Soaking in Everything You Should Know About Soaking in a Bath

Did you know that the best time to take a bath was on an empty stomach? If you experience light-headedness when bathing in hot water, adding salt to your bathwater will alleviate your discomfort. You should drink plenty of water or herbal tea after a bath to replenish body fluids. Always apply moisturizer after bathing, while the skin is still moist and warm. This will allow the lotion to penetrate the outer layer of the skin Morning baths are primarily for relieving physical fatigue, stimulating the body, and eliminating toxins. They should be tonics and the ideal temperature [for a morning bath] is around 96.8 F/36 degrees C. Baths intended to sooth muscles or joints after intense physical exertion or after an extremely stressful afternoon should be between 104 and 107 degrees F (40-42 degrees C). Evening baths are meant to be relaxing, stress releasing, and in preparation for sleep. These baths should be between 98.6 and 102 degrees F (37-39 degrees C). _Aromatic Herbal Baths_________________ The ceremony of bathing in herbs has become a daily rite in many cultures, as they mark a return to the source for the body and the spirit. Depending upon the blend, herbal baths can be detoxifying and aromatic, and also intensely relaxing physically and spiritually. The particular herb, or combination of herbs, is dependent upon what effects are being sought. Do you want to soothe the skin, promote sleep, stimulate circulation, relieve muscle aches and pains, or simply enjoy an aromatic experience? Whatever the effect you are striving for, the concept remains same: you'll be drinking in the aroma while soaking in a giant cup of herbal tea! To brew an herbal bath you can; -Toss several herbal tea bags (yes, the kind you drink) directly into bath water. This is the easiest method. -Fill a piece of cheesecloth or muslin cloth with herbs, then tie shut. You can toss the bag into the tub or you can hang from the facet, so that the water runs through it as it fills the tub. This is the better method for a therapeutic experience, and is the method that I will be giving recipes for in my next post. All information for this section was gleened from the following reference books; The Wellness Center's Spa at Home, by Kalia Doner Readers Digest Bathing for Health, Beauty and Relaxation by Eva Gizowska The Natural Bath and Beauty Book by Casey Kelar