Epsom Salt Baths are becoming a popular occurrence in my house. It’s something that is scheduled in weekly for health benefits.
Last week I strained a calf muscle doing some shuttle runs, nothing serious. It’s just a little restrictive and annoying at times when I’m conditioning training. It was healing well with some self-help until I had a boxing lesson this week that was. Now it’s back to square one.
So instead of stopping all training and giving up on my goal I did a little research and have come up with a plan. Firstly I straight away iced it when I got home and then jumped in and had a second Epsom salt bath for the week. The health benefits of this cheap yet effective treatment is incredible.
“Researchers and physicians suggest these health benefits from proper magnesium and sulphate 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.
All this from a bath? Hurray! While there are many different brands of Epsom salt, they are all the same product chemically, and can be found at most drug stores. Add two cups of Epsom salt and soak for at least 12 minutes. Do this three times weekly.” ~ www.care2.com
I’m also going out to buy myself a pair of SKINS A400 Women’s Compression Calf Tights with Stirrup for compression, support and recovery. These little gems will definitely help giddy up the process of healing for me and get me back training in full force sooner rather than later. I’ve been a big fan of SKINS for a few years now and already have some other pieces from their women’s collection.
Only time will tell I guess whether or not what I’m doing is helping or hindering. Here’s hoping it helps.
