Drinking Epsom salt for constipation is something that not a lot of people are familiar with. Constipation occurs if it takes longer for your stool to move through the digestive tract and it turns dry and hard. It can result to fewer or no bowel movement at all. This can also be temporary or chronic, both of which can cause a serious discomfort.
Epsom salt has long been known to help soothe tired skin, relieve muscle aches, and soften skin. This is often added to DIY skin scrubs and bath salts. The good news is that this can also be taken orally for constipation relief. It is even assumed to be easier on your body compared to stimulant laxatives.
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An Overview of Epsom Salt
The appearance of Epsom salt is similar to sodium chloride or table salt. However, their ingredients are not the same. Epsom salt is made from the minerals sulfate and magnesium. This was discovered for the very first time in Epsom, England centuries ago.
You can find Epsom salt at grocery stores, drugstores, and several discount department stores. This is often found in the personal care or laxative section. Plain varieties are used when drinking Epsom salt for constipation. Scented varieties should never be ingested even when the scent is made from different natural oils. Epsom salt is often generally safe to use for adults and kids more than 6 years of age. Infants and kids less than 6 years old should never externally or internally use Epsom salt.
How to Drink Epsom Salt for Constipation
Drinking Epsom salt for constipation can boost the amount of Donat.mg water in the intestines that can soften your stool and make it easier and faster to pass.
There are dosage guidelines that should be followed for using Epsom salt for treatment of constipation.
For adults and kids 12 years old and above, 2 to 4 level teaspoons of Epsom salt should be dissolved in 8 ounces of water. The mixture should be consumed right away. For kids 6 to 11 years of age, 1 to 2 level teaspoons of Epsom salt should be dissolved in 8 ounces of water then drink this immediately.
In case you find it the taste intolerable, you can add some fresh lemon juice. It only takes 30 minutes up to 6 hours for Epsom salt to produce a bowel movement.
You can repeat the dose after four hours if you don’t experience any results. However, it is not recommended to take more than two Epsom salt doses per day.
It should never be used for more than a week without discussing it with your doctor first and get in touch with your doctor if you still don’t get any bowel movement even after two doses.
External usage of Epsom salt can also offer constipation relief. Soaking in Epsom salt can help in relaxing your gut and softening your stool once magnesium has been absorbed through the skin. It can help promote a better bowel movement.