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An epsom salt foot bath recipe might be the exact remedy you’re looking for if you suffer from dry skin on your heels, foot odor, athlete’s foot, tired feet, sore muscles or toenail fungus. This super affordable and easy epsom salt foot soak can be made for a one time use after a long day or you can make it in bulk for future uses. In fact, pre-made epsom salt soaks make fabulous gifts that are perfect for pampering, relaxing and relieving sore feet!
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Lately I’ve been taking a lot of epsom salt baths as well as epsom salt foot soaks. I don’t wear heels much but when I do, a soak is a must to ease pain and foot tension. I also rely on a foot soak to soften my typically rough feet. While both of these benefits are instant gratification, soaking your feet in epsom salt has many other health benefits as well. Read on to find out why you’ll want to make your own homemade foot soak today! Plus, individual foot soaks make great gifts! I’ll explain more on that later!
Epsom Salt Soak For Feet:
Epsom salt is a magnesium sulfate compound and different from regular table salt. It has been used for hundreds of years to help detox, relieve pain and heal skin conditions. An epsom salt bath can help your body improve magnesium levels. Plus, it can relieve sore muscles and is incredibly relaxing.
While there is no concrete scientific evidence that an epsom salt bath actually increases the body’s magnesium levels, this detox method is a tried and true ritual millions swear by. Eastern medicine has incorporating the foot soak ritual to relieve health ailments for centuries. Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners believe there are meridians that run through the feet and affect every organ in the body. So fascinating!
BTW-I get a big bag of epsom salt at Walmart for very little cost. I linked Amazon below but those options were more expensive.
Health Benefits of Epsom Salt Foot Baths:
- Relieve Pain & Inflammation-Soaking in warm water is an easy way to relieve pain including arthritis and joint pain. When you add epsom salt, pain brought on by inflammation is even further relieved. Also, epsom salt can regulate the electrolytes in your body helping your muscles and nerves function properly.
- Remedy Smelly Feet-Epsom salt neutralizes bad smells. By adding a few drops of essential oils you can further kill stink caused by bacteria.
- Soften Rough Skin-Warm water and epsom salt go a long way with softening dead skin cells. In fact, by using a foot tool like a pumice stone after a simple foot soak you can remove an impressive amount of dead skin from the heels!
- Ease Stress-Stress depletes the body of magnesium and ups the levels of adrenaline. Replenishing magnesium levels can help your body produce the feel-good hormone, serotonin. Studies have also shown that magnesium encourages the production of adenosine triphosphate which is the energy made in the cells. Plus, the act of self care is relaxing in itself.
- Improve Sleep-Low magnesium levels can cause sleep issues. I always recommend a homemade foot soak or epsom salt bath right before bed. The warm water and aromatherapy from using pure essential oils can really help relax the body, getting you ready for a good night’s sleep. Studies have shown that bathing in water with minerals has a positive effect on sleep.
- Heal & Relieve Skin Conditions-Issues like eczema and psoriasis can be relieved by the anti inflammatory action of epsom salt. Fungal infections like athlete’s foot can be greatly reduced if not completely remedied. Ingrown toenails can also benefit from a good salt soak.
The Best Way to Make and Use a Epsom Salt Foot Bath:
The main ingredients in a diy foot soak is epsom salt and warm water. However, there are several other ingredients I like to add to up the benefits listed above. Dried herbs, pure essential oils, baking soda and clay are all excellent additives!
Baking Soda is a great additive that helps with detox. It also is excellent for soothing itchy skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, poison ivy or oak and can even soothe yeast infections and UTIs. Since baking soda is alkaline, it makes the water alkaline as well. Alkaline water has a slippery, silky feel.
Bentonite Clay also holds many health benefits for the entire body, namely detoxing powers. Clay detoxes by pulling impurities out of the skin and liquid activates this action. It also contains loads of minerals that are beneficial to the skin. Clay is one of my favorite ingredients to help detox the skin. If you need a good facial detox, you might try my Kaolin Vitamin C Mask or my Dirt Magnet Mask.
Essential Oils are a luxury when soaking your feet in an epsom salt bath. Aromatherapy has been shown to have an effect on the mind. Some oils can help calm and induce sleep, others can stimulate the brain and rev up energy and focus. My go-to essential oil is lavender oil. I love it for it’s scent as well as it’s calming abilities. Tea tree oil is another great option especially if you are suffering from any skin infections. It’s antifungal properties go a long way when it comes to foot problems due to infections.
