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The term bath salts refers to a range of water-soluble, usually inorganic solid products designed to be added to a bath, either to improve cleaning, provide a medical improvement, improve the experience of bathing, or serve as a vehicle for cosmetic agents. Bath salts have been developed which mimic the properties of natural mineral baths or hot springs.

Such salts include:

• magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts)
• sodium chloride (table salt)
• sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
• sodium hexametaphosphate (Calgon, amorphous/glassy sodium metaphosphate)
• sodium sesquicarbonate
• borax

Although, chemically speaking, many organic substances commonly used in bath water (such as soap and many other surfactants) are salts, these are not referred to as "bath salts", as they are not used in the form of hard, crystalline granules. On the other hand, some organic salts such as sodium citrate can be used in bath salts.

Fragrances and colors are often added to bath salts, and one purpose of salts is as a vehicle or diluent to extend fragrances, which are otherwise often too potent for convenient measurement or use. Other common additives to bath salts are oils (agglomerating the salts to form amorphous granules, the product being called "bath beads" or "bath oil beads"), foaming agents, and effervescent agents.

Although bath salts are often packaged for retail in windowless boxes or bags, the more attractive versions may also be displayed in transparent containers. For instance, the needlelike appearance of sodium sesquicarbonate crystals makes them attractive for such purposes.

[edit] History of bath salts

The earliest systematic exposition of the different kinds of salts, its uses, and the methods of its extraction was published in China around 2700 years BCE. Hippocrates encouraged his fellow healers to make use of salt water to heal various ailments by immersing their patients in sea water. The ancient Greeks continued this and in 1753, English author and physician Dr. Charles Russel published "The Uses of Sea Water".

[edit] Effects of bath salts

Epsom salt is the most-studied bath salt^{[by whom?]} and has many effects on the muscles and nervous system.

Bath salts provide a variety of benefits to a bather. Salts change the osmotic balance of the water so that less water is absorbed by the skin via osmosis. This reduces the "pruning" or "wrinkling" effect of prolonged exposure of skin to fresh water.

Some bath salts such as phosphates have a detergent action which softens calloused skin and aids in exfoliation.

Some bath salts act as water softeners and change the way soap rinses. Some confusion may arise after a first experience with soft water. Hard water does not lather well with soap and leaves a "less than clean" feeling. Soft water lathers better than hard water but leaves a "slippery feeling" on the skin after use with soap. A certain water softener manufacturer contends that the "slippery feeling" after showering in soft water is due to "cleaner skin" and the absence of "friction-causing" soap scum.

However, the chemical explanation is that softened water, due to its sodium content, has a much reduced ability to combine with the soap film on your body and therefore, it is much more difficult to rinse off.[14] Solutions are to use less soap or a synthetic liquid body wash.

High concentrations of salts increase the specific gravity of the water and increase buoyancy which makes the body feel lighter in the bath. Very high concentrations of salts in water are used in flotation therapy.

[edit] References