There is a lot of misinformation about bath salts. Some sellers of bath salt will put anything into the mix, while others will put very expensive and very rare ingredients into their products. Some buyers assume that bath salts are made from pure ingredients, but in fact, most salts come from cheap chemical fertilizers.
Bath salts are marketed as an effective natural cure for various ailments. Of course, they are not cures for ailments, but they can help relieve some of the symptoms. The effectiveness of many salts has been disputed. For example, The WebMD Journal published a piece on Dec. 1, 2020, entitled "Did You Know Bath Salts Can Cause Kidney Stones?"
Many people believe that salt helps to reduce pain. However, some research studies have shown that salt causes the same degree of pain reduction that aspirin does. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, showed that even "low doses" of sodium chloride did not reduce pain but did reduce swelling in the knee joints of patients with osteoarthritis.
Some medications that contain saline do cause pain relief, but it only lasts for a short time. For example, Aleve is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that contains potassium and sodium chloride and it is not necessarily the aspirin you are hoping to avoid.
If you need to buy a salt or two to try out for a few days, then purchase pure bath salt. Kosher bath salts are not available anywhere except in a kosher grocery store, which makes it impossible to use on babies. However, there are some specialty vendors online that will be able to provide kosher bath salts and Kosher salt at reasonable prices.
When considering an area to purchase bath salt, look for a vendor that offers safe salt. The Internet is a great place to shop. You can also call a few different local companies and compare their pricing. However, keep in mind that many companies will give you free samples of their bath salt if you buy their other products.
Another option is to buy bath salts from drugstores, drug and health food stores, or specialty stores. You can find these products online as well. This is usually the cheapest route to take as you are paying for shipping and handling, not to mention the extra fees that may be associated with the sales tax on the packages.
One important note about being careful when choosing bath salts. Always read the labels and instructions. Every product is unique and you want to make sure that the bath salt you are buying is safe for your skin. If it is not, you could end up with a rashesy rash that does not go away.
Be especially careful about the bath salts that contain harmful chemicals. Look for ingredients like Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Tetrasodium EDTA, and Thymol. These chemicals may not be safe for your skin or the family.
Safe bath salt is one that contains no chemicals of any kind and any that are listed above should be avoided. A good rule of thumb is to never use anything that contains Percarbonate, Silicon Dioxide, or Dimethicone.
Other natural ingredients that are great for your skin include tea tree oil, almond oil, aloe vera, and Vitamin E. You can use all natural oils that are inexpensive to purchase and only take a few minutes to apply. Just rub them in gently. If your skin can take it, a good washcloth soaked in rubbing alcohol works just as well.
Some of the most exciting things to come out of the beauty industry have been found in the world of bath salts. Now the bath salts that you buy have organic ingredients like honey, Cayenne pepper, lavender, and jojoba oil. When you add these natural ingredients to your bathing experience, you'll be happy that you tried it.