Bernard O'Shea: Have I found the elixir of youth, or was my granny having me on?

I used to use washing-up liquid to get that "like he just stepped out of a salon" look

Bernard O'Shea discovers his granny might have been right about Epsom salt. Picture: Brian Arthur

I've been as stiff as a plank for the last two years. Every morning, it seems like it takes my body at least an hour to warm up. Sometimes, even tying my shoelaces feels like a HIIT workout (not that I've ever done one). But little did I know that my granny's old Epsom salt cure would go some way into solving my aching joints.

My granny lived with us when I was growing up. She smoked 20 Player's Navy Cut a day, and was partial to the odd brandy. She drank tea by the gallon and always had her dinner in the middle of the day. But like her generation also believed firmly in some odd cure-alls.