Change Your Life With Aromatherapy Chapter IV

Aromatherapy In The Bath

Now that you have a concept of how to use aromatherapy as a massage treatment, you can probably imagine using these precious essential oils in the bath.  Aromatherapy bath products include bath salts and oils.

Aromatherapy bath oils can be used to treat you in the same manner as massage oils.  The concept is basically the same - you take a warm and relaxing bath with water that contains about a quarter of a cup of aromatherapy bath oil.  The oils go to work when they penetrate the skin. 

Again you will want to test the bath oil to make sure that it does not cause an allergic reaction.  If you want a truly relaxing bath, use lavender or vanilla as both of them are among the safest and most mild oils to use.  Rose also makes a good bath oil. 

Making your own aromatherapy bath oil is simple and economical. Yes, essential oils can be costly, but  as you only need a few drops, it can last quite a long time.  Again, you will want to use carrier oil, but vegetable oil is very inexpensive.  You will also want to use the glass eye dropper and the dark colored bottles that you can purchase online.

You can make enough bath oil to last for a few baths by doubling the recipe and adding two ounces of carrier oil to 20 drops of essential oil. The ratio for the bath oil is roughly the same as it is for massage oil, but you can add a couple more drops of the essential oil as it is also being diluted into water.  On the average, add 10 drops of essential oils to one ounce of carrier oil. 

The bath oil should be store in a cool, dark place.  Most likely, you will want to put it in your bathroom cabinets.  As is the case with all products that you make, keep the bottles away from children. 

A popular recipe for a relaxing bath oil is as follows:

Aromatherapy Relaxing Bath Oil Recipe

2 ounces of carrier oil 12 drops of lavender 6   drops of rose 2   drops of tea tree Be sure that you blend the oils properly as you would for massage oils and only use about a quarter of a cup of oil in the bath.  Lavender, rose and tea tree are all very pleasant and will provide you with soothing relief in the bath.

If you are having menstrual cramps or any sort of stomach pain, you can also use the following:

Aromatherapy Pain Relief Bath Oil Recipe

2 ounces of carrier oil 10 drops of rose 4   drops of peppermint 6   drops of chamomile

Soaking in a warm tub is one way to relieve stomach cramps caused either by stress or your menstrual cycle.

The bath oil will have a shelf life of a year. Once you have experimented with taking an aromatherapy bath, you will probably toss away all of the synthetic chemicals you have been using in your bath water and begin enjoying a true, natural healing bath.

If you want to make bath salts to put into the bath, you can also do the same.  You will need Epson salts or Dead sea salts.  Both are available online and Epson salts are very inexpensive and available at your local drug store.

The ratio for the bath salts are three cups of salts, one tablespoon of carrier oil and about 20 drops of essential oil.  These are mixed in a bowl with a spoon or a fork until very well mixed.  Then you can put them in a jar with a tight fitting lid.  Store them in a dark place.  You can put about a half a cup of the salts into the tub under warm running water and wait for them to dissolve when you step in.

Bath salts are very popular because they store easier and you don’t have to worry about spilling.  You can use the above recipes for bath oils for bath salts by just making the proper substations. 

If you want to color the bath oils to make them look pretty, you can use exotic salts such as Hawaiian Red Sea salt which has a natural salmon color.  You can even mix these with the Epson salts. Commercial producers of bath salts usually use a mica powder to color the salts that are also used in color cosmetics.  You are better off, however, leaving the bath salts in their natural state so as not to cause any skin irritation.  Do not use vegetable oil food dyes to color the salts as they can turn the skin that color in the bath and will take a few washes before rinsing out of the skin. 

Another recipe for bath salts that is good for general relaxation and to help you settle for sleep is as follows:

Calming Bath Salts Aromatherapy Recipe

3 cups of Epson salts 1 tablespoon carrier oil 10 drops chamomile 5  drops lavender 4  drops tea tree 1  drop lemon 

You will enjoy taking a bath in aromatherapy bath salts that can cure aching joints and bones, ease tension, relieve cramps and sooth you prior to going to bed.  Once you begin making bath oils and bath salts, you will most likely give them as gifts to friends who can also enjoy their helpful benefits.