What can I use instead of Epsom salt? (9 alternatives)

In this article, we will answer the question “What can I use instead of Epsom salt?”, and discuss the alternatives to Epsom salt depending on its use.

What can I use instead of Epsom salt? 

You can use sea salt from the Dead Sea or lactulose instead of Epsom salt. Similar to Epsom salt, sea salt from the Dead Sea has exfoliating properties and also moisturizes the skin when mixed with oil (3). 

And lactulose is one of the best options to treat constipation (8). In short, the best choice to use instead of Epsom salt depends on the purpose of its utilization.

Epsom salt is the common name for magnesium sulfate. It is widely known for its exfoliating properties and health benefits like enhanced sleep and reduced fatigue. Due to the possible risks, it must be used with caution and under medical assistance, if Epsom salt is taken orally, although it has been commonly used to treat constipation (8).

What are the alternatives to Epsom salt when used to exfoliate the skin?

The alternatives to Epsom salt depends on the intended application. The alternatives to Epsom salt when used to exfoliate and clean the skin and to have a relaxation effect on the muscles are the following: 

Sea salt from the Dead Sea

Sea salt from the Dead Sea can be used as a foot soak and bath salt instead of Epsom salt. The fine grains also contain Magnesium in its composition and are effective to exfoliate, cleanse and hydrate the skin. Sea salt containing magnesium is also effective to get rid of patchy and scaly skin that occurs due to psoriasis. It helps rejuvenate skin.

The benefits of bathing in salt water, especially solutions prepared from the Dead Sea salts, have nourished the body and soul of humans since antiquity. The putative benefits of bathing in Dead Sea salts have been attributed to the magnesium in the sea composition, not the sodium or potassium (3).

Essential oils

Essential oils like lavender, thuja, tangerine, peppermint, and white pines can be used as an alternative to epsom salt in foot soak. They help release stress and relax tired feet muscles, similarly to Epsom salt (3).

Natural plant oils are commonly used as topical therapy worldwide. They are usually easily accessible and are relatively inexpensive options for skin care. 

Many natural oils possess specific compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-itch properties, making them attractive alternative and complementary treatments for xerotic and inflammatory dermatoses associated with skin-barrier disruption (5).

Apple cider vinegar

Adding apple cider vinegar to a hot tub of water helps relax the aching muscles. It has excellent cleansing properties. You can dilute it with some water and rinse your hair with this solution at the end of the bath. This cleans the hair scalp and makes hair shiny and soft.

Apple cider vinegar has been shown to have antibacterial effects and has been used to treat dermatitis, due to its effect against Staphylococcus aureus (4).

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a mild exfoliator. It can be used instead of epsom salt in your bathtubs for a gentle cleansing and exfoliation. Mix some oatmeal with water to make a paste and gently scrub on your skin.

Many over-the-counter oatmeal colloidal emollients claim to soothe and protect irritated or eczematous skin. Oats may reduce irritation in various xerotic dermatoses through its anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties, likely mediated by phytochemicals called avenanthramides (5).

Baking soda

Add borax and baking soda to your bathtub. Borax helps cleanse skin and baking soda is an excellent exfoliator. It is known for its therapeutic properties to get rid of sunburnt and itchy skin. A mixture of these two when added to the bathtub makes the water more silky and helps relax aching muscles.

Baking soda has therapeutic properties that have been widely studied to demonstrate its effectiveness against several pathologies. In particular, for skin pathologies, it can be employed as an antimicrobial and for treatment of aquagenic pruritus. It is effective in treatment of psoriasis (6).

Clay 

Clay is packed with minerals and has excellent detoxifying properties. Green clay and white kaolin clay can be added to a bath or a face mask to remove skin impurities.

Clay masks formulas have the ability to enlarge pores and improve skin cleansing by removing dead skin on the surface. Clay masks get rid of all skin problems like it unclog the pores and remove pimples as well as acne marks (7).

What are the alternatives to Epsom salt when used as a laxative?

The alternatives to Epsom salt when used as laxative are the following:

Magnesium Oxide

Magnesium oxide acts as laxative softening hard stools because of its osmotic effect. It can be used instead of Epsom salt, however, with precaution and medical assistance, due to the risk of hypermagnesemia, which is an intoxication due to high ingestion of magnesium. Magnesium oxide has long been used to treat constipation, especially in Japan (8).

Prune juice

Epsom salt diluted with water is used to relieve constipation. If you do not have epsom salt, use natural prune juice instead. Because prune juice contains a high amount of fibers, it can relieve constipation (2).

When you should not substitute Epsom salt?

You should not substitute Epsom salt in the cases of a medical indication of its use. There are effects that are attributed to Epsom salt exclusively. To substitute Espsom salt, you should follow medical advice. 

One example is the treatment of fibromyalgia. Magnesium deficiency can increase levels of substance P, which is related to the pain intensity of fibromyalgia. Thus, magnesium was suggested to be beneficial for symptom relief in patients with fibromyalgia. Magnesium sulfate occasionally decreases the amount of anesthetic used during surgery (1).

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “What can I use instead of Epsom salt?”, and discussed the alternatives to Epsom salt depending on its use.

References

1. Shin, Hyun-Jung, Hyo-Seok Na, and Sang-Hwan Do. Magnesium and Pain. Nutrients, 2020, 12. 
2. Gallegos-Orozco, Juan F., et al. Chronic constipation in the elderly. Off  j Am Coll Gastroenterol, 2012,107, 18-25.  
3. Polefka, T. G., R. J. Bianchini, and S. Shapiro. Interaction of mineral salts with the skin: a literature survey. Int j cosmet sci, 2012, 34, 416-423.
4. Luu, Lydia A., et al. Apple cider vinegar soaks do not alter the skin bacterial microbiome in atopic dermatitis. Plos one, 2021, 16, e0252272.
5. Vaughn, Alexandra R., et al. Natural oils for skin-barrier repair: ancient compounds now backed by modern science. Am j clin dermatol, 2018, 19, 103-117.
6. Mazzarello, Vittorio, et al. Efficacy of a Topical Formulation of Sodium Bicarbonate in Mild to Moderate Stable Plaque Psoriasis: a Randomized, Blinded, Intrapatient, Controlled Study. Dermatol Ther, 2019, 9, 497-503.
7. Londhe, Swati Siddheshwar, et al. Formulation and evaluation of clay face pack. Int J Pharmaceut Invest, 2021, 11, 437-440.
8. Mori, Hideki, Jan Tack, and Hidekazu Suzuki. Magnesium oxide in constipation. Nutrients, 2021, 13, 421.