How do epsom salts/soaks help relieve sore muscles?

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My muscles have been very achy lately and the internet tells me to do bath soaks with Epsom salts. I understand that warm water helps to relax muscles, but how does salt in the bath help? Do our bodies actually absorb Epsom salt through the skin to a degree that it actually makes a difference, or is it more a relaxing/scent/placebo? What mechanism is happening that the Epsom salts contribute to?

Similar vein: baking soda, magnesium, etc added to baths – do they actually help? What works best?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

I always figured it worked the same way as stewing meat. Low, slow and plenty of flavor rocks. As others have made clear though, there is apparently no real scientific consensus at the moment.

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