Aromatic bath salts not only invigorate your senses with their soothing fragrance, but also help calm your system by getting rid of certain aches and pains.
After a hard day's of work, there is nothing that soothes and relaxes sore muscles and a tired body like soaking in a tub of hot water with aromatic bath salts added to it. If you believe in the goodness of aromatherapy, then these will definitely interest you. These bath salts also enhance blood circulation, cleanse the skin, and rid your body of aches/muscle strain.
History
One of the earliest references to the use of bath salts has been cited in China, around 2700 years BCE, whereas the concepts and philosophy of aromatherapy have been around for almost more than 6000 years!
There exists a reference of Hippocrates, the father of modern-day medicine, who practiced and promoted a method of healing ailments by immersing patients in sea water.
Hippocrates also used aromatherapy baths and scented massages for healing purposes. In addition to this, the history of bath salts would be incomplete without including the contributions of English author and physician Dr. Charles Russel who published his work titled The Uses of Sea Water in the year 1753.
What Are Aromatic Bath Salts?
Aromatic bath salts are basically a group of inorganic, water-soluble salts that are meant to be added to a bath to enhance the cleansing process.
They are also used in the aromatherapy healing process. They are prepared from ordinary bath salts that act as a dilutant and carrier for the aromatherapy agents. The agents like essential oils, are added to the ordinary bath salts to induce the salt crystals with the aroma and to dilute the rather concentrated aromatic properties of these oils.
Benefits of Aromatic Bath Salts?
In addition to enhancing the cleansing process, the usage of bath salts has several other benefits. Aromatherapy bath salts help in relieving minor aches and pains in the body.
In addition to this, the aromatic baths can provide relief from stress and anxiety, assist with joint pains, and also treat certain severe skin conditions.
Since salts have the ability to change the osmotic balance, their use actually reduces the absorption of water by the skin.
Thus, the wrinkling effect on skin due to excess absorption of water is prevented by them. Magnesium salts are also known to have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. They also add a nice fragrance to your bathroom that lingers for a long while after you're done showering.
How to Make Them at Home
Making your own bath salts can be easy and fun. Get your basic bath salts and choose the aroma you wish to induce in them.
You can choose from a wide variety of fragrances, starting from the sensual rose and sandalwood, to the refreshing lemon, and orange, or the exotic ylang ylang, chamomile, lavender, or even the modern chocolate and coffee fragrances.
There are various aromatic agents available starting from essential oils, ready to use bath-fragrances, or pure unadulterated herbs. Just mix the salts and the aromatic agents in a jute bag and store it for a while, until you think the aroma has been transferred to the carrier salts.
Once ready, just add the salts to the bathtub to draw an exotic, fragrant, and relