Benefits of a Sea Salt Bath

If your nightly baths are in need of a makeover, you may want to add a touch of salt to change things up

If your nightly baths are in need of a makeover, you may want to add a touch of salt to change things up.
Sea salt baths are known for their therapeutic and healing properties, as well as their ability to ease stress and boost your overall health.

But before you turn on the faucet and jump in, take note of these expert tips on:
• types of sea salt
• benefits
• precautions
• steps to taking a sea salt bath

What is sea salt?
Sea salt is a type of salt that comes from the evaporation of seawater. The taste, texture, and processing are what makes sea salt different from table salt.
Sea salt is typically not processed or minimally processed since it comes directly through the evaporation of seawater, according to the American Heart AssociationTrusted Source.

Because of minimal processing, sea salt has various trace minerals such as:
• magnesium
• calcium
• zinc
• iron
• potassium

Since table salt is used in recipes and on food, it undergoes processing to give it a fine texture. When this happens, you lose the minerals that are present in sea salt.
Types of sea salt
There are many types of sea salts available on the market.

Dead Sea salt, which is sourced directly from the Dead Sea, comes in a variety of grains including:
• fine
• coarse
• extra coarse

Some products also contain scents like:
• lavender
• vanilla
• rosemary

Westlab, another popular brand for sea salts, sells:
• Dead Sea salt
• Epsom bathing salt
• Himalayan bathing salt
• magnesium flakes

The company’s website says it only sources the highest quality of genuine Dead Sea salt that’s naturally rich in:
• magnesium
• calcium
• potassium
According to Westlab, a sea salt’s place of origin can make a difference in terms of the benefits it provides.

For example, Dead Sea salt is said to be of the highest quality and is best for therapeutic use such as:
• relaxation
• easing sore muscles
• providing relief for certain skin conditions

Regular sea salt from ocean water is most commonly used in culinary settings.
Benefits of a sea salt bath
If you’re looking for a way to relieve stress, ease achy muscles, and treat irritated skin, you may want to consider taking a sea salt bath.
While soaking in a tub, in general, is a nice way to pamper yourself after a hard day, adding sea salts is said to also extend the benefits to your skin, muscles, and joints.

Beneficial for rheumatic diseases
According to a systematic review published in the journal Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, sea salt baths have been found to be beneficial in treating rheumatic diseases, including:
• rheumatoid arthritis
• psoriatic arthritis
• ankylosing spondylitis
• knee osteoarthritis

Good for your skin
Your skin, which is your body’s largest organ, will also thank you for indulging in a sea salt bath.
Relieves achy muscles and stimulates circulation

Other benefits of taking a sea salt bath are said to include:
• stimulating circulation
• easing muscle cramps
• helping to relieve stiffness in joints
• soothing achy, overworked legs and feet