Bitter salt: what is it for and benefits
Bitter salt provides benefits for skin, hair, plants, house cleaning and more.
What is Bitter Salt?
Bitter salt, also called magnesium sulfate or epsom salt, is not exactly a salt, but a pure mineral composed of sulfate and magnesium, found in nature in places where there are hot springs resulting from rock formations. Its use began in antiquity. It was believed that drinking and bathing in these fountains would result in health benefits. A long time later, what was a belief became something scientifically accepted and pharmaceutical companies began to produce “remedies” based on bitter salt. These drugs can be produced by pharmaceutical laboratories or industries.
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Bitter salt has magnesium as its main compound, an essential nutrient for our survival and is naturally present in food. However, due to several factors that affect the quality of the soil, the foods we eat often do not have the ideal amount of magnesium, so supplementation is necessary. Bitter salt is an alternative to increase magnesium concentrations in the body that also brings several benefits, as you can read in the article "Magnesium: what is it for?".
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This compound is often indicated in drugstores to be added at bath time and to treat muscle pain, but is its only benefit this? The answer is no. Bitter salt has several benefits and here we will learn about the main ones. Compresses, baths, paste, solutions, bitter salt can be used in different ways. Even to treat colds and flu, relieve muscle pain, itchy sunburn and mosquitoes. Bitter salt also reduces stress, improves sleep, can be used as an exfoliant, for skin cleansing, as well as fertilizing your garden. See below in more detail some of the uses of bitter salt at home:
what is the bitter salt for
1. Fertilizer
Bitter salt contains magnesium and sulfate, essential nutrients for plant health. Some plants (especially roses), foods (tomatoes, for example) and trees do best with the application of bitter salt. This is because it makes the planting healthier and longer lasting, especially during flowering time, the flowers and fruits grow better. If you have a garden, spread the bitter salt among the flowers and berries once a week.
If you are just starting to grow plants in a garden, apply a quantity of bitter salt to the compost or spread a cup of salt for every 10 square meters to help with fertilization. In addition to helping plants develop, it acts as a natural pesticide.
To create a natural pesticide, use one tablespoon of bitter salt for every 950 ml of water.
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Note: To encourage healthy rose growth use ½ cup of bitter salt in the soil.
2. Gentle scrub
Do you have rough skin or blackheads that make you look ugly? Make a natural homemade product to leave your skin clean and refreshed. Remember that the time and amount of applications vary according to the texture and type of skin.
Method of preparation:
To eliminate blackheads and cleanse the skin: mix using three drops of iodine, a teaspoon of bitter salt and ½ cup of boiling water. Mix everything and, with the help of cottons, apply the mixture in the areas with blackheads.
To exfoliate your skin: mix ½ teaspoon into your cleansing cream, rub the mixture on your face, massage it gently, then rinse with cool water.
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3. Household cleaning
You can use it in the kitchen, bathrooms and other rooms.
Method of preparation:
For heavy cleaning (tiles, sinks, floors, etc.): mix liquid detergent with bitter salt (the amount depends on the amount of detergent used, remembering that both must have the same amount in the mixture) and use them to do the heavier cleaning in the residence.
You can still apply the paste mixture to wash places like garages, backyards and roofs, but for that you need to scrub the environment manually with a broom.
Applying a small amount of bitter salt around your home will keep slugs and snails out of your home and garden.
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4. Weed control
You can control the appearance of weeds in your garden and better yet, without resorting to toxic products.
Method of preparation:
Mix a bottle of white vinegar with two cups of bitter salt and ¼ of regular soap. Mix and place the liquid in a spray bottle and spray out around your garden.
5. Compress on bruises
Who has never been hurt in any way and got that bruise stain that makes them look ugly? Find out how to improve stain simply.
Method of preparation:
Mix a tablespoon of bitter salt with a glass of cold water. With the help of cotton, spread the emulsion over the bruises. They won't disappear like magic, but they will definitely look better. Apply several times.
6. Removal of fragments
Sometimes those splinters of wood or shards of glass come into contact with our skin and cause pain and inflammation. Bitter salt is great for removing these fragments.
Method of preparation:
Mix a tablespoon of bitter salt in a glass of cold water. With the cotton, apply the liquid in the area where the fragment is. Bitter salt has characteristics that increase osmotic pressure, that is, it drives the fragments to the surface of the skin. This should reduce pain and prevent inflammation.
7. Soothing from sunburn and irritated skin
This is especially for those who have children at home and suffer from sunburn and irritated skin caused by insect bites.
Method of preparation:
Mix a tablespoon of bitter salt in a glass of cold water and make compresses. Whenever you can, keep this mixture close by and protect your children.
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8. In the bath
Bitter salt in the bath helps to relax the body and relieve stress, the salt is well absorbed by the skin increasing the level of magnesium in the body. This ultimately helps the serotonin which activates the feeling of calm and relaxation. However, it offers more than that, the bath with bitter salt is also indicated to relieve muscle pain. It can help reduce swelling, sprains and bruises.
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Method of preparation:
Mix 2 cups of bitter salt in a tub of hot water under running water or stir to dissolve. Stay at least 12 minutes and repeat about three times a week. If you also want to moisturize your skin, add half a cup of essential oil or baby oil. Learn more about essential oils in the article: "What are essential oils?".