Skin Care Secrets Revealed: Bath Treatments

By Kolbjorn Borseth

NOTE: To read about Spa products and Treatments click here.

Bath Treatments can be used to help a wide range of ailments. This is perhaps the most enjoyable and relaxing way to apply treatment. When at a spa, the Treatments can be taken every day.  When taken at home, Whole Body Bath Treatments can be taken every second day. Hand and Foot Baths can be taken daily. Don't fill the bath too fully so that you can add more hot water when required. We hope you enjoy these relaxing Bath Treatments.

Herbal Baths – Whole Body, Foot and Hand

Method 1 - The simplest way is to make a strong Infusion or Decoction of herbs and allow it to stand for 20-30 minutes. Once strained, this can be added to the bath water or water you’re using for your Foot or Hand Bath.

Method 2 - You can also place the herbs in the bath. This method is preferable for the use of such herbs as plantain and lady's mantle for the treatment of eczema and itchiness. When placing the herbs directly into the bath, pour 5-10 litres of boiling water over the herbs, leave for 10 minutes, before adjusting the temperature to allow the person to enter the bath. The person should stay in the bath for at least 20 minutes, adding more hot water if necessary in order to keep the water as hot as possible. The person should not rinse or towel-dry the body and should allow the body to air-dry instead.

Method 3 - Place fresh or dried herbs in a muslin bag, tie the bag up with string and place in the bath. As in the above example, pour 5-10 litres of boiling water over the bag, wait ten minutes and then follow the same procedure as above.

Method 4 - To use herbs in your Foam Bath Recipes, make a strong Infusion or Decoction of the herbs and strain them.

Quantities of herbs to Use in Herbal Baths

For a Whole Body Bath use approximately 50-100g of dried herbs or 500-1000g fresh herbs. For a Foot or Hand Bath use 15-20g of dried herbs or 150-200g of fresh herbs.

If using Method 1 above to make an Infusion or a Decoction, then use:

• 1 litre of water per 15-20g of dried herbs
• 2-3 litres water per 150-200g of fresh herbs
• 3 litres of water per 40-50g of dried herbs
• 6-7 litres water per 400-500g fresh herb

After infusing or decocting the herbs, let it stand, you would strain it and add the resulting Infusion or Decoction to the Bath.

1. You may need to adjust the water you are using according to the volume of fresh flowers or leaves or roots you are using.
2. Please follow instructions for exact amount listed under each herb in The Aromantic Guide to the use of Herbs in Skin, Hair & Health Care products, of which this article is a partial extract.

Base Recipe for Foam Baths

(This Recipe makes approximately 1 litre.)

• 200-250ml of Foam Bath Emulsifier
• 750-800ml Boiling Water/or Boiling Herbal Infusion or Decoction
• 1 teaspoon (5ml) of Preservative (or double if using Herbal Infusions or Decoctions)
• 10-20ml Essential Oils (Maximum 2%)
• If using Preservative K, add 1 teaspoon Lactic Acid (or 2 teaspoons if using 2 teaspoons
  of Preservative K)

Method for making Foam Baths

1. Measure the Foam Bath Emulsifier in a measuring jug and pour into an oven-proof bowl.
2. Measure the boiling water or boiling Herbal Infusion or Decoction and pour into the bowl with the Foam Bath Emulsifier.
3. Add the Preservative. Stir well until the mixture becomes thick.
4. Place the bowl in a sink of very cold water, stirring the mixture occasionally.
5. When it is cooled to below 30°C, blend in your own Essential Oils and Lactic Acid if using Preservative K.
6. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature and then, if you prefer, add more cold water to achieve the consistency you require.
7. Pour into bottles and label.

Adding Essential Oils to Foam Bath Recipes

Adding different types of Essential Oil blends to your Foam Bath will affect the consistency of your Foam Bath. Adjust once made by: adding more Foam Bath Emulsifier if too thin; or more cold water if too thick. The next time you make the same recipe, adjust your recipe so that you add more Foam Bath Emulsifier or water, whatever the case may be, from the start.

