Bathing Basics

Bathing rituals are nothing new; almost every culture in history took pleasure in special baths with essential oils and other natural ingredients for health and well being. Many times, these ingredients were only available to the elite or royal citizens.

You can feel like a queen today, too. Draw a warm bath, dim the lights, add one of my bath bombs and relax. Whether you bathe for relaxation, health, or to relieve stress, you will also be easing muscles, softening your skin, and detoxifying your body.

There are certain types of baths that are good for specific ailments. All of these are safe for all ages, including newborns. Yet, I will be making bath powders specifically for babies without any butters. Baby bath temperatures are not warm enough to keep the butters melted, resulting in clumps in the tub and in baby's hair.

Salt Baths: Epsom and Sea Salt are great for sore muscles. They also cause a natural calming effect helping you to sleep better. Some studies show that daily salt baths can even help calm children with autism and help them sleep more soundly. The salts also draw toxins from your body.

Oatmeal Milk Baths: Milk and oatmeal both soothe and nourish the skin. If you have dry skin, insect bites, rashes, or skin irritation, this is a good bath for you.

Baking Soda: All of my bath products include baking soda. It is great for removing body toxins and draining the lymphatic system. If you are getting a cold or have been exposed to an illness, I recommend a bath with baking soda in it.

Oils and Butters: Some add a lovely smell, but they all nourish, moisturize, and soften the skin; adding a little extra luxury to your bathing experience.

For optimal health, it is recommended that you bathe at least 2-3 times a week (not because I said so, but because that is what spas recommend).

A note about bath bombs: if your tub is already dirty, the oils and butters will collect to the dirt, leaving a ring in the tub. The tub will need to be cleaned after most bombs, but wait until the next day so you can maintain your relaxation and go to sleep. Also, be careful getting out of the tub as it will be slippery, so will you. Enjoy your baths.