Detox Bath

Detoxification of your body through bathing is an ancient remedy that anyone can perform in the comfort of their own home. In detoxification circles, your skin is known as the third kidney, and toxins are excreted through sweating. A detox bath is thought to assist your body in eliminating toxins as well as absorbing the minerals and nutrients that are in the water. Most of all, it'll leave you feeling refreshed and awakened.

Steps

1. 1
   Prepare your bath on a day that you have at least 40 minutes available. The first 20 minutes are said to help your body remove the toxins, while the second 20 minutes are for absorbing the minerals in the water.
   
   
2. 2
   Fill your tub with comfortably hot water. Use a chlorine filter if possible.
   
   
3. 3
   Add Epsom salts (aka magnesium sulfate). Soaking in Epsom salts actually helps replenish the body’s magnesium levels, combating hypertension.^[1] The sulfate flushes toxins and helps form proteins in brain tissue and joints.^[2] Epsom salt is very inexpensive. It can be purchased in decently sized bags or cartons at discount stores in the garden center or pharmaceutical area. Very large bags can be ordered from garden centers.
   
   
   • For children under 60 lbs, add 1/2 cup to a standard bath.
   • For children 60 lbs to 100 lbs, add 1 cup to a standard bath.
   • For people 100 lbs and up, add 2 cups or more to a standard bath.
4. 4
   Add 1 to 2 cups or more of baking soda (a.k.a. sodium bicarbonate). Baking soda is known for its cleansing ability and even has anti-fungal properties.^[3] It also leaves skin very soft. Large bags can usually be found in the swimming pool chemical area, but the boxes from the bakery aisle will work fine.
   
   
5. 5
   Add ground ginger or fresh ginger tea. While this step is optional, ginger can increase your heat levels, helping to sweat out toxins. However, since it is heating to the body, it may cause your skin to turn slightly red for a few minutes, so be careful with the amount you add. Depending on the capacity of your tub, and your sensitivity, anywhere from 1 tablespoon to 1/3 cup can be added.
   
   
   • Most people sweat profusely with the addition of the ginger, and if you wrap your body in a blanket immediately after getting out of the tub, you can continue to detoxify through perspiration for another couple of hours. This is especially beneficial if you are trying to rid the body of a bug of some sort, like the flu, or a cold.
6. 6
   Add aromatherapy oils. Again optional, but many people love the fragrance of such oils and for many, the oils have particular therapeutic properties to take advantage of. There are many oils that will make the bath an even more pleasant and relaxing experience (such as lavender and ylang ylang), as well as those that will assist in the detoxification process (tea tree oil or eucalyptus). Around 20 drops is sufficient for a standard bath.
   
   
   • If you prefer, you can use fresh herbs. Add mint leaves (warming), lavender flowers (soothing), chamomile (soothing), or anything else that suits your mood.
7. 7
   Swish all of the ingredients around in the tub, then soak. Again, 40 minutes is recommended (the longer the better), but aim for at least 20. You should start sweating within the first few minutes.
   
   
   • If you feel too hot, start adding cold water into the tub until you cool off.
8. 8
   Get out of the tub slowly and carefully. Your body has been working hard and you may get lightheaded or feel weak and drained. On top of that, the salts make your tub slippery, so stand with care.
   
   
9. 9
   Drink plenty of water. Any time your body detoxes (after this type of bath, a massage, or chiropractic work, for example), you need to flush out toxins. If you don't, you will likely feel sick afterwards.
10. 10
    After the bath, you might like to rub down your body with a loofah or vegetable bristle brush. This can help to stimulate the lymphatic system, which can aid with the release of toxins.^[4] Use long, gentle sweeping strokes aimed toward the heart.

Tips

• Use a deep conditioning treatment on your hair and wrap it up under a cap or towel while you're in the bath. Two birds - one stone.
• Don't let your hair in this water the salt will strip it making it feel like hay.
• Make sure you don't put water that's too hot, you can pass out.
• Eucalyptus essential oil in a warm bath helps open breathing passages.
• It’s also a good idea to drink water before and during your bath, especially if you’re feeling overheated from the tub water.
• Turn off the lights. Light candles. Clear your mind, meditate & relax.
• Shower off the Epsom salts if desired, but it's not necessary.
• Sea salts can be added for several health and skin benefits.
• Relax for the rest of the day and allow your body to continue to detoxify and heal itself.
• A bath of Epsom salt and baking soda bath is detoxing in and of itself, but other items can be added for further effects.
• Have your towel nearby the tub and ready so that you can wrap up immediately and continue the detox.
• Other additives used by some are grapefruit seed oil, rosemary, and thyme (not white thyme, it has a cooling effect).
• Don't eat immediately before or after the bath.
• Dry brush your skin before the bath for further benefits.
• After bath, pat dry and rub a blend of olive oil, avacado oil and castor oil all over body. Let stay on skin for two minutes. Rinse off in shower.