o, this is not a post on personal hygiene, but rather a piggy-back post on Healthy Change #24. Baths are very relaxing (or at least they can be with a little intention and thought) and can help us reduce the stress we face each day.
Simply adding hot water to the tub and taking a plunge is a great place to start, but today’s post will list different “recipes” to amp up your bath and make it the most beneficial for both our health and state of mind.
Our bodies are created to naturally detox, so don’t buy into the claims that a certain drink, or a specific bath recipe will magically rid your body of all toxins. Detoxification is a continual process, not something we do once and check off the list.
Every day we’re exposed to environmental toxins, harmful chemicals in cleaning supplies, prescription drugs and even processed foods. Unless we can eliminate all exposure to these things (Bubble Boy anyone?), our bodies will continue to detox every day for the rest of our lives.
As I mentioned, we were born with the ability to detox. With the help of our liver, intestines, kidneys, lungs, skin and lymphatic system we’re on a continual “detox” each and every day. So dumping a bunch of ingredients into a bath and jumping in isn’t “quick fix” for detoxing our bodies, but it can certainly encourage our organs and possibly speed this process along.
Taking a bath can help for scores of reasons. A bath can help reduce stress, relieve insomnia, soothe achy muscles, reduce symptoms of PMS and even help you wake up and feel invigorated!
- Draw a bath with the hottest water you can handle (but not so hot you won’t be able to soak for 20-30 minutes).
- Add 2 cups magnesium flakes and swish around to dissolve. I like using these magnesium bath flakes or these epsom salts (or this bulk bag for greater value), all of which will help boost magnesium levels that many are deficient in.
- Add 10-20 drops essential oils. Sometimes I take a tablespoon of avocado oil in my hand and dilute the essential oils, then mix into the bath. This can help avoid any skin irritation if using “hot” oils, plus it adds a nice moisturizing component to the bath. (Do be careful getting out of the bath as the oil can make the tub slippery!)
- Grab a book, a glass of ice water and relax away the day. Soak for 20-30 minutes. If you start to get too hot, try sitting up out of the water for a while, and do drink that water as the bath will promote sweating, and sweating is one way our body detoxes. So help replenish these fluids with ice water to avoid possible headaches and overheating.
Determine your “stress relieving needs”, whether its just been a long, exhausting day, you’re achy in need of some relief, or wanting to help your body get ready for a good night of z’s. Then follow the recipes below. Remember some of the tips to reducing stress from Healthy Change #24, and combine them with your bath for the best, stress busting results.
- Feeling stressed? Add some bergamot to help lower blood pressure as well as stimulating dopamine and seratonin (our “feel good” hormones). Add vetiver to give your immune system a boost (which becomes weak and sluggish during times of stress). And add clary sage to help calm your nerves and bring peace of mind. These other synergies would be fantastic as well, or pull double duty and soak in your tub while diffusing these in your diffuser. Check out the following synergies at Plant Therapy: Tranquil, Worry Free, Tension Relief, Relax, Blues Buster and Let It Go.
- Feeling achy? Add this muscle aid blend which has wintergreen (alleviates aches and discomfort from aging joints), camphor (smells like Vicks Vapo-Rub and eases discomfort on joints from normal wear and tear) and pine (warming and soothing to tired muscles and can help support circulation). You could also add lavender and rosemary. Lavender is great for relieving tension (a common reason for neck and shoulder stiffness) and rosemary is anti-inflammatory, perfect for treating muscle pains, headaches, rheumatism and even arthritis.
- Feeling wired? We’ve all heard how a hot bath can help you doze off, this is because our core body temperature drops immediately after we get out which mimics the natural cooling process that takes place as we sleep. Add in some chamomile to relieve tension, mandarin to reduce blood pressure, lavender to promote relaxation and frankincense to deepen your breathing (which helps promote a sleepy state of mind).
- Feeling tired but need to be awake? Try adding any combination of citrus oils or this Brain Aid blend which contains the 100% pure, undiluted essential oils of pink grapefruit, bergamot, palmarosa, juniper berry, basil linalool, lemon, rosemary, peppermint, litsea (May Chang) and aniseed. Brain-Aid is a combination of feel-good, uplifting and mentally energizing oils that is sure to give you a quick “pick-me-up” and get you going on your day.
The options are nearly endless, so mix and match until you find what works best for you! And please remember that assisting our bodies own detoxification process can sometimes leave you feeling light-headed. Get out of the bath carefully and be sure to re-hydrate to replenish the fluids lost (even if you don’t feel like you sweat). Also, be sure to properly educate yourself on essential oils and know how to use them appropriately and safely. If you order any oils through Plant Therapy, use this link and we’ll get a little kickback – thanks for supporting our blogging efforts!
Happy soaking!