The Power Of Salt

No, now don't give me that look. I'm fully aware salt is bad for you and you should avoid it on your dinner but what about in the bath? I have been a fan of sprinkling some salt into my bath water every time I go for a soak for many years now. What sparked this mad habit off in the first place? A lady in a health shop in the deep South of Kerry, thats where. I was on the hunt for some dried banana chips (heaven in a bag) when I saw a lady carrying several bags of salt to the counter. She dropped one and as I helped pick it up I asked (because I'm nosy like that) why she needed so many bags. She told me about the power of salt and taking salt baths. Ever since then, I was hooked.

Salt, when used in the bath is cleansing, it stimulates circulation, detoxifies and hydrates the skin, helps cellular regeneration, helps to sooth dry skin and if thats not enough it reduces muscle inflammation and relaxes them to relieve pain. The stuff is packed with minerals,sodium and potassium which your blood needs after exercise. It can relieve water tension (getting skinnier in the bath you say?!) and can strengthen bones, teeth and nails. Some research has even claimed that salt water helps to clear up acne.

'The Father of Medicine' Hippocrates (BC) encouraged his patients to bath in sea water after he studied fishermen who put their hands in the water when they had cuts and sores. And if you want to get fancy about it, which I always do, the treatment is called thalassotherapy - sea therapy in Greek. 

So next time you come across some sea salt or even a bag of table salt in the shops, why not pick it up and add a little to your bath? Might just be the trick.