To access the archives for past hints please click on Archives Tips

These handy tips are from family, friends & the media. Most of them have been tried and tested.

I will also feature gadgets that I find really useful, that maybe useful to you.

The information for this month is all about Epsom Salt. While chatting to my friend, Pam, about household hints, she shared some of the ways that she uses this product. I was not aware that Espom Salts had so many wonderful benefits. Having done some research I found out that Epsom Salts are used in a range of fields, including medical, health & beauty, household cleaning and gardening products.

Epsom Salt is a common name for Magnesium sulphate, a chemical compound containing magnesium, sulfur and oxygen. Magnesium is the healing property that makes Epsom Salts so special. It is an electrolyte which regulates the activities of over 325 enzymes and aids in the the proper functioning of muscles and nerves. For more on this subject check, The Health Benefits of Epsom Salts.

• Use it as a laxative-2tblsps.in a glass of warm water just once as early in morning as possible.
• Put a pinch of Epsom salts in your mouth. Wash it down with 2 tblsps. Cider Vinegar in a tall glass of warm water, first thing in the morning. It is supposed to help with weight loss.
• 1 pinch of Epsom salts with water, tea, or juice helps to relieve headaches and cramps.
• Add 2 tblsps. of Epsom Salts to a gallon of cold tap water. Water ferns and green foliage. Repeat every 2 months as it keeps the plants green and lush

According to information I found in Wikipedia magnesium sulfate is used to correct magnesium deficiency in soil. Since magnesium is an essential element in the chlorophyll molecule, it is most commonly applied to potted plants and crops such as potatoes, roses, tomatoes and peppers. This product has an advantage over others because of its high solubility.

Magnesium sulfate is also used to prepare foot baths, intended to soothe sore feet. The increase in ionic strength prevents some of the temporary skin wrinkling, caused by prolonged immersion of extremities in pure water. However, magnesium sulfate can also be absorbed into the skin, reducing inflammation.

Researchers have found that magnesium also increases energy and stamina by encouraging the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy packets made in the cells. Experts recommend soaking with Epsom Salt at least three times a week to look better, feel better and have more energy.

Most of the information that follows has been obtained from. The Epsom Salts Council. Click on the link for more information.

Dissolved in a bath, Epsom Salt is absorbed through the skin to replenish the body's levels of magnesium. Studies indicate this may help to relieve stress in a number of ways, including:

1. Raising the body's level of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.
2. Offsetting excess levels of adrenaline generated by pressure and stress; magnesium ions relax and reduce irritability by lowering the affects of adrenaline.
3. Lowering blood pressure.

Beauty Tips

1. Mix half a cup of Epsom salt with some warm, soapy water to soften skin and calluses. Soak for five minutes, then dip a file into the water and use it to smooth your heels, the balls of your feet and the outer edges of the little toes.
2. For a relaxing soak: Add two cups of Epsom Salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub; soak for at least 12 minutes, three times weekly. For an extra treat, add a few drops of your favorite oil for a refreshing scent.

To Exfoliate

1. Mix 2 cups of Epsom Salt with ¼ cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Use the mixture to gently scrub away dry skin patches.
2. For a facial, mix ½ tsp.Epsom Salt into cleansing cream for a deep-pore cleansing. Massage on skin. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry.
3. After showering, massage handfuls of Epsom Salt over wet skin to exfoliate the body. It's the same treatment that are used in many upscale spas.
4. To make bath crystals, mix two cups of Epsom Salt with a few drops of fragrance to create a custom bath crystal. Add a few drops of food coloring or ½TSP of glycerin if you like. Store in an air-tight container.
5. Make a natural hair volumnizer by combining equal parts warm conditioner and Epsom Salt. Apply to the hair and leave for 20 minutes