Seasoning is the new self-care.
Promoted as a type of grounding, the practice of stomping on salt before bed is gaining traction among wellness fans who say it’s a boon for the body.
“If you are not standing on salt before bed, you are missing out,” claims wellness TikTok user Tammy Weatherhead as she pours Epsom salt onto a baking sheet and shuffles her feet on it.
Weatherhead maintains the viral hack not only exfoliates feet but reduces inflammation and shifts the nervous system into “rest mode” by curbing cortisol and spiking serotonin, thus preparing the body for a solid night’s sleep.
“It feels insane in the best way,” she promises.
Others are also sloughing off before sleep and sinking their feet into the trend. One TikTok user said daily salt grounding helps relieve her anxiety, while another calls it the most ancient energetic cleaning practice, effectively resetting the system from the ground up.
While online acolytes continue to multiply, experts say the trend may be more hot air than rock-solid healing modality.
“Take the information with a grain of salt,” internist Dr. Yoshua Quinones quipped to The Post. “There is no solid scientific evidence that standing on Epsom salt can increase serotonin levels or lower cortisol levels.”
Quinones notes that while salt grounding cannot influence hormonal levels, it can effectively exfoliate the skin.
“The sensation can be soothing and may promote relaxation and mindfulness, and help some people unwind before bedtime. Any calming effect is likely due to the sensory experience and the relaxation ritual itself rather than a chemical reaction occurring in the body.”
But the technique is not for everyone, he added — those with cuts, wounds, cracked skin, diabetic foot conditions or neuropathy should avoid it, as it can cause irritation or discomfort.
Others stress that a presleep salt stomp could be useless at best and harmful at worst.
“There’s no evidence that standing on salt calms anything,” Dr. Saema Tahir, a board-certified sleep physician, told The Post. In fact, she says science supports the opposite.
“Research shows high salt exposure activates the sympathetic nervous system, raising heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol, and promotes inflammation rather than reducing it.”
While there is may be some validity in the mental health benefits of grounding in salt, it’s more about the experience than the substance.
“While it’s a relatively harmless sensory ritual, the claims about brain chemistry are wildly inflated,” psychiatrist Dr. Bonnie Mitchell told The Post. “The salt itself isn’t altering your nervous system through the skin. However, standing still, focusing on the unique texture under your feet, and slowing down before bed are classic sensory grounding exercises.”
Mitchell explains that serotonin is produced in the gut and the brain, while cortisol is managed by the adrenal glands.
“There is zero clinical evidence that localized pressure on dry salt crystals commands the brain or endocrine system to alter these chemicals. Any actual drop in cortisol would be the result of the general relaxation response mentioned above, not a magical chemical reaction with the salt.”
Because the foot is densely packed with nerve endings, stimulating them through texture can promote microcirculation and effectively shift the nervous system from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest,” according to Mitchell.
However, the same downshift can be achieved by walking barefoot on grass, stepping on smooth pebbles or doing deep breathing exercises.
Moreover, when it comes to health benefits, grounding is not necessarily the best application of salt.
“If someone wants the true therapeutic benefits of salt for their feet, a warm Epsom salt soak is vastly superior. The warm water dilates blood vessels to improve circulation, softens the skin for actual exfoliation, and allows the muscles in the feet to truly relax.”
