At the top of my list of accessible help for much of life’s dis-ease, are healing baths.  And I confess they head the list because they’re not only therapeutic, they’re really pleasurable.  It’s part aromatherapy, part herbalism, part homeopathy, and all it takes to have these beautiful baths at your fingertips is to keep on hand a small larder of essential oils, herbs and homeopathic remedies.  When you see how easily they turn the tide for the body, mind or spirit, I predict you’ll be just as pleasurably hooked as I am.

 Here are a few of my favorite baths to get you started. 

 Bath Oils Crib Sheet

Ancient cultures know the skin is the body’s largest organ, and remedies can be absorbed in the bath, to help heal body, psyche, spirit, in the gentlest and most generous ways.

Bath Oil Recipe

You can make a therapeutic bath oil by blending 2 fl oz of the base oil of your choice – almond, sunflower, jojoba, sesame, almond, grape seed, and olive oil are all good choices.  Then add the essential oil you need to the base (or carrier) oil, and pour the mixture into your bath water while the taps are running.  You won’t need more than 10 to 20 drops.

Cathy’s Preference 

I like to add the essential oils directly to the bath water without the carrier oil, as I’m not always in the mood for a slippery bathing experience, although in winter, when skin is driest, the oils can be a sleekening treat.

Essential oils contain the literal fragrant essences of plants, flowers, roots, seeds, woods and barks.  They are quite powerful and have a wide range of healing capabilities, as well as the capacity to cool, warm and excite the senses.  They can be useful for your mind, spirit or body, and may be antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, or anti-yeast – or all of the above.  (Some are not to be used during pregnancy, so it’s important to check, if you’re expecting.)

Bath Salts and other non-oily additives:

If you prefer salts to oils, there are several varieties of healing salts available.  Just pour a cupful into a tumbler, add 5 to 10 drops of the essential oils of your choice and then spill this into the tub under running water. 

Vitamin C Crystals:

I often add ¼ to ½ cup of Vitamin C crystals to my bath during Flu Season, as an immune booster.  After all, the skin is the body’s largest organ, so we can absorb nutrients there, easily.  Sometimes I combine it with favorite essential oils for a combination of health and pleasure.

Epsom Salts:

If you have muscle soreness, plain old Epsom Salts (1 to 2 cups) can ease your  aches.

One Word of Caution:

If you’re pregnant or nursing, always check the oils you wish to use with your doctor, aroma therapist or online info center as some are not recommended for use during these times.

Chinese Colds & Flu Bath

When?

At the first sign of cold, flu or sore throat – or if chilled and feeling unable to get warm – this bath is a godsend.  I was told of it by my Kung Fu Master, when I got sick just before a match, but wanted to participate.  In a matter of hours, my very sore throat was gone and I was in fighting form again. In Chinese medical tradition, experiencing a chill can shut down the immune system long enough to let existing pathogens get a grip on your system.  A Ginger Bath heats the system, encouraging the immune system to knock-out the pathogens that cause cold and flu symptoms.

Ingredients:

1 oz. powdered Ginger.

or

5 slices of fresh ginger root, boiled into a tea, and poured into bath. To do this, bring the ginger mix to a boil in three cups of water, then simmer for 20 minutes to steep the tea. The Chinese often add the peeled skin of a Mandarin orange to the boiling  tea, as well.

Process:

Pour powdered ginger or ginger tea into the warm bath water and soak for 20 minutes.  You may feel a slight tingle around the genital area. 

 

Guru’s Aura-Cleanse Bath 

When?

If the negativity around you needs cleansing… if your spirit seems bogged down in sludge… if you feel psychically attacked… if your physical self needs to detox… if you’ve been exposed to cold or flu, this is a wonderful bath.

Ingredients:

1 lb. Baking Boda

½ lb. Salt (Sea salt is best, but table salt or kosher salt will do fine.  The idea is not to use salt with additives.)

Process:

Pour both ingredients into a tub of comfortably warm water and soak for twenty minutes.  Afterwards, ground yourself by standing barefoot on a tile or wood floor, or on the earth of your garden, and consciously re-connect yourself with grounding, via earth energy. 

