SerpApi.Org
You know those clips of people stamping on grapes in vineyards to make wine?
Well, instead of a lush outdoor haven, imagine a bathroom setting instead. The stomper doesn’t wear an old T-shirt and shorts, but a fluffy dressing gown or cotton PJs.
And instead of a giant tub of fruit, they’re marching in place over some crunchy crystals of Epsom salt.
This is “salt stomping”, a sleep-boosting method recommended by some on TikTok.
What is salt stomping?
It involves placing a layer of salt – some like Epsom, some plump for Himalayan, while others settle for standard table fare – onto a washable layer like a large baking tray.
Then, stand on the mineral, gently moving your feet, for 10 minutes. Some do this while applying their skincare; it’s usually done at night to improve sleep.
“Your feet get exfoliated, inflammation goes down, and your nervous system shifts to ‘rest mode’”, one TikToker claimed.
The practice has been associated with “grounding”, which has actually been researched for inflammation, wound healing, and the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
So... does salt stomping work?
HuffPost UK asked Dr Sophie Bostock, founder of The Sleep Scientist, whether she thinks the method could actually help us go to sleep.
“I’m not aware of any scientific evidence that would support standing in salt as a specific way to enhance deep sleep,” she told us.
But that’s not to say it’s definitely useless. It’s just that Dr Bostock thinks its sleep advantages might lie outside of any proven medical benefits.
“Having a repeatable ritual which is part of a calming wind down routine certainly sends ‘safe and in control’ messages to the brain, which helps to switch off our stress response and dial up our relaxation response,” she said.
“These rituals ideally involve physical and mental relaxation – so if the person is standing stationary and doing some calming breathing vs dashing around or lying on the sofa and scrolling TikTok, I can absolutely believe that this would have a positive impact on sleep quality.”
Of course, this relaxing behaviour can take any form. Reading, yoga, and other wind-down routines are just as effective.
However, “salt stomping” might carry a specific advantage: the placebo effect.
