Herbs in Bathing
The use of herbs in the bath is nothing new. As early as 2000 BC, there are references to herbs and natural products like citrus peel being used to invigorate and leave the skin feeling and smelling fresh. The difference is that today’s consumer has an incredible array of choices, and as such experimentation is the key to creating a product that suites your needs.
Some of the popular bathing flowers are:
Marigold – Calendula Flowers:
Used to soothe skin complaints
Chamomile Flowers
Helps relieve aches & pains and helps skin puffiness
Hops Flowers:
Used to reduce swelling of skin
Jasmine Flowers:
Used to help smooth skin.
Lavender Flowers:
Used as an aromatic astringent
Safflower Petals
Used to help treat skin irritations, pimples.
Tansy Flowers
Skin soothing, helps relieve blemishes
Bladder wrack:
A sea vegetable, helps cleanse and refresh the skin
Burdock Root:
Used in bath for eczema and problem skin
Comfrey:
An emollient, famous as a skin regenerative herb.
Dandelion Leaf:
Rich in Vitamin A, great for skin complaints
Eucalyptus Leaf:
Used in baths to help relieve symptoms of colds
Irish Moss:
A soothing emollient for dry or ageing skin. A sea plant.
Lemon Peel:
An aromatic astringent, it stimulates and freshens the skin
Marshmallow Root:
A soothing emollient, often used to sore skin
Nettle Leaf:
Use in moderation, stimulates skin, increases blood flow
Orange Peel:
An aromatic astringent, it stimulates and freshens the skin
Peppermint Leaf:
Cooling , antiseptic, used in bath to revitalize
Red Clover:
A cleanser, great for pimples or blemishes.
Slippery Elm Bark:
A soothing emollient with recognized healing powers
Strawberry Leaf:
An astringent, especially good for people with oily skin
Violet Leaf Blue:
A soothing herb, astringent
White Oak Bark:
Rich in salicin, used as an astringent
Witch Hazel Leaf:
Cleansing, astringent
All bath herbs can be used in the following ways:
- Throw in with bath water (okay with flowers as they float, but it is not comfortable sitting on Burdock Root.
- Create a herbal decoction (like brewing a tea) and pour into bath water
- Put herbs in a muslin or cotton bag and tie under bath tap or place and seal them in Press n’ Brew tea and bath bags and throw in the tub.
Making bath teas and bath bags is easy and can be filled with a range of natural ingredients designed to soothe, stimulate, moisturize and exfoliate the skin either by throwing in the bath water, hanging under the running bath water, or rubbing on the skin in the shower.
Quickly gaining popularity in the retail marketplace, specialized shops are jumping on this new bathing bandwagon and selling basic bath bags and teas for hefty prices. This product is a natural for gift giving, craft sales, home parties or just a fun evening at home designing these special bags for your own relaxation and use.
There are a few basic types of Bath Bags (a.k.a. Bath Teas):
- Moisturizing Bags: Formulated using natural moisturizers like Cocoa Butter, and Milk Powder combined with natural herbs and flowers like Marigold Calendula, Chamomile and Hops and herbs like Comfrey Leaf. These bags are used in the bath to moisturize, nourish and soothe the skin.
- Exfoliating Bags: Formulated using ground soap to cleanse with herbs and grains chosen for their natural exfoliating properties, these bags are rubbed on the skin in the bath or shower to help remove dead skin cells and refresh, tired skin.
- Salt Scrub Bags: Formulated using natural sea salts in combination with a bit of Epsom Mineral Salts, these bags are designed to revitalize the skin and spirit. Use with herbs like Rosemary, or for a truly skin tingly scrub use a bit of Nettle Leaf or Peppermint Leaf.
- Freshening Bags: Formulated with ground soap and cocoa butter with Lemon and Orange Peel granules and Rose Petals, this bag will leave you feeling and smelling sweet and fresh.
- Astringent Bags: Formulated with ground soap and cream of tartar in combination with Lavender flowers, Jasmine Flowers, Strawberry Leaf, Comfrey Leaf and a bit of natural sea salt to leave your skin feeling smooth and taut.
- Sea Bags: Formulated using Kelp, Bladder wrack and Irish Moss with ground soap and cocoa butter, these bags are designed to give your skin the benefit of the Sea. Seaweed is filled with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes including Vitamin C, gamma linoleic acid, & beta carotene, to name a few.
In combination with some of the herbs listed above, Bath Bags incorporate a variety of cleansers, moisturizers and exfoliates.
Soap Making