Different Types of Salts and Natural Ingredients for Bathing
Different Types of Salts and
Natural Ingredients for Bathing
To receive the fullest amount of benefit from your bath, it comes recommended to shower before getting in the bath to remove any excess oils, makeup, and chemicals on the body. Always drink plenty of water as well as keep water on hand ready to drink while in the tub. There’s always the possibility to dehydrate. Try to schedule bathing time in the evenings, closer to the time you go to sleep as these baths can be quite draining. Always check with your doctor before using any of these ingredients if you have any concerning health conditions. *Please see the warnings at the end of this article.
Epsom Salt
This is, of course, the most popular salt for detox baths. Epsom salts are made of magnesium sulfate. It’s chemical name is magnesium sulfate heptahydrate and it occurs naturally in mines and limestone caves. It was found in and named after the town it was originally discovered in, Epsom, a small market town in Surrey, England. These salts are known to help treat a variety of ailments and they can be the perfect way to de-stress the body. These salts are used to reduce inflammation in sore muscles and painful joints and can even help with an upset tummy. They’re used to stimulate detoxification, promote healthy circulation, improve oxygenation, and lower blood pressure, as well as to bring about relaxation.
Begin an Epsom salt bath for about 20 minutes. Then, you can begin taking a 40-minute bath in Epsom salts when you know better how your body will react. Here's how it works. During the first twenty minutes of the bath, the salts pull out toxins from the body. During the second twenty minutes of the bath, by reverse osmosis, our bodies pull in the minerals from the salts, magnesium being one of them. Epsom salts help to prevent magnesium deficiency in this way. Magnesium is needed by hundreds of processes in the body. Needless to say, most of us tend to be magnesium deficient.
Epsom salt baths would use about ½ cup to start with, all the way up to 2 cups. You may follow the directions printed on the bag. Bathing times recommended would be 20 minutes to start, then going to 40 minutes when you know how your body reacts.
Pro tip: just add more regular Epsom salt to your fancy spa salts for more impact. You get the benefits of the luxurious scents and more of the detoxing benefits of the Epsom salt.
Here’s a more thorough article on the benefits of Epsom Salt baths.
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/benefits-epsom-salt-baths/
Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay is a great way to remove heavy metals and other toxins from the body. It is a naturally forming clay from volcanic ash sediment that has aged in seawater. It actually takes up the minerals from the seawater. The largest source of this clay is from Fort Benton in Wyoming, from which it gets its name, but this clay can be found anywhere there is volcanic ash near seawater. Bentonite clay makes a great detox bath option because much like activated charcoal, this clay attracts and sticks to toxins and chemicals, including heavy metals. Dr. Axe notes, “While in its natural state, bentonite clay has negatively charged molecules. Most toxins and heavy metals have positively charged molecules. This allows the two to bind together easily and stay united while the toxin removal process happens.” Bentonite clay baths increases blood flow, rejuvenates skin and hair, and has anti-aging properties to regenerate skin tissue for a more youthful looking appearance. There are two different types of bentonite clay: calcium or sodium. Sodium bentonite clay expands more than the calcium version, and it is said this action is what helps to pull away the toxins from the body.
Bentonite clay in a bath would need 2 tablespoons or so to begin with, bathing generally for about 20 minutes.
Here’s a more thorough article on the benefits of Bentonite Clay baths.
https://draxe.com/nutrition/10-bentonite-clay-benefits-uses/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33006886/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5632318/
Baking Soda
I love to include baking soda into my salt bath recipes. It has many benefits, but most importantly for a detox bath, it helps to neutralize acids. Toxins are acidic. Baking soda baths can help to get rid of yeast and skin infections, rashes, bug bites, soothe a sunburn, and can help to relax aching joints. It has an amazing effect on your body, leaving your skin feeling softer and smoother. When baking soda is combined with sea salt, it is helpful in eliminating environmental radiation, including from x-rays, airport screenings as well as the airplane flights.
Baking soda in a bath alone would only need about 4-5 tablespoons per bath to start with, and soaking time would be for about 10-20 minutes.
Pro tip: Drink peppermint tea before you bathe or add the tea to the bath water, to enhance the effects of baking soda on your skin.
Here’s more information on the benefits of baking soda baths.
https://naturalremedyideas.com/bath-with-baking-soda/
Himalayan Pink Sea Salt
Himalayan pink sea salt comes from the foothills of the Himalaya mountains in Pakistan. History states that ancient oceans deposited the salt here when the mountains were being formed 250 million years ago. The area was covered by snow, ice, and lava for millions of years; therefore, they remain free of many of the pollutants we see today. Their pink color is unique, but it also comes in other colors also, including white and orange. The color is indicative by the amount of trace minerals it contains such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and iron.
Himalayan salt baths deliver magnesium and are found to relax the body and mind, reducing fatigue, stress, and pain. Himalayan salts particularly, generate negative ions into the air, to eat up the positive ions so-to-speak. It is this action that advocates say creates a calming effect that increases feelings of contentment and emotional health. These salts have many benefits for the skin, as they can reduce scaling, redness, and irritation from conditions like psoriasis and eczema. They provide a powerful detox for the body, boost your immune system, regulate pH balance with the help from the mineral infusion of the 84 trace minerals, and even help to fend off viral and bacterial infections.
