Guest Author - Alegra Bartzat

Bath salts are very easy to make, and can be made with either Epsom salts or sea salts.

You will need:
Epsom salt or sea salt
jars
herbs (optional)
essential oils (optional)
high quality oil such as grapeseed or olive (optional)

Epsom salt are basically manufactured sea salt. Magnesium sulfate is the chemical name for a compound containing magnesium and sulfate, with the formula MgSO4. It is often encountered as the heptahydrate 9a more complex version), MgSO4·7H2O, commonly called Epsom salts. The sulfates are additional minerals that can penetrate the skin and help relieve aching muscles and also help remove toxins.

Sea salt has many different minerals, and varies depending on which sea it comes form. The most common are sulfur, magnesium, potassium and calcium chlorides, and bromides. Like hot springs, the various chemical combinations have different healing properties but generally help to relieve muscle and join pain, as well help improve the quality of the skin.

Epsom salt is standardized, made in lab, and much cheaper, but has less soul than sea salt. Epsom salts are created specifically to help alleviate sore and achy muscles. Sea salts have differing medicinal properties due to the various mineral content. Sea salt has more lore attached to it, but also costs many times more than Epsom salts. I often mix them together, for the discount soul version.

You can make bath salts or salt scrubs, very different things. (Well, okay, only a little bit different.)

Bath salts with herbs - fill jar 3/4 to 7/8 full with salt, pour into bowl, mix in dried herbs, put back in jar; use in hot bath. You can use green tea, chamomile, rose, lavender, or many other dried herbs. You should give these away in small sachets (think about buying paper or cloth tea bags for loose tea leaves) so that the herbs won't get stuck in the drain. Alternatively, you can use a mortar and pestle to grind the herbs so they can go down the drain.

Bath salts with essential oils - fill jar 3/4 full with salt, add a few drops of essential oils (and optional few drops of base oil), shut lid and shake VERY WELL, top off with salt if desired; use in hot bath. Essential oils are extracted from various plants and plant parts. Be sure to use only the highest quality, pure oils. Many oils are made synthetically in a lab, but they are slightly chemically different than the real stuff and can be harmful or irritating.

Salt scrub - fill jar almost full with salt, fill rest of the way with oil, add a few drops of essential oils, shake well; for use as scrub in shower.

Sugar scrub - fill jar almost full with sugar, fill rest of the way with oil, add a few drops of essential oils, shake well; for use as scrub in shower.

Sugar has naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acids, which will help to dissolve dead skin cells. They are very weak acids, so they won't irritate most people's skin, but use in moderation or on a small area first to make sure they don't cause a reaction.