Turning bath time into spa
time can be as easy as tossing a handful of salt and a handful of baking soda
into a nice warm (hot) tub of water. Homemade bath salts are a perfect gift for
the ones we love, or a perfect self-indulgence after a stressful day.
If you are like me you need
a good reason to be self-indulgent. After spending the day in front of a
computer, take a salt and baking soda bath for a calming, radiation detox.
I wrote an article on
essential oils and their therapeutic qualities previously. If you intend to use
essential oils in your bath salts creation, I recommend you review the article
on essential oils.
How to create bath salts
1. Start
with a clutter free, clean work surface---a kitchen table covered with a
plastic garbage bag works perfectly.
2. Measure
out sea salts, or Epsom salt, and pour into a large mixing bowl.
3.
Add essential or fragrance oil, colorant (optional), and mix
the salts thoroughly with your hands. Use disposable gloves to protect your
hands while blending. If your hands get too salted they may become very dry and
irritated.
4. Dendritic
salt is a man-made salt, which absorbs carrier oils, essential oil, and
colorant easily can be added to natural sea salt. Mix Dendritic salt and sea salt completely. It takes some
time for the scent and colorant to incorporate with the salts so be patient (see
colorants below.)
5. When
the salts have been coated pour them out onto a wax paper lined baking sheet.
Spread the salts out in a thin a layer as possible for a quicker drying time.
Drying bath salts at least six hours before placing in a bottle to lessen the
chance of clumping in the jar.
6. Place
dried salts into a glass jar with a tight closure. Seal scented bath salts as
tightly as possible avoiding excessive air exposure, which may cause clumping
from humid air, or premature scent fading.
7. Let
the sealed bath salts jar “age” or “ripen” for a few days. Stir, shake or mix
every day, however a bath salt gift is likely sit a few days before it is used,
which will allow the scent to blend well by the time it is used.
8.
Be sure to label the jars with a description of the salts,
essential oils, and basic soaking instructions.
9.
Avoid using disposable plastic bags, which are made from a
quickly deteriorating plastic and are easily broken down by the essential oils
in the salt blend.
10.
Dendritic salt holds the scent last longer and effectively
retains the original scents. This allows you to use less essential oil.
11.
Herbs are popular additions to bath salt recipes but can be
messy in the tub so a good idea to include an organza bag with your bath salts
to contain dried herbs. The salts melt and the herbs seep in the hot bath
water. After the bag dries empty out the herbs and re-use the bag.
Essential Vocabulary
Aromatherapy--The
practice of careful use of essential oils to maintain and promote physical,
psychological, and spiritual well-being. Aromatherapy is a preventative
approach as well as an active therapy for illness.
Essential Oils are
highly concentrated plant extracts distilled from plant material including
leaves, flowers, needles, fruit peels, grasses, wood and roots. These oils
should always be diluted in carrier oil before applying directly to the skin.
However, lavender and tea tree oil can be used neat (undiluted in a carrier
oil).
Dried Herbs tend
to possess the same scent and
therapeutic properties of their essential oil.
Carrier Oils are
natural oils that are used
to dilute and "carry" essential oils so they can be used on the skin.
Carrier vegetable oils or fixed oils do not evaporate like some essential oils.
Moisturizing oils, such as almond, olive, are commonly used as a
"carrier" oils. Most essential oils should be diluted by the ratio of
12-30 drops to 1 ounce of carrier oil. Carrier oils can also be combined with
sea salts to create exfoliant salt scrubs.
Sodium Bicarbonate (baking
soda) combined with equal parts
sea salt assists detoxification from exposure to heavy metals and radiation.
Citric Acid is a
colorless translucent crystalline acid derived
by the fermentation of carbohydrates or from lemon, lime, and pineapple juices.
Citric acid and baking soda create a fizzy, effervescent blend that helps to
release the aroma of the essential oils into the air.
Colorants.
FD&C Liquid Dyes are available as water-based dye, which can be added one drop at a
time, or mixed to create unique shades of color. FD&C Liquid Dyes tend
to retain much of their translucent appearance. These dyes can bleed into
one another when layered, and can lose potency and brightness over
time. (Avoid the oil dispersible and powder form dyes, which are not
suitable for making Bath Salts.
Pearlescent Micas are powdered, mineral based colorants that create a shimmering opaque
color. Use micas sparingly to provide intense color. Micas coat bath
salts most evenly when added directly after a wet ingredient, such as fragrance
oil, or essential Oil is added.
Start with 1/8 teaspoon per 1-2 cups of salt, and add more if
needed.
Ultramarines and Oxides are
mineral based colorants that provide opaque, matte color but can be tricky to
use. To coat salt evenly you'll need to incorporate some kind of oil,
however, do not make Bath Salts too slick by adding too much oil. Mix the
Ultramarine or Oxide in a small dish with a few drops of Carrier Oil to create
a slurry. Then add Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil to the dish and stir
again. Pour the mixture into salt and stir well. Start out with 1/8
teaspoon per 1-2 cups of salt, and add more if needed. Be careful not to add
too much Oxide or Ultramarine colorant as it can leave the tub rather messy.
Simple Scented
Bath Salt Recipe
- 16 ounces all-natural bath salt
- 15-30 drops of essential oil
- In a mixing bowl, add drops of the essential oil to the bath salt and mix well. Store in a glass jar. Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the scented salts to a bath for a soothing, luxurious experience!
Salt/Essential oil Combinations
Salt/Lavender
· 16
ounces Dead Sea Salt
· 20
drops Lavender Oil (lavender essential oil include its ability to eliminate
nervous tension, relieve pain, disinfect the scalp and skin, enhance blood
circulation)
Salt/Spearmint/Rosemary
· 16
ounces Himalayan Pink Salt
· 10
drops Spearmint Oil (cooling, energizes body system, revitalize your brain
functions.
· 5
drops Rosemary Oil (improve memory, stimulate the adrenal glands and
lymphatic system, condition your hair and even make it grow)
Salt/Sweet Orange Oil/Grapefruit Oil
· 16
ounces Pure Atlantic Sea Salt
·
20 drops Sweet Orange Oil (mood lifter, boosts the
immune system, lymphatic stimulant, sedative and relaxant)
·
10 drops Grapefruit Oil (mood lifter,
anti-cellulite, antioxidant)
Epsom Salt/Eucalyptus/Lavender
16 ounces Epsom Salt
5 drops Eucalyptus Oil (anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant, deodorant, antiseptic, antibacterial, stimulating)
15 drops Lavender Oil
Caution: Do not
take hot baths and salt baths (including Epsom salt
baths) if you have heart trouble, high blood pressure, or are diabetic. Use
caution if pregnant.
http://www.wikihow.com/Take-a-Detox-Bath
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/detox-baths.html#ixzz3IgrNwoY2
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/detox-baths.html#ixzz3IgrNwoY2
http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2008/11/how-to-make-bat.html
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