Epsom Salts, Magnesium Sulphate

---

Mineralogical name:

Magnesium Sulphate

Parts used:

Salt

Temperature & Taste:

Cold, dry. Salty, Bitter

Classifications:

E. Laxative, Purgatives and Cathartics

Uses:

1. Moves the Bowels, Clears Heat:
-Constipation, Bowel Pain:
-Dysentery and inflammatory conditions of the bowels; ‘specific in Bacillary Dysentery’ (Squires)
-Edema with sluggish stomach and bowels.
-Hypertension

2. Clears Swelling and Inflammation:
-Rheumatic pain and similar inflammations (internally and topically as a wash)

3. Promote Urine, clears Damp, Expels Stones:
-‘Valuable in Biliary and Renal Calculi’ (Ellingwood); (1 teaspoonful in a glass of Warm water an hour before each meal and at bedtime)

4. Used for Warts:
-The Lancet (1909) stated: ‘1 dram doses twice or thrice daily successful in removing Warts’.

5. Externally:
-Sprains, Bruises, Orchitis, erysipelas, epididymitis, insect bites and cellulitis. (25% solution)

Dose:

5–15 grams dissolved in a glass of warm water or a strained decoction.

Main Combinations:

1. Combined Epsom Salts with Glauber’s Salt as a cathartic
2. Epsom Salts with Cream of Tartar for Constipation
3. Edema, Fluid Retention, Epsom Salts with Saltpeter

Cautions:

1. Use cautiously in Pregnancy and avoid full doses
2. Not suitable in Cold and weak Stomach

Main Preparations used:

Purified Salt