A bath with magnesia has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, stimulates recovery processes, and normalizes blood supply. Such baths are a good way to cleanse the skin and relieve stress. How to properly prepare a bath with magnesia and whether it helps with weight loss - you will learn from our article.
The use of magnesia in medicine
Magnesia (magnesium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, Epsom, or bitter salt) consists of magnesium cations and sulfate anions. From a chemical point of view, it belongs to the class of salts. This is one of the main salt components of seawater. In medicine, the beneficial effects of magnesia have long been known. It is used in three versions:
- inside - most often as a laxative, as well as with a lack of magnesium in the body;
- parenteral - most often for an emergency reduction in blood pressure, as well as with the threat of premature birth, as a sedative, anticonvulsant, etc .;
- externally - in the form of baths, compresses, as part of ointments, aerosols - for arthritis, as a wound healing agent, as nasal drops and aerosols.
Magnesium sulfate is released in the form of a powder in sachets for oral administration and as a solution in ampoules for parenteral administration. For the preparation of bathtubs, bags of magnesia powder are usually taken. For one bath you will need 100-200 g of salt. Magnesium sulfate is an odorless white powder, bitter in taste, readily soluble in water.
In stores you can find ready-made bath salts with magnesia, usually called "Epsom salt", packed in several kilograms.
The benefits of salt baths
The use of a bath with magnesia on the body is determined by local and general effects. Magnesium, like sodium, potassium and other ions, is not absorbed through the skin into the body. It penetrates no further than the epidermis. Therefore, all the effects that magnesia has when taken orally and parenterally are not achieved when taking a bath. That is, waiting for a choleretic, laxative effect, as well as hoping to increase the level of magnesium in the blood, taking only a bath, is not worth it. But magnesia has a general effect on the body. How does this happen?
The complex effect of a bathtub with magnesia is due to thermal, mechanical and chemical factors.
Local action of magnesia
Salt baths conduct 1.5 times more heat into the body than regular fresh ones. The resulting heat dilates the blood vessels of the skin, increasing blood flow. The mechanical irritation of nerve endings with particles of salt leads to the filling of blood vessels of the skin with blood. Moreover, the higher the concentration of magnesium sulfate in water, the stronger their irritating effect and the stronger the filling of skin vessels with blood. Increased pressure of salt water affects the receptors of the skin, reducing the excitability and conductivity of nerve endings, which reduces tactile and pain sensitivity, activates the anticoagulant system and reduces platelet aggregation activity. This contributes to the resorption of inflammation, stimulates the growth of granulation tissue.
Movements in salt water are less painful, which allows the use of baths with magnesia to treat the musculoskeletal system.
The general effect of magnesia
Mechanical irritation of the skin receptors causes the release of histamine, which dilates the capillaries and acts exciting the body as a whole. Along with histamine, acetylcholine is released, which excites the vagus nerve, which is beneficial for the whole organism. Irritation of the vagus nerve activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the accumulation of resources, rest, sleep, peace. As a result, the symptoms of chronic fatigue and stress disappear. The effect of baths on the autonomic nervous system allows them to be used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.
The positive effects of the bath
A bath with Epsom salt will have several positive effects:
- Deeply cleanses skin pores.
- Enhances skin firmness.
- The skin will become smoother.
- Reduce puffiness.
- It will lower blood pressure.
- It removes excess fluid from the body.
- Relieves chronic fatigue, gives strength, soothes.
- Relieves muscle tension and pain.
Slimming magnesia bath - myth or truth?
True. You can lose weight, but the effect will be short-lived. The effect of losing weight is achieved due to the loss of water by the body after taking a bath. Any salt solution creates an increased osmotic pressure, “pulling” water onto itself. The laxative effect of magnesia upon ingestion is also based on this principle. Salt, entering the intestine, creates osmotic pressure in its lumen, attracting water. Fecal masses are liquefied, their easy and quick excretion occurs. The use of drops and sprays with sea salt is based on the same principle.
The increased osmotic pressure of the magnesia solution draws water from the skin. This process is called dehydration. The skin dries, becomes thinner, which explains the decrease in volume. The liquid is removed not only from the skin, but also from the whole body, which leads to weight loss. For the first procedure, you can lose from 500 g to 2 kg.
Do not count on the lasting effect of the procedures. They cannot be repeated many times - severe dehydration of the body will come - a life-threatening condition.
In most reviews of baths with magnesia for weight loss, a positive effect is noted - weight loss occurs quickly, the volume of the hips decreases by 1-2 centimeters. After a few days, the effect disappears. Therefore, according to reviews, a bath of magnesia can be used before important events, when you want to look more slim. In addition, many women note the effect of smoothing cellulite from taking salt baths.
Indications for bathing
At home, baths with Epsom salts are useful for many pathological conditions:
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system - osteoarthrosis, osteochondrosis, herniated disc, joint damage, fractures, osteitis and periostitis, diseases of the periarticular tissues (bursitis, myalgia, myositis, periarthritis), contractures, trophic ulcers.
- Diseases of the nervous system - radiculitis, polyneuritis, consequences of spinal cord injuries, autonomic-vascular dystonia.
- Gynecological diseases - chronic inflammation of the uterus, appendages, infertility, ovarian failure.
- Urological diseases - chronic prostatitis, folliculitis, cavernitis, vesiculitis.
Bath harm and contraindications
Magnesium sulfate is a medicinal substance, so it can not be used without thought. For many pathologies, baths with magnesia are prohibited. Contraindications:
- all diseases in the acute stage - infectious, ENT, sexually transmitted, blood diseases, tuberculosis;
- malignant tumors;
- frequent bleeding;
- normal pregnancy from the 26th week, and in the presence of pathology - at all times;
- some cardiovascular diseases - heart defects, hypertension, vascular sclerosis of the brain;
- some digestive diseases - acute ulcer of the stomach, intestines, polyps, attacks of gallstone disease, cirrhosis of the liver, nervous - severe Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, respiratory system - bronchial asthma with severe attacks, purulent sputum;
- some diseases of bones, joints - polyarthritis with deformities;
- some urological - chronic renal failure of the II and III stages and gynecological - ovarian cyst, bleeding erosion, polyps of the cervix of the disease;
- severe forms of metabolic diseases;
- skin diseases - all fungal diseases, scabies, psoriasis in the acute stage.
How to take a bath?
How to take a bath with magnesia? The nature and severity of changes occurring in the body under the influence of a salt bath depends on two factors: water temperature and salt concentration.
Depending on the temperature of the water, baths are distinguished:
- cool (25-30 ° C);
- indifferent (36-37 ° C);
- hot (42 ° C).
You need to start bathing with cool and indifferent ones, each time raising the temperature. You need to raise the temperature even with a well-defined reaction, otherwise it will become addictive and there will be no effect from the bath. By the end of the course, the temperature is again reduced.
To prepare the bath, the magnesia powder is dissolved in water, you need to take 200 g of salt in half the bath. There are other recipes. You can take 100 g of magnesia and 500 g of sea salt. You can add 250 g of soda, it will cleanse the skin and make it softer. For better pore opening, it is recommended to add 1 teaspoon of ginger. Optionally add your favorite essential oils or herbs to the bath.
Therapeutic baths begin with a low salt concentration, every other day or even twice a week. Then the number of receptions is increased to 4-5 per week, but not more than 20 per course.
Duration of administration is 10-15 minutes, maximum 30 minutes. Bathing is best completed when sweat or tiredness appears.
After taking a salt bath, rest lying or sitting for at least half an hour, drink hot tea to enhance perspiration.