Epsom salts

British  

noun

1. (functioning as singular or plural) a medicinal preparation of hydrated magnesium sulphate, used as a purgative

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Epsom salts Scientific  

/ ĕp′səm /

1. A bitter, colorless, crystalline salt, used in making textiles, in fertilizers, for medical purposes, and as an additive to bath water to soothe the skin. Chemical formula: MgSO ₄ ·7H ₂ O.

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Etymology

Origin of Epsom salts

C18: named after _Epsom , where they occur naturally in the water

Example Sentences

He quickly noticed the laxative effect for which Epsom salts would become world-famous, drawing hordes of stopped-up tourists to the town for decades to come.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2024

To manage discomfort, the WHO advises taking warm baths with baking soda or Epsom salts and using over-the-counter paracetamol painkillers.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 30, 2022

I wait until I get home and I’m in my Epsom salts bath to relax.

From New York Times • Dec. 24, 2021

His company later merged with another to form American Premier, which became a major supplier and processor of such products as mercury, chemicals, magnesium used in Epsom salts and minerals for glazing tiles.

From Washington Post • Aug. 28, 2021

He had heard the doctor tell the white nurse to irrigate my head with Epsom salts and warm water every two or three hours or I wouldn’t make it.

From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals