Originally Posted by
AndyK5
Well if you analyzed what is going on, it looks like the first part puts the subject in to a state where they trap alot of heat in the body, then let the body sweat as hard as it could while they try to not let it cool so the sweating process does not stop. So Abolene traps the heat which is good, hot water ofcourse is the source of heat. As far as epsom salt and alcohol, I am not sure. It could be that epsom salt would raise the boiling point of water, therefore you can use hotter water than 100 degrees celsius without losing heat energy to steam formation, but then you would be scolding yourself, maybe water with epsom salt can hold on to heat energy more effectively and longer than water alone.... Alcohol could be the dissolving agent for epsom salt since Esalt does not really dissolve very effectively by itself.
Alcohol helps maintain peripheral vasodilation, increasing circulation (and thus heat and water exchange) to the skin. The Epsom salts increase the osmolarity of the water so water leaves the skin via osmosis. If you just soak in a hot bath, you'll absorb more water through the skin than you'll lose by sweating. The high external salt concentration ensures water flows up the solute concentration gradient as rapidly as possible.
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