detox bath

bathing | photo:  mconnors

Many of us take showers rather than baths.  For some it's a matter of necessity (they don't have a tub), for others convenience (they would rather not take the time.

But bathing can be a powerful way to help balance our bodies.  First there is the slow down, taking the time to soak.  That relaxing time goes a long way toward counteracting the hectic pace at which most of us lead our lives.  Baths can also, however, be a great way to help us remineralize our system.  This is done through the use of something called a detox bath.

Our skin is our largest body organ, sometimes referred to as the "third kidney."  What we put on it goes into our system.  This works for both positive and negative ingredients.  Often we are exposed to a lot of environmental stressors and/or we eat foods that may cause a more acidic body state.  While a bath cannot counteract all of that it can help to balance us.  Many people find that when they take a detox bath they feel much better and more relaxed.  It's often recommended to take the bath immediately before bed.

While you can purchase a lovely scented Dead Sea Salt bathing product, you can also make a simple detox bath at home for pennies.  It is often suggested to people that they not take this bath more than twice a week to be sure that they do not overwhelm their system.

Detox Bath

1 cup epsom salts
1 cup baking soda
5-7 drops relaxing essential oil
     (the most relaxing ones are lavendar, ylang ylang, geranium, and vanilla)

Run a hot bath and add the ingredients
Soak for 20 minutes immediately before bed

Note:  hot baths are not recommended if you are pregnant, nursing, or have a health condition which might be negatively affected by immersion in high heat.