SKIN AND DISEASE: ACTIVATING SKIN WITH THE EPSOM SALTS BATH
A very useful way of stimulating a sluggish skin is the use of the Epsom salts bath. The Epsom salts may be bought in large quantities, seven pounds or more, and should be of the crude kind for bathing purposes. From one to two pounds should be dissolved in a bath of hot water, and no soap or anything else added. The temperature will depend, of course, on the general condition of the patient; but one might say that it should be as hot as can be reasonably borne, because it should last for about twenty minutes and by the end of that time it will have cooled considerably.In order to make this bath really effective the superficial circulation through the skin tissues should be stimulated. This may be done by the simple method of lifting the skin under the fingers and thumbs. Starting with the feet and legs, one should work all over the body, trying to pick up the skin in folds. It is, of course, much easier to do this in certain parts of the body—on the abdomen, for example; but no part of the body should be missed. By going systematically all over the body the circulation can be greatly increased and local congested spots broken up.If there are actual sores or irritation on the surface of the body these parts should not be directly treated. Instead, one should work all around them, trying, as it were, to stimulate the near-by circulation. This is a most useful procedure. It is helpful in the case of boils, assisting the lymph to carry away the offending waste products.If the lifting of the skin is done properly the individual will experience a glow all over the body and then, when he relaxes, as he should, before getting out of the bath, he will be conscious of a tingling movement throughout the whole of the surface of the body. One might say that this measure has stirred up the “sea-water” in the skin region and hastened the waste products on their way to the depurating organs. The effect of this will be felt, not only on the health of the skin, but on the health of the whole body. In fact there is no better measure in many chronic diseases than naturally to stir up the effete matter that is in the system and eliminate it through the proper channels.If the patient is possessed of a fair amount of energy this bath may also be the time for doing a few exercises. With the body immersed in the water there is no better time for limbering up the muscles and joints, and exercise done in this way places very much less strain on the heart and lungs. It is possible in this position to stretch the limbs and to contract many of the groups of muscles, thus aiding the circulation and improving muscular tone.A word of caution should be uttered here. The bath must not lead to exhaustion, and if the patient is at all depleted in energy it may be a good plan to do the exercise one day and the skin lifting movements on another. But all who suffer from a sluggish skin and all the ailments that go with it should use these measures, because they will do more than anything else to stimulate the circulation and reactivate the skin.Some people find sea salt more pleasant and effective than Epsom salts, and it may be a good plan to alternate them. Apart from these two substances there is no need to make any use of medicinal preparations.
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