Download epsom salts - [email protected]

Alaska Hand Surgery Associates LLC
LOREN J. JENSEN, M.D., FAAOS
Orthopaedic and Hand Surgery
Certified, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Certificate Added Qualifications, Surgery of the Hand
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery
Grandma was right. Soaking in Epsom salts is good for wounds. The active
ingredient in Epsom salts is magnesium sulfate, not much different from
sodium chloride, regular table salt.
Epson salt soaks are hard on bacteria without being hard on your injured
tissues.
Soaking in Epsom salts actually dries out the extra fluid (edema) which is
present in an injured part. It does this by osmosis, which is the tendency for
water to preferentially travel from lower concentrations of salt to higher
concentrations. Doing so also cleanses the wound without injuring it as
plain tap water would do.
Epsom salt soaks are best performed in bath temperature water—there is no
advantage in using hotter water.
Most wounds will respond quite well to 15 or 20 minutes once a day.
Sometimes twice a day is helpful.
Epsom salts are not expensive. Follow the instructions on the box on how
much epsom salts to add to how much water.
4100 Lake Otis Parkway, Suite 314 • Anchorage Alaska 99508
(907) 274-2425