What is epsom salt? Can it be interchanged with table salt?

Question

I'm supposed to soak in epsom salt water solution. I'm just wondering if I can use table salt to dissolve in the water, or if it has to be epsom salt. I won't be eating it, promise. :o)

Answer 1

Epsom salts are magnesium salts (usually Magnesium sulfate) that have been used for ages to soak sore muscles and heal wounds. You can also use them as a laxative, so don't sprinkle it on your french fries! Table salt is a sodium salt. Can be used for soaking wounds, but really won't do much if you are soaking sore muscles. You can but Epsom salts in any drugstore and most grocery stores in the drug aisle. Look toward the bottom shelf - they are usually sold in containers that look like milk cartons.

Answer 2

Epsom Salt Vs Salt

Answer 3

epsom salts is magnesium sulphate a different thing to table salt altogether....

epsom salts can be taken orally to relieve constipation and to increase magnesium in your system it can also be used as bath salts to help relieve muscle pain.

Answer 4

Heavens NO !

Epsom salts is Postassium Sulphate (MgSo4) where as table salt
is Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

Answer 5

No! Epsom salt is drunk for constipation, or you can soak an injury (sprain, ingrown toenail) in it mixed with hot water.

Answer 6

No, you cannot eat, it can interchanged with table salt if you take a foot bath but otherwise NO

Answer 7

no. im not sure what the properties of epsom salt is but a rule of thumb is ...if you dont know what it is....dont eat it.

Answer 8

EPSOM SALT IS NOT INTERCHANGEBLE WITH TABLE SALT (SODIUM CHLORIDE). IT IS MAGNESIUM SULFATE. SEE BELOW
Magnesium sulfate or Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate or Epsom salt is a chemical compound containing magnesium, with the formula MgSO4·7H2O. Magnesium sulfate without water of crystallization MgSO4 is available as a far less common chemical and drying agent, but typically "magnesium sulfate" refers to the hydrate, and Epsom salt always refers to the hydrate. In medical preparations the hydrate form is used to prepare and label even magnesium sulfate formulas in water solution, because the hydrate crystals, which are not deliquescent, are far more easily weighed and subject to quality control in manufacture.

Origin
In 1618 a farmer at Epsom in England attempted to give his cows water, but they refused to drink it to due its sour/bitter taste. However the farmer noticed that the water seemed to heal scratches and rashes. The fame of Epsom salts now began to spread.

Epsom salt was originally prepared by boiling down mineral waters at Epsom, England, and afterwards prepared from sea water. In more recent times, these salts are obtained from certain minerals such as epsomite.
Agricultural use
In agriculture and gardening, magnesium sulfate is used to correct magnesium deficiency in soil (magnesium is an essential element in the chlorophyll molecule). It is most commonly applied to potted plants, or to magnesium-hungry crops, such as potatoes, roses, and tomatoes. The advantage of magnesium sulfate over other magnesium soil amendments (such as dolomitic lime) is its high solubility.

Medical use
Main article: Hypomagnesemia
Locally it may be used as a treatment of an ingrown nail. Oral magnesium sulfate, or magnesium hydroxide, is used as a laxative. Epsom salts are also available in a gel form for topical application in treating aches and pains. Intravenous use is broadening, as magnesium sulfate reduces striated muscle contractions and blocks peripheral neuromuscular transmission by reducing acetylcholine release at the myoneural junction, as well as other effects. Indications for its use are:

Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium concentrations in the blood)
Treatment (and sometimes prevention) of seizures in eclampsia, for which it is the most effective therapy.
In some cardiac arrhythmias, most notably in:
Severe refractory ventricular fibrillation ("V-fib"), Pulesless ventricular tachycardia ("V-tach"), atrial fibrillation, and Torsades de pointes tachycardia
As a bronchodilator after beta-agonist and anticholinergic agents have been tried, e.g. in severe exacerbations of asthma.[1] In fact, recent studies have revealed that magnesium sulfate can be nebulized to reduce the symptoms of acute asthma (Blitz et al 2005). In the UK, it is commonly administered via the intravenous route for the management of severe asthma attacks
As a tocolytic agent, administered intravenously for the treatment of preterm labor: Until recently, intravenous magnesium sulfate was used extensively as first-line therapy in pregnancy to treat or forestall preterm contractions and preterm labor, but studies have shown its presumed effectiveness to be unwarranted. Other, better tocolytic agents are now commonly used.
For treatment of acute migraine.
In the treatment of tetanus
In the management of phaeochromocytoma
Can also be used in the treatment of acne, when applied as a liquid to problematic areas.[citation needed]
Epsom saltsRecent (2004) research at the School of Biosciences, Birmingham University, UK has shown that both magnesium and sulphate are absorbed through the skin when bathing in 1% solution.

Use in organic chemistry
Anhydrous magnesium sulfate is commonly used as a desiccant in organic synthesis due to its affinity for water. During workup, an organic phase is saturated with magnesium sulfate until it no longer forms clumps. The hydrated solid is then removed with filtration or decantation.

A number of other inorganic sulfate salts, sodium sulfate and calcium sulfate for example, may also be used in the same way.

] Other uses
Magnesium sulfate is used as in bath salts, particularly in floatation therapy where high concentrations raise the bath water's specific gravity, effectively making the body more buoyant. This property is also used to restore some Lava lamps damaged by being shaken by exchanging the water and adding drops of a concentrated solution until sustainable buoyancy is reached. Traditionally, it is also used to prepare foot baths, intended to soothe sore feet. The reason for the inclusion of the salt is cosmetic: the increase in ionic strength prevents some of the temporary skin wrinkling ("pruning") which is caused by prolonged immersion of extremities in pure water. Magnesium sulfate paste has been used as an agent for drawing (dehydrating) boils and carbuncles. In some parts of the world (such as New Zealand), it is added to homemade drinks, such as lemon cordials. Here the sulfate part of the salt is not important, rather it is the intensely sour taste of magnesium ion Mg2+ which acts as flavoring agent.