Tips on Epsom Salt

Health

• In addition to eliminating stress, Epsom salt has other benefits. To relieve pain, swelling, sprains and bruising, soak in a tub of warm water mixed with two cups of Epsom salt. For medical conditions, such as gout, you can reduce inflammation by adding 2 to 3 tsp. of Epsom salts to hot water --- as hot as it is comfortable --- and soak for approximately 30 minutes.

Garden

• Gardening can involve buying products like fertilizer and insecticide spray. Epsom salt, however, can replace those products. For instance, manufacturers add Epsom salt into most plant foods. Thus, instead of using fertilizer, you can sprinkle Epsom salt on vegetables, houseplants and flowers once a week to aid in nourishment. Also, before planting a garden, sprinkle a cup of Epsom salt per 100 square feet to aid with fertilizing. Besides helping plants grow, use Epsom salt in the garden and on a lawn to keep plant pests away instead of employing harsh chemicals. Use 1 tbsp. Epsom salt per gallon of water on roses to discourages pests. You can also add a 1/2 cup of Epsom salt into soil to encourage growth of rose bushes.

Beauty

• Another Epsom salt tip involves improving skin and hair. Use Epsom salt on your face to act as a face cleanser and dislodge blackheads. To dislodge blackheads, add three drops of iodine and 1 tsp. of Epsom salt into a 1/2 cup of boiling water. Apply the Epsom salt and iodine mixture to blackheads with a cotton ball. Also, add Epsom salt to a face cleanser can clean and exfoliate your skin at the same time. Mix only 1/2 tsp. of Epsom salt into a cleansing cream, gently massage on your face and then rinse with cold water. Anyone wanting to add volume to their hair can combine Epsom salt with a deep conditioner in equal parts. Apply the mixture to hair and leave in for about 20 minutes, then rinse.

Household

• You can use Epsom salt when cleaning around the house. For instance, when washing bathroom tiles, you can mix equal parts of liquid dish detergent and Epsom salt and use to scrub the tiles clean. Sprinkle Epsom salt around or near the interior entry points of the house. The Epsom salts acts as a barrier to keep slugs outside of a building.