Epsom Salt and essential oils foot soak query

[Gilli54]

just a quick enquiry. I bought these lovely Epsom salts to give myself a relaxing foot soak but then read the list of essential oils and thought they might not be so good after all. 🤦‍♀️

I take flecainide, bisoprolol, warfarin and levothyroxine.

Do foot soaks mean you absorb a lot of the essential oils? As I think some of these are contra indicated on my meds.

Or does it not really matter too much. They smell divine!!

But never one to take a risk with something that might be better passed on for a lucky recipient to enjoy. 😂

[CDreamer]

There are no studies that I have ever seen which would test this. I think there is caution and over thinking something - however - the Epsom Salts itself could theoretically enhance the effect of things like Beta Blockers if taken orally and will have an ultra relaxing effect - great if you have muscle cramps and/or restless leg Syndrone. I can’t take any sort of oral Magnesium but am perfectly OK with Bath Salts, although I avoid Epsom Salts and prefer Sea Salts as there is a wider mix of minerals , once a week but only ever bathe before bed.

The only essential oil I avoid is Bergamot.

[Thomas45 in reply to CDreamer]

Does that mean that I shouldn't drink Earl Grey tea, which is flavoured with bergamot?

[CDreamer in reply to Thomas45]

Up to you - there’s so small amount in tea and I think they use an extract rather than essential oil so I very much doubt whether you would experience any ill effects but I stopped drinking Earl Grey when I developed AF, as advised by my nutritionist. It should be avoided particulary by pregnant women (don’t think that will apply to you Thomas) and those with diabetes as it can lower blood sugar.

I dabbled in essential oils about 50 years ago and soon learned they are not quite as benign as we think - I made myself quite ill with using too drops of Bergamot in a bath.

[Beta44 in reply to Thomas45]

I am surprised, Bergamot is a type of orange similar to a Seville. The amount in Earl Grey tea is relatively small compared to that of Seville in marmalade.

[CDreamer in reply to Beta44]

You are correct, It’s the essential oil Bergmot extracted from the oranges that has some contraindications - quite different from eating marmalade.

[Gilli54 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you. I will look at sea salts. I always feel good after a sea swim when I get the chance.

[Weren in reply to CDreamer]

Why avoid Bergamot?

[Ppiman]

Hi - I would say that very little of anything is absorbed "trans-dermally" from a water-based solution for the length of time you would use it, and that you will be quite safe with these. To be absorbed, a chemical needs to get into the lymphatic system, beneath the outer skin layer, I believe, and that won't happen with a foot bath, used normally. I think with oil-based (or alcohol based) creams, absorption is more likely, especially if the area is covered with something to prevent it drying out.

There's not much evidence, if any, for magnesium used in this way, but if it makes you feel better, it's surely worthwhile.

Steve

[Gilli54 in reply to Ppiman]

it was the relax and feel good bit I was going for. Thank you Steve. 😊

[Windlepoons]

I haven't changed the way I use any essential oils since I was diagnosed with AF in 2016 and havnt reacted to any of them. I have always used lavender and tea tree neat and drink Red bush earl grey tea.

[Gilli54 in reply to Windlepoons]

that’s very interesting. Thank you for your reply. 😊glad you’ve been able to continue.

[Peacefulneedshelp]

I have used and continue to use Essential oils since 2001 with no problems that said I use only Young Living because I know the history of these oils and the purity and quality. Like everything once something gets popular a lot of companies jump on the band wagon without the purity behind them. This is not a plug but some educational information. Many companies buy from suppliers and do not do their own testing or growing or harvesting, therefore one does not know the quality. Many oils can be copied in a lab and many off brand oils contain chemicals. So if you have issues with chemical additives like I do, then you could have problems, Everything filters through our liver and sometimes I wonder if all of our problems are stemming from a dirty liver. I am speculating on that one I have no idea. Here in the US our food supply is so tainted with glyphosates I wonder how anyone can be healthy.

Epsom salts are basically Magnesium and yes they can be absorbed through the skin but one has to soak for at least 20 minutes, that is my understanding. Yes you can absorb essential oils through the skin as well. IMO no harm if the essential oils and the magnesium are pure and not tainted with chemicals. But then I am one that is not on a lot of medications only recently a beta blocker.

Everyone is different but personally I pick essential oils over medications because I have done a deep dive into how they work. But again I only use purest brand, because I have visited several of the farms and have watched and been involved in the production. I have witnessed crops that were cast aside because the cut material (ylang ylang in this case) got rained on after it was picked and waiting to go into the distiller.

Many studies have been done with essential oils but interestingly none in the US, I think they don’t want us to know how effective they can be. that said I think I will start digging into some studies done on Afib and essential oils. I use an oils with Helichrysum in it and that name means “everlasting”. Here in the US they would rather just use drugs than to use natural products mostly because they can’t patent them and that means no profit. I am skeptic when it comes to these companies making huge profits off of their drugs. I am sure you all have heard about the insulin gouging that had been going on,

Going back to your question, I think you may have to test out the product and see how you react to it.

I did a search on essential oils and AFib not much there but if you do a search in PubMed on essential oils and heart there is much more. I didn’t know how to include a link so if you have the time hop over to PubMed.

[Gilli54 in reply to Peacefulneedshelp]

thank you. I will do that. 😊

[coopo]

It maybe best to ask your doctor rather than take a chance on some unqualified person on here.

[Gilli54 in reply to coopo]

thank you for that word of caution. I will do due diligence. Just asked on here as sometimes members have already researched and asked the questions themselves. Even then you always have to exercise caution and I do understand this is not a ‘doctor’ forum. Thank you for the suggestion though. 😊

[Gilli54 in reply to coopo]

seeing my cardiologist tomorrow so will ask him.

[CDreamer in reply to Gilli54]

Good luck with that - unless trained in essential oils they rarely know more than you or I but they will be alert to serious contraindications.

Here is the link to WebMD site - which is probably the one the doctors use. Often Pharmacists are more knowledgeable - especially is you can find a wholistically trained pharmacist. Essential oils are helpful but they are not always benign and very rarely used in as pure essential oil, usually ‘cut’ with a carrier oil so should be used with caution.

webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingre...

[Gilli54 in reply to CDreamer]

Yes. I agree - which was why I stopped short of plunging my feet in!!