Epsom Salt Foot Bath: Uses, Benefits, and DIY Recipe

Epsom salt is a popular remedy for use in baths to help ease overworked sore muscles, or just have a relaxing soak.

But, there may be some benefits in using epsom salt in a foot bath for your feet as well.

In this article, we will cover the basics of what epsom salt is, how it can help with your feet issues, and how you can best prepare an epsom salt foot bath.

What is epsom salt?

Epsom salt is the salt of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), and while it may look like your usual sodium chloride (NaCl) table salt, it has a completely different chemical makeup.

Epsom salt looks like a whitish-to-clear crystalline structure, and may also be referred to as bath salts.

Magnesium Sulfate has been used for hundreds of years in soaks for its therapeutic properties, and the raw form can even be found in certain natural springs, like the Epsom spring in England which gave the salt its namesake.

What are the potential benefits of epsom salt foot baths?

The magnesium found in epsom salt may be able to penetrate into your body through the skin to relay some of the relaxing and anti-inflammatory benefits of this necessary element.

This means that epsom salt may be just what the doctor ordered if you find yourself with swollen or sore feet after a long day, or as a pain and inflammation reducer after a foot or ankle injury.

In addition to it’s relaxation-boosting and swelling-reducing properties, epsom salt may help dry out the fungus which contributes to athlete’s foot and reduce overall foot odor.

Another great property of epsom salt is its geometric crystalline shape, which makes it perfect for a natural and gentle foot scrub to slough off extra dead skin.

How much epsom salt should you use in a foot bath

You want to make sure you use enough epsom salt in your foot bath to get some of the therapeutic benefits, but you don’t want to go overboard and use up your whole supply in one soak if it isn’t necessary.

For an average-sized foot bath filled with enough water to cover the feet, a ½ cup of epsom salt should be enough to help deliver some therapeutic benefits.

DIY epsom salt foot bath recipe with instructions

Step 1: Fill a foot bath or container with enough warm water to cover the tops of your feet. You will want to test the water to make sure it will not scald your feet.

Step 2: Add in about ½ cup of epsom salt and stir to dissolve. This amount of epsom salt should dissolve pretty rapidly in the warm water.

Step 3: (Optional) Add in a few drops of essential oils to make the foot bath more fragrant and pleasant. Lavender or Eucalyptus may help with relaxation, and a few drops of Tea Tree oil may help with any fungal issues.

Step 4: Soak feet in the foot bath for 30 minutes to 60 minutes, mixing in additional warm water as the water cools if needed.

Step 5: Dry feet and apply a moisturizer to the tops and bottoms of feet to avoid dry or cracked skin.

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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.