In the last couple of months I have finally gotten him to realize the benefits of detox baths.
This is a formula that just kind of evolved from several things I have read.
To a warm bath add the following. Stay in for 20 - 25 minutes if tolerated.
1) Epsom salts -- 3 cups
Note that Epsom salts has no sodium in it -- it is magnesium sulphate -- magnesium plus sulphur. Sulphur is required for many detox functions in the body.
2) Baking soda -- 2 cups
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and does contain salt. Hubby tends to have low sodium levels. This helps to make the body more alkaline.
3) Potassium salt substitute -- 1 1/2 tablespoons
This is something I came up with on my own. The Morton brand of salt substitute contains potassium chloride as the primary ingredient. For a time last summer hubby required daily potasssium IV's in the hospital while treating Bartonella. The potassium is needed to balance the sodium.
4) Dry mustard -- 1 to 3 tablespoons
From the spice section or in bulk at a health food store. This improves circulation. I did read somewhere that mustard had choline in it, but have not verified that.
For the first 10 days or so hubby took daily baths. Then he decreased frequency to every other day. Now he does it every 2nd or 3rd day.
Hubby used to have problems with feeling worse after epsom salts baths when I did that by itself. By combining the 3 electrolytes in one bath he has only had positive results.
Some days he needs to get out after 10 minutes, but most days he can stay in for the full 20 minutes.
If you can't take a full body bath, you can get good results from just soaking your feet and or hands in a pan of water with the same mix of ingredients.
Hubby takes his bath before bed. Helps relax his muscles and improves sleep.
Would love to hear from anyone else who tries hubby's bath formula.
As with any treatment -- start slow and increase as tolerated. Use smaller quantities of the ingredients until you see how they effect you. Also if the water is too hot it will make you more exhausted.
I use this same bath myself. I have high blood pressure and my diuretic depletes my potassium.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Sounds wonderful. Where do you get item #3?
Posted by shazdancer (Member # 1436) on :
C.O. Bigelow also makes a detoxifying mustard bath that I like. It's top 3 ingredients are sodium bicarb, mustard seed, and trisodium triphosphate. It helped me to sweat when I was ill -- but be careful at first, as it made me very weak sometimes.
The dry sauna at the gym is also nice... Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Lymetoo -- Morton brand salt substitute should be available in most grocery stores or big chain stores like Walmart -- check the spice section.
Bea Seibert
Posted by LymeCFIDSMCS (Member # 13573) on :
This sounds really good -- I'm going to try it! I used to make a drink with salt and salt substitute (potassium), which helped somewhat with my orthostatic hypotension, and I also sometimes do a mustard poultice over my heart to help my heart symptoms. This bath seems to take care of all of these at once!
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