Soaking in epsom salts? Is it a placebo?

[Garnet]

I've been having quite a bit of problems with my knees since December. The right knee was very painful yesterday and last night and it was stiff this morning. I soaked in a tub of hot water with epsom salts in it for about an hour today and my knee is a lot better.

I'm also taking Advil during the day and muscle relaxers at night.

I'm just wondering if epsom salts really help or if it's just the act of soaking in hot water coupled with the meds that brought me such relief.

[nygreenguy]

Yes it does. Magnesium is absorbed and magnesium is known to reduce inflammation and relieve soreness.

[Anne]

Considering bathing in it has been studied and found able (http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/articles/Report_on_Absorption_of_magnesium_sulfate.pdf) to increase the sulfate and magnesium levels in the body, I'm guessing it helped.

I'm guessing heat, water, epsom salts and meds all helped. As did rest and elevation, while you slept...

[Garnet]

Thanks for the information! It's good to know that something I enjoy is actually good for me.

[Goldie]

I like taking epsom salts, adding a bit of pretty food coloring and essential oils and shaking it up. When it's all mixed I put it in a pretty glass container and tie a ribbon on it and give it away as "bath salts."
It's an easy to make, fun gift to give. And...I guess now I know it really does do some good. :)

[Faid]

It's what Anne said, mostly.

What problems do you have with your knees, exactly? Is it arthritis?

[Garnet]

I actually don't know for sure what is wrong with my knees other than the fact that I'm obese. I hurt them both in December while cleaning the bathtub. I thought it was nothing, but it got progressively bad enough that the first week in January, I went to a doctor who didn't even examine them, told me that I'd probably chipped a kneecap and referred me to a orthopedic specialist. There wasn't an appointment with the ortho available until mid-March so I just kept taking Advil and muscle relaxers and my knees got better. In fact, almost back to normal. I had a follow up appointment with my regular doctor and after talking with her and given that I have shitty medical insurance, I canceled the appointment with the ortho.

Now, three weeks later, my right knee is acting up again. So, I'm going to have an MRI within the next couple of weeks and then try to schedule with the ortho again.

[miss djax]

I like taking epsom salts, adding a bit of pretty food coloring and essential oils and shaking it up. When it's all mixed I put it in a pretty glass container and tie a ribbon on it and give it away as "bath salts."
It's an easy to make, fun gift to give. And...I guess now I know it really does do some good. :)

hi goldie,

i make bath and beauty products on the side...be careful with the food coloring - if its not 'bath safe' depending on the finish of the tub it's used in it could stain...yowza ;) skin safe is also important too.

here's a link to bath safe colorants :

http://www.candylandcrafts.com/images/LP-53010_11bathsaltscolorants.gif

you can find this brand at any michael's or hobby lobby and they are super cheap - under 3 bucks for a 3 pack.

/hijack ;)

[Brianna]

I like to put hydroperoxide baking soda and Epsom salts in my bath tub. Mostly cause I like the way that it bubbles. I don't have any evidence that a hydroperoxide baking soda mix does anything besides fizzle though :) Regular bubbles give me itches.

[Goldie]

I like taking epsom salts, adding a bit of pretty food coloring and essential oils and shaking it up. When it's all mixed I put it in a pretty glass container and tie a ribbon on it and give it away as "bath salts."
It's an easy to make, fun gift to give. And...I guess now I know it really does do some good. :)

hi goldie,

i make bath and beauty products on the side...be careful with the food coloring - if its not 'bath safe' depending on the finish of the tub it's used in it could stain...yowza ;) skin safe is also important too.

here's a link to bath safe colorants :

http://www.candylandcrafts.com/images/LP-53010_11bathsaltscolorants.gif

you can find this brand at any michael's or hobby lobby and they are super cheap - under 3 bucks for a 3 pack.

/hijack ;)



I didn't know that. Thank you. I've never had a problem, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.
Advice taken. :D
Again, thanks.
What else do you make?
I also do bath oils...just the easy stuff, for gifts and self.

[ofro]

I actually don't know for sure what is wrong with my knees other than the fact that I'm obese. I hurt them both in December while cleaning the bathtub. I thought it was nothing, but it got progressively bad enough that the first week in January, I went to a doctor who didn't even examine them, told me that I'd probably chipped a kneecap and referred me to a orthopedic specialist. There wasn't an appointment with the ortho available until mid-March so I just kept taking Advil and muscle relaxers and my knees got better. In fact, almost back to normal. I had a follow up appointment with my regular doctor and after talking with her and given that I have shitty medical insurance, I canceled the appointment with the ortho.

Now, three weeks later, my right knee is acting up again. So, I'm going to have an MRI within the next couple of weeks and then try to schedule with the ortho again.

