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Relax and Soothe With Herbs
By Brenda Hyde
Using dried and fresh herbs to relax and soothe isn't just
a trick the spas use. You can do that same thing at home!
I keep dried chamomile to use in the bath and for tea, as well
as lavender, rosemary and mint. Herbal bath teas and bath
salts are very easy to make, and if you allow yourself to
experiment a little bit you will find your perfect combination!
HERBAL BATH TEAS
These are very strong "teas" that you add to your bath.
Remember that you can experiment with combinations
as long as you follow the basic recipe on the amounts.
If you are allergic to plants of any type do be cautious,
but you also are not ingesting the tea, so you should be
fine keeping with the guidelines. So much of the commercial
bath products we buy are very harsh on our skin, and these
will soothe you...
Skin Soothing Bath Tea
You will need:
2 tablespoons dried thyme
2 tablespoons dried calendula blossoms
2 tablespoon dried chamomile blooms
1 quart boiling water
Add the herbs to the boiling water and steep for 10-15
minutes. Strain the infusion and add to your bathwater.
NOTES: You can use just chamomile and double the amount.
Spring Herbal Bath
Ingredients:
1/4 cup dried lemon balm
1/4 cup dried chamomile blossoms
2 cups boiling water
Cover the herbs with the boiling water and brew for
20 minutes. Strain and add to your bathwater.
NOTES: You can use fresh lemon balm, but increase
it to 1/2 cup. I also use mint with chamomile.
Relaxation Herb Tea
You will need:
1 cup rosemary
2 cups lavender
2 cups rose petals
1 cup mint
Mix these dry ingredients together and keep in a
sealed, dry jar. Use about 1/2 cup for each bath.
Pour 1-2 cups boiling water over the herbs and brew
for 15-20 minutes. Add to your bath.
Herbal Milk Bath
You'll need:
2 cups cornstarch
2 cups dry milk powder
2 tablespoons of your favorite herb, crumbled
Mix these dry ingredients together. For your bath
tie about 1/2 cup of the mix in cheesecloth, or
a muslin bag and tie very tightly. Add to your
bath. You can tie kitchen string to the bag and
float the bag in your bath as the water runs.
Keep the bath mixture in a sealed container.
HOMEMADE BATH SALTS
Bath salts are so easy to make and there are
SO many variations once you start making them
yourself. The basic recipe is as follows:
You will need:
1 cup Epsom salts
5 or more drops of essential oil
Mix together and keep in a covered jar. Allow the
salts to sit for a few hours or overnight. Add about 1/2
cup to running bath water.
VARIATIONS:
Add 1 cup baking soda which is a skin soother.
Add 2-3 tsp. honey for a moisturizing.
Add 1/4-1/2 cup of a healing salt such as Dead Sea salts
Squeeze in 3-4 caplets of Vitamin E oil to moisturize.
Add 2 cups of baking soda, and 1 cup of citric acid for fizzies.
You can use any type of essential oil that is soothing. Nice
choices are lavender, rose, calendula or patchouli oils.
About The Author
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer living on ten acres in rural Michigan with her husband and three kids. Stop by and visit her garden blog, Garden of Grace & Whimsy, and her photography blog, A Dance of Words & Photos.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
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