Relaxation after a long day becomes more important as we take on more stressors and responsibility. Many of us had to pivot when the global pandemic closed down virtually every business for several months. Spa days were no longer an option! How are we expected to unwind?! Luckily, having a DIY spa day at home is rather simple. Not only is it simple, it is also incredibly beneficial to the body. With a little bit of effort, putting together your own perfect bath soak is a wonderful way to unwind after a long day or to reward yourself for a job well done.
When we say soak, we don't necessarily mean take a soothing hot bath. Especially in an instance when feet are achy and tired. A simple foot soak will suffice. Soak what needs soaking. If your shoulders are tight, knees ache, feet feel sore, and low back feels awful, then by all means, use a full body soak.
The health benefits of a soak session are wonderful, and will revive joints, muscles, and restore a healthy glow to the skin. You will experience reduced inflammation, a blissful wave of relaxation, as well as emerging with soft, supple, healthy skin. All these wonderful effects, separate and combined, are great reasons to give yourself a DIY spa day at home.
Each foot has 26 bones plus muscles, tendons and ligaments that all need their fair share of TLC. There is nothing worse than chronically aching feet. Soothe the aches and pains away in some warm water.
Hot vs Cold? Salts vs Oils?
There are different kinds of bath soaks. Are you having trouble sleeping at night? Try some soothing lavender essential oils in your bath. Do you put your body through the wringer? Try our Oatmeal Mint Bath Salt in your bath to reduce soreness, inflammation, and loosen up joints and muscles for peak relaxation. Are you having a particularly bad skin day? Use oatmeal to cleanse, soften, and purify your skin. Why not use cold water immersion therapy to help speed up your body’s recovery? Elite athletes use ice baths all the time in order to prime their bodies back into action.
Green Tea
Green tea bath soaks are starting to gain popularity for their many restorative benefits. The idea here is to use anywhere between 3 and 5 teabags worth of green tea in the bath. The resulting “tub tea” is packed with many healing properties. The numerous antioxidants are incredibly beneficial to the skin; even going so far as to repair sun damage! The green tea soak also has many anti-inflammatory benefits that are useful in reducing swelling throughout the body. This is very useful, because inflammation in the body is often a precursor to more serious health problems; such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. Consuming green tea is known to have detoxifying benefits, but can also help detoxify the pores of our skin. The antioxidants present in green tea can combat aging signs and make dull skin look healthier. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of green tea make it an effective treatment for acne.
Essential Oils
The use of essential oils will add further health benefits to your bath experience.
Be mindful of how much oil you’re adding to your bath! Adding too much oil can cause d and irritation in the skin. Just a few drops is enough to soak in all the benefits they have to offer. to a restful night's sleep.
Eucalyptus oil can assist in strengthening the immune system, eliminating inflammation, fighting against bacterial infections, and protecting overall skin health. Eucalyptus oil has a natural cooling sensation as well, making it a great bath addition to soothe and relieve sunburns.
Lemon oil is great for fighting cold symptoms, reducing depression, clearing your skin, reducing inflammation and killing harmful viruses and bacteria. Inhaling the evaporated lemon oil in the air assists in fighting bacteria inside your body as well as helping ease anxiety and depression. Lemon oil is also known for having antioxidants and other protective properties which help brighten skin tone and preserve skin health.
Be mindful of how much oil you’re adding to your bath! Adding too much oil can cause discomfort and irritation in the skin. Just a few drops is enough to soak in all the benefits they have to offer.
Detoxifying Charcoal Bath
Activated charcoal is a known detoxifying agent. The negative charge of the charcoal allows it to draw out toxins and pollutants gathered in the skin from the environment. Pollutants are common causes for eczema, acne, and hives. An activated charcoal soak will ease breakouts, as toxins are drawn out of your skin and washed down the drain. As charcoal detoxifies, it can also take some beneficial nutrients away with it, so using a good restorative lotion afterwards to replenish any lost nutrients as a finishing step will keep skin healthy and vibrant.
Herb Infused Bath Soaks
The use of herbs in a bath for its curative and beauty enhancing properties has been used for many years. In addition to providing a relaxing spa-like experience, herbs also assist in reducing stress, smoothing the skin, detoxifying the body as well as creating a luxury scent as topper on the perfect bath. An ideal way to incorporate herbs into your soak session, would be to place your herbs of choice into a small sachet, to keep the herbs from sticking to your skin, and to speed up the cleanup process. Some herbs are common knowledge, such as lavender or chamomile for their relaxing and soothing properties. Some less commonly used but nonetheless useful bath teas and herbs include:
Dandelion flowers are known to elevate mood and rejuvenate the skin
Linden flowers aid in relaxation and may stop a headache in its tracks, at the early stages of one coming on
Orange blossoms promote relaxation and are said to lower blood pressure (your doctor will appreciate this)
Calendula softens and soothes the skin
Grated Ginger is said to improve circulation and blood flow
Parsley is believed to promote the healing of bruises
Rosemary, Thyme, and Bay Leaves all increase feelings of relaxation
Sage prevents stiff, sore muscles after grueling physical exertion
Stinging nettle promotes circulation and eases aching joints
Mint, Basil, and Lemongrass stimulate and heal the skin
Eucalyptus aids in relaxation and can ease breathing problems and nasal congestion
Meadowsweet eases muscular aches and pains and helps to lift the mood
All of the various ingredients that might end up in your perfect bath soak, are all great candidates for a more localized soak. This summer, NM Thera will be providing a more portable and localized soaking product for hands and feet. NM Thera also offers the Essentials Bath Kit that provide all the tools you need for the perfect soak and chill experience. Experiment with different proportions of herbs, essential oils, salts, and preferred temperatures, and see what kinds of recipes YOU can come up with! Watch your chronic aches and pains wash away with regular usage of soak therapy. Stay tuned, and see you in our next blog!
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