WHY SOAK IN AN EPSOM SALTS BATH?
Epsom Salts Baths have been shown to speed recovery by up to a third of the expected timeframe, ie: a 3 week injury is healed in 2 weeks. When Epsom Salts are used in the correct ratio in the tub the ionization of the water changes, causing the submerged body to sweat. Injured areas have inflammation (whether you can see it or not) which means that blood and other fluids become congested in the area. The blood has three main roles in the body — feeding, fixing and taking out the trash. When we encourage the injured area to sweat, the necessary detoxification happens at the source rather than requiring the blood to return it to the kidney for filtering. By redirecting the detoxification through the skin in the form of sweat, the blood can then focus on “feeding” and “fixing” thereby expeditingthe rehabilitation process.
It is not recommended to have an Epsom Salts Bath prior to athletic training or competive sports as you will be fatigued. For this reason, be sure that any strenuous physical demands are complete prior to your bath.
A chlorine hot tub is NOT the same as an Epsom Salts Bath.
It will cause harm to an injured area by increasing inflammation.
THE RECIPE & RULES
- Put 1 cup of Epsom Salts for every 60lbs of body weight into a tub of water as hot as you are able to stand without scalding yourself (ie: a 150lb person uses 2½ cups of Epsom Salts).
- This recipe maxes out at 4 cups of Epsom Salts (ie: someone over 240lbs remains at 4 cups of Epsom Salts)
- Ideally submerge the body parts that are injured.
- Drink a litre of fresh water while you are in the tub (so you don’t dehydrate).
- Sit for a minimum of 20 minutes, maximum of 30 minutes (set a timer!).
- After completing your soaking time, spend time stretching as per the Stretch Protocol.
- Once your stretching is completed, ice the affected area as per the Ice Protocol.
