If you’re ready to soak your feet or another part of your body in Epsom salt and discover that you’re out of Epsom salt, you’re left facing a dilemma. Do you find the time to run to the store to pick up more Epsom salt or look for a suitable substitute that you may already have on hand. If you’re asking, “can you use regular salt instead of Epsom salt,” or want to find out whether any of the other products in your pantry or medicine cabinet will work, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re going to share a few Epsom salt substitute ideas to help you find something that will work in place of the Epsom salt you need.
What is Epsom salt?
Let’s begin by discussing what Epsom salt is before we start looking at substitution ideas. Once you know more about how Epsom salt works, it will be easier to select which substitution idea will be best for your specific need.
So, what is Epsom salt? The chemical name of Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. It is water-soluble and looks similar to table salt with its solid crystal-like appearance. However, Epsom salt and table salt are not the same, Epsom salt is made up of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen, while table salt is made up of potassium and chloride.
Epsom salt was named after the town in London where it is believed to have been discovered approximately 400 years ago. While there are not a lot of scientific studies surrounding the benefits of Epsom salt, doctors and other professionals often recommend it for treating or relieving a variety of conditions. These conditions include, but aren’t limited to, insomnia, muscle pain, constipation, stress, and swelling and inflammation.
Many of these benefits are connected to the magnesium found in Epsom salt. When you soak in an Epsom salt bath, your body absorbs some of the magnesium, allowing you to reap the benefits it can deliver to your body.
Epsom salt can also help exfoliate the skin. It has a rougher texture that can help remove blackheads or dead skin cells, leaving your skin smoother and healthier.
What is a good substitute for Epsom salt?
When you’re looking for the best substitute for Epsom salt, the right answer may vary depending on your purpose. For example, if you’re asking “what can I use instead of Epsom salt to soak my feet,” the answer may be different from that for someone looking for the best Epsom salt substitute for sore muscles.
OK, let’s take a look at some of the various Epsom salt substitutes you may want to consider.
Sea Salt
Can I use regular salt instead of Epsom salt to soak feet? While you could, sea salt would be a better substitute. Pink Himalayan sea salt is an excellent exfoliant and can help soften and smooth out rough skin.
Sea salt can also be a good substitute for some of the other uses of Epsom salt as well. For example, if you are looking for an Epsom salt substitute ingrown toenail, try a pink Himalayan salt bath. Soaking your toe in the salty water can help to soften your toenail and reduce the pain you’re experiencing. Additionally, sea salt can help to alleviate muscle soreness and help your body to relax and de-stress.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another Epsom salt substitute that you may want to try. Specifically, it can make a wonderful Epsom salt substitute for infection. Some studies have indicated that apple cider vinegar can treat some skin conditions, including eczema, yeast infections, dandruff, and more. While more research is needed in this area, many individuals have found success soaking in an apple cider bath to clear up or improve an infection.
Baking Soda
You may not need to look much further than your pantry for this next substitute for Epsom salt. Baking soda can help with a variety of skin conditions, making it a great option to consider. If you’re searching for a substitute for Epsom salt in sitz bath, we’d recommend giving baking soda a try.
Oatmeal
Need to find an Epsom salt substitute bath? Try oatmeal. Oatmeal can also be an effective exfoliant. Soaking in an oatmeal bath can help improve your skin and provide relief from different skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. It helps to reduce inflammation and can be quite soothing.
Additionally, you can even make an oatmeal paste to use as a face mask, face scrub, or skin scrub.
Essential Oils
Looking to replicate the soothing and relaxing benefits of an Epsom salt bath or foot soak? Consider adding essential oils to your bath water. There are many different essential oil options, many of which can help reduce stress and help you relax. Some of these include lavender, sandalwood, Clary sage, and lemon. You could also try tangerine or peppermint oil if you’re looking to get relief for your tired and sore feet.
Prune Juice
As we shared above, one of the key components of Epsom salt is magnesium. If you are feeling constipated, soaking in Epsom salt can help because of the magnesium that your body will absorb. If you don’t have Epsom salt on hand, try drinking some prune juice. The sorbitol in prunes is believed to help pull water into an individual’s bowels to help facilitate a bowel movement.
Choosing an Epsom Salt Substitute
Epsom salt is certainly a very powerful and beneficial wellness product. Fortunately, there are substitute options that will deliver similar results if you don’t have an Epsom salt on hand or have an allergy or sensitivity to the salts. Now that you know how to substitute Epsom salt, it is time for you to choose the option that you think will work best for your specific needs. Give it a try and see how it goes!
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