaise are on their way! Now I have had a few clients in the past who have had little or no issues after a massage and no meal–but I have had more clients who HAVE had symptoms and really didn’t like it. Do you really want to risk it?

3) HEAT PLEASE. I am a big proponent of heat. If after your massage you feel bruise-y or sore I suggest grabbing your heating pad or getting in a nice, hot shower or bathtub of Epsom salts. I also use a homeopathic topical cream called Traumeel. Here in Austin they sell it at Whole Foods, Central Market and Peoples Pharmacy for sure. It is a little pricey, but you don’t need much for it to work well. A small tube lasts me several months usually.

Also if after your massage you have questions about what was done during your session or need more information on what you can do to help yourself–don’t hesitate to shoot us an email and just ask! I would say to just call the office, but we could be in session and does anyone really need a game of phone tag after a day of work?

Take care and we’ll be seeing you around the office!