What is epsom salt used for?!
Question:
What is epsom salt used for?
Answers:
In 1618 a farmer at Epsom in England attempted to give his cows water, but they refused to drink it to due its sour/bitter taste. However the farmer noticed that the water seemed to heal scratches and rashes. The fame of Epsom salts then began to spread.
Epsom salt was originally prepared by boiling down mineral waters at Epsom, England, and later prepared from sea water. In modern times, these salts are obtained from certain minerals such as epsomite.
Medical use:
Locally it may be used as a treatment of an ingrown nail. Oral magnesium sulfate, or magnesium hydroxide, is used as a laxative. Epsom salts are also available in a gel form for topical application in treating aches and pains. Intravenous use is broadening, as magnesium sulfate reduces striated muscle contractions and blocks peripheral neuromuscular transmission by reducing acetylcholine release at the myoneural junction, as well as other effects. Indications for its use are:
* Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium concentrations in the blood)
* Treatment (and sometimes prevention) of seizures in eclampsia, for which it is the most effective therapy.
* In some cardiac arrhythmias, most notably in:
o Severe refractory ventricular fibrillation ("V-fib"), Pulseless ventricular tachycardia ("V-tach"), atrial fibrillation, and Torsades de pointes tachycardia
* As a bronchodilator after beta-agonist and anticholinergic agents have been tried, e.g. in severe exacerbations of asthma.[1] In fact, recent studies have revealed that magnesium sulfate can be nebulized to reduce the symptoms of acute asthma (Blitz et al 2005). In the UK, it is commonly administered via the intravenous route for the management of severe asthma attacks
* As a tocolytic agent, administered intravenously for the treatment of preterm labor: Until recently, intravenous magnesium sulfate was used extensively as first-line therapy in pregnancy to treat or forestall preterm contractions and preterm labor, but studies have shown that presumption of its effectiveness was unwarranted. Other, better tocolytic agents are now commonly used.
* For treatment of acute migraine.
* In the treatment of tetanus
* In the management of pheochromocytoma
* In maintaining and preventing amphetamine and methamphemine tolerance.
* Can also be used in the treatment of acne, when used as a bath additive.[2]
Epsom salts
Epsom salts
* Recent (2004) research at the School of Biosciences, Birmingham University, UK has shown that both magnesium and sulphate are absorbed through the skin when bathing in 1% solution.[3]