A bath with magnesia has an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect, stimulates recovery processes, and normalizes blood circulation. 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 sulphate, magnesium sulfate, Epsom s alt, or bitter s alt) consists of magnesium cations and sulfate anions. From a chemical point of view, it belongs to the class of s alts. It is one of the main s alt components of sea water. In medicine, the positive effects of magnesium have long been known. It comes in three versions:
- inside - most often as a laxative, as well as with a lack of magnesium in the body;
- parenterally - most often for emergency lowering blood pressure, as well as with the threat of premature birth, as a sedative, anticonvulsant, etc.;
- outwardly - in the formbaths, compresses, as part of ointments, aerosols - for arthritis, as a wound healing agent, as nasal drops and aerosols.
Magnesium sulfate is produced as a powder in sachets for oral administration and as a solution in ampoules for parenteral administration. For the preparation of baths, bags of magnesia powder are usually taken. One bath will need 100-200 g of s alt. Magnesium sulfate is a white powder, odorless, bitter in taste, highly soluble in water.
In stores you can find ready-made bath s alts with magnesia, usually called Epsom s alts, packed in several kilograms.
Benefits of s alt baths
The benefits of a bath with magnesia on the body are due to 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, it is not worth waiting for a choleretic, laxative effect, and also hoping to increase the level of magnesium in the blood, taking only a bath. But magnesium has a general effect on the body. How does it happen?
The complex action of the magnesia bath is due to thermal, mechanical and chemical factors.
Local effect of magnesia
S alt baths conduct 1.5 times more heat into the body than regular fresh ones. The resulting heat dilates the blood vessels in the skin, increasing blood flow. Leads to the filling of skin vessels with bloodand mechanical irritation of nerve endings by particles of s alt. 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 s alt water pressure affects skin receptors, reducing the excitability and conductivity of nerve endings, which reduces tactile and pain sensitivity, activates the anticoagulant system and reduces platelet aggregation. This promotes the resolution of inflammation, stimulates the growth of granulation tissue.
Movement in s alt water is less painful, which allows the use of magnesium baths for the treatment of the musculoskeletal system.
General action of magnesia
Mechanical irritation of the skin receptors causes the release of histamine, which dilates the capillaries and has a stimulating effect on the body as a whole. Simultaneously with histamine, acetylcholine is released, which stimulates the vagus nerve, which benefits the entire body. Irritation of the vagus nerve activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the accumulation of resources, rest, sleep, and calmness. As a result, the symptoms of chronic fatigue and stress disappear. The action of baths on the autonomic nervous system allows them to be used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.
Benefits of a bath
An Epsom s alt bath will have several benefits:
- Deeply cleans skin pores.
- Increase skin elasticity.
- Leatherwill become smoother.
- Reduce puffiness.
- Reduces blood pressure.
- Will remove excess fluid from the body.
- Relieve chronic fatigue, give strength, calm.
- Relieve muscle tension and pain.
Magnesia bath for weight loss - 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 s alt solution creates an increased osmotic pressure, which “pulls” water towards itself. The laxative effect of magnesia is based on this principle when taken orally. S alt, getting into the intestine, creates osmotic pressure in its lumen, attracting water. Fecal masses are liquefied, their easy and fast excretion occurs. The use of drops and sprays with sea s alt is based on the same principle.
The increased osmotic pressure of the magnesia solution draws water out of the skin. This process is called dehydration. The skin dries out, becomes thinner, which explains the decrease in volume. Fluid is removed not only from the skin, but also from the whole body, which leads to weight loss. During the first procedure, you can lose from 500 g to 2 kg.
You should not count on a lasting effect from the procedures. You can’t repeat them 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 1-2centimeters. After a few days, the effect disappears. Therefore, according to reviews, a magnesia bath can be used before important events, when you want to look more slender. In addition, many women note the effect of smoothing cellulite from taking s alt baths.
Indications for bathing
At home, Epsom s alt baths are useful for many pathological conditions:
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system - osteoarthritis, 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, vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Gynecological diseases - chronic inflammation of the uterus, appendages, infertility, ovarian failure.
- Urological diseases - chronic prostatitis, folliculitis, cavernitis, vesiculitis.
Harm and contraindications of baths
Magnesium sulfate is a medicinal substance, so it should not be used thoughtlessly. With many pathologies, baths with magnesia are prohibited. Contraindications:
- all diseases in the acute stage - infectious, ENT, venereal, 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 are vicesheart disease, hypertension, cerebral vascular sclerosis;
- certain diseases of the digestive system - acute stomach ulcer, 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 stage II and III and gynecological - ovarian cyst, bleeding erosion, cervical polyps disease;
- severe 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 s alt bath depends on two factors: water temperature and s alt concentration.
Depending on the temperature of the water, baths are distinguished:
- cool (25-30°С);
- indifferent (36-37°С);
- hot (42°C).
You need to start taking baths with cool and indifferent ones, each time raising the temperature. It is necessary to increase the temperature even with a well-expressed reaction, otherwise addiction will occur and there will be no effect from the bath. By the end of the course, the temperature is reduced again.
To prepare a bath, magnesium powder is dissolved in water, you need to take 200 g of s alt for half a bath. There are other recipes too. You can take 100 gmagnesia and 500 g of sea s alt. You can add 250 g of soda, it will cleanse the skin and make it softer. For better opening of the pores, 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 concentration of s alt, every other day or even twice a week. Then the number of doses is increased to 4-5 per week, but not more than 20 per course.
Duration of reception 10-15 minutes, maximum 30 minutes. It is best to end your bath when sweating or feeling tired.
After taking a s alt bath, rest lying or sitting for at least half an hour, drink hot tea to increase perspiration.