I had trouble with my right knee for years. I started when I ran down six flights of stairs twice in a week to beat the elevator (stoopid thing to do at my age). At might I had to put a pillow under my knee for years.

It turns out that it was a first telling sign of sciatica. If finally blew up on me a few weeks after I painted the living room, just as I leaned over to pick something up.

That was two years go. I still can feel tingle or pain in my legs if I lift someting too heavy. Being overweight could also cause gradual squeezing of one's disks (mostly lumbar 4/5).

[Brianna]

I actually don't know for sure what is wrong with my knees other than the fact that I'm obese. I hurt them both in December while cleaning the bathtub. I thought it was nothing, but it got progressively bad enough that the first week in January, I went to a doctor who didn't even examine them, told me that I'd probably chipped a kneecap and referred me to a orthopedic specialist. There wasn't an appointment with the ortho available until mid-March so I just kept taking Advil and muscle relaxers and my knees got better. In fact, almost back to normal. I had a follow up appointment with my regular doctor and after talking with her and given that I have shitty medical insurance, I canceled the appointment with the ortho.

Now, three weeks later, my right knee is acting up again. So, I'm going to have an MRI within the next couple of weeks and then try to schedule with the ortho again.

I had trouble with my right knee for years. I started when I ran down six flights of stairs twice in a week to beat the elevator (stoopid thing to do at my age). At might I had to put a pillow under my knee for years.

It turns out that it was a first telling sign of sciatica. If finally blew up on me a few weeks after I painted the living room, just as I leaned over to pick something up.

That was two years go. I still can feel tingle or pain in my legs if I lift someting too heavy. Being overweight could also cause gradual squeezing of one's disks (mostly lumbar 4/5).

I am so happy that I found a chiropractor that adjusts my back with out selling me a line of b.s. :)

[ofro]

I like taking epsom salts, adding a bit of pretty food coloring and essential oils and shaking it up. When it's all mixed I put it in a pretty glass container and tie a ribbon on it and give it away as "bath salts."
It's an easy to make, fun gift to give. And...I guess now I know it really does do some good. :)

Just don't turn that into a form of Kool-Aid. It'll give you great diarrhea :D

[miss djax]

I like taking epsom salts, adding a bit of pretty food coloring and essential oils and shaking it up. When it's all mixed I put it in a pretty glass container and tie a ribbon on it and give it away as "bath salts."
It's an easy to make, fun gift to give. And...I guess now I know it really does do some good. :)

hi goldie,

i make bath and beauty products on the side...be careful with the food coloring - if its not 'bath safe' depending on the finish of the tub it's used in it could stain...yowza ;) skin safe is also important too.

here's a link to bath safe colorants :

http://www.candylandcrafts.com/images/LP-53010_11bathsaltscolorants.gif

you can find this brand at any michael's or hobby lobby and they are super cheap - under 3 bucks for a 3 pack.

/hijack ;)



I didn't know that. Thank you. I've never had a problem, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.
Advice taken. :D
Again, thanks.
What else do you make?
I also do bath oils...just the easy stuff, for gifts and self.

np :)

i make bath bombs *like the ones from lush*, lotions, mineral make up, emulsified scrubs, massage oil bars, bath melts, fizzing bath powder, solid scrub bars, cleansers, perfumes, and i'm working on a line of hair products..those are HARD - i need a cosmetic chemistry class stat!! :D

one day i'll be in a store near you ;)

[Goldie]

Oooooooooooooooooo! I like BE make-up and I'm a nut over fragrance! I love lavender soap with the bits still in.
YAY!
Do I get a discount??? :D

[miss djax]

Oooooooooooooooooo! I like BE make-up and I'm a nut over fragrance! I love lavender soap with the bits still in.
YAY!
Do I get a discount??? :D

lol we'll see what i can do :D

is this the first beauty product hijack of a science thread ever? :D lol

[Goldie]

Oooooooooooooooooo! I like BE make-up and I'm a nut over fragrance! I love lavender soap with the bits still in.
YAY!
Do I get a discount??? :D

lol we'll see what i can do :D

is this the first beauty product hijack of a science thread ever? :D lol

It's your Zoolander Av! It make me think about how good i should look... but none can compare!:notworthy::p

[Anne]

jeez, all I make is a shower soap that's a rip off of BB's Green Goddess.

And I don't even make the soap from scratch. Although I want to. I buy glycerin @ Michaels with the 50% off coupons...

[Garnet]

My maternal grandmother, who was a granny woman, used to make the most awesome glycerin soaps. I miss them!

[ninewands]

Yes it does. Magnesium is absorbed and magnesium is known to reduce inflammation and relieve soreness.
^This^

I'm taking magnesium for muscle pain, among other things. It works great.

