When it comes to getting better sleep, I will try just about anything. Magnesium supplements? I have an automatic monthly refill order. A social media blocker so I don’t get obsessed with a Love Island conspiracy? I Brick my phone an hour before bed. Naturally, the latest sleep hack on the algorithms everywhere has piqued my—and everyone else’s—interest. If it hasn’t graced any of your socials yet, let me introduce you to salt stomping.
Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Simply pour Epsom salt onto a tray, lay it on the ground, and stand (or gently stomp) on the salt for 10 minutes, which users claim helps lower cortisol levels, raises your serotonin, and primes you for a deep sleep. But does it actually help you sleep better?
Salt stomping seems to stem from the idea of earth “grounding,” which studies have shown can reduce inflammation and calm anxiety. Other studies have shown that mindfulness of any kind before bed may improve your sleep quality, and it is often used in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Focusing on something like the sensation of salt crystals on the bottom of your feet, says Jacqueline Geer, MD, assistant professor of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, is helpful in distracting you from ruminating and worrying before you go to bed; it’s indirectly calming your nervous system. “The benefits [of stomping on salt] lie in the fact that this trend requires a certain level of focus and disconnect from the busy environment around us,” she adds.
“What we do know is that non-stimulating, calming activities before bed can be associated with an improved ability to fall asleep,” Geer continues. “My suspicion is that people who swear by this new trend may be secondarily benefiting from the mindfulness and sensory experience associated with ‘salt stomping.’”
So the short answer is no, there is no scientific evidence to support any of this. For those who claim that it does help them sleep better at night, experts believe that what might be happening is more psychological.
There are also a few risks that come with doing this trend. Chris Winter, MD, a neurologist and Pluto sleep specialist, lists skin irritation, worsening existing cracks under the foot, and tiny cuts that could make it easier for bacteria to enter the body as just some of the downsides you may encounter. So proceed with caution.
And should the salt of it all still intrigue you, experts say one of the best ways to incorporate it in a nighttime routine is with bath salts. Just know that the salt won’t have anything to do with how relaxed you’ll feel afterward. “The common denominator is that you’re slowing down, focusing on a calming ritual, and signaling to your body that it’s time for sleep,” says Winter. “With a bath (with or without salt), there is at least a body of evidence suggesting that the change in body temperature can have a sleep-promoting effect.” He explains that soaking your body in warm water will raise your body temperature slightly, and when you get out and cool down, the drop in temperature may trigger your natural sleep processes so that you fall asleep faster (and better).
So I’ll refrain from putting one of my baking sheets through a salt stomp. Instead, I’ll just stick to my magnesium and Bricked phone while I manifest a bathroom big enough for that dreamy claw-foot tub made for nightly baths. One day.
