Salty Remedies (and Fertilizer?!!)

I have heard a lot of "folk remedies" too, so take this with a, ummm, grain of salt.

Growing up I was told that Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate) were good for sprains and aches, etc. But I was shocked to learn from the back of our package this morning that it was also recommended as a fertilizer.

Well, that aroused my curiosity and I Bing-ed Epsom Salts (it wasn't Google, but if I Bing in the past tense, then it looks like binged - as in I ate or drank excessively). Anyway, I found someone's blog or some such thing, that mentioned the Epsom Salt Coucil (WHAT?!! There's a whole council?!!).

Alright, it could be that there are three or four people, one of whom knows HTML, yeah, I know, but according to this relatively nice site, there are at least some interesting statistics.

Here are some of them from there:

1) Magnesium is a necessary component in order to process calcium in your body.

2) American men typically have 80% of the necessary amount of magnesium; while women have 70%.

3) Epsom Salts provide temporary relief for itching and swelling from mosquito bites, bee stings and mild sunburns.

4) Epsom Salts may be used as a fertilzer for garden or lawns. (As written on our package as well.)

There are some links to other sources of information and some that left me scratching my head. But, maybe it’s worth a try on the tomatoes?

For now, I am not opposed to the occasional soak - the warm water on my feet is relaxing in and of itself, what's the harm of adding some Epsom Salts...?

I know, I know, ever the skeptic... Of course I could do more reading, but the water is getting cold now.