Benefits of bath salts with recipes

: Posted in: Feature Stories on Saturday, 04 May 2013 09:23; Published on Saturday, 04 May 2013 09:23; Written by Shahnaz Husain; Hits: 1345

The idea of using bath salts actually came from the mineral springs or hot springs, which people frequent due to their health benefits. Ancient civilizations also used bath salts for their healing and even beauty benefits. Now, of course, they are packaged and available as bath additives, i.e. they are added to bath water. Apart from salts, today’s bath salts also contain many other ingredients, like fragrances and oils, to make the bath experience more luxurious and enjoyable. Bath salts are of real benefit if you can soak in a tub bath. But one can also use them as pre-bath treatments if you cannot have a tub bath. Tie bath salts ingredients in a piece of clean cloth, and rub the bundle on the body. Or, mix the ingredients and rub them gently on the body. Wash off while bathing.

The benefit of bath salts is that they can ease muscular tension and remove fatigue. They also help to induce relaxation of both body and mind. Apart from imparting a clean and refreshing feeling, they also help to remove toxins and promote a general feeling of well-being. This may be due to the presence of certain essential oils in the bath salts preparations. Some ingredients added to bath salts may also have medicinal benefits, like reducing inflammation or pain, relieving nagging aches, or curing other ailments.

As far as beauty benefits are concerned, they can help to nourish and soften the skin. Some ingredients also help to exfoliate the skin and stimulate the renewal of skin cells. This has a rejuvenating effect on the skin, which also becomes softer, smoother, cleaner and brighter. In fact, it helps to protect the youthful qualities of the skin.

You may be able to buy bath salts, which contain both colour and fragrance. It is better to go for lighter fragrances that are not too overpowering. Lemony or flowery scents are good, especially during the hot and humid season.

The salts that are generally used are crystals of the normal salt that we use (sodium chloride), Epsom salts, bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), borax, etc. For good results, it is recommended that one should add the bath salt preparation to the bath water in your tub and then soak in it for about 20 minutes. Then the body should be washed with clean, warm water.

In order to make your own bath salts at home very simply, just add two tablespoons of salt crystals to the bath water, along with essential oils. Among the oils that may be used are cinnamon oil, lavender oil, rose oil, geranium, neroli or eucalyptus oil, etc. You can add 5 drops of an essential oil to pure olive oil and then add it to the water along with the salts. Cinnamon oil relieves fatigue and muscular tension, while lavender induces relaxation. Rose oil is said to have a calming effect on the mind. It also improves blood circulation to the skin surface. Eucalyptus oil reduces inflammation. Olive oil, of course, is ideal for nourishing the body and softening the skin.

Here are a few bath salt recipes which you can make at home: