Taking a good soak has a long history and, along with sleeping in on a rainy day, fresh bed sheets and having a good laugh, it's surely one of the simplest of pleasures in life, don't you think?
Salt baths are a wonderful way of combining the therapeutic benefits of relaxing in a good old-fashioned bath with the powerful mineral-balancing effects of salts such as epsom salt (magnesium sulphate). Add some baking soda as a natural skin softener and therapeutic grade essential oils, and you have an excellent tonic for stress and nervous tension, insomnia, muscular and menstrual pains, even some skin and circulatory problems.
'nuff said? Not quite.
Making your own bath salts is ridiculously easy and takes very little of your precious time. They also make very cost effective and thoughtful homemade gifts.
My top tips for making bath salts.
- The best way to use essential oils in a bath is to mix them with salts or, even better, an emulsifier such as whole cow's milk, or even coconut milk. This disperses the oil safely into the water and is a much better method to absorb the oil’s therapeutic power.
- Use a crystal salt (not refined table salt). Himalayan Sea Salt is great if you can get your hands on some.
- Some essential oils can cause skin sensitivity so if you are unsure run a skin safety test, but emulsifying them is generally a safer way to use them.
- Avoid oils such as basil, oregano, thyme, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, black pepper, lemongrass and bay which can be too strong for sensitive skin (beware oregano anywhere near your skin!).
So now you know the basics, here are some of my favourite ways for soaking up the good stuff:
My favourite bath salt recipes.
Each recipes makes one bath, though feel free to add more epsom salt as you see fit. I use doTERRA essential oils.
Time to Snooze (Milk Bath)
1 cups epsom salts
1/2 - 1 cup milk
1/4 cup baking soda
8-10 drops (or a combination) of essential oil: Vetiver, Lavender, Ylang Ylang
Try throwing in some chamomile or lavender buds!
Pep in my Step (Energising Blend)
1 cup epsom salts
1/4 cup baking soda
8-10 drops (or a combination) of essential oil: Wild Orange, Spearmint, Rosemary
Detox Me Now
1 cup epsom salts
1/4 cup baking soda
1/8 cup sea salt
8-10 drops (or a combination) of essential oil: Lemon, Grapefruit, Juniper
Remember though, there’s no single right way to make bath salts. These recipes are just the start for you - mix and match these components to create a blend that suits your vibe for the day. Now, enjoy your soak!
Oils and pregnancy: It is important that I mention that not all oils are suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding mums. For that reason I've included a link to an article here to help you make a more informed decision. If you are unsure please do your your own research and consult a health care practitioner where necessary.
Ok, so next week we are going to be chatting about all things magnesium sulphate and we all need more of this substance in our lives. We'll even be sharing some great ways to include it in your daily life, including a magnesium oil spray!
