My favorite way to relax, treat aches and pains, insomnia, and my fibromyalgia, is simple soak in the tub.  But by adding two or three ingredients, they turn my bath in a private retreat.

Choose one or more of the following salts and oils to create your own spa:

Salts:

Epsom Salt

In water, it breaks down into magnesium and sulfate.  Soaking in warm water can help relax muscles and loosen stiff joints.  But that’s not all, Epsom salt is a home treatment for:

• Arthritis pain and swelling
• Bruises and sprains
• Fibromyalgia, a condition that makes your muscles, ligaments, and tendons hurt, and causes tender points throughout your body
• Insomnia
• Psoriasis, a disease that causes red, itchy, scaly skin
• Sore muscles from everyday life

Dead Sea Salt

Soaking in water enriched with this salt is known to benefit the body from the inside out, treating skinconditions and improving internal processes. Dead Sea Salt contains 21 minerals including magnesium, calcium, sulfur, bromide, iodine, sodium, zinc and potassium.  The benefits of using Dead Sea salt are:

• It is more effective in cleaning and exfoliating the skin
• It gets rids of toxins from the skin and helps in good blood circulation
• It gets rid of dead skin cells, cleans skin pores and helps in skin regeneration
• It helps firm up skin tissues and strengthens these against infections
• It helps eliminate aches and body pains, making the body more relaxed
• It helps in treating skin ailments such as eczema and psoriasis and lessens inflammation of dry skin
• It helps relieve muscle tension, lessens stress and anxiety
• Rejuvenates, therefore make skin more healthy looking

Himalayan Salt

A warm bath infused with Himalayan pink salt is also great for relaxing cramped muscles. The magnesium and some other trace minerals found in this salt absorbs through the skin to help heal damaged muscle and other soft tissues.  The benefits of Himalayan salt are:

• Improves texture, tone, and appearance of skin
• prevent muscle cramping, and soreness
• Regulates sleep
• Decreases stress
• Re-mineralizes the body
• Lower blood pressure
• Relaxes mind and body

Oils:

Sweet Almond Oil

• Vitamin A, B, E, protein, calcium, glycosides, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium
• Moisturizing, not penetrating, lubricating, conditioning, retains moisture, calms skin, does not clog pores, prevent wrinkles, removes impurities and dead skin, aphrodisiac
• dry skin, itching, inflammation, eczema, burns, sunburn, and sore muscles

Avocado Oil

• Vitamin A, B1, B2, D, E, amino acids, pantothenic acid, and sterols
• Moisturizing, very penetrating, improves skin elasticity, increases collegen, and removes impurities from skin
• Dry skin and sensitive skin, aged skin, eczema psoriasis, solar keratosis, age spots, scars, and sun damage

Apricot Kernel Oil

• Vitamin A, C, E, Protein, and Potassium
• Moisturizing, emollient, nourishing, prevents wrinkles, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory
• Dry and sensitive skin, inflammation, and aged skin

Argan Oil

• Vitamin e, carotene, phenols, squalene, and tocopherols
• Very hydrating, quickly absorbs, emollient, protective properties, reduces wrinkles, dissolves excess sebum, prevents and reduces stretch marks
• acne, scars, strengthening nails and hair

Coconut Oil

• Squalene, sterol, and tocopherols
• Moisturizing, conditioning, protective properties, does not clog pores, and non greasy
• dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, sunblock, and dry hair

Grapeseed Oil

• Vitamin E. tocopherols, omega 6 and 9
• Penetrating, slightly astringent, and reduces skin aging
• Oily skin, sensitive skin, and skin that doesn’t absorb oil well

Hazelnut Oil

• Vitamin B6, E, protein polyphenols, and tocotrienol
• Moisturizing, emollient, regenerative, astringent, soothing, tones skin, stimulates skin circulation, strengthen skin capillaries, and softens hair

Hemp Seed Oil

• Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, E, protein, and chlorphyll
• Conditioning, regenerative, reduces skin aging, and increases elasticity
• Dry skin, aged skin, damaged skin, wounds, and lesions

Jojoba Oil

• Vitamin B, E, copper, chromium, silicon, zinc
• Quickly absorbs, nourishing, protective properties, similar to collagen, can clog pores, yet allows skin to breath, dissolves excess sebum, and antioxidant properties
• Oily skin, inflammation, acne, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, cradle cap, and stretch marks

Macadamia Nut Oil

• Vitamin A, B6, E, riboflavin, thiamin, omega3 and 6
• Quickly absorbs, emollient, highly regenerative, protective properties, helps prevent sunburn, and resembles sebum

Sesame Seed Oil

• Vitamin A, B, E, protein, calcium, lecithin, and zinc
• Moisturizing, protective properties, soothing, absorbs and removes toxins
• Eczema, psoriasis, blemishes, cuts, dandruff, scrapes, wounds, and wrinkles

Sunflower Oil

• Vitamin A, B, D, E, and minerals
• Moisturizing, quickly absorbs, and regenerative
• All skin types, dry skin, skin diseases, aged skin, sensitive skin, bruises, and cradle cap

Directions:

Mix 1/2 cup salt (your choice) to 3-5 dropperful oil (your choice) and pour under running very warm water.  Slip into water up to neck, and enjoy.  You earned it!

Options:

You can make up this mixture ahead of time, but I mix it as needed.  I keep the salt and oils in my bathroom.  You can add:

• Food color or other pigments to make different colors
• Your favorite essential oil or oils to increase the properties
• Ground or powdered herbs such as roses, lavender, peppermint, or chamomile