[Garnet]

Hey there 9W! *glomps*

My knees are hurting quite a bit tonight. Maybe I should go soak.....


my knees. :D

[Goldie]

I tried magnesium for my pain but it was just so severe and the massive dose gave me the horrible runs. I was miserable so they took me off.
I should try it again at a more reasonable dose.

They recommend epsom salts for bruising as well. Does anything really work on bruises? I have some wicked ones on my left arm that are just aching. I am always black and blue because of my meds...and I'm a bit of a clutz sometimes.

[Anne]

leeches?

not kidding...

[Goldie]

leeches?

not kidding...

Hmmm.... it'd be my luck that they'd lock into a vein and cause more damage.:(

Please...I'm not that desperate.:p

[Ray Moscow]

I tried magnesium for my pain but it was just so severe and the massive dose gave me the horrible runs. I was miserable so they took me off.
I should try it again at a more reasonable dose.

They recommend epsom salts for bruising as well. Does anything really work on bruises? I have some wicked ones on my left arm that are just aching. I am always black and blue because of my meds...and I'm a bit of a clutz sometimes.

Arnica tincture or cream applied topically is supposed be good for minor bruising.

I haven't tried it myself, though. Usually my bruises don't hurt much anyway.

[Brianna]

I tried magnesium for my pain but it was just so severe and the massive dose gave me the horrible runs. I was miserable so they took me off.
I should try it again at a more reasonable dose.

They recommend epsom salts for bruising as well. Does anything really work on bruises? I have some wicked ones on my left arm that are just aching. I am always black and blue because of my meds...and I'm a bit of a clutz sometimes.

Arnica tincture or cream applied topically is supposed be good for minor bruising.

I haven't tried it myself, though. Usually my bruises don't hurt much anyway.

Arnica tincture would be extracted achohol. Ingestion of Arnica is poisonous and will make you sick.

Arnica oil does help mildly with bruising but please don't put it on open skin.

Some of my massage oils contain Arnica oil. It is suggested for bruising and muscle pain. It seems to help mine.

[ofro]

There is one arnica preparation that could be taken internally.

But you darn critics don't like homeopathic medicine!
:D

[Brianna]

There is one arnica preparation that could be taken internally.

But you darn critics don't like homeopathic medicine!
:D

I knew someone was going to bring that up.

Btw, did you know Castor Oil is also considered poisonous?

[Goldie]

I tried magnesium for my pain but it was just so severe and the massive dose gave me the horrible runs. I was miserable so they took me off.
I should try it again at a more reasonable dose.

They recommend epsom salts for bruising as well. Does anything really work on bruises? I have some wicked ones on my left arm that are just aching. I am always black and blue because of my meds...and I'm a bit of a clutz sometimes.

Arnica tincture or cream applied topically is supposed be good for minor bruising.

I haven't tried it myself, though. Usually my bruises don't hurt much anyway.

These bruises are bad and up-raised. Most aren't painful, but these are. I have never heard of Arnica, but I bet I could find it at the hippie co-op. I'll do a search and look at some name-brand products. Thanks :)

[Brianna]

I tried magnesium for my pain but it was just so severe and the massive dose gave me the horrible runs. I was miserable so they took me off.
I should try it again at a more reasonable dose.

They recommend epsom salts for bruising as well. Does anything really work on bruises? I have some wicked ones on my left arm that are just aching. I am always black and blue because of my meds...and I'm a bit of a clutz sometimes.

Arnica tincture or cream applied topically is supposed be good for minor bruising.

I haven't tried it myself, though. Usually my bruises don't hurt much anyway.

These bruises are bad and up-raised. Most aren't painful, but these are. I have never heard of Arnica, but I bet I could find it at the hippie co-op. I'll do a search and look at some name-brand products. Thanks :)

Well in hand makes a pain remedy in roll on. I use it.

[Goldie]

I looked on-line and epsom salts is recommended. Most things are more preventative for swelling like right after a hit... ice.... anti-inflamitories.
I take narc pain meds, but they aren't really helping much..so I took 4 ibuprofen for the anti-inflamitory qualities.

[ofro]

There is one arnica preparation that could be taken internally.

But you darn critics don't like homeopathic medicine!
:D

I knew someone was going to bring that up.

Btw, did you know Castor Oil is also considered poisonous?

Depends on the amount you ingest. As far as I understand, castor oil causes the diarrhea (or softens the stool if you use just a little) by irritating the bowel's epithelial cells enough that they start secreting fluid instead of absorbing it.

Also, in case you don't alread know, the deadly poison ricin is made from castor beans. The scientific name of the plant is Ricinus communis; thus the name of the poison. BTW, I don't think there is ricin in castor oil.

The plant is really impressive; a friend of mine has been planting it every year around his house.