Bath Recipes: Detox Baths, Relaxation Baths, and Invigorating Baths

A bath, it’s one of my favorite things in the world. All is well and right in my world when I get a bath. When I first had Ottava and I was neck deep in the newborn days (let’s be honest, I was covered in breastmilk, baby poo, and the postpartum sweats). I wasn’t feeling quite like myself yet and we weren’t in any sort of routine with what was daytime and what was nighttime. The thing that made me feel like me was a bath. Without a newborn next to me. Just me and some warm water. Immediately postpartum I wasn’t doing any sort of detox bath. But I do a lot of them now.

Although I call many of these detox baths, some aren’t. Some are purely relaxing, some are invigorating, some support emotions, some can be used while you are detoxifying your body. The days of a bath with only water are over. Now you’re going to want (and be equipped) to add salts, oils, essential oils, and herbs to your bath to support your body.

Detox Baths

How do you do a detox bath? What is a detox bath?

A detox bath is a bath that supports your  body’s detoxification pathways. It can encouraged detox or help you body pull out some toxins if you are going through a detox protocol with supplements or herbs.

One of the most common things to use a detox bath is Epsom Salts. “Comprised of the minerals magnesium and sulfate, Epsom salt is a natural exfoliant and anti-inflammation remedy that can be used to treat dry skin, sore muscles, small wounds and even to fight illness. It can also be added to any bath or foot soak to create a luxurious at-home spa experience.” -Dr. Oz.

There are other things to use in detox baths. Here are my favorites:

• Epsom Salts
• Himalayan Salt
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Baking Soda

Detox Bath Recipe

1 cup Epsom Salt

1/2 cup Himalayan Salt

1/3 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

First off, you’re going to want to dry brush your skin for increased detox. Run a hot bath, you want the hot water because you want to sweat out the toxins. Add the salts and vinegar to the water and stir around to dissolve the salt. You don’t really want to hop in a bath full of salt crystals. Stay in the bath for at least 15-20 minutes or ideal detox. Feel free to add your favorite essential oil too if you like.

*This is a bath for ideal detoxification. You can do mini-detox baths as much as you want. Add in only the epsom salt. Keep some salt by your bath. Or add in a bit of Apple Cider Vinegar. You don’t have to stay in the bath for 20 minutes (sometimes as a mom I only have 5 minutes). Grab your detox bath and self-care time where you can!

Essential Oil Baths

You wouldn’t think putting essential oils in a bath would require instructions, but it does. Why? Because essential oils and water don’t mix. You have to add something to your bath in order for the oils to mix into the bathwater. If you have ever taken a bath with a few drops of peppermint in it and sat down, you’re going to have a burning booty and legs pretty quickly. That oil just sat on the top of the water and when you sat down, it went right on your skin.

Here’s how you mix essential oils in a bath:

• Add Epsom Salts: This will mix the oils in with your water. Make sure to add epsom salts, essential oils and mix to dissolve the salt in the water before you get in. I like to add at least 1/2 cup of epsom salts to my bath. Plus, you get the magnesium benefit of Epsom salts too!
• Add in a Carrier Oil. An easy way to mix essential oils into your bath water is to add 1 teaspoon- 1 Tablespoon of carrier oil to the bathwater. Good bathtub carrier oils are coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and jojoba oil. Just be careful, these oils can make your bathtub slippery!
• Add some milk. Yep, you’ve heard it right, add 1 cup of milk (or coconut milk) to your bath. It’s nourishing to your skin too. I’ve never tried this one, but I hear it works great!

How many drops of Essential Oil do I put in the bath?

I believe less is more with essential oils. That’s included in the bath too. I like about 2-5 drops in a bath. I’d say do no more than 10 drops, which I still think is a lot for a full body soak!

Essential Oil bath recipes:

• Relaxation and calming: Lavender, Frankincense, Peace and Calming (or Peace and Calming II), Valor (or Valor II)
• Invigorating: Pepperming, Rosemary
• Post-Exercise: Basil, Peppermint, AromaSeiz, Cool Azul
• Daily Stress Relief: Stress Away, Frankincense, Citrus oils (you want to stay away from the sun after applying citrus oils because they are photosensitive and can increase your chances of burning)
• Emotional support: Put your favorite emotional essential oil in the bath: Release, Present Time, Forgiveness, Surrender, Hope, Gratitude, Joy, Harmony, etc…

What’s the best essential oil for the bath? The one you need!! 

Herbal Bath Tea Recipe

This recipe is for a herbal bath tea. You make as much as you want and have this ready for your amazing long baths. Sounds relaxing, right? I get my herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.

The herbs used need to be put in a small muslin bag (find them here) which acts like a tea bag. It will infuse the bath and then you won’t have loose herbs floating around in your bath water. It makes clean up so much easier.

I will use these herbs in a bath and often times add more epsom salt than this recipe calls for. It will enhance the detoxification effect, supply your body more magnesium, and nourish (and soften) your skin more. I will just add the epsom salt directly to my bath water because it dissolves in the bath water.

Ingredients

1 cup Epsom Salt

1/4 cup Sea Salt

3 Tablespoons Calendula Flowers

3 Tablespoons Lavender or Lavindin flowers

2 Tablespoons Comfrey

2 Tablespoons Rosehips

Directions

Combine all of the salts and herbs into a mason jar. Keep sealed until you are going to use this to take a bath. Add 1/4 cup to your muslin bag and add to a hot bath. Let steep for 10 minutes before taking your bath. Enjoy the amazing benefits of the herbs!