5 Ways to Upgrade Your Bath

Bathing isn’t just one of life’s great pleasures to be enjoyed whenever you can, studies have shown that warm baths increase the core body temperature which helps to maintain a healthy and natural circadian rhythm. Bathing is thought to increase serotonin and endorphins too, important chemicals in our brain that are responsible for making us feel happier and more contented. If ever it was time to run a tub, we think it’s now…

Pine

Extracted through a process of steam distillation, get yourself a bottle of pine essential oil or a bath time remedy where its invigorating scent features heavily, at the very least. Aside from opening up your airways and energising your mind with its stimulating aroma, pine essential oil is a great choice for soothing inflammatory skin flare ups such as eczema as well as reducing swelling and muscle pain.

Magnesium

Magnesium is not just crucial for giving you enough energy to power your way through your workout sessions, it’s also an essential mineral for helping reduce stress and aiding a good night’s sleep. That’s because it helps your body produce melatonin, the hormone needed for sleep. You can boost your magnesium via supplements but topically via creams and lotions or transdermally in the form of bath salts is a great idea, as bathing also promotes a reduction in stress levels and is conducive to a more relaxed state of mind for sleep.

Oats

If you suffer from inflamed and dry skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, then a handful or two of oats are a great way to relieve the itch associated with such issues. Ground oats that are soaked in water, such as bath water, is also known as colloidal oatmeal and is thought to have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, thanks to their high quota of Vitamin E, ferulic acid, and avenanthramides, ingredients which are adept at soothing dryness.

Ginger

Known for its immune-boosting properties when ingested, fresh ginger or ginger essential oil in your bath water can also help clear up congestion and promote the release of toxins. In Chinese Medicine, taking a ginger bath is one of the many things which is thought to help clear the meridians, helping to promote the flow of blood and energy throughout the body. Because of its warming ‘yang’ nature, ginger baths are great to take during the ‘yin’ season of winter to provide balance and harmony.

Lavender

In addition to having excellent antiseptic properties which can help soothe sensitised skin, lavender is lauded for its ability to relax you into a more soporific state of mind. For that reason, taking a lavender laced bath at the end of your day is a great way to induce sleepiness and help you drift off. If you’ve been working out to a strict schedule, getting enough good quality sleep is as essential as just about anything else. Sleep not only helps muscles recover and helps sharpen your focus for improved performance, it will help your body build more lean muscle too.