Can this viral salt hack really help you calm down, sleep well and get better skin?

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 pre-sleep salt stomp could be useless at best and harmful at worst.“There’s no evidence that standing on salt calms anything,...