You probably won’t find this as a surprise, but having a long luxurious bath is good for you and has wide-ranging medicinal benefits. To transform your regular bath from good to great, we have tailored a complete sensory experience to help soothe the mind while relaxing and refuelling the body.

The reason natural bathing improves your health is due to its mineral content in the bath salts, especially magnesium - our hero ingredient and key to sucess. Magnesium gets a good rap and rightly so; it helps with stress, anxiety, sleep and so much more - see below. You can get your magnesium fix through food - such as nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans & leafy vegetables, however, research shows most people do not get enough magnesium from their diets. Before reaching for the pill supplements, a commonly overlooked way of consuming magnesium is through transdermal absorption (TDA), which is the absorption of nutrients through the skin while bathing. OK, that way sounds way more fun and relaxing than taking a pill - so how does it work?

Here comes the science

Dr Myhill believes that many nutrients are broken down in the gut and absorption via the skin is actually preferable [1]. Dr Mitchell & Dr Waring concur that salts can be absorbed through the skin [2]. Critically acclaimed Dr Shealy published a book citing the benefits of TDA [3]. Interestingly two studies [4] & [5] showed varying levels of magnesium absorption, suggesting your body absorbs different amounts depending on its own needs, so if you are deficient your body may absorb more nutrients during your bath.

Right, so relaxing and beneficial - now that’s cleared up let’s explore health and fitness & wellness benefits of Epsom salt, Dead Sea salt and Himalayan salt.

Mineral Bathing has multiple health benefits.

Magnesium boost – The American Osteopathic Association reported that 80% of us are magnesium deficient, which means your body cannot absorb Vitamin D effectively [6]. Dr Altura credits numerous health risks to magnesium deficiency including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, inflammatory conditions and nervous disorders [7]. With high concentration of magnesium in our Epsom salt, having a mineral bath will boost magnesium in your body through TDA.

Boost immunity – If you’re feeling under the weather, Dr Ramsey asserts that soaking in Epsom salt bath helps spur a process called vasodilation, which increases white blood cell production and helps the body fight illnesses quicker [7]. With high concentrations of Iron, Zinc & Geranium in our Dead Sea & Himalayan salts, absorption enriches the blood and helps carry Oxygen round the body which boosts immunity and speeds up recovery.

Soothes skin inflammation – Sulphur helps to cleanse pores and has powerful healing, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties. Dr Palep says that dermatologists recommend sea salt baths for patients with psoriasis, eczema, and other dry skin conditions. It may also help people dealing with acne and atopic dermatitis [8]. Calcium, Zinc and Potassium in our Dead Sea & Himalayan salts promote skin regeneration and help retain moisture for full and vibrant skin.

Soothe sore feet – Dr Bowman, recommends soaking your feet in Epsom salt. This helps ease muscle & joint pain, swollen and inflamed feet, foot odour and skin problems. He says that Epsom salt acts as a wicking mechanism to help draw out infections from the superficial surface area and prevent them from growing larger [7].

But there's more - it can help with your wellness & fitness 

Ease muscle aches – Not only do baths help improve blood flow, aiding recovery, but Dr Pelegri found that salt baths even help reduce inflammation via osmotherapy [10]. The anti-inflammatory properties of magnesium baths have shown to have positive effects on people suffering from metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes [9].

Reduce joint pains – Rheumatologic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis can be treated via the mineral absorption and stimulated blood circulation associated with salt baths [11].

Improve sleep – During sleep our body temperatures naturally drop, triggering the production of melatonin – the sleep hormone. Strangely a warm bath produces similar results – as you get out your body cools rapidly, triggering the release of melatonin helping you drift off naturally [12].

Reduce stress - There are few things in life more relaxing than a nice bath. A magnesium deficiency can reduce your levels of serotonin, the happy hormone which creates a feeling of wellbeing and relaxation. This can help clear your mind and improve decision making [7]. Stress builds over time and if left unchecked it can influence our mood, thus potentially impacting our relationships – it is so important to press pause and take moment for yourself to order your thoughts, reflect and relax.

In conclusion, magnesium is a vital element that you need to deliver a healthy mind and body. However you consume it, you will feel the benefits. For those who want a good allrounder, we recommend the Himalayan salts which have 84 precious minerals found in Ascent. For those seeking the powerful health effects of magnesium, we recommend our balanced blend of Epsom salt and Dead Sea salt found in all our other bath salts. Enjoy!