Many fibromyalgia patients have found great relief in taking a long soak in the tub. A relaxing bath can help to ease the body into slumber by soothing sore muscles and preparing the mind for sleep.
There are a variety of ways to prepare a bath from bath salts to simply throwing in some chamomile flowers. Fatigue is the greatest complaint of all fibromyalgia patients and this will help to ease the body into a more relaxed state in preparation for bed. There are several ways to prepare a bath for such treatments. Here are a few bath salt recipes to get you started on your way to relaxation.
Always start with hot water. Be sure that the water isn’t too hot or you’ll feel more fatigued, however, also make sure that the water isn’t too cold or you’ll feel chilled and have more aches and pains. Once you get the temperature right you’ll know it. Consider adding some soft music in the background to help set the relaxation mood as well.
Magnesium sulfate, or Epsom salts as we commonly call it, is an ideal additive to a hot soaking bath. Magnesium plays a huge role in treating fibromyalgia and soaking in the magnesium salts is an ideal way to incorporate more magnesium into the body and soothe those sore muscles.
It can help to regulate the body, inhibit the nerve receptors that are often responsible for the pain of fibromyalgia and it can be absorbed directly into the blood stream through the skin. Simply buy some Epsom salts and pour one cup into the tub as it’s filling for best results.
Many like to add some baking soda to the tub as well. Baking soda is an alkalizing additive. It can help to release toxins and create more energy. By doing this it lowers stress levels and helps improve relaxation. Add one half cup of baking soda to the epsom salts for an added benefit.
Essential oils will round out the recipe for you. You can add in some lavender oil if you wish. Inhaling the lavender oil will help to relax and soothe your tired achy muscles and ease you into dreamland.
Many patients also swear by adding a chamomile tea to the bath as well. This can help to relax and soothe the body and enhance the experience. Some claim that instead of adding the tea to the water, they drink a mug of chamomile tea while soaking in the bath. This helps to reduce stress from the inside out.
It is suggested that patients soak in the tub until the water cools for the maximum benefits of the treatment. Learning to relax and soak in the tub can greatly impact your life in a positive way. Fibromyalgia patients who learn how to relax and de stress often report improved symptoms and fewer flare ups.
There are many great benefits from hot water. It helps improve circulation, it helps to lower the force of gravity on your sore muscles and joints, it reduces swelling and inflammation and it relaxes both the mind and the body.
Most patients report that they feel much better after about 20 minutes in a hot bath.
Once patients understand the role of magnesium in the body they can improve their levels and begin to improve how they’re feeling. It’s vital to the body’s energy to soothe those sore muscles and ease the mind and magnesium seems to be a key factor in doing just that.
However, there are a few precautions that must be taken when using magnesium. It can be very hard on your digestive system. It may lead to nausea, bloating, cramping and even diarrhea if you’re overdoing it. If you’ve been using magnesium supplements or soaking in an epsom salt bath and are having these issues you may wish to try cutting back on the dosage to see if that helps reduce the digestive system issues.
When a patient is soaking in magnesium, the tiny particles are what is being absorbed by the body. These particles are dissolved in the bathwater and the skin readily absorbs it. Medical professionals are divided as to how much may be too much when it comes to soaking in Epsom salts. It could be that it doesn’t affect patients at all, or it could be a key factor in how the body reacts. It may vary from patient to patient as well.
With so much yet to learn about fibromyalgia it may be one of those unknown factors that medical science simply doesn’t have the answer to as of yet. Many of the best touted treatments have no scientific backing so it may be difficult to decipher the actual benefits of soaking in a hot bath of magnesium to ease those aches and pains.
What we do know is that if a person has a sprain or injury to an ankle or leg that soaking in epsom salts helps to ease those pains. That said, soaking may relieve the aching muscles from fibromyalgia as well.
Most patients are just seeking some relief from the dull ache that is ever present in fibromyalgia. If soaking in a hot bath with some epsom salts works for you, great, try it every night. If it doesn’t appear to help after trying it for a few weeks, move on to another form of treatment.
Many patients claim dramatic results from the bath salt treatment. A few state that it doesn’t work at all. Again, remember that what works well for one person may not work at all for another. It’s a trial and error but well worth mentioning as if it works, relief is in sight. With nothing to lose and everything to gain it’s well worth a tray to find a good bath salt for fibromyalgia and soak in it daily.
The recipe again:
- One half to one cup of epsom salts in hot waterproof
- One half to one cup of baking soda (optional) in hot water with epsom salt
- Essential oil if desired
Further reading:
http://fibromyalgia.newlifeoutlook.com/drawing-a-bath-for-your-pain/
Comments