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What Causes Cold And Headache After Using Excessive Epsom Salt While Bathing?

Posted on Mon, 5 Jan 2015

Question: Last night, I took a quick bath -- the water was warm, almost tepid. I added epsom salt and lavender oil to the water. I added quite a bit of epsom salt, and didn't read that the directions say only add 2-3 tablespoons. Whoops. I sat in the tub for about ten minutes and got out. After getting out, I was EXTREMELY cold -- my fingers and toes were like ice cubes. I was shivering and despite being in fleece pajamas and in bed under a comforter, I was uncontrollably cold. I was also somewhat nauseous. Soon after, I got a throbbing headache and my heart was beating incredibly hard -- I could almost feel the blood being pumped in my head. What could have caused this? Was it the epsom salt and are those even safe to use?

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Dehydration

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

It is hard to tell what could have caused the feeling of extreme cold but since it was associated with nausea and headache it is most probably dehydration caused by excessive amount of Eposm salt.
I suggest you to do the following

1. Keep youself warm
2. Rehydrate yourself with warm water first, I also recommend 1 XXXXXXX of ORS powder, each XXXXXXX to be mixed in 1 litre of water and to be taken sip by sip over 2 hours
3. Tab Acetaminophen will stop the feeling of cold and also help with the headache

Feeling of blood pumping to the head is normal when one has a headache, it is because of vasodilatation ( dilatation of the arteries)

I hope I was of help, if you have any further queries please get back to me

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar