Bathing does a body good ...

Those Romans knew a thing or two about stress relief, like stripping down for a good bath-time soak.  Time in the tub is still a remedy for washing away even the most disastrous day as you release stress and boost your energy and mood.

Japanese researchers have found that just 10 minutes of bathing (not showering) improves both physical and mental stress response.  As the body relaxes, the nervous system returns back to a balanced state and circulation improves to tone skin and muscles.  A nice warm bath can even help you doze off to sleep.  “Your core body temperature drops immediately afterwards, accelerating a natural cooling process that takes place as we sleep,” says Jennifer Pressimone, a holistic health coach at the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.

We feel obligated to share a few words here about bubble baths on your grocer's shelves. Skip them!  Most bubble bath products strip away your skin's natural moisture, causing dryness and irritation. Those bubbles are created with surfactants that lower water's surface tension and make the foamy bubbles. These ingredients are particularly bad for people who have allergies or sensitive skin.

Instead, we suggest you take additional tub time over the weekend to create your own holistic, natural spa session at home.  That weekly dose of feel-good indulgence will give you even more mind and body benefits by simply adding aromatherapy oils to your bath water.  According to Prevention Magazine, "Geranium is great for neutralizing out-of-control emotions, pink grapefruit can provide mental clarity, and rose is renowned for its skin-enhancing properties."

Stress is tough on our adrenal glands and can cause restlessness and muscle fatigue.  Devoting time to personal pampering can reset your busy life, and the addition of aromatherapy to your bath raises serotonin levels to create a feeling of well-being and relaxation.

We have our favorite aromatherapy oil for bath time, too (using about 10 drops of essential oil in a tub half filled with warm water and two cups of Epsom salt):

• Chamomile to relieve tension
• Clary Sage to quiet mental agitation
• Frankincense to induce restful slumber
• Lavender to relax muscles and minimize headaches
• Bergamot or Mandarin to reduce blood pressure
• Peppermint to strengthen the adrenals

You may be wondering why we suggest Epsom salts. It’s simple, really. Epsom salts are absorbed through the skin and replenish the body’s levels of magnesium, easing muscular discomfort and detoxifying the system.  To get the full benefit of the bath and the properties of aromatic oils and salts, you should soak for about 20 minutes, adding additional warm water as needed.

After you pat dry, smooth on a layer of moisturizing oil or skin lotion made of all-natural ingredients to hydrate and nourish.  This small bathing ritual will relax, refresh and restore mind and body.