DIY Soaking Salts Recipe Book
Why use Soaking Salts?
Herbal bathing is a centuries-old ritual – not only soothing but also therapeutic. When you are immersed in warm water, pores are open and receptive to the healing properties of the herbs in your bath.
You can customize your bath so it’s perfect for what you need that day: to relax, invigorate, soothe tired muscles, soothe cranky skin, etc.
There are many benefits of Soaking Salts: easing stress and relaxing the body, relieving pain and muscle cramps, eliminating toxins from the body, and much more!
Let’s talk about the main types of ingredients you might add to your bath:
SALTS
Himalayan Pink Salt: highly prized therapeutic sodium salt from the Himalayan Mountains. The signature red, pink and white color is due to the high mineral content.
Dead Sea Salt: pure white salt, with very high mineral content, harvested from the Dead Sea.
Epsom Salts: the very BEST choice for soothing sore muscles and reducing stiffness and inflammation.
Celtic Grey Sea Salt: a naturally beautiful salt. The gray color comes from the clay-lines salt ponds where the salt is collected. Contains essential minerals your skin will drink up!
HERBS
If storing your bath salts, use dried herbs for longer shelf life. If you’re going to use it right away, you can always add fresh herbs and flowers.
Fresh herbs & flowers: lavender, rosemary, rose petals. Fresh flowers are wonderful and can be picked the same day! Make sure they are not sprayed.
Dried herbs that make a great addition to the bath include: lavender, calendula, chamomile, rosemary, sage, etc. Make sure to choose organic, unsprayed plants.
ESSENTIAL OILS (EOs)
Enter the skin because they are oil-soluble and have a small molecular size. They penetrate into the deep dermal layer of skin and affect physiology through lymphatic vessels, capillaries and nerve endings. EO’s are typically absorbed into the body within 20 minutes and eliminated within 90 minutes. Be cautious with the types and amounts of EO’s you use. Some can be irritating to skin and eyes (peppermint and cinnamon). If skin does get irritated, rinse off and rub area with grapeseed or olive oil. Always buy from a reputable source – not Groupon or off-brand at Walmart or the drugstore. Some of my favorite companies: Sprouts, Mountain Rose Herbs, Eden Botanicals, and Wild Weeds.
OTHER INGREDIENTS
Fresh ingredients: citrus zest, or for a soothing bath: milk or coconut milk. You can always add oils such as grapeseed, jojoba or olive oil to create a moisturizing bath. Remember the tub may be slippery if you are adding oil!
Bath Salts: Recipes
HOW TO ENJOY:
Fill your tub first then add salts (around a handful to start - you can always add more if you feel like) and swish water around. Soak for up to 30 minutes or until water cools. A good tip - after your bath it's a great time to use a scrub since your skin is soft and easily exfoliated.
RELAXATION
4 oz dead sea salt
5 drops lavender essential oil
Dried: chamomile, lavender, rose petals, comfrey (healing)
Essential oil options: orange, neroli, rose, chamomile, marjoram, lavender, geranium
ENERGIZE
4 oz Himalayan pink salt
5 drops spearmint essential oil
1-2 drops rosemary essential oil
INVIGORATE
4 oz sea salt
2-3 drops grapefruit essential oil
Dried: peppermint leaf, calendula, bay leaf, eucalyptus, rosemary, sage, grapefruit
Essential Oils: peppermint (1 drop), eucalyptus, rosemary
ROMANTIC
Essential Oils: sandalwood, ylang ylang, jasmine
MUSCLE SOOTHING
Epsom salts
Dried: lavender, comfrey
Essential Oils: marjoram, eucalyptus, lemongrass
SKIN SOOTHING
Baking soda, Whole oats
Chamomile flowers, Lavender buds
Essential Oils: lavender, chamomile
Pour in muslin, use like washcloth and squeeze over cranky skin
COLD / FLU SEASON
Epsom salts
5 drops eucalyptus essential oil, 2 drops (max) peppermint essential oil
Ground ginger, clove, cinnamon
Jojoba oil
BALANCING
Essential oils: lavender, geranium, orange