Dried Herbs are an added bonus, they add extra scent as well as a pop of color in the jar. However, they are totally optional and not necessary to reap the benefits of a foot soak. I like using lavender buds in lots of DIYs including bath bombs and my Dry Mermaid Mask!
What You Need to Make an Epsom Salt Foot Bath:
- Large Bowl or Foot Spa (find an affordable one HERE)
- Measuring Cups
- A large jar or 12 ounce canning jars for gifting.
- Epsom Salt
- Baking Soda
- Bentonite Clay
- Essential Oils (I used lavender essential oil)
- Lavender Buds (optional)
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Epsom Salt Foot Bath Recipe
Yield: 6-7 servings Prep Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 5 minutes
An epsom salt foot bath recipe might be the exact remedy you're looking for if you suffer from dry skin on your heels, foot odor, athlete’s foot, tired feet, sore muscles or toenail fungus. This super affordable and easy epsom salt foot soak can be made for a one time use after a long day or you can make it in bulk for future uses. In fact, pre-made epsom salt soaks make fabulous gifts that are perfect for pampering, relaxing and relieving sore feet!
Materials
- 2 cups Epsom Salt
- 1/4 cup Baking Soda
- 1/4 cup Bentonite Clay
- 20 drops Essential Oils
- 1/4 cup Lavender Buds (optional)
Tools
- Large Bowl or Foot Spa
- Measuring Cups
- A large jar or 12 ounce canning jars for gifting.
Instructions
In a large jar pour 2 cups of epsom salt, 1/4 cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup of bentonite clay and 1/4 cup of lavender buds or other dried herbs of your choice. Add in your drops of essential oil. Secure the lid and shake contents until thoroughly mixed.
Notes
How To Use:
- Add 1/2 cup of foot soak to a Foot Spa or basin of warm water.
- Soak feet for 10 minutes.
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How to Use an Epsom Salt Food Bath:
- Fill a foot spa or small tub with warm water.
- Add 1/2 cup of your epsom salt mixture to the water and soak feet for at least 10 minutes.
- I like to add extra lavender for extra aromatherapy benefits!
- Dry your feet with a towel and exfoliate if you choose.
- Dump the water outside or in the kitchen sink if there is a disposal. The lavender or herb you choose can clog a regular drain.
I always like to really scrub my feet, especially my heels afterwards. Dead skin literally just falls off afterwards. You won’t believe how soft your feet will be! One of my best purchases from Amazon this year has been THIS heel sander. It is soooo goooood!
You could even use an exfoliating scrub to further slough off dead skin. Plus a scrub typically is made with an oil like coconut oil or olive oil so the oil will help moisturize your feet as well! If you don’t use a scrub, be sure to use a moisturizer like my DIY foot cooling cream or a simple body oil recipe!
I also like to time my foot soak right before bed because it is so relaxing!
Foot Soaks for Gifts!
Since the holidays are right around the corner, making foot soaks as gifts is the perfect DIY gift! I saw where one person on their blog post had saved glass baby food jars and tied a bow and a tag under the lid! Since I don’t have any baby food jars, I decided to use 12 ounce canning jars. This way, the recipient will get about 3 uses per jar. Below is the recipe for 1 12 ounce jar if you need to make 1 gift at a time.
12 ounce Foot Soak Recipe:
- 2 TBSP. Baking Soda
- 2 TBSP. Bentonite Clay
- 2 TBSP. Lavender Buds (optional)
- 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
- Top off with extra epsom salt.
I’ve even created a gift tag you can print on card stock paper from your own computer! The PDF contains 9 printable tags. Cut out the tag and tie it to the jar! Find the PDF HERE.
I used THESE labels to cover the top of the jar and indicate who the foot soak is to and from!
By adding a sprig of pine and ribbon, this DIY makes the perfect (and affordable) gift for any occasion! And what better way to encourage your loved ones to go natural and practice self care?!
My Epsom Salt foot bath recipe is the perfect way to unwind at the end of the day as well as boost your health the natural way! Plus, if you’re dealing with achy feet, this epsom salt bath soak recipe is a great pain reliever!
xx, Jenni
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