Herbs For Body Care and Relaxation

by Susan Cameron

Today the pace of life is faster than ever before. The pressures that it exerts on us are often overwhelming. The increasing pace and demands of change leave us little time in which to relax. A wholesome diet, quiet meditation and healthy exercise that releases tension can help. Centuries of experiment and use by medical herbalists and aromatherapists have shown that herbs in various forms can have a powerful effect on the mind, both by encouraging feelings of calm relaxation and by stimulating and invigorating the system

One of the simplest ways of relaxing with herbs is to add them to a bath. Soaking in a warm bath is in itself enjoyable and by adding herbs to the water in various ways you can make a bath even more relaxing. The essential oils in the herbs are released by the heat and absorbed directly through the skin into the blood stream. There are several ways of introducing herbs into a bath and a number of herbs that are suitable.

Chamomile flowers are cleansing, cooling, lightening and anti-inflammatory when added to your bath water. This oil is frequently used in aromatherapy to calm your nerves. You can use it in a bath by adding 5 or 6 drops of the essential oil to your bath water.

Lavender is well known for its ability to heal wounds and is an excellent relaxant. Add 5 or 6 drops to your bath water and light a lavender scented candle and soak while letting go of all of the stress and tension in your day.

Melissa is the essential oil from the lemon balm plant. Its soothing properties are used to relieve depression and dark thoughts. Add 5 or 6 drops of Melissa to a hot bath and play one of your favorite meditation tapes and emerge feeling lighter and relaxed and able to sleep peacefully.

Sandalwood is a heavy, but luxurious oil useful to relieve tension and anxiety when added to a hot bath.

Bergamot oil is particularly good for depression as well as being effective in helping the body to fight infections.

Ylang ylang essential oil is a sedative and antidepressant and is good for shock and pain. It is a strongly scented oil which you can use in your bath sparingly.

Essential oils can be added to a bath by simply dropping them directly into the water prior to immersion. Be careful when adding essential oils directly to the bathwater, as they can burn and irritate the skin if added in too high a quantity.

Sea salt baths are cleansing and detoxifying. Salt baths are drying to the skin, so be sure to apply a good moisturizer afterward. Sea salt baths are made by adding 1-2 cups of sea salt to the bath water. You can add essential oils to the salt to enhance its therapeutic action while also creating an array of pleasing scents.

Bathing is a wonderful way to relax while cleansing and rejuvenating your entire body. There are many preparations that can be added to the water to increase both the therapeutic action and your enjoyment of the bath.

Bath oils added to the water help to soften and nourish dry, damaged or stressed skin. The warmth of the bath helps the oil to be absorbed in the skin and provides an excellent moisturizing effect. Oil may also be added to a bath for nervous conditions, since it is said to nourish and protect the nerves.

For a basic oil bath just add 1-2 ounces of olive oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, almond oil, or wheat germ oil to your bath. All of these oils are all-purpose emollient for general nourishment and skin softening.

To create your own basic aromatherapy bath oil just combine 1-2 ounces of one of the above all-purpose oils with 15-30 drops of the essential oil of your choice. Use 1-2 teaspoons of aromatherapy bath oil per bath. Note that the concentrated essential oils make the carrier oil stronger, so less oil is needed for the bath

A warming bath for increasing circulation and counteracting chilled bones and muscles can be made with 6 ounces of fresh ginger. Just grate the ginger root, place in a gallon jar, pour boiling water into the jar and let steep or a minimum of 1 hour. Strain and add the liquid to the bathwater. Set aside a cup of the infusion and sip some as you bathe. Ginger tea warms your insides and stimulates circulation and metabolic activity. You may substitute 2 oz. of dried powder ginger root for the fresh root, although the resulting bath may not be a potent.

Our bodies serve us throughout our lives, and so deserve our care. Many people now realize the importance of a good diet, and use relaxation to combat stress, both areas in which herbs can help. We often ignore a simpler means by which herbs can exert an influence over our well-being: the daily care we take of our bodies and the products we use on our hair and especially on our skin. Our skin profoundly affects our health and sense of well-being. Treat you skin and your body to some of these relaxing baths in the next month and see how profoundly you will change your inner self by taking care of your skin and body.