Bath Salts: More Than Just a Soak!
There are those times when we all need a detox, a restoration, an unwinding, a centering, that cherished reset. It could be after a tiring day at work, an exhaustive workout, a stressful week, or simply a need to carve out a time for self-care. Hitting that regenerative pause button, so to speak.
Your bathroom can offer just that - a quiet personal spa space for your wellness routine. A warm bath soak can be turned into an oasis of healing and tranquility.
Adding epsom salt, sea salt or Himalayan salts to the warm water in the tub soothes cramps, replenishes the body’s magnesium and relaxes the muscles. Epsom salts release magnesium sulphate into the warm water and is known to relieve muscle pain. The addition of sea salt and/or pink Himalayan salts, release beneficial minerals that ease sore muscles and stiff joints.
When selective essential oils or a blend of powdered dried herbs are mixed into these bath salts, it ramps up the wellness regime. Besides, these homemade mixes can become your own personalized therapeutic bath salts that can cater to the need of the hour - or day.
Adding about twenty to thirty drops of essential oils to your bath salts stimulates the effects of aromatherapy. Breathing in the aroma of essential oils provide varied benefits such as calming frazzled nerves, detoxification and promoting better sleep.
Essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, rose, bergamot, valerian, sandalwood, jasmine, neroli, clary sage, vetiver are best used for relaxation and soothing the nerves. Whereas essential oils such as eucalyptus, grapefruit, tangerine, rosemary, geranium provide an uplifting blend.
It is best to use what you feel aligns with your mood and needs at the moment. You can mix two to three scents to get that fusion of aroma. Make sure you do not add too much as essential oils are potent. A total of about twenty to thirty drops of a single essential oil or a blend is sufficient.
You should take care to buy pure essential oils from reputed companies as synthetic fragrances or perfume oils can cause skin irritation and reactions.
Make sure you research the essential oils you plan to use as some are safer to be used in a bath soak than others. Use only those oils that are skin friendly.
If you choose to purchase bath salts that are premixed with special essential oils, make sure they are from a reputable company and that the ingredients are pure and natural.
But if you choose to make your own signature bath salts, the recipe is simple. All you need to do is combine about half a cup of epsom salts, sea salt or Himalayan pink salt or a combination of all three, with about twenty to thirty drops of one essential oil or a blend of two to three essential oils of your choice. If you desire, you can add a scoop of powdered dried flowers such as lavender, rose, chamomile, calendula. Drizzling about two tablespoons of carrier oils to the mix such as jojoba, sweet almond or fractionated coconut oil to the soak nourishes the skin.
Loose herbs can be put in a drawstring muslin bag or a tea bag that can be dropped into the tub, wrapped around the faucet or tied with a string to the downspout where it can seep into the water. This is a practical way to avoid a messy clean up of floating herbs.
Wait for the tub to be filled with warm water before adding the bath salts. This ensures that the essential oils do not dissipate earlier and their beneficial properties stay intact. You can swirl the salts till they are dissolved in the water before stepping in.
Allow a maximum of twenty to thirty minutes in a bath salt soak for maximum benefit. A longer soak could dry the skin. Always consult with your doctor if you are pregnant before using these bath salts or if you have sensitive skin.
You can enhance the mood of your bath soak experience by lighting some natural beeswax tea lights or candles and placing these around the bathroom area. The warm flicker and glow deepen the relaxation of your body, mind and soul.
Why not play some light soothing music as you relish this infusion of aromatic essential oils, therapeutic herbs and relaxing salts.
Weaving in this ritual into your life once or twice a week or even once a month with your customized homemade bath melts, can be a deeply centering and healing experience.
This is after all, your own tailored time for rejuvenation and restoration. Soak it in.
