Teas for the Tub

"There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them." –Sylvia Plath

Everyday life is full of stress these days.  One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to relax and relieve stress is soaking leisurely in a warm bath.  Plain water will help, but to take it to the next level, try making a bath tea with your homegrown or purchased dried herbs. 

Make your bath tea by either of two methods.  The first is to steep the herbs in hot water, then strain them off and add the water to the tub. The second and easier method is to place the herbs in a small cloth bag or else tie them up tightly in muslin or cheesecloth, and hang the bag from the faucet, letting the hot water run through it as you fill the tub.

You can experiment with using different herbs, singly or together. Here are some of the herbs you may wish to use.  Caution: if you are pregnant or have a serious health condition, always thoroughly research the herb you wish to use to be sure it is safe for you.

·        Calendula – skin soothing

·        Chamomile – skin soothing, calming

·        Lavender – skin soothing and calming

·        Lemon balm – skin soothing and uplifting

·        Mint – uplifting

·        Rose petals – skin soothing and uplifting

For dry or sensitive skin, you may also like to add oatmeal or dry milk to the bath bag.