Epsom Salt Bath and other Therapy Baths
2013
An epsom salt bath along with other therapy baths, such as mineral, mud and aromatherapy baths, are great to relieve stress and to relax in, but they have detoxification and healing properties too. Turn your bathroom into your own private home spa: run some hot water and light some candles, put on some soft music and relax and let your cares float away. Relaxing and comforting therapy baths can be rejuvenating and are as good for your health as they are for your soul. Make them a part of your regular routine.
Epsom Salt Bath
Epsom salts are made up of the compound magnesium sulfate, which was originally found and named in the town Epsom, England. Magnesium sulfate provides both magnesium and sulfate to the body when you soak in an Epsom salt bath. These are both essential and important minerals in the body and both are necessary for the body to function properly. Neither of these minerals are easy to absorb through the digestive tract, but both are easily absorbed through the skin.
Benefits of an Epsom Salt Bath
An Epsom salt bath has been used as a cure all for centuries. It is known to calm the nervous system and lower stress, benefiting the endocrine system. Epsom salt baths can be used to soothe aches and pains in the body, relax muscles, reduce inflammation, prevent wrinkles, soften and soothe the skin and also assist with detoxification. Epsom salts in a bath have been shown to pull toxins from the cells of your body through reverse osmosis, a process where salt is drawn from your body bringing toxins out along with it. The main benefits of soaking in a bath with Epsom salts come from the magnesium and sulfate absorption.
About Magnesium
Magnesium is the 2nd most abundant element in our cells. It helps to regulate over 325 enzymes in our body and is involved in many of our body functions, such as energy production and muscle control, as well as detoxification and helping the body to eliminate harmful toxins.
Magnesium Deficiency
Most of us are mineral deficient and our magnesium levels are way too low. At the height of my raw wheatgrass juicing, mineral-seeking period, I was getting my minerals checked and my blood checked by live blood microscopy and despite all my efforts I was still very low. I often drank 4 to 6 ozs a day of wheatgrass. I worked in a sprout farm that grew it, with added ocean minerals to the soil, and took mineral supplements to boost them as I knew and heard so much about our soils being deficient. Despite an active attempt to have a healthy high level of minerals, I was still low. They said I was much higher than most but this really showed me just how hard it is these days to just get what our bodies need to be healthy.
The standard American diet is much lower in minerals in this generation than the last one, and much more again than the one before. Industrial farming has depleted our soils of many crucial minerals including magnesium. Our magnesium levels in general are half of what our grand parents levels were. More factors come into play that lead to this lowering. Todays diet, high in fats, sugar and protein robs our body even more of magnesium. Our focus on getting enough calcium even further depletes it. We need a healthy balance with the minerals in our body; calcium depletes magnesium and yet it works best when magnesium is present. Studies have shown that taking calcium if you are short on magnesium will lower the amount of both in the body. Reasearch shows that many Americans have five times as much calcium a magnesium, where the optimal ratio is 2:1.
Soaking in Epson salt bath easiest way to get a magnesium boost.
Magnesium Benefits
Magnesium regulates many of the enzymes in the body and enables your bodily functions to run smoothly
Magnesium is needed for over 300 biochemical reactions and plays an important role in nerve function.
Magnesium reduces stress in the body, while a lack of magnesium will create stress in the body. Adrenalin, stress and tension lower our magnesium levels..
Magnesium lowers blood pressure and helps prevent hardening of the arteries. It can lessen your chance of having a stroke.
Magnesium can avert osteoporosis. It helps build bone mineral density, and calcium needs magnesium to build bones.
Magnesium decreases the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. It influences the release and activity of insulin, and so controls the glucose levels of the blood.
Magnesium is needed for protein synthesis and helps muscles function better
Magnesium reduces pains, cramps and acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Magnesium lowers menopause and PMS symptoms
Magnesium can alleviate constipation, as well as headaches and chronic fatigue
Magnesium helps you to concentrate better.
Magnesium helps you sleep better. Notice how well you sleep after an Epsom salt bath!
Magnesium can help your body to detox more effectively
Sulfate Benefits
Sulfate is essential for many processes in the body.
Sulfate is needed for the formation of joints and the production of proteins in joints
Sulfate is needed to release digestive enzymes (protease, lipase and amylase) from the pancreas. Without it food would not be digested properly.
Sulfate helps to form the proteins that line the gut wall and strengthen the walls of the digestive tract. Sulfate blocks toxins from going through the wall into the bloodstream and stops digesting contents from sticking to the gut walls. Low sulfate content in plasma is often found in people with IBS.
Sulfate is needed for the formation of brain tissue. Low levels of sulfate can lead to faulty neuron connections and eventually to dysfunction.
Sulfate helps to remove toxins from the body
Sulfates help with the absorption of nutrients
Epsom Salt Bath Directions
Put one to two cups of Epsom salts in the bath water.
Water should be quite warm to cool.
Soak in the tub with water and Epsom salts for at least 15 minutes.
