Epsom Salts

Too much salt in the diet might be a bad thing, but when it comes to using the substance on the body, it's actually quite the opposite. "I recommend sea salt because it's mineral rich," says Catina Stavroulakis, the founder of The Salt Project, a California-based company that manufactures beauty products using the healing powers of sea salts. She further explains, "Sea salt is a far greater soaking medium than Epsom salt because it speaks to the muscles and to the skin." Want to learn more? For a few reasons you might love sea salts more than Epsom salts, just keep reading.

Epsom salts, my favorite soothing bath crystals, are getting quite the bad rap lately. Are they no longer delivering their promised soothing, sleep inducing, muscle relaxing benefits? Um, not exactly.

The "bath salts" that have been tested positive for having a similar molecular makeup as ecstasy and methamphetamine are not actual Epsom salts. What's happening is that these fake bath salts are being marketed as Epsom salt-like concoctions so that they are harder for the legal authorities to track down. People who are ingesting these salts are experiencing psychological symptoms like paranoia, delusions, and panic attacks, while the physical symptoms include chest pains, sweating, nausea, nosebleeds, and vomiting. Make sure if you buy bath salts that the packaging is legitimately labeled with "Epsom salts" or "bath salts" and is from a reputable bath, body, or drug store.

Epsom salts, however, are amazing. Find out what the miracle ingredient in Epsom salts is that make them so powerful, and learn to create the perfect Epsom salts bath.

Sure, I'm well aware of the tub of Epsom salts remedy for those aching dogs (read: feet), but you can take that saying literally! Thanks to Fully Vetted, I've got a new idea to treat North's feet.

Just as mixing one cup of Epsom salts into a couple quarts of comfortably warm water relaxes you, you can also stand a dog in the same mixture to help soothe his paws, too. This product works when the Magnesium sulfate (as it's also called) is absorbed into the skin and dehydrates the swollen spots. It also helps to sooth muscle pains and improve rough patches in the skin. Could this treat your pets after too much frolicking over the long weekend?