As the fall season inches ever closer, many of us are left with skin that tells the story of a summer well spent. Whether it's that itchy, red sunburn on your shoulders or the assortment of bruises dotting your legs after that rock-climbing expedition, it's hard to get through a summer of outdoor activity with the body's biggest organ completely unscathed. Thankfully, just as nature gives us the summer sun and great outdoors to enjoy, it also provides us with solutions to many of the problems we fact this time of year.

One particularly useful remedy for skin problems is Epsom salt. Epsom salt is a naturally occurring mineral compound that contains magnesium and sulfate, and it's something that has been used for many years as a natural remedy to heal an assortment of health problems because it is so easily absorbed by the skin. It's named for the site of a bitter saline spring in Surrey, England, and its magnesium is the secret to its success. Magnesium helps regulate more than 300 enzymes, boosts calcium absorption, and supports normal blood pressure levels.

Many Americans are actually magnesium deficient. According to the Epsom Salt Council, 68 percent of American adults do not meet the recommended daily allowance of magnesium, with 19 percent of people failing to eat even half of the recommended amount. This is largely attributed to the increase in processed food.

Here is a look at some of the ways that Epsom salts can be used to solve your biggest summer skin concerns.

HEAL SUN-DAMAGED SKIN

The anti-inflammatory abilities of Epsom salt make it ideal for alleviating the irritation, pain and itchiness that accompany mild sunburn.

You can fill your bathtub with lukewarm water and then mix in about a cup of Epsom salt. Stir the water until the salt dissolves, then hop in and soak for at least 20 minutes. You can add a few drops of a soothing essential oil like lavender to boost relaxation and fill the air with a pleasant fragrance.

If you only have sunburn on a small area of your body or you don't have access to a bathtub, you can just mix about two tablespoons of Epsom salt into a cup of water and fill up a spray bottle with it. A few times a week, spray this mixture onto the affected areas and let it rest for ten minutes before washing it off.

OTHER BENEFITS

Although there is no magical cure that can make bruises disappear overnight altogether, Epsom salts can help reduce their appearance and provide some pain relief at the same time. Make a warm compress using a solution of two tablespoons of Epsom salt mixed with a cup of water.

Epsom salts can also help with a number of other ailments. Soaking an area of the skin that contains a splinter with Epsom salt can make it easier to remove. It can also be useful for soothing bug bites. Just keep a mixture of ? cup Epsom salts dissolved in water in the fridge and apply it to bug bites to relive itching and pain.

This magical compound also has a number of household uses. For example, it can be mixed with liquid dish soap to scrub bathroom tile or it can be sprinkled near your home's entry points to keep slugs away. A sprinkling of Epsom salt once a week on house plants and flowers can help them maintain their healthy color. It can also have the same effect on your lawn if it is diluted in water and sprayed on it occasionally.

Source:
courtesy of NATURALNEWS

by Isabelle Z.

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