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 James McNabb, M.D., C.N. |
Healthy Hot Tubs
Eight years ago we bought a hot tub for the courtyard. Since we were new to hot tubs, we were careful about following the instructions about keeping the water clear. We opted for the floating device filled with bromine tablets that dissolved over time.
Problems With Bromine
While this system prevented the tub from becoming a rather large culture medium, it had several very disagreeable characteristics. We first noticed that bathing suits would become rapidly discolored. Blue shorts quickly became grey. Secondly, we noticed that our skin took on a strong bromine odor, very similar to Clorox. It seemed to remain for a long time.
Somewhat later, I began to learn about how certain hormones could be rubbed on the skin and be rather well absorbed. In fact, there are a number of medicines, including testosterone, estrogen, nicotine, and pain medications, which are administered through skin patches. Knowing all this, I am now worrying about how much bromine is being absorbed through our skin. This cannot be healthy. However, what are the alternatives? Talking to the people who sell spas and hot tubs did not give an answer, so I decided to try an experiment.
Epsom Salt
After emptying, cleaning and refilling our 500-gallon hot tub, I added the recommended amount of “Spa Bright and Clear”, a chemical designed to precipitate small particles so that they can be removed by the filter. I then added 2 quarts of Magnesium Sulfate, known more commonly as Epsom salt. This can be purchased from any grocery store for under $2.00. Much to our surprise, the tub remained crystal clear for months. Our clothing didn’t fade, and our skin smelled quite normal. As some of you may know, Epson salt is absorbed through the skin. Epsom salt baths are often recommended for relaxation for this reason. Most of us are deficient in magnesium anyway, so this turns out to be a great way to get magnesium into our system. Magnesium sulfate taken orally has a laxative effect. Magnesium sulfate absorbed through the skin does not.
Environmentally Friendly
The last test came when it was time to empty the tub. Was it going to kill all the plants? In fact, the alternate was true. The plants seemed to thrive afterwards. We have done this for several years now, and we are even more delighted than before. We are even more relaxed, our skin smells better, and we know we are not delivering toxins to our liver. If you have a hot tub, I can recommend this system without qualification.
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