by Evan Lee

Created on: August 18, 2008

Whether or not you place any particular value on the medical value of aromatherapy, a nice bath can be a great method of relaxing at the end of long day and a good hot soak can be greatly enhanced by your favorite scent. Bath salts not only provide a method of releasing scents while you bathe but even have some benefits in soothing nerves and muscle aches, and are easy and inexpensive to make. With common household items and distilled oils of citrus, lavender, or any number of naturally fragrant plants, you can have all of the luxuries of an expensive spa treatment in your own bathtub.

The bath salt itself consists of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and table salt (sodium chloride). You can make it release a pleasant aroma over the course of your bath with a few drops of an essential oil and even add things like glycerin and oats (not the quick cook oatmeal, but just regular oats) to help moisturize your skin. The most important component is the Epsom salt, as the magnesium sulfate dissolves in water and magnesium is readily absorbed by the skin through osmosis. It not only soothes muscles, but can prevent a host of problems associate with a mild magnesium deficiency, like low serotonin levels. By adding some food coloring and putting them in a nice jar or some colored cellophane, homemade bath salts can also make great gifts, but first, we can go through making the bath salt itself.

A good, basic ratio to work with is one cup of Epsom salts to a quarter cup of table salt to two tablespoons of baking soda. Obviously there measurements don't need to be exact, and but this is a good way to offer consistently softer water, maintain the pH of the bathwater, and, most importantly, dissolve to provide magnesium in the bathwater. These ingredients will simply be stirred together and mixed in the vessel of your choosing, and add finely ground oatmeal, if you should choose to, to the other dry ingredients before adding anything wet.

Adding color and scent is going to be less precise than the dry ingredients, as the desired potency of the scent and color will vary from person to person. With anything of this sort, you should start with a few drops and see how it looks and smells. The smell and color will naturally be diluted by the bathwater it is dissolved in, but there is still no reason to go overboard with the essential oil. Make sure there is enough to be noticed and appreciated, but going overboard will either have you overpowering yourself or being forced to use to little of the salt in each bath that you don't derive much benefit from the salt. It should also be noted that such concentrated oils can irritate the skin with direct contact and induce an allergic reaction. You probably won't be using more than a few drops, but if you feel like being particularly cautious, some rubber or latex gloves could be handy. Many of these oils, eucalyptus in particular, are toxic and should not be ingested. Small children and pets should be kept away from these oils as they will be even more susceptible to poisoning by potentially toxic oils. Once you've added the oil, you can add some glycerin (anywhere from a few drops to a teaspoon, depending on your desired effect) and the food coloring and stir until completely combined.

Your bath salt should be stored in a dry place, preferably in a mason jar or some other container with a tight seal, and will last indefinitely. All that remains is to add the desired amount to your bath and relax.

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