There is nothing like sinking into a deep tub and just relaxing. Why does it feel so luxurious? Well, if you can steal away for a few minutes, here are a few tips to get the most benefit out of your next soak sesh.

1. Start by drawing up super hot bath water – overheating therapy has been used for ages to eliminate heavy metals from the body, along with toxins due to pesticide exposure in our food and air. In this case, perspiration is a good thing and may even help prevent illnesses like the flu and bronchitis by generating a mild fever to get it out of our system before it hits!

2. Add herbs and prep your water – take a large piece of muslin or make a very strong, concentrated tea in a stock pot. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Herbs – I like to start with my garden – a rose or two, mint, lemon balm and citrus leaves, rosemary and lots of it, and of course lavender.
• Green tea – your skin will drink up the vitamins and minerals. It also helps with skin rashes and keeps your skin soft.
• Seaweed – seaweed is amazing for the skin – especially if you have psoriasis. I have known a few that swear by the difference it makes in their skin. Psoriasis or not, seaweed is full of minerals, and the gelatinous quality of it also helps to hydrate and makes for supple skin. I highly recommend theseaweedbathco.com if you are not about to go out and harvest your own seaweed – lol!
• Essential Oils – Lavender is amazing here, it will help to relax the mind even more than the skin, and a calm mind means a gentle heart, and a healthy body. Rose, clary sage and bergamot are great for hormone regulation as well.
• Baking soda – I can hear you now – are we making cookies or taking a bath? Lol! But adding baking soda to the bath is a gentle and effective way to help regulate your pH.  Since an overly acidic system is where disease starts, adding baking soda is a simple way to help your body’s pH.
• Epsom Salts – last but not least – add in epsom salts. The skin, being the largest organ, benefits greatly by absorbing the magnesium into our bodies. Our bodies usually have plenty of calcium, but magnesium is deficient for a lot of us. Calcium contracts (think bone creation) and magnesium relaxes (think of that feeling after someone massages your shoulders). They work together for overall health.

3. Dry Brushing – Now that your bathwater is steeping, do a bit of dry brushing. This will slough off old skin and stimulate blood flow, prepping that most gorgeous birthday suit of yours for total relaxation.

4. Hydration –  After your bath – make sure you are well hydrated, as with any detoxification process. Drinking plenty of water before and after is always a good idea.  If possible, try and follow up with a natural moisturizer, perhaps pure Shea butter or jojoba oil. Your skin will continue to detoxify and absorb after your bath, and you wouldn’t want to put any chemicals on it right off.

As with anything, please be careful and use common sense. It is entirely possible to overheat yourself. Please be careful not to do this, and pay attention to your body. If needed, perhaps start with a temperature you are comfortable with and gradually increase the heat. Also, please be careful when getting out, since the detox process could cause dizziness when rising.

There is such beauty to ancient arts and with home remedies that are so simple. We can heal so much in our bodies – and you don’t have to tell me twice if a relaxing soak will do the trick!