9 Incredible Survival Uses For Epsom Salt

It’s likely that your survival supplies include some type of salt (table salt, kosher salt, sea salt, etc.), but what about Epsom salt?

Epsom salt is chemically different than other salts and generally shouldn’t be digested, but it does have a number of incredible survival uses that should earn it a spot in your survival pantry.

9 Incredible Survival Uses for Epsom Salt

1 – Tan Animal Hides

Clothes don’t last forever, and getting new clothes during a survival situation won’t be as easy as taking a trip to the mall.

One way to replace your worn-out clothes is to create news ones out of processed animal skins, and Epsom salt can help with the tanning process.

After the flesh is removed from the hide, you can use Epsom salt as a swelling agent to decrease shrinkage and improve softness and durability.

Note: Before you can tan animal skins, you have to trap animals. Take a peek at this blog post to discover tips and tricks for using snares to hunt for game.

2 – Improve the Yield from Your Survival Garden

The magnesium and sulfur in Epsom salt can be added to the soil in your survival garden to help your plants grow.

Epsom salt can also be used to deter slugs and other pests like raccoons from infesting or disrupting your garden. Sprinkle some of the salt around your garden to act as a barrier and repeat whenever the salt dissolves into the ground.

A reliable source of food will be vital when SHTF. By keeping your survival garden safe and improving its yield, Epsom salt can help keep your family fed and your belly full.

3 – Reduce Inflammation

A soak in an Epsom salt bath can help with sore or swollen muscles. The salt dissolves quickly in warm water, so add some to your bath water or create a compress to help with aches and pains.

In a SHTF situation, it’s likely that you’re going to spend much more time on your feet. An Epsom salt soak at the end of the day can help you recover and prepare for another day of hard work.

4 – Use for Cleaning

The abrasive texture of salt crystals can help make quick work out of food that’s stuck onto your pots and pans.

Just use a bit of salt to scrub dirty dishes and remove build-up. And don’t worry – the salt won’t do any lasting damage to your dishes.

5 – Natural Face Wash

Epsom salt has been included as an ingredient in beauty solutions for hundreds of years, and preppers can use it as a natural face wash when SHTF.

Keeping your face clean may not be your top priority in a survival situation, but good hygiene is important all the time.

Plus, there have been a number of studies which show that washing with an Epsom salt rinse can help with conjunctivitis (aka pink eye) and sties.

6 – Remove Splinters

Between bugging out, chopping wood, and building fires, the probability of getting a splinter after SHTF is high.

While a small splinter may seem like little more than an annoyance, it still has the potential of slowing down your work and could even get infected.

If you need to dislodge a splinter, all you have to do is soak the affected body part in some warm water mixed with Epsom salt for a few minutes. The magnesium sulfate will reduce the inflammation (see above) and help soften the splinter for easier removal.

7 – Regulate Blood Sugar

Magnesium and sulfate can help to improve the body’s natural ability to use and produce insulin.

As a result, Epsom salts may help improve your energy levels.

8 – Bug Bite and Poison Ivy Relief

When it comes to bug bites and poison ivy, soaking in hot water can lead to more itching, so soaking in the bathtub won’t work.

However, you can make a paste using Epsom salt which can help with itching and discomfort caused by bug bites and poison ivy.

9 – Improved Heart Health

In addition to reducing inflammation, soaking in Epsom salt can help lower stress and blood pressure.

Buying Epson Salt in Bulk

Survival Frog doesn’t currently carry Epsom salts for sale, and the cost can add up when purchased in small amounts.

Luckily, there are retailers (like this one) that sell Epsom salt in bulk for a cost-effective price. Just remember to do your research and shop around to find the very best price available.