Enjoy an Epsom salt bath up to 3 times per week.
Despite the benefits, Epsom salt baths aren’t for everyone. They generally aren’t recommended for people who have conditions such as heart problems, high blood pressure or diabetes. If you aren’t sure whether an Epsom salt bath is safe for you, consult your doctor first.
Mineral Bath
An Epsom salt bath is essentially a mineral bath, but you can include other minerals or Dead Sea salts which have a high mineral content. Epsom salts can be combined with other types of salts in a bath, such as Himalayan and Dead sea salt for a more broad range of minerals.
Mineral baths and springs are found naturally throughout the world. These high mineral content waters have been used by just about every culture for centuries. Natural mineral springs have been used by indigenous people the world over and are often revered as places of healing. Today many natural mineral springs have been made into formal mineral baths and spas have been built around them.
You can make your own mineral bath at home by adding mineral rich salts to your bath water.
Mud Bath
People all over the world have believed in the healing powers of mud for centuries. Cleopatra is said to have taken and enjoyed mud baths with mud from the Dead Sea. Many people throughout the world claim mud baths to be their fountain of youth. This is not unfounded as mud is rich in minerals and many chemicals beneficial to the complexion. Mud drying on the skin tightens it and reduces wrinkles. Mud is well known now as a natural beauty treatment, improving the skin. It draws out toxins and impurities while smoothing, exfoliating and providing deep nutrition.
Taking a Mud Bath
A mud bath is usually made up of a combination of mud and peat which is mixed with water to create a paste. The paste is slathered over the body and face, being careful not to get into eyes or orifices of the body.
Leave on at least 15 minutes. It can be left on as long as you like and a warm environment is best to open pores and allow for better absorption of minerals. When you are ready, rinse off and wrap up in warm towels, or after showering relax in another bath to fully rinse and relax in. Add Epsom salts or essential oils to deepen the relaxation effects.
A mud bath will rejuvenate and revitalize the mind, body and soul. Mud baths will give you a great complexion, ease muscle pain and tension, reduce inflammation and detoxify the skin.
If you are pregnant or on regular medications or have any serious health issues, consult your doctor before taking mud or mineral bath.
For a little luxury at home to create your own home spa, check out mud bath packets with 100% natural organic therapeutic moor mud from the Resource page
Aromatherapy Bath
A hot bath with essential oils is a synergistic combination. The hot bath already makes you feel relaxed and the essential oils amplify the effect. An aromatherapy bath can provide deep relaxation and relief from stress, tension and anxiety. Adding essential oils to your bath is a great way to bring aromatherapy into your life.
How to Make an Aromatherapy Bath
Drops of essential oils can be added straight to your bath. But as oils do not mix well with water, if you have sensitive skin there is a chance that the concentrated oils, which are mostly floating on the surface of the water will settle on your skin in one area and cause irritation. To avoid this it is best to first mix the essential oils with a carrier oil. A carrier oil is usually a vegetable, nut or seed oil, such as almond oil, jojoba oil or even olive oil.
Add 6 to 10 drops of essential oils to 1 ounce of a carrier oil. You can pre-mix several ounces at once and store the mixed oil blend in a glass bottle. If storing for any period of time, due to the sensitive nature of oils, it is best to store away from light or in a dark glass bottle.
Run the bath and after water has stopped running and before you get in, add the essential oil mixture. Half to one ounce is a good amount to add. Add it after the water stops running to ensure that the oils do not evaporate away before you have a chance to enjoy them.
Be sure that the essential oils you use are not known to be skin irritants, such as clove, basil, peppermint, lemon and orange.
Different oils have different therapeutic effects
Here is a list of some of the most effective oils for relaxation, and sensual ones as well. Experiment mixing your favorite oils together, to create your own personal blend. Generally, oils with similar properties (ie. calming, sensual, uplifting) work well together and enhance the properties of each other.
Relaxing and calming: lavender, chamomile, ylang ylang, sandalwood, geranium, rosewood, neroli, cedarwood, frankincense, bergamot, clary sage
Sensual: rose, ylang ylang, sandalwood, jasmine, patchouli, neroli
Read more on Aromatherapy and on the different properties of essential oils here.
Aromatherapy Bath Oil Blends
Peace and Calming Bath Oil Blend
Mix together:
2 ounces almond, jojoba or other carrier oil
8 drops Lavender
5 drops Sandalwood
4 drops Ylang Ylang
3 drops Clary Sage
Muscle Relaxing Bath Oil Blend
Mix together:
2 ounces almond, jojoba or other carrier oil
8 drops Lavender
7 drops Rosemary
5 drops Eucalyptus
To your optimal peace and health!
Photo Credits:
Bathtub with rose and lime photo credit: Dennis Wong via photopin cc
Lady with mud photo credit: jjay69 via photopin cc
Shallow water photo credit: mayrpamintuan via photopin cc
Feet in water photo credit: mayrpamintuan via photopin cc
