Epsom Salts Baths

[phofab]

Epsom Salts baths

  

I have mentioned on my POST “Gout for 36 years and still counting” that I achieve some relief from Gout pain in my feet by soaking my feet in a foot bath, filled with cool to warm water and a small handful of Epsom Salts – Magnesium Sulphate, for about 15 minutes at a time.

I have found that the water in the bath increases in temperature from my own body heat and the motor in the foot bath, so that it is best to start off with the water cool.

Hot water has been uncomfortable and ice cold water has a real negative effect.

The Tophi on my toe occasionally chooses this soaking time,as the time to erupt and discharge a little. The salts have a drawing effect on the tophi.

Whilst my problem is the foot, I imagine most other joints with a bit of contortionism and thought could be soaked in some way. No responsibility is taken if you have gout in the ear and you insist on immersing your head for 15 minutes, as suggested. You may feel it will help but it is not recommended.

The salts are the same or similar as contained in bath salts, which are too expensive for the quantities required over an extended time.

I purchase 5kg bags of the salts from a garden – pet care centre. They are used for the health of horses, medical purposes and have uses in the gardens. 5 kgs cost A$12.-.

Foot bath – mine is a Remington “Foot Spa” but a basin or bowl of water would work. The spa effect does seem to activate the blood circulation.

I achieve relief with this method and generally a lot of the inflammation is removed.

David

Another quaint home remedy from the colonial “down under”.

[hansinnm]

phofab said:

Post edited 3:56 pm – February 7, 2010 by GoutPal

---

Epsom Salts baths

  …Epsom Salts – Magnesium Sulphate,

…

The Tophi on my toe occasionally chooses this soaking time,as the time to erupt and discharge a little. The salts have a drawing effect on the tophi.

…

I purchase 5kg bags of the salts from a garden – pet care centre. They are used for the health of horses, medical purposes and have uses in the gardens. 5 kgs cost A$12.-.

…

David

Another quaint home remedy from the colonial “down under”.

---

Just a confirmation to photab's comment:

I do my Epsom Salt baths while sweating my balls off in the dry sauna. Observed the same/similar effects as David.

 I found K-Mart the best source. 4 lbs/1.81 kg for US$3.23 (12#/5.43 kg = US$9.69[tax incl.]) I only tried Walmart once. (No good)

 I do bandage the open spots on my toe/foot using Povidone-Iodine Ointment 10%  (antibiotic/antiseptic ointment) to prevent infection. (Was recommended by my Podiatrist who operated on my left foot 1 1/2 years ago when the gout/tophus open spot got infected on a sailing/camping trip.)

[Keith Taylor]

It’s many years since David posted about Epsom Salts for his gout. I wonder if @phofab is still lurking anywhere near here? If so, now would be a good time to tell us if soaking in epsom salts is still helping his gout.

There are still hundreds, if not thousands of gout sufferers reading this to find out about epsom salts for their gout. After all these years, it’s probably time for a new discussion to see if epsom salts help gout.

Of course, you can still post here during 2016. However, I’d like it much better if you ask about Epsom Salts & Gout in the new gout forum.

[Author]

Posts