By Lauren Rae, Wellness Coach and CPT at TRYM Fitness
Salt has been seen everywhere from the tabletop as a seasoning to exchanging hands as a currency and being fought over in wars. Perhaps its most defining quality is its ability to miraculously heal our bodies because of its varying chemical compounds. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, fondly referred to by detoxification junkies as your third kidney—isn’t it time we all start treating it as such? In particular using the healing medicine of the Romans?
Set aside 40 minutes to treat your skin like ancient royalty in the comfort of your own home with a hot salt detox bath. While you soak, minerals and nutrients penetrate your pores to nourish and flush out toxins. Hey workout fanatics, they are also absorbed into the bloodstream to help alleviate pain from lactic acid build up in the body.
While any type of salt can be used, Himalayan or sea salt from a natural source is always best. While Epsom salts are very popular because they contains high levels of sodium, sulfate, potassium, and magnesium (which replenishes the body and helps balance water levels and blood pressure within the body) it is generally synthetically produced. Whatever you choose, begin with 8–16oz in a hot bath and relax as you soak and detoxify.
Health Benefits of Hot, Salt Detox Baths
Aside from being beneficial to our bodies, soaking in a hot bath is very therapeutic and can help you unwind and de-stress. Here are some other ways soaking can help you heal physically and mentally:
- Increases circulation
- Detoxifies the body by pulling toxins from the body
Helps treat skin issues like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and dryness- Reduces pain and swelling in joints and muscles
- Reduces stress
- Promotes restful sleep
- Alkalizes the body by lowering the acidity level
Run your bath with very warm water and add your choice of salt.
Turn on some soothing music and light a candle or two! (Be careful where you place them and always remember to blow them out when you’re finished.)
(Optional) Add a bag or two of ginger tea. Ginger tea will increase the temperature in your body to help you sweat out toxins. This step may turn your skin slightly red for a few minutes.
(Optional) Add high quality essential oils. Two to three drops of your favorite oil can make a big difference! Try lavender oil to help you relax, peppermint and eucalyptus to alleviate aches and pains, or oregano, eucalyptus, turmeric, and tea tree oil to detoxify.
Enter carefully and slowly as you adjust to the temperature of the water.
After your 40 minutes are up, be sure to rinse or wash off thoroughly to remove any toxins from your skin.
Finish your in-home spa experience by moisturizing with a high quality oil. Almond or avocado oil are excellent options and can be found at any health food store. If you’d like, add a drop or two of the oils you used in your bath to allow them to continue their work on your body.
And most importantly, stay hydrated! Anytime you detoxify the body it is important to drink plenty of water to continue the process of flushing toxins. Make sure you keep drinking plenty of purified mineral water for the next 24–48 hours.
