Bath salts are popular cosmetic and health products. The name comes from instances where the chemicals were disguised as bath salts. Today, bath salt is still produced using the same process. However, the salts are made without any salt content at all. Instead, the crystals, powders, or white flakes are often closely resembles Epsom salts, yet differ chemically.

Bacteria in the gut may trigger an intense response resulting in hallucinations, paranoia, and even kidney failure. These chemicals enter the body through broken down food particles in the stool. This scenario creates a perfect environment for bacteria to breed and grow. Unfortunately, not all individuals who take in these bath salts will become ill. In fact, research has shown that most individuals won’t experience negative side effects at all. Individuals who take bath salts in their water may still experience hallucinations, paranoia, and kidney failure due to a lack of proper disposal of the chemical’s byproducts.

To be clear, bath salts do not have to result in negative side effects. The problem lies in the lack of knowledge about the dangers of taking bath salts internally. Many individuals rely on internet searches to learn more about bath salt and how it affects the body. While internet citations are good for some information, they are often wrong and outdated. When reading an internet citation needed, it’s important to focus on the cited source.

For example, the American Mass Health Association says that bath salts do not cause death, but there are no medical studies supporting this claim. While the organization does not recommend drugs for use with bath water, they do advise against using over the counter drugs for the purposes of bath salt. Additionally, bath salts that are sold without prescription are illegal.

Most online citations fail to mention this very important caveat. Taking bath salts is not legal in many states. This can include many states that have outlawed the consumption of bath salts altogether. The reasoning behind this is that bath salts can be a gateway drug, which connects consumers with substances such as heroin and methamphetamines. If consumers begin to consume bath salts on a regular basis, they may find that they become dependent upon them and lose the ability to control their drug use. This could lead to jail time or a serious addiction.

In light of this potential problem, the national institute of health called for a new look at the way that bath salts are regulated. On their website, they note that bath salts contain trace amounts of magnesium, potassium, and sodium, while other chemicals commonly found in bath salts can cause serious problems with your body. They recommend that users pay close attention to the amount of sodium in the product and only purchase products that contain less than five percent sodium. This makes sense, because many synthetic chemicals typically contain excessive amounts of sodium. For this reason, many people will not experience negative side effects when taking bath salts containing only trace amounts of these metals.

As an example, the website mentions that there have been several studies that have shown that bath salts containing ephedrine (the main ingredient in pseudoephedrine) can produce hallucinations and delusions, particularly in elderly individuals who are suffering from dementia. Another ingredient that is dangerous when taken in large quantities is strychnine. Strychnine is known to cause cardiac arrest, at very least, in high doses. Because it has the ability to dilate blood vessels and increase heart rate in a short amount of time, it can be extremely dangerous if taken by someone who does not have this condition and who is at risk for sudden death. Clearly, this is why the government is now warning of the dangers of using bath salts as a recreational activity and has asked people to take heed of the above-mentioned side effects.

Because of the numerous adverse effects that bath salts abuse produces, you should avoid this type of drug. If you are going to indulge yourself in a bath salts treat, make sure that you do so in the presence of an adult. Anyone taking any medication should always consult a doctor before doing so, especially if they have a history of depression, dementia or any other mental illness. With today’s information, however, there is no reason that anyone should resort to bath salts abuse, which can lead to serious problems including depression and even cardiac arrest.