There is nothing as relaxing as taking a bath in the comfort of your own home. It is a great way to relax, decompress and release tension. For some, it is a ritual to end the day in the best way, and for others, a luxury pastime.
In this article, I will tell you about the many benefits of using bath salts for bath, how much bath salt to use, and how to make bath salts at home.
Keep reading so that we learn together!
Bath salts benefits
Bath salts have long been used as an easy and cheap way to treat mental and physical illnesses. The effect of your salt bath is mainly related to the solvent in the bath water, this will determine its therapeutic efficacy.
Bath salts, bath bombs, or even essential oils applied to bath water have different effects in helping you relax your muscles and mind, as well as softening and exfoliating your skin.
Bath salts are believed to provide various health benefits, but while there are many scientific studies verifying the therapeutic action of salt, the benefits of bath salts for bath have yet to be studied specifically.
However, whether through the placebo effect, bath salts can help you with body aches, as long as they are used as a complement to the treatment indicated by your doctor and not as a replacement.
People with health problems related to muscle and joint pain who usually do this practice notice differences in their day to day life. This list is just an example of the different conditions that you can treat with salt baths.
- Muscle pain and stiffness
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Arthritis
- Blood circulation problems
- Headaches
- Anxiety and stress
- Skin conditions (eczema, dry skin, psoriasis, acne, etc.)
- Period pains
- Foot and nail fungus
This is possible because salt, or sodium chloride, is antibacterial, antiviral and helps improve blood circulation.
The most common options to use are sea salt, pink Himalayan salt, or Epsom salt. These products are natural and contain elements like calcium, potassium, and magnesium that further enhance the healing effects of your salt bath.
On the other hand, essential oils may offer additional benefits, but they are not necessary.
However, if you want to add them to your salt bath, I recommend 4 options:
Lavender Oil:
It has a soft and relaxing aroma that has relaxing and de-stressing effects. Used in aromatherapy to help promote sleep at night. Add 6 to 10 drops of lavender oil to 1 cup of bath salts.Peppermint Oil:
Has an energizing scent. It is a great choice for a foot soak or to use in the shower in the morning. It is used to clear the paranasal sinuses and calm headaches. Add 5 drops of peppermint oil to 1 cup of bath salts.Citrus Oils:
Sweet orange, tangerine, or lemon have invigorating scents that can help lift your mood, refresh, relax, and calm your nervous system. Like peppermint, they are potent oils, so add only a few drops to your bath salts.Tea Tree Oil:
It is antiseptic, bactericidal, antifungal, healing and anti-inflammatory. It is used to treat acne, nail fungus, and athlete’s foot. Add 5 drops of Tea Tree Oil to 1 cup of bath salts.
How much bath salt to use?
A very frequent question is “how much bath salt to use?” to have an effect on our bath time.
In general, it is recommended that once your bathtub is filled with warm or hot water, you add ½ cup to 1 cup of bath salts.
To take a relaxing bath, it is advised not to add soap, shampoo, bath bombs, bubble baths or anything else that will counteract the rejuvenating effects of bath salt. The only exception to this rule is essential oils that can enhance the bath time experience and even reap their benefits.
A quick guide for bath time would be the following:
- Begin by cleansing your body by taking a shower to remove any dirt, oils, or perfumes.
- Next, fill your bathtub with warm water. The hotter the water temperature, the easier the salt will dissolve.
- Add the bath salt in the bathtub and let it dissolve. In the meantime you can set background music, turn off the lights and light some candles.
- Soak in the bathtub for 15 to 30 minutes, once or twice a week, to reap the benefits of salt baths.
If you want to know how to make bath salts, I will leave you a recipe below!
Bath salt recipe
This bath salt recipe will help you make your own diy bath salts. They are a cheap and fun alternative to make, they will also make a perfect handmade gift.
In addition, homemade bath salts have a number of advantages over store-bought ones. When you buy bath salts, you do not know exactly what ingredients it contains, among them, they may contain perfumes and synthetic dyes that we do not want to reach our skin.
But if you make your own bath salt, you will know that it will be made up of natural ingredients and at the same time you will avoid unnecessary packaging.
This recipe will make a total of 5 cups of bath salts.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups plain Epsom salt
- 5 cups coarse sea salt (such a pink Himalayan sea salt)
- ½ cup baking soda
- 20 drops essential oils of your choice (you can also mix different essential oils)
- 2-3 tablespoons dried flowers (optional)
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix all ingredients with clean hands or use a spatula.
- Store in glass containers until use. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months (3 months if using oil)
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Relax with bath salts!
Make bath time a relaxing experience by using bath salts. But first, consult your doctor if you have any illness and want to make salt baths a habit.
How much bath salt to use? You already know it! Enjoy a hot bath with bath salts in your own home, no need to go to a spa anymore.
Also, If you want to take a relaxing bubble bath, I recommend this article about “How to use bath bombs“.