I remember a couple of years ago (although in hindsight it feels like a lifetime ago!), when a Consultant Rheumatologist I was seeing at the time recommended Epsom Salt baths to me. I was pretty chronically ill at this point. My condition was deteriorating further. I was forced to give up my job in Advertising, I was completely financially broke, and had no prospects of how or when I would get well. All I knew at that point was that I was in pretty big trouble and there wasn't a magic pill that would make this daily hell go away. I was desperate to find answers to turn my situation around. I tried some pretty 'out there' things, but I hadn't really found anything that gave me much relief from this chronic pain and all these symptoms that had become my life at that point.
I'd already put up with the Consultant's weekly Magnesium injections, which felt like lead being pumped into my muscles, and I was literally doing anything I could to get better. (I didn't care how loopy people thought I was, I'd try anything)
The Magnesium injections made no difference unfortunately (and they weren't cheap at £125 a pop!), but the Epsom Salts did..slowly..
When I went to the Pharmacy next door to purchase my first tub, the lady at the till said, "Are you buying that for your Nan..? This stuff is for muscle sores and pain Son..." If only she knew I felt like 108 inside at that time! (Anyone who has had M.E. or has it will get what I mean)
So..I started trying these Epsom Salts. First off I followed the instructions on the box, scooping a whole kilo in my boiling hot bath, and soaked for 20 minutes. BIG MISTAKE!! I had a massive detox reaction, with a huge flare up of symptoms, and was back in bed for a few days. It taught me two things :
1) That this stuff was powerful
2) That it was to be respected!!
People going through M.E./CFS, especially in the earlier stages, can be very prone to chemical sensitivities. Those of you who have been on supplements, will have ~I'm sure experienced nasty die off symptoms when introducing something new too quickly or in too large a dose. This is what I suspect happened when I had that first Epsom Salts bath, and it taught me a valuable lesson - start small and build up slowly. Remember, the tortoise always wins the race. And I'd say take this approach with your health more generally - if you're suffering from chronic illness or not.
You don't need to climb Everest in a day..if you do you'll just burn yourself out and have to start over again. If we take it one step at a time, and acknowledge the steps we are taking, no matter how slowly, we can acknowledge we are making progress.
Researchers and physicians suggest these health benefits from proper magnesium and sulfate levels, as listed on the web site of the Epsom Salt Industry Council:
- Improved heart and circulatory health, reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of the arteries, reducing blood clots and lowering blood pressure.
- Improved ability for the body to use insulin, reducing the incidence or severity of diabetes.
- Flushed toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
- Improved nerve function by electrolyte regulation. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
- Relieved stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.
- Reduced inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps.
- Improved oxygen use.
- Improved absorption of nutrients.
- Improved formation of joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins.
- Prevention or easing of migraine headaches.
(And if you're well enough to drink any alcohol, it's also great for a hangover!)
My General Guidelines for those Recovering from M.E./CFS (or other chronic illness)
1) Fill up the bath with warm hot water (you don't want it overly hot as this is likely to exhaust you)
2) Add in just half a teaspoon. (Don't worry, you can work to up to 2-3 cupfuls over time) I would urge caution when increasing the Epsom Salt load dramatically, as your body is likely to be sensitive to changes in this fatigued state.
3) Soak in the bath for 12 minutes. (I generally found longer than this and more severe symptoms would start showing themselves again) I wouldn't bathe more than twice a week with Epsom Salts, as too much of one thing can become a burden on the system.
CAUTION - if you have negative reactions ie hyperactivity or irritability, decrease the amount you put you use.
- your body may feel a bit heavy the next day. That's good, it shows the sulfate has entered your muscles and softened a lot of tension being held there.
- if you feel a bath is too much for you right now, just start by adding Epsom Salts to hot water in a tub and just soak your feet in it.
- if you are pretty knackered before having a bath, give it a miss on that occasion, you don't want to make you body more tired than it already is.
Where to Buy
Amazon have a wide range of stockists, although the best quality I've found at a reasonable price is http://www.justasoap.co.uk.
Hoping you're as well as you can be, wherever you are :-)
Adam x
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