While on a recent trip out of state I found myself in need of an Epsom salt bath to help resolve a mild injury.
Not knowing the town very well, I checked for some at a nearby health food store.
I was shocked to see that a small, one pound container cost a whopping $30. At home, I normally pay $2.99 for a 4-pound bag!
On the label, the words “Pharmaceutical Grade” were boldly emblazoned. This got me thinking about whether the kind I’ve been buying at the supermarket all these years was inferior stuff. So, I decided to investigate.
Here’s what I found out! I think you will be delighted as I was.
Where to Buy Epsom Salt
Figuring out where to buy Epsom salt is a relatively easy process in the United States. Supermarkets, pharmacies, and health food stores all typically carry it in sizes ranging from 1-6 pounds (1/2 – 2.7 kilograms).
You can also find it at many feed stores and nurseries for animal and agricultural applications, respectively.
In other countries I’ve visited, it seems a bit trickier. In the Netherlands, for example, I could only find a very small container in a nichey health food store. The supermarket and pharmacy nearby didn’t even know what I was talking about when I asked about it.
Different Grades of Epsom Salt
Like many substances such as vegetable glycerin, azomite, and diatomaceous earth, Epsom salts are available in different grades. While all contain the two naturally occurring minerals of magnesium and sulfur, there are different ways of manufacturing and packaging it.
These various processes are necessary for different applications. Some are for human use (both external and internal) and others are for agricultural applications.
What is the Difference?
According to the Epsom Salt Council, magnesium sulfate that is suitable for human use is identifiable in the following way.
Any package that has a “drug facts” box or that’s labeled “USP” has been manufactured, tested and certified to meet stringent regulatory standards of the FDA and the United States Pharmacopeia, and is deemed safe and acceptable for human use. For human use, the Epsom Salt Council recommends only Epsom salt with the USP designation.
This means is that a bag of Epsom salts from Walmart is essentially the same as the container from the health food store.
Both are equally safe and effective whether you plan to use magnesium sulfate crystals for internal or external use.
In other words, there is no need to spend 10 times as much for a container stamped “pharmaceutical grade”.
The inexpensive bag of Epsom salt with a “drug facts” box on the package or labeled “magnesium sulfate USP” is just as good!
The most inexpensive way to buy it is in bulk bags if you use it a lot in your home like we do (this brand is great and includes free shipping).
Epsom Salt for Plants
Magnesium sulfate for plants is typically available at hardware stores and nurseries because it makes excellent fertilizer. Feed stores also sometimes carry it.
This type of Epsom salt is of technical or agricultural grade and not for human use. It tends to be a bit cheaper and can be purchased in bulk (such as this brand).
How to Use Epsom Salt at Home
Once you’ve sourced a container of magnesium sulfate marked “USP” and/or the package has a “drug facts” box on the label, feel free to use for foot soaking, cleansing detox baths (particularly good for mild bruises or sprains), and as a safe, mild laxative.
If you are sensitive to the sulfur and/or on a low FODMAP diet, try magnesium bath flakes instead.
“Pharmaceutical grade” Epsom salt, however, is not necessary. Such labeling seems to be nothing more than a ploy to charge (a lot!) more.
Any idea about epsom salt for animal use? If it is safe for animal use, is it safe for human use? I’m in Eastern Europe and it’s taken me 5 years to find epsom salt. But most of what I find is for animal use. I haven’t gotten any yet because I’m nervous that it specifically says animal use. I mean, I just want to soak in it…so if an animal can soak in it, is it safe to assume I could too?
If you are not going to use internally, it is probably fine just for soaking especially if you use just for a food detox. Perhaps contact the manufacturer to discuss the production process to be sure?
Hi, Sarah,
Thanks for your article. I recently took at Epsom Salt bath where I used 3 cups plus in a large tub and was up 4 times during the night to go to the bathroom. This has happen before. When I lowered my amount of ES, I did not have to get up. Is it acting like a diuretic or could i possible be allergic to it.
You’re probably not allergic … most likely you are having a detox reaction. The magnesium really gets the excretory system going especially if you are deficient in it already (most people are). Try just soaking your feet in it and work up to a full body bath.
Hello,
With all the chemicals they put in the tap water….should people like myself who do not have a whole house filtration unit just skip the bath soaks? Would the salts still be beneficial in such cases or counter productive?
Thank you.
Good point. I would suggest getting a bath filter if you don’t have a whole house system. It will at least take the chlorine out. https://amzn.to/2Twwp1L
First I want to thank you for your helpful updates. I just purchased the fish oil that you recommended as your post was so timely for me and informative.
Regarding the Epsom salts. I recently learned that there is another kind of magnesium salt which you don’t mention here, which JUST came to my house via Amazon… Magnesium Salt Bath Flakes w 100% Pure Magnesium Chloride. I haven’t used them yet, but they make it sound like they are more beneficial for soaking in and seem to be the same as the magnesium spray we often use. I’ll be interested in your thoughts on these.
All the best!
You’re welcome! By the way, I’ve compared epsom salt to magnesium flakes in this article and why I don’t use them. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/epsom-salt-bath-necessity-for-health/
Are epsom salts from China ok? I avoid things from China but it’s all I can find lately in Australia so I haven’t been buying any.
I haven’t looked into China produced epsom salts, but it is good to be concerned! I will have to see what I can find about that.
Thanks for this article Sarah. I’m wondering if you ever got to find out where exactly the different epsom salts actually came from. One of my patients claimed once that some come from industrial residues. Have you come across this in your search?
That’s a good question. I have not come across it at this point. If I find something about that, I will be sure to update this article with that info.
I have MS and without these salt baths I would have certainly lost my life!!!!! Don’t speak for everyone!!!
Many people have asked what is the best way to increase their magnesium(mg) levels, in comparison baths with Epsom as prescribed above adding up to five times a week will surpass oral magnesium. May be counter to what we believed but testing people on the Oligoscan(Spectrophotometer) before and afterwards results. Usually takes a month apart for levels to change. Additionally benefit from the Epsom baths is the reduction of aluminum levels. Magnesium also helps protect calcium levels.
I have come across this interesting article pointing out that the claimed benefits of Epson salts are not proven.
A lot of things that work extremely well and have been used successfully for centuries like epsom salts are not “proven”. Conversely, many things that are supposedly “proven” are actually false (like butter is bad for you). This is due to the use of science as a marketing tool by corporations in recent decades. It is important to be able to discern the difference while navigating the internet.
I take 2-3 epsom salt baths every week. It helps me sleep and I would never go without them! I’ve been spending a fortune on the pharma grade ones at the healthfood store. So glad I can use the USP bags at Walgreens. Thx for the info!
How do you use it as a laxative?
If you’ve never used epsom salts before, you can just take a full body bath (2 cups in a bathtub full of warm water .. soak for 20 minutes) and that alone will likely get things moving for you. Magnesium and sulfur both absorb very very well via the skin and magnesium is what has the laxative effect. Most people are HUGELY deficient in both of these minerals.
Epsom salt can also be taken internally as a laxative. To do it this way, for adults and children over 12, dissolve 2-4 level tsp in an 8 ounce glass of water and drink (do this no more than twice per day and don’t repeat dosages less than 4 hours apart). For children (over age 6 only), 1-2 tsp dissolved in a glass of water.