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Relaxing
Baths Recipe
Restorative
Baths
For trouble falling asleep
2 oz. passionflower leaves and flowers
1 oz. valerian root
1 oz. violet blossoms
For peaceful, restful deep sleep
2 oz. hops flowers
1 oz. lavender blossoms
1 oz. Siberian-ginseng root
For overworked body and mind
2 oz. chamomile flowers
1 oz. lemon-balm leaves
1 oz. St. John's wort or catnip leaves
- Place the dried leaves, blossoms and roots into an enamelware
pot. Pour 1 qt. of boiling water over the mixture and simmer,
covered, for about 20 min.
- Start your bath; when the water is ready, pour the herb
blend through a sieve and add the liquid to the bath.
- Squeeze any extra moisture from the reserved herbs and
place them in cotton sachet or a small muslin bag with a
draw string. Tie the bag shut and add to the bathwater.
Squeeze the herb sachet from time to time as you soak.
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Quick Relaxing Bath
Use this relaxing bath recipe only at night,
since the essential oils have a powerful relaxing effect and
can induce sleep.
1 tbsp. sunflower oil
4 drops Peru-balsam essential oil
4 drops valerian essential oil
2 drops basil essential oil
- Mix the sunflower oil and essential oils.
- Add the oil mixture to your bathwater as the tub is
filling. Bathe for 20 min.
Note: Instead of using all sunflower oil, you can try Turkey
red oil (sulfated castor oil), if available; it has been treated
with sulfuric acid, making it more water-soluble. However, it
can dry out your skin, so add 1 tsp. of sunflower oil to counteract
the effect.
Bedtime tea
After a relaxing bath, treat yourself to a cup
pf bedtime tea. Place 1 tsp. each of linden blossoms and lemon
balm in 1 cup of boiling water, steep for 5 min. and strain.
Also, if weather permits, leave your bedroom window open at
night. The fresh air will help promote sound sleep while stale
air and toxins escape from your window.
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Application:
Wait until the bathtub is full before adding
any herbs, to keep the sedative vapors from escaping too soon.
The water temperature should be about 110ºF, to ensure a gentle
effect on your circulation. Bathe for 20 minutes, and then go
to bed, or rest - covered up to keep warm - for a minimum of
30 minutes.
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Ingredient
Benefits:
For relieving nervousness: The components in the roots
of valerian, passionflower leaves and flowers and violet blossoms
can calm irritated nerves, encourage peacefulness and strengthen
the nervous system in general.
To help you sleep: The dried blossoms
of hops and lavender have sedative and toning effect on the
whole body. They facilitate falling asleep and aid restful,
deep sleep. Chamomile blossoms help dispel restlessness and
gently calm the body and spirit, setting the stage for peaceful
sleep.
For mental and physical stress: When stress levels run
high, delicately scented lemon-balm leaves can help relieve
symptoms by combating muscle and nervous tension. Siberian-ginseng
root can be beneficial in reducing stress levels, but if you
are pregnant or suffer from epilepsy, avoid using them.
To relax: Peru-balsam essential oil,
with its earthy and vanilla-like scent, can have a powerful
calming and soothing effect on the whole body. Spicy basil oil
is well suited to regenerating body and spirit. Caution:
Do not use basil essential oil if you are pregnant or have epilepsy.
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