Soaking in this salt bath offers the body a re-energizing experience. “As your body organs resonate with the natural frequency of the minerals in the salt bath, your body is being recharged; hence, re-activating the body’s regulatory mechanism, boosting metabolism and triggering its self-healing powers.”
The amounts vary for the Himalayan sea salt bath. Some say 1/8-1/2 cup per bath is good for normal detoxing and relaxing experience. Soak in the tub for about 30 minutes.
For a more intense detoxing Himalayan sea salt bath that is said to be equal to fasting for 3 days, see the link below for more details.
How is Himalayan pink sea salt different from Epsom salt? Epsom salt is made of magnesium sulfate, while Himalayan sea salt does not contain sodium. Epsom salt contains amounts of magnesium whereas Himalayan sea salt only contains trace minerals.
Here is a more detailed article about the many benefits of Himalayan pink salt.
https://thesaltmystery.com/himalayan-salt-bath/
Oatmeal
Bathing in oats has some incredible benefits for our skin. To receive the maximum benefits for our health and skin, it is recommended to use only steel cut oats. Steel cut oats have been minimally processed and are the closest to the natural form of the oats. With that, oats are recommended for its skin healing properties for everything from sunburn to infections. They are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant (which is perfect for our aging skin), as well as itch-relieving benefits. When bathing in oats, they can be an excellent moisturizer, leaving your skin feeling super soft and silky.
For a soothing oats bath, add in ½ cup to 1 cup into the warm water. Bathe/soak for 15-20 minutes.
Caution: If you are allergic to oats or have a sensitivity to gluten, please exercise caution. Consult with your physician for any further questions.
Here is an article that goes into more detail of the skin conditions oats can help.
https://www.dermatocare.com/blog/10-benefits-of-using-oats-for-skin--know-from-a-dermatologist
Ginger Bath
Ginger baths induce sweating to help the body’s natural mechanisms to fight off sickness and infections, especially from colds and flu. Sweating is one of the body’s most potent form of detoxing. Be sure to dress appropriately afterward as you will continue to sweat quite profusely for one to several hours. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, helps to reduce the pain from rheumatoid arthritis, other joint pains, relieves gas/bloating, and also boosts blood circulation. Ginger is a well-known spice containing anti-nausea and anti-cancer properties.
It is recommended to use ½ cup grated fresh ginger or 1/2 -1 rounded teaspoonful of powdered ginger in one tubful of bath water and soak for about 15-20 minutes.
Pro tip: If you don’t have fresh or powdered ginger on hand, you can also use ginger tea. Drink one cup of ginger tea before taking the bath and use another tea bag directly in the bath water. Just allow the ginger tea to float around in the tub. This technique should produce the same sweating effective for detoxing.
Caution: If you take anti-coagulants, consult your doctor before using ginger.
Here is a more thorough article on the numerous benefits of ginger baths.
http://www.pureinsideout.com/ginger-bath.html
Activated Charcoal (AC)
I have been using activated charcoal for many years now. It has become one of my favorite detoxifiers. It is made by burning up coconut shells, bamboo, wood, olive pits, and various other substances like this. it ends up an exceptionally fine, delicate powder that is extremely messy if it gets spilled. It is a powerhouse of a detoxifier! So much so that hospitals still use it to this day when certain toxins have been ingested. However, for our purposes, this will be for external benefits only. AC also has the ability to purify your skin, deodorize, and even fight bacteria. Using activated charcoal in the bath is a great way to recharge and energize!
Caution: The detoxing benefits of activated charcoal can be overdone, as it can combine to nutrients as well as toxins. If you have any questions, consult your physician before using.
Add ¼-1/2 cup of AC to your bath water. Soak in the tub for 15-20 minutes. Be sure to rinse yourself and the tub afterward. (You may want to test your bathtub to see if the AC will stick to it. Generally, it does not stick to solid surfaces and tile, but it will stick to grout. I do not have any issues with it sticking to my tub or any of my towels or wash cloths.)
Here is a more thorough article of the many uses and benefits of activated charcoal.
https://wellnessmama.com/247/activated-charcoal/
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
We may all be familiar with the oh so many health benefits of apple cider vinegar. ACV is known for getting rid of fungus and bad bacteria. It will also replace good bacteria. ACV is excellent for skin, hair, and nails! So, for issues dealing with aches and pains, sore joints, arthritis, candida, and bad body odor, ACV will work effectively by causing the body to heat up and sweat to release these toxins. Much like the ginger bath, you will most likely continue to sweat hours after the bath. Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and to help the body and lymph system flush away all those toxins left hanging on.
ACV baths can be taken for up to 30 minutes. Use about one to two cups of ACV, pure organic, unfiltered with the mother for best results.
Warnings about taking detox baths.
Drink plenty of water before, during, and after any type of detox or salt bath to prevent dehydration, dizziness, and fainting.
If you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, do not do baking soda, salt, or other type baths. Your chances of drowning may be higher when in this condition.
Always maintain a comfortable bath temperature that is not too hot. Making the water too hot may increase your chances of fainting as well as cause accidental scalding.
These types of baths are not recommended for pregnant women or people who are diagnosed with heart conditions and/or high blood pressure problems. Be sure to consult with your doctor before using any type of bath ingredient mentioned above.
Consult your pediatrician before using these types of baths for children. These types of baths may not be effective for children.
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