How to
Take a
Herbal Body Bath
Full body baths are the most beneficial
baths that can be taken and are, as we all know, very pleasant. They have
been used for centuries as specific therapeutic aids in the treatment of
disorders and for their beautifying effect.
To obtain the most from a therapeutic herbal body bath apply the
following guidelines:
- Never take a full body bath within two hours after meals. The best
time for a hydrotherapy treatment is about three hours after
breakfast, which is a luxury most of us can't afford. The best time
for most of us is just before retiring in the evening.
- Water temperature is important. Never start with an extreme. The
ideal temperature is one that is agreeable to you, unless giving
some particular treatment for effects. Rather increase or decrease
the water temperature gradually as needed.
- Cold baths should be brief and should be avoided during
menstruation.
- Room temperature is also important and there should be good
ventilation - but no drafts. As a precaution against taking a cold,
especially in winter, always decrease the temperature of the bath
before you get out.
- Atmosphere is also important if you are taking a long, warm,
relaxing bath to wash away the day's stress and tension. Take
appropriate measures such as soft music, candle light, etc.
- Rest after a therapeutic herbal body bath is very important as
this will add to its beneficial results. Try to lie down for at
least an hour, preferably longer, immediately after your bath and
keep yourself covered.
- Try to take a therapeutic bath every three to four days.
 Therapeutic herbal body baths are beneficial to almost any condition
you can think of. They are commonly used (prescribed)
as home remedies in the treatment
of the following conditions: arthritis, colds, colic, constipation,
gall-stones, gout, neuralgia, rheumatism, sciatica, stress, tension.
etc.
Our
herbal bath ideas will give you an indication of which herbs are
commonly used as remedies for 12 common disorders.
You can add any of your favourite herbs to your
herbal bath or you can make up a formula that
will be of benefit to whatever condition you want to alleviate. Use the
standard recipe below as a guideline for your own creations and let
me know of your trials and tribulations.
Aromatherapists make extensive use of full body baths, and theirs is
to a certain extent a more standardized bath than a herbal bath, as most
quality aromatherapy oils are of a known strength. However, this in not
to say that a full body bath with aromatherapy oils is superior to a
herbal bath.
Standard Herbal Body Bath Recipe.
You can either prepare an infusion (or decoction) which you add to the
bath water, or you can place a handful of the herb in a muslin bag (or
old stocking) which is suspended from the hot water tap so that the
water flows through it.
For a stronger effect
I often use a combination of these methods. I
tie the herbs into the bag and first make the infusion or decoction.
(Sometimes we will simmer the herbs for 10 to 20 minutes in a closed
container) Then we add the resulting infusion or decoction to the water
and we tie the bag to the hot water tap.
When making an infusion or decoction you usually use two cups of
water and up to half a cup of the herb or formula. If you are using
fresh herbs use more. Exact quantities are not that critical as
the infusion will be diluted in the bath water. Apply common sense.
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