Bath Salts & Oils
We need to take care of our skin as it is our largest organ AND our first line of defense for the body. I love to see different combinations of essential oils being used for your bath time routine. But more often than not I find that the recommendations aren't perhaps what they should be. With that in mind, I meant to write up a quick post a while back to assist you in safely using your oils in your bath tub, especially if you're using them with young children or the elderly as their skin is more sensitive than most.
This will be short at sweet today. Ready?
Do NOT simply add drops of essential oils to your bath water directly.
Now I know many of you are thinking, "Well crap, I do that all the time." or "I always do that, I haven't had any adverse reactions. So what gives?"
First, if you are part of the latter statement, I hear you. And most people probably won't have a skin reaction to most oils. However, the only way to know this is to test the oil on your skin directly, fingers crossed all is well. But do you really want to be the one in the tub, trying to relax except you start to get itchy and red? Probably not.
The proper way to use oils in the tub is simple, and really a no brainer.
HOW TO PROPERLY USE ESSENTIAL OILS IN YOUR BATH
Simply dilute your oils in 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil, or my preferred method, 1 teaspoon of Castile soap.
Then add to 1-2 cups of epsom salt, or 2 ounces of Himalayan sea salt. See, simple right?
This mixture is what you add to your bath water.
This is safer for your skin because oil and water do NOT mix. So the essential oils simply sit on top of the water and will gravitate towards your body and sit on your skin. Depending on the oil, and the person, this can have negative effects.
I prefer Castile soap simply because it won't leave an oily tub floor after a bath. This is potentially dangerous if you forget to clean up and step in later for a shower. I’ve done it. It wasn’t fun. If I am feeling fearless however, I will use an oil, and I love using jojoba oil (a carrier oil) for skin care! So it is a viable option.
NOTEWORTHY
Not sure of how many drops of essential oils to use? 5-6 total should be your max! You don't want to get a headache.
When blending essential oils, keep strong floral oils, such as Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Rose etc. to only 1 drop. These have very strong aromas and can easily be overwhelming to the senses. The same goes for oils such as Eucalyptus. Less is more!
Steer clear of HOT oils such as Clove, Cinnamon, etc. These are best used topically (diluted) or in a diffuser, but even in a diffuser, use sparingly. Oils that are considered hot have more potential to irritate the skin. Of course this doesn't mean they absolutely will. I just prefer to be cautious.
How much salt is up to the individual. If using epsom salt, I like to use 1 cup. This is a fairly inexpensive item. Himalayan however is quite pricey in the states. So I use 1-2 ounces per bath.
Have you tried my Milk & Honey nourishing bath blend? You can find it HERE.
Below is one of my favorite recipes.
Blessings.
Healer Blend
1 Tsp Castile Soap
1-2 Cups Epsom Salt
Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) - 1 Drop
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) - 2 Drops
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) - 2 Drops