When using Essential Oils in your Baths, it is important that the Essential Oils are dispersed evenly throughout the whole bath and that the drops are not floating on the surface. This ensures that the Essential Oils penetrate the skin correctly. This is especially important for sensitive skin types or with conditions such as eczema. Using Essential Oils in Foam Baths is the easiest way to ensure that they are evenly dispersed in the bath.

Quantities of herbs to use in your Foam Bath Recipes

To make the Infusion or Decoction to use in your Foam Bath Recipe, use approximately 1 litre per 15-20g of dried herbs or approximately 3 litres of water per 150-200g of fresh herbs for each 1 litre of Foam Bath that you are making.

Tips

• When boiling or infusing your herbs, you need to start off with more water than your eventual recipe states you need of an Infusion or Decoction as water will evaporate or be absorbed by the herb, e.g. if you need a 65ml Decoction, you may need to use 100ml water.
• You may need to adjust the water you are using according to the volume of fresh flowers or leaves or roots you are using.
• Please follow instructions for exact amount listed under each herb in The Aromantic Guide to the use of Herbs in Skin, Hair & Health Care products
• For Tips on Herbal Bath Treatments and skin problems see The Aromantic Guide to the use of Herbs in Skin, Hair & Health Care products.

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Bath Treatment Recipes

1. Circulation Bath

Helps with: all kinds of circulation problems including acne. Use the Recipe in a Foot Bath for fever, feet problems, rheumatism and muscular pain.

Recipe & Method:

1. Make a decoction of 2g Birch Leaves, 2g Rosemary and 2g Thyme.
2. Boil the herbs for at least 20 minutes.
3. Strain and use 70ml of the very hot decoction in the Foam Bath Emulsifier.
4. Add Essential Oils of Rosemary (15 drops), Siberian Fir (15 drops) Lavender (10 drops) when the temperature of the Foam Bath is 30°C or lower. See instructions above.

2. Relaxing Bath

Recipe & Method:

1. Make an infusion of 3g Chamomile Flowers and 3g Lavender Flowers.
2. Strain and add 70ml of the very hot infusion into the Foam Bath Emulsifier.
3. Add Essential Oils of Roman Chamomile (15 drops), Lavender (15 drops) and Sandalwood (10 drops) when the temperature of the Foam Bath is 30°C or lower. See instructions above.

3. Sensitive Skin Bath

Recipe & Method:

1. Make an infusion of 3g Rose petals and 3g Chamomile flowers.
2. Strain and put 70ml of the very hot infusion into the Foam Bath Emulsifier.
3. Add Essential Oils of Mandarin Oil (15 drops), Lavender Oil (15 drops) and Sandalwood Oil (10 drops) when the temperature of the Foam Bath is 30°C or lower. See instructions above.

4. Vitamin Bath

25 ml Foam Bath Emulsifier
68 ml boiling water

Method:

1. When the Foam Bath is under 40°C add: 3g Vitamin E Oil, 1g Vitamin A Palmitate Oil,
   1g Vitamin C.
2. Then add your own choice of 40-50 drops of Essential Oils.

5. Salt Bath

Helps with: detoxing.

Recipe & Method:

1. Add 1kg Coarse Dead Sea Salt to bath filled with water as hot as you can manage for a Whole Body Bath.
2. For a Foot or Hand Bath add 200g to 3-5 litres of water as hot as you can manage.
3. Immerse for 15-20 minutes.
4. Rest after a Salt Bath and drink plenty of water.

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6. Bicarbonate of Soda Bath

Helps with: reducing acidity in the body and so works well as part a treatment plan for rheumatism, pain, gout, eczema and psoriasis.

Recipe & Method:

1. Use 20g of Bicarbonate of Soda for your first Bicarbonate of Soda Whole Body Bath.
2. Thereafter use up to 100g Bicarbonate of Soda for each Whole Body Bath.
3. Use 1 tablespoon in a Hand or Foot Bath. Immerse for 5-15 minutes in water as hot as you can manage. Tip: After a Foot Bath put on warm woollen socks on wet feet and leave on for 30 mins - 1 hr).
4. Rest after a Bicarbonate of Soda Bath and drink plenty of water.

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