A hot bath rekindles your metabolic fire, so it’s a good idea to luxuriate in hot water with healing fragrances. But be careful not to do this too often—Sebastian Kneipp, one of the founders of the Natural Medicine movement and father of hydrotherapy, said that a hot bath a week is a pleasure, but a hot bath every day will weaken your system. Like eating a slice of cake, taking a hot bath is a treat, but bathing in hot water regularly puts you at an increased risk for developing a disease because it reduces your good brown fat. Never immerse yourself in extremely hot bathwater and always end your hot bath with a short cold shower or gush, starting with your feet, followed by your hands, face, and then your whole body. Using herbs When choosing to take a hot bath, make sure to include healing herbs. There are three different ways you can prepare your herbal baths, depending on your preferences.
Throw a handful of herbs directly into the hot bathwater.Brew some herbal tea in a pot, and then add the steeped tea to the bathwater.Buy a commercial herbal bath tea bag, which is much larger than bags used for tea in a cup, and put it into the bathwater. It contains a medley of herbs designed to lift your spirits and soothe your skin. This is an easy way to get the herbs into your bath, but it can be expensive. Also, make sure to avoid any herbs that could cause an allergic reaction. Allergies to herbs are rare, but they can happen.
Herbs for a Hot Bath Photo by Victoria Snowber/Getty Images Some herbs just smell good, while others have a medicinal effect. Some herbal baths work through osmosis (some molecules are taken up through your skin) and others by inhaling the healing aromas. Choose your bath herbs according to your needs. And don’t be surprised to find that some of the herbs you’re using in your foods are also good for bath time! Chamomile relieves pain and provides relief from insect bites. Dandelion flowers renew your skin and will drive away the winter blues. Eucalyptus opens your lungs and helps you breathe. Grated ginger enhances bloodflow to all parts of your body. Hops relieve insomnia and will leave you sleepy. Jasmine enhances your mood and refreshes your skin. Lavender calms your nerves and rejuvenates your skin. Linden flowers aid in relaxation and could stifle a cold before it takes hold. Meadowsweet relieves sore muscles and improves your mood. Mint stimulates and heals your skin. Orange blossoms aid in relaxation and lower blood pressure. Parsley heals bruises. Rose petals relax your body and refresh your skin after a long day. Rosemary promotes relaxation. Sage prevents stiff, sore muscles after a workout. Stinging nettle promotes circulation and heals aching joints. A word of caution: A hot bath also lowers your blood pressure, so avoid it if yours is already low; otherwise, it may leave you weak and faint. This may lead to the belief that a hot bath is a remedy for high blood pressure, and this is true—but the effect doesn’t last. A cold shower, on the other hand, spikes your blood pressure for a few seconds but lowers it in the long run. If you have heart failure or any kind of heart problem, you should avoid hot baths due to the fluid pressure the water exerts on your chest, which can trigger or escalate heart failure. A warm half bath (where the water rises only to your navel) is a good alternative. MORE: 6 Essential Eating Rules For Diabetics