 

Energy Re-oomphing Bath

When?

When you’re out of wattage and need to recharge your batteries quickly, this bath is eye opening and wondrously invigorating to the body.  It also strengthens your immune system as it revs up your energy.

Ingredients:

5 drops Peppermint

5 drops Eucalyptus

10 drops Lavender

5 drops Thyme

½ cup Vitamin C crystals

Process:

This bath banishes locked energy patterns in your body and psyche to re-invigorate and revive.  20 minutes in this bath and you’re ready for a date, a dinner, or an inspired evening, no matter what your day was like. 

 

Been Climbing Everest, Again?

When?

To help heal sprains, bruises, pain, and aching muscles or alleviate swelling from sports, dental work, accidents, or any shock to the bones or muscles.

Ingredients:

8-10 pellets of Arnica 30x or 10 drops of Arnica Mother tincture dissolved in the bath.

Process:

Soak for twenty to thirty minutes as needed.  The strongest results will probably be felt a few hours after the bath is done.  Arnica can also be prescribed by homeopathic physicians to be taken internally in pellet form, depending on the type and severity of the injury or strain. 

 

Heart Opener Bath

When?

We’re all vulnerable at heart.  This bath helps heal the battered feelings that undo us, and brings loving feelings (about both oneself and others) back into focus.  It can lift depression and allow hope to surface.

 Ingredients:

10 drops pure Rose oil (to open the heart to love)

5 drops Lily of the Valley oil (to strengthen the heart energies and revive the psyche)

Process:

This is a bath that cries out for candles, flowers, crystals… any enhancements that set this one half hour apart from your ordinary day, and dedicate it to getting your heart back on track.  Love of self is as important to well-being as love of another. 

 

Stress-Soothing Bath 

When?

The stress of a crazy day, insomnia and even high blood pressure will respond to this soothing bath that quiets the mind, enhances the heart and induces relaxation even in situations of extreme stress.

Ingredients:

5 drops of Marjoram (do not use more, as this would cause extreme drowsiness.  Marjoram should not be used by pregnant women.)

10 drops of Lavender

5 drops of Chamomile (or a chamomile tea bag)

Process:

 Pour the ingredients into a hot bath and soak for twenty minutes.

Energy Flow Bath

When?

When you’re out of wattage and need to recharge your batteries quickly, this bath is eye opening and wondrously invigorating to the body.  It also strengthens your immune system as it revs up your energy.

Ingredients:

5 drops Peppermint

5 drops Eucalyptus

10 drops Lavender

5 drops Thyme

½ cup Vitamin C crystals

Process:

This bath banishes locked energy patterns in your body and psyche to re-invigorate and revive.  20 minutes in this bath and you’re ready for a date, a dinner, or an inspired evening, no matter what your day was like. 

Releasing Ties to the Past Bath

 When?

Sometimes we know we should let go, but we can’t seem to do it from the heart.  An old love gone bad, a new one that’s destructive, a death, a friendship that’s over… whatever the reason, you need to be able to move on.  Walnut can be your ally.

Ingredients:

10 drops Walnut Bach Flower Remedy, or, 6 walnuts boiled and then simmered in a pot (not aluminum) for 4 hours, starting with 2 quarts of water and adding more as necessary.  A dark brown, thick-ish liquid results.

Process:

This is a serious bath… one to be experienced out of love for self, not anger at another.  Pour the walnut liquid into the tub and soak as long as you feel it necessary.  Visualize the person and the parts of the past he/she represents, letting go and leaving your energy field, to be removed down the drain.  Shower after, and feel reborn.

Psychic-Healing (and Cranky Baby) Bath

When?

If you’ve been psychically attacked or been around very negative people, this bath will cleanse, protect, and put you back in the game.  It also works magic on cranky babies and toddlers, calming and cheering them, and has been used effectively to cleanse and strengthen those who have been sexually molested.

