Bath Benefits
By AMANDA MARRAZZO
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kanecountymagazine@shawmedia.com
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| The best style of tub for a soak is a deep, clubfoot tub. |
Marja Neylon says her two grown sons, now 22 and 26, have only had to resort to antibiotics twice in their lives thanks to her constant use of homeopathic essential oils in their bathwater whenever an ailment reared its ugly head.
“[I’ve] used essential oils every day at my pharmacy for years,” says the owner of Halsa Aromatherapy Shop and Spa, 202 W. State St., in Geneva.
Experts say a couple cups of bath salts with a few drops of an essential oil added to bathwater can help detox the body, ease the body of nagging aches and pains and even fend off the flu.
Neylon recommends a few essential oils for specific treatments:
• To ease stress, depression and anxiety, try lavender, marjoram, rose, sandalwood and cedar wood
• To ease migraines, body aches and pains, try juniper, lavender, birch, rosemary or eucalyptus
• To fend off colds and the flu, try eucalyptus, thyme, oregano and tea tree
• To fall asleep, try lavender, nutmeg and cedar wood
• To uplift and reenergize the mind and body, try rosemary, lemon balm and orange
Peppermint also is a stimulating essential oil, but should be used sparingly because it is very strong, experts say.
Neylon recommends peppermint oil to bring down fevers. And when peppermint is added to ginger and lemon oils, the blend can reduce morning sickness for pregnant women. However, some experts say peppermint also can trigger early labor, so women are advised to check with their physician before using it.
Lighting candles diffused with essential oils that fill the air with the same aromatic benefits as bath water can further enhance baths.
Neylon even recommends rubbing rosemary and eucalyptus onto a child’s scalp to fend off head lice, a potion she used often with her own sons.
“They never got it,” she says.
Dr. Melody Hart, a naturopath at The Hart Center for Alternative Medicine, 127 S. Second St., in Geneva, touts the benefits of essential oils mixed with salts.
“Epsom salt is good because it has magnesium sulfate, which helps to relax the muscles and detox the body,” Hart says.
For those with lyme disease, Hart — who specializes in treating patients with the disease — recommends bathing in a warm tub with two cups of Epsom salt, one cup of hydrogen peroxide, and about a quarter cup of baking soda.
She recommends baking soda be added to any bath because it absorbs what is being drawn out of the body, preventing it from re-entering the body.
For an overall detoxifying bath, Hart favors adding 15 drops of eucalyptus oil and one cup each of Dead Sea salt and Epsom salt, plus two cups of baking soda with two tablespoons of glycerin. The salts draw out the toxins in the body, while the baking soda absorbs those toxins and the glycerin prevents the skin from drying, she says.
To rid the body of radiation and protect the immune system — especially for patients undergoing cancer treatments, those who work with X-Ray machines or frequent flyers — Hart suggests bathing at least once a week with two pounds of sea salt and two pounds of baking soda.
Those with arthritis are advised to brew two cups of yarrow tea, drink one cup and add one cup to the bath water. After the bath, Hart says to wrap up in a sheet for about an hour so the sheet will absorb all the toxins being released from the body.
Arthritis sufferers, those with lyme disease or anyone dealing with any type of inflammation also will benefit from a tub of water with just a cup or two of baking soda alone.
“A straight baking soda bath is good because it alkalizes the body,” Hart says. “A lot of times when people are in pain or have inflammation, their body is acidic, caused by their diet or stress. You always want to alkalize the body through baths.”
Hart says it is best to take a detoxifying bath for at least 20 minutes daily. If that is not possible, baths should be utilized at least once a week at the very minimum.
For a more aggressive detox bath, Hart recommends adding a cup or two of powdered clay — preferably bentonite clay, available online or in health food stores — to bath water. The clay has a negative charge that pulls pollutants and heavy metals from the body. This also can be done in a simple foot bath, she says.
Other recommendations include:
• Add two cups of white vinegar to baths to treat eczema or dermatitis, detox and alkalize the body.
• Add a cup or two of Dead Sea salts, Himalayan salts or Celtic salts instead of Epsom salts. These salts are rich in dozens of minerals lacking in many daily diets.
• Oatmeal or milk baths can help treat sensitive skin conditions.
• Add Miracle II Soap, a mix of calcium, magnesium and potassium, available at www.miraclesoap.com, which is blended with minerals essential to body health. Hart also recommends this to calm restless leg syndrome.
Most of all, experts agree that sometimes just taking a simple bath in a tub of warm water is all a person needs.
“Taking a little time to slow down ... it’s kind of like medication,” Hart says. “Take a break to relax and breathe a little bit instead of running on the treadmill. You can deal with everything a little better. It’s kind of like stress management.” kc
RESOURCES
To learn more about the basics of essential oils, “The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy” by Valerie Ann Worwood is available for $19.95 in stores or $13.57 on
Amazon.com.
Contact Dr. Melody Hart at 630-262-5055 or visit www.hartcenter.com.
Contact the Halsa Aromatherapy Shop and Spa at 630-208-8250 or visit www.halsaroma.com.
