Epsom Salt Crystals

Epsom salt originated from a saline spring in Epsom, Surrey, England. These springs emanate when porous chalk mixes with the non-porous London clay. It contains magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen, and has the chemical formula MgSO₄.7H₂O. This salt has been used for relieving muscle pain, as well as some other medicinal uses like being a laxative, treating nail fungus and athlete's foot. Epsom crystals are quite safe to use and can even be made at home.

• The most popular use of Epsom salt is in salt baths. Dissolve one to two cups of Epsom crystals in a hot bath―immersing your body in it will soothe tired muscles.

• These crystals are added to the potting soil as a fertilizer, particularly while growing roses. They increase the level of magnesium in soil, which enables healthy growth of plants.
• They are also used as a coagulant while making tofu.
• A foot soak made by dissolving half a cup of this salt removes foul odor from feet, softens rough skin, and relaxes the feet.

• Medical uses of Epsom salts include treatment of problems like athlete's foot and fungal infection of the nails, as well as for reducing bruises and sprains.
• This salt can also be used as a face and body scrub. Take a handful and mix it with extra virgin olive oil. Massage this scrub in a gentle circular motion all over your body, for removing dead skin.

• This bath salt can be used to make a natural hair volumizing formulation. Combine equal amounts of it with your favorite conditioner, and fill this inside a small bottle.

• This salt also helps to soak up excess oil from hair. Dissolve 8 to 10 tablespoons of it in ½ cup of shampoo, and apply one tablespoon of this concoction to your hair.
• Using a mixture of Epsom crystals dissolved in liquid dish detergent is very effective for cleaning bathroom tiles.

• These crystals can also be used in various beauty treatments such as removing blackheads. Dissolve a tablespoon of these along with iodine in a cup of boiling water, and apply this mixture on the blackheads with a cotton ball.

To make these crystals at home, you need:

• Epsom salts
• A shallow dish or bowl
• 1 cup hot water
• Food coloring (optional)
• Stirrer

Procedure
Pour the hot water into the shallow dish or bowl and add a bit of the salt in it. Stir the water until all the crystals dissolve.

Keep adding the salt and repeating the process till the crystals stop dissolving. Add a drop or two of food coloring and place the dish inside the refrigerator, undisturbed, for about 3 hours, after which you will find the dish filled with thin crystals that are very fragile.