Anyone know of or can recommend a brand of "Food Grade" epsom salts?

I have read a number of places that it is ideal to get a "food grade" brand of epsom salts, otherwise the bath salts could have been processed with toxins.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this or a brand of magnesium salts they recommend?

I have searched through Neurotalk and generally online and haven't seen any recommendations along these lines.

Thanks for any thoughts,

Natalie

Epsom salts here in US...will be labeled for soaking and oral use (if they are clean enough to use that way). The bag I have says
"magnesium sulfate USP" which in the US means pharmaceutical grade.

So check the package for labeling. I realize other countries may be vastly different, but most I would think would label the contents clearly.

I seem to recall some posters from UK at one time saying they had difficulty finding it easily. Here in the US they are in most pharmacies and grocery stores in the health section.
With different cultures the "name" of the product might be different, etc.

Using magnesium sulfate internally will have significant laxative effects, so be careful with that aspect. A laxative response means the dose is too high for supplement use.

This is an example of a product that is pharmaceutical grade:
http://www.amazon.com/Epsoak-Epsom-S.../dp/B004N7DQHA

This link is rather expensive... Most USP epsom salts here in US are very inexpensive IMO. I get mine at Costco (a discount members type warehouse).

Big thanks Mrs. D for pointing me in the right direction. I wanted to find something I was comfortable with using regularly.

I then found this below:

http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/faq/

"Any package that has a "drug facts" box or that's labeled "USP" has been manufactured, tested and certified to meet stringent regulatory standards of the FDA and the United States Pharmacopeia, and is deemed safe and acceptable for human use. For human use, the Epsom Salt Council recommends only Epsom salt with the USP designation."


And also this:


http://www.floattanksolutions.com/ge...ow-epsom-salt/

"... there are only two distinct ‘grades’ of Epsom salt:
1. USP Grade – which stands for United States Pharmaceutical Grade, and is often also referred to as Food Grade. This is the most quality controlled Epsom Salt, expected by the manufacturer to be used in personal care products and food. Because of these uses, which require a more consistently pure salt, each batch of USP grade is tested and the quality of the salt is guaranteed.
2. Technical Grade – also known as Agricultural Grade or Industrial Grade, and is produced by manufacturers for use in these environments. The uses of Epsom salt on an industrial or mass-agricultural level do not require that the Epsom salt be as pure as USP grade salt. Because of this, manufacturers test these batches of salts less regularly, and there is a chance that certain batches contain impurities.
You could also say there is a third ‘grade’ of salt, which is Asian epsom salt. The only manufacturers of USP grade Epsom Salt are The PQ Corp (US based), Giles (US based), and K+S (Germany based). Salt from Asia (China and India, primarily) is almost always cheaper, however, it is more unregulated, and through personal experience we’ve found that heavy metals and impurities in the salt …

… Interestingly enough, despite there being two distinct grades of Epsom salt, there is very little different about the salt itself. Technical grade and USP grade are made in the same plants, on the same machines, from the same materials. The only difference between two is that USP grade has been certified by the FDA, whereas Technical grade has not.

… In all likelihood you would get the exact same salt, no matter which you ordered, as long as it’s from one of the three main manufacturers. However, because not every batch is tested, it’s also possible for extra heavy metals and other impurities to be present in technical grade salt, whereas purity is guaranteed with USP salt. … "

I also was looking at the various creams / lotions ....

I read some people saying they opted not to go for Kirkman labs because it contains "parabens".

And then I read others complaining about the long ingredients lists with "Ancient Minerals" and some other brands.

I expect to be using this stuff regularly for a while, so I'd like whatever I pick to be as clean and simple as possible.

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

Parabens are added to deter mold growth, I believe.

I don't know if European products would use the USP designation, as USP means United States Pharmacopeia.
http://www.usp.org/about-usp/legal-r...ion/usp-us-law

As far as I know "food grade" does not mean a guarantee from all possible contamination. Purity levels, or water content have to conform to certain ranges that someone in the past has decided upon.

You can check out FDA.gov
but some foods are allowed rat hairs/feces in them even, but only in certain low levels. Reading what is in peanut butter for example is enough to make someone never want to eat it again!
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/11-total...-in-your-food/

Just remember we are breathing nano particles of pollution with each breath now. So the definitions are all relative IMO.

Beware of natural sources for various minerals. There have been contaminations with lead in dolomite (calcium source) and
Coral Calcium had heavy metals in it which were not discovered until well into the fad's success. Some Blue Green algae harvested naturally was found to have poisonous levels of fluoride in it, and one famous brand of glucosamine had too high of levels of manganese about 10 yrs ago.

Are you looking for a way to get magnesium transdermally (through the skin) as opposed to orally?

I read mrsD's suggestion about trying the Morton epsom lotion but I didn't want anything creamy, so I opted for a magnesium oil spray. I chose Life-flo Pure Magnesium Oil from Amazon. It was reasonably priced and also reasonably pure.

I've been using it for over a week and it seems to be reducing my muscle spasms, so I'm pleased.

I had to laugh .... this marks the first time I found myself reticent to push the "thanks" button on a Mrs. D. post.

I guess I asked and got the honest truthful answer.

Yes, your points are very well taken.

One reaches a point where you've got to just cross your fingers and jump in.

It's wonderful to not feel like I am jumping in alone and there are terrific people out there who are willing to give their time to answer these questions.

Thanks for your thoughts. I will keep this in mind as an option.