Ingredients:

1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

Process:

Fill the tub with warm water, add the vinegar, and soak for twenty minutes.  Afterward, if you can, go outdoors barefoot, even if it’s just for a few seconds, to ground the negativity you’ve been in contact with, and remove it from your body.  Imagine the negativity flowing out of you… through your feet, down into the benevolent bosom of Mother Earth, where she can purify and transform it into useful energy again.

Speak Your Truth

When?

 If you can’t find the words to express yourself, or you feel someone or something is strangling the words that need to be spoken, try massaging this mixture gently onto your throat, as you intentionalize the freeing of your own voice:  Four drops of jojoba, olive or almond oil, plus three drops whichever of these essential oils you feel is appropriate.

Ingredients:

Rose oil allows words of love to be expressed

Chamomile can temper angry words

Jasmine allows creativity to expand

Peppermint rouses you to action

Eucalyptus protects against a negative response to your words

Process:

Try doing this small ritual of release in a bath to which you’ve added rose oil as a means of supporting your own love of self. 

Help for Helplessness Bath

When?

We all get discouraged, upset and blue.  When feelings of helplessness threaten to undermine your resolve or your confidence in the future, this bath is a godsend.

Ingredients:

5 drops Rose oil (to open the heart)

5 drops Rosemary oil (to attract happiness)

5 drops Lily of the Valley oil (to strengthen)

5 drops Sandalwood oil (to soothe the nervous system)

Process:

A warm tub of water, all oils placed in it, soft music playing, candlelight to allow the senses to drift seamlessly into serenity.  Soak for as long as you need, to produce feelings of relief and refreshment.

 

Aphrodisiac Passion Bath and Erotic Massage 

There’s really  no need to question why or when, is there?

This is a blend to be used when the bath is meant to be followed by lovemaking. Light the candles, play your favorite music, and invite the one you love to drift into bliss with you.

Needless to say, this is one bath that has no time limit, other than  your probable desire to leave the tub behind, to seek another  venue.

 

Ingredients:

2 fl. oz of your chosen base oil

20 drops Rose oil (true rose is quite expensive, but worth it)

12 drops Sandalwood oil

4 drops Ylang-Ylang oil

3 drops Clary Sage oil

Process:

While running the comfortably warm water into the tub, drizzle the oil mixture into the water, inhale deeply, and let your partner know it’s time to immerse yourself in pleasure.

If massage is to follow, the following blend is both stimulating and heaven-scented. To use it as a loving massage oil, just mix the beautifully erotic oils in advance, and use it how and when the spirit moves you to.

1 fl oz Grapeseed oil

10 drops Rose oil

10 drops Palma Rosa oil

2 drops Ylang-Ylang oil

8 drops Lemon oil

Couples’ Wilder Shores of Love  Pleasure Bath

When?

Like the formula above, this generous combination of aphrodisiac oils intends to  provide  sensual pleasures to you and the one you love…but this bath is a trifle more adventurous in its notes, and has a more Sheherazade-like  exoticism to offer.

Ingredients:

3 drops Rose oil (to open the heart)

3 drops Sandalwood (to relax the nervous system, and awaken desire)

3 drops Frankincense (to promote dreams while still awake)

3 drops Ylang-Ylang (a very strong aphrodisiac)

Process? As if you needed coaching!

Champagne or hot chocolate, both friends of Eros,might be nice additions to tubside, don’t you think?  

Perhaps rose petals, candlelight, music , too?   Odds are,  the delightful magic that begins in this bath will find its way to the bedroom.

The Morning Mojo Bath or Shower

When?

Use this oil for a refreshing and invigorating bath anytime you want to enliven body and spirit… wake up and smell the citrus!

Ingredients:

2 fl. oz favorite base oil

20 drops Lemon oil

15 drops Orange oil

5 drops Lime oil

Process:

Even ten minutes in this joyous bath will wake up your spirit…whether it be morning that needs a nudge, or after work/before date energies that need a bit of revving up. Just drizzle in the oils and loll for as long as you have time for…and arise refreshed and smelling as lovely as  a Mediterranean citrus grove by the sea.

 

© Cathy Cash Spellman/The Wild Harp & Co. Inc 2011

Tags: alternative healing, healing, self care

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