Selfcare Sunday | 4 Bath Teas You Can Make Right Now

It's been a week, hasn't it? We're feeling tired, worn out, and a bit emotional. So while in some ways self-care has become a bit cliché and a brand unto itself we recognize the virtue of regularly stopping and carving out some time to slow down, reconnect with ourselves, and take some time for renewal.

We've found baths to be the perfect, low-cost way to create a little 'relaxation cave' and slow the heck down. We don't need any special equipment, and most of the ingredients we've found to create the most lux baths have actually come straight out of our pantry or bathroom closet.

So read on, and we hope you're inspired to create a little me-time this week. (Oh who are we kidding... Do it today.)

The concept of a bath isn't exactly new or revolutionary... In Roman times, people had their choice of the large, public thermae or smaller, more private balneae. The Ottoman Empire picked up on the practice, and even to this day, visitors to Turkey can enjoy visits to a traditional hamam for saunas and steam baths. In Korea, they’re called jimjilbang, and if you’re lucky, you might find one in your city as Korean and Turkish spas gain increasing popularity in America.

 

Throughout history, different societies have emphasized different aspects of bathing tradition. For some it was a popular place to socialize. Other cultures have made it more of a family outing. Of course, at the foundation, they all start with cleanliness and hygiene. But bathing remains a ritual, and even for the most busy and disconnected of us, it creates a way of easing back into our bodies when we’ve been stretched too thin. Baths are a luxurious way of soaking the day (or week) away, and we often find ourselves emerging afterwards feeling like refreshed Aphrodites alighting from the half shell.

 

One of the most glorious things about enjoying a bath is that, while it's always an exciting option to luxuriate in a spa, you don’t even have to leave your home to enjoy one. The recipes we present here all contain beneficial components, and most of the ingredients are probably things you already have on hand.

 

So turn the lights down low, light a few candles, play some relaxing music, and submerge yourself in this ancient custom. You might feel like you’ve been transported thousands of miles or thousands of years away, but you’re enjoying this relaxation in the privacy of your very own home.

Warming Rosemary for Aches & Pains

This is an excellent soak for sore muscles and for getting rid of that “bone chill” during the Fall and Winter months

1 cup Dead Sea salt

¾ cup Epsom salts

¼ cup baking soda

10 drops Lavender Essential Oil

½ cup dried rosemary or 2 cups of fresh rosemary sprigs

¼ cup ginger powder or ½ cup of fresh, grated ginger root

Muslin bag or cheesecloth

• Mix the salts, baking soda, and lavender essential oil together in a large bowl. Store in a glass, airtight container for an hour to allow the salts to absorb the oils. May be used alone or as a base for other bath preparations. (We like to make big batches of this to keep on hand for spur of the moment relaxation. Or– skip the hour-long infusion if you're pressed for time.)

• Combine rosemary and ginger in a muslin bag (available here) or bundle into cheesecloth and tie off with twine or baker’s string (preferably unbleached). (You can skip this, but your tub will need some extra tlc post-bath and we don't recommend allowing the herbs or grated ginger to go down the drain.)

• Draw a bath a few degrees hotter than you will want for your soak and add the infused salt mixture. Toss the herbal bundle into the water, submerging if possible. Wait until bath water cools to a warm, but comfortable temperature before climbing in.

• Enjoy! Follow with a large glass of water.

Green Tea Bath | Stress Less & Sleep Well

One of the best known stress-fighters is a good night of sleep, but it’s almost impossible to catch your zzzs when you’re filled with anxiety. This bath is a good fix for both -- the herbs will lift your spirits and their scent, combined with the warm water, will induce drowsiness. But one word of advice: Although you might be tempted to treat yourself by turning off the day with a glass of wine, studies show drinking alcohol impairs sleep quality (especially before bed). Instead of wine, opt for your favorite decaffeinated tea or fruit-infused water.

½ cup magnesium chloride flakes

½ cup Dead Sea salt

½ cup Epsom salts

¼ cup baking soda

10 drops lavender essential oil

5 - 10 green tea bags

The peel from 2- 3 oranges, scrubbed and crushed or 10 drops orange essential oil

½ cup dried sage

½ cup dried chamomile

• Mix the magnesium flakes, salts, baking soda, and essential oils in a large bowl. Store in a glass, airtight container for an hour to allow the salts to absorb the oils. (We like to make big batches of this to keep on hand for spur of the moment relaxation. Or– skip this hour-long infusion if you're pressed for time.)

• Bundle the orange peel and herbs in a muslin bag (available here) or cheesecloth (tie off with unbleached twine or baker’s string) and drop under the running water, along with the salt mixture and tea bags. Allow tea to steep until the water turns slightly brown/dark green. Aromatic bundle can remain in the bath with you. (You can skip the bag or cheesecloth, but your tub note that your tub will require a little extra cleaning post-bath and that we don't recommend allowing the dried herbs to

• Bath water should be comfortable, but not overly hot.

New Moon & New Day

Once in awhile everyone needs a reset. Whether you’re bouncing back from a broken heart, starting over in a new city, or just feeling like you need to get back to basics, this tea should do the trick. Save it for a full or new moon to really feel renewed.

1 cup Himalayan pink salt

¾ cups Epsom salt

¼ cup baking soda

10 drops lavender essential oil

½ cup dried rose hips (available here), or organic rose petals if you have some lying around, crushed; or 15-20 drops of rose hip oil

½ cup dried sage

½ cup dried chamomile

¼ cup ground cinnamon (or 3 cinnamon sticks)

6 teaspoons ground nutmeg

Muslin bag or cheesecloth

• Mix the salts, baking soda, and essential oils in a large bowl. Store in a glass, airtight container for an hour to allow the salts to absorb the oils.

• Combine rose hips (or petals), sage, chamomile, cinnamon and nutmeg in a muslin bag (available here) or bundle into cheesecloth and tie off with twine or baker’s string (preferably unbleached).

• To get the full benefits of the herbs and flowers, steep for a few minutes, preferably by filling the tub with piping hot water and allowing the heat to draw out the beneficial properties of the plants while you wait for the bath to cool to your desired temperature. Add the salt mixture.

• Enjoy! Be sure to hydrate with lots of water.