Once upon a time, there was a magical Epsom salt bath that led to the best sleep ever.
Unlike Sleeping Beauty, this is not a fairytale!
Have you decided that you need to improve your sleep habits? A regular bedtime routine is a great way to work at getting better rest and sleep. It works for children and it works for adults too.
Do you remember having to read the same bedtime book over and over again to your child?
Well we’ve got some bedtime reading for you. Hopefully it doesn’t bore you to sleep!
It’s called ‘Journey to Dreamland after an Epsom salt bath’. That’s the working title anyway, it needs a bit of zhoozhing!
Chapter 1 – Isn’t Magnesium Magnificent?
Epsom salt is the star of your sleepy time show. Epsom salt is the alter ego of Magnesium Sulphate. Why does magnesium want to disguise itself this way? Maybe, because it’s known as ‘Nature’s Chill Pill’, it’s happy to relax and remain under the radar. Not only does magnesium help your mind and muscles relax, it’s a key player in the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep. So, when you're soaking in an Epsom salt bath, you're basically having a slumber party with magnesium as the guest of honour.
Chapter 2 – Muscles Start to Melt
Not literally. But if your shoulders are starting to resemble Joan Collins’ power suits from 1980s Dynasty (I’m pretending I’m not old enough to have begged to stay up to watch this show on a Friday night) then an Epsom salt bath will soon have them melting down your back like butter on hot toast. When the salts dissolve in warm water, they release magnesium ions which can help reduce muscle tension, cramps and soreness. Which feels great, and makes it easier to unwind and fall asleep. Some people find that aches, joint discomfort and restless legs are lessened too. Being less affected by discomfort allows you to relax and fall asleep more easily.
Chapter 3 – The Soothing of the Senses
An Epsom salt bath is like a spa day for your subconscious. Magnesium naturally lowers the excitability of your nervous system, and regulates stress hormones such as cortisol. By promoting relaxation and lowering stress, your mind will feel calm and soothed, banish racing thoughts, and willingly help you drift into a more peaceful sleep.
Chapter 4 – Feeling hot hot hot!
This chapter really is about temperature, not anything more exciting, sorry.
Taking a hot bath, followed by the drop in body temperature once you get out, mimics the natural drop in human body temperature that occurs when you sleep. This temperature shift can signal to your body that it's time to rest, potentially improving sleep quality.
Chapter 5 – Relaxation Ritual
A regular evening bathing routine is a slightly more relaxing version of Pavlov’s experiments with dogs. But instead of being trained to want food when a bell rings, your body receives a signal from the Epsom salt bath that it’s time to unwind and prepare for sleep. And because of all the benefits your body has received from its boost of magnesium (relaxed muscles, lowered stress etc), it should quickly learn that bath time = time to relax and start snoring.
Chapter 6 – Snooze button Sadness
You’ve made it through the night, and your snooze button has become defunct. Because Epsom salt baths promote a deeper, more restorative and restful sleep, you no longer need to rely on your alarm clock. You’ll be bouncing out of bed ready to face the day with gusto. Did you know that magnesium can improve blood circulation, helping your body be better oxygenated? This can prevent restlessness during the night, helping you maintain a more consistent and peaceful sleep pattern.
There is a bonus chapter for those of you who use our Salt & Oil blended soaks, and it’s titled ‘Aaaah-romatherapy’. When you add essential oils like lavender and bergamot to your bath soaks, as we do with our SO:Relaxing soak, it’s like you’ve invited Mother Nature to your slumber party. Scents like lavender have been shown to improve sleep quality and duration, making them a Zen garden for your ZZZZs!
Quality sleep has been linked to improved mood, better mental clarity, faster reaction times, and a more positive outlook on life.
So the moral of this story is - Incorporating Epsom salt baths into your bedtime routine, especially if you struggle with sleep-related issues, can be a natural and effective way to promote relaxation and improve your sleep quality.
It's important to remember that individual responses may vary, so it's a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional if you have chronic sleep problems or underlying medical conditions.
If you'd like to try some of our bath soaks, made with Natural Epsom salt (most of what you find in the shops is factory-made) and either food grade Himalayan pink salt or sodium bicarbonate, then head to our shop and use code SLEEP to get 20% off any of our scented or unscented bath soaks. The code works on single items only, not the multi-buy sets as they're already reduced.
Fancy joining us to receive The Weekly Soak - aka our email updates? There's a welcome offer for you in your first email, and you'll be added to our monthly draw to win a bath soak for you and one for a friend as our Random Act of Relaxation.
PS - There is a second moral to the story - thou who readeth all the way to the end shallst a gift receive! Just for a bit of fun, if you'd like to receive a bonus 500 SO:Rewarding points on your account (or a $5 voucher if you've not bought from us yet), email info@saltandoil.nz with the subject 'Fairytale Fiver' and we'll make that happen for you. Not exactly a fairytale ending, but better than being turned into a frog!
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