For centuries herbal baths have been used for therapeutic or beauty purposes. The Egyptians made good use of a therapeutic herbal bath. Cleopatra is said to have bathed in milk and the flowers from herbs to keep her skin smooth and moist. Romans had community herbal baths, the forerunner to the modern spa. In strict Jewish faiths, women use a communal herbal bath to cleanse their bodies after menstruation. There are many benefits to taking herbal baths for therapeutic purposes, but the added benefit is that an herbal bath is relaxing too. Here are some guidelines for taking herbal baths.
It is best to wait two hours after you have eaten. It would be great if you could take it before breakfast but since our lives are so busy it is more practical to take you herbal bath before you are going to go to sleep. The temperature of the herbal bath is important. There is no single temperature that is right; it depends on what you prefer. Never have it too hot or too cold. As you soak you can add more hot water as needed. Make sure you are in a well ventilated room that has no drafts. It is best to get out of the tub after the water has cooled a bit.
Set the mood of the room by lighting candles and playing some soothing music. Once you have dried off you can go to bed and get a good nights sleep. Try to take these therapeutic herbal baths at least three times per week. It is not recommended that the frail and infirm use the bath tub. If you have trouble moving your joints it is not advisable to use herbal baths.
Herbal baths are good for many ailments including arthritis, tension or stress, constipation and gout. There are many aromatherapists that use essential oils instead of herbs but there is no proof that one is better than the other.
There is also no hard rule in what kind of herb you use. I am including a standard recipe but feel free to experiment with your own recipes and herbs.
There are two ways to prepare an herbal bath. One method is to make an infusion; simply steep about one half cup of the herb or herbs in two cups of boiling water for ten to twenty minutes. The second way is to fill a porous bag or use an old stocking to put the herbs in. Hang the bag over the spigot so that the water will flow thru into the tub. For a stronger bath you can use both methods. Use fresh herbs for the most benefit.
Another beneficial idea for baths is bath salts. But don’t buy the expensive gift sets, make the salts yourself. By making them at home you can save at least fifty percent and in some cases even more.
Have fun experimenting with your herbs and take advantage of the benefits of herbal baths.
Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.
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