Bathing Rich-tools (ritual)

My favorite detox bath recipes

The ritual (rich-tool) of taking a simple bath a couple of times a week can be a rich and powerful tool indeed.  Your body naturally feels more relaxed from cooling down after a hot bath.  More specifically, detox baths enhance the body's natural immune responses by ridding it of toxins and leaving your mind, body, and spirit healthier and more at peace.

Here are my two favorite recipes for detox baths; I invite you to try them and feel great!

1. RELAX/The Epsom Salt Detox:

- fill your tub with warm to hot water (as hot as you can tolerate)

- add 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil (like lavender or eucalyptus, as well as a teaspoon of coconut oil)

- deposit 2 cups of Epsom salts (the body can absorb the minerals and nutrients in the salts more easily as the toxins are released)

- soak for 20 minutes or so (relax and get sweaty!)

- hydrate and moisturize (drink plenty of water and be sure to use a natural moisturizer - I love coconut oil because it leaves my skin feeling silky, not greasy)

Main Health-Enhancing benefits of Epsom salt detox bath:

• Ease stress and improves sleep and concentration

• Help muscles and nerves function properly

• Help prevent artery hardening and blood clots

• Make insulin more effective

• Reduce inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps

• Flush toxins

• Improve absorption of nutrients

• Help prevent or ease migraine headaches

2. INVIGORATE/The Ginger Root Detox:

- fill your tub with warm to hot water (as hot as you can tolerate)

- add 1/2 cup freshly grated ginger or 1 tsp ginger root powder (Ginger root yields many health enhancing benefits such as being highly anti-inflammatory).

- soak for 20 minutes or so (relax and get sweaty!)

- intense detoxification ensues (Be prepared to perspire for at least an hour after your bath; this will leave you feeling invigorated and even a bit euphoric!)

- hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! (Make up for the loss of water in your body by drinking plenty of it)

Main Health-Enhancing Benefits of Ginger detox bath:

• Calms nausea, including motion sickness dizziness

• Relieves gas and bloating

• Boosts digestion

• Calms menstrual cramps

• Relieves headaches

• Anti-inflamatory

• Stabilises blood pressure (equally when too high or too low)

• Lowers cholesterol

• Soothes cold and flu symptoms, as well as respiratory infections

• Known for its anti-cancer properties

• Freshens the breath naturally

Caution: If you take anti-coagulants, consult your doctor before using ginger.

Enjoy the soak !

Photography by Patricia Brochu