Wellness bathing may just sound like a glorified bath but it really is so much more than that. It’s become an important ritual to help you switch off, relax and truly disconnect. Wellness bathing is all about creating a calm, cosy environment that is entirely yours where you can soak in beautiful oils, salts and herbal concoctions completely undisturbed. This isn’t just a cleansing necessity, it’s a mentally and physically nourishing ritual that many of the world’s most luxurious spas already incorporate in their treatments to further enhance relaxation. It’s a daily wellness ritual Gwyneth Paltrow swears by so if she’s on board with it, so are we!
Pimping your bath with different ingredients is a great way to absorb extra benefits. Below Patricia Lopez, founder of Academy Healing Nutrition London, shares her top wellness bath recipes and their benefits.
General Preparation Method: It is best to brew your mixtures before adding them to the bath. Combine herbs or other plant materials with cold water in an enamelled, glass or clay saucepan (ideally not metal). Bring to a boil and then simmer for 4 to 5 minutes for flowers and soft materials or 10 to 15 minutes for roots barks or twigs. Set aside and steep for 3-4 minutes. Strain and pour into the hot bath water and relax.
Chamomile Flower Bath
Ingredients: 500 g of Chamomile flowers
Preparation: See general preparation method above
Benefits: Chamomile is an amazing soothing ingredient so this is ideal for calming inflammation, cleaning wounds, itchy skin, and catarrhal conditions. It’s also perfect to prepare your mind and body for sleep.
Epsom Salt & Lavender Bath
Ingredients: 2 cups of epsom salts and 3 drops of lavender essential oil
Preparation: Mix the salts and lavender essential oils under the running tap to infuse the bath. The aroma of lavender will help calm the mind.
Benefits: The minerals (primarily magnesium) in Epsom salts helps to relax tense muscles. Lavender the herb both stimulates and quiets the heart. It helps to free stuck Qi circulation in the chest which may help some people to relax or reach a higher level of emotional balance.
Thyme Bath
Ingredients: 500 g of thyme
Preparation: See general preparation method above
Benefits: Thyme is naturally antibacterial so this is lovely to inhale for tickly coughs or blocked sinuses.
Ginger Bath
Ingredients: ½ kilo of fresh grated ginger and 7.5 litres of water
Preparation: Finely grate fresh ginger and place it in the center of a cheesecloth, handkerchief, or clean cotton sock. In a large pot bring water to a hot temperature without boiling. Place the bag of ginger in the pot. With the back of a wooden spoon, press the bag against the side of the pot to squeeze out the ginger juice. Simmer ginger for 5 minutes or until water gives a strong ginger aroma. Add this water to a full bath
Benefits: An ideal choice for chilly evenings this ginger concoction will bring warmth to the body and move chi. It’s also helpful for relieving menstrual cramps.
Rescue Remedy Bath
Ingredients: 2-3 drops of Bach Flower Essence Rescue Remedy
Preparation: Add Rescue Remedy to the bath water as the tub is filling up. Relax in bath water, inhaling deeply a few times while in the tub
Benefits: Beneficial for any situation where we lose balance mentally, including stress, emergencies, after receiving bad news, before an exam or job interview, etc. Helps induce relaxation, focus and a sense of calm.
Want to learn more about holistic health and wellbeing? Academy Healing Nutrition’s Holistic Health Coach Certificate Programme training starts 21st Match. Click here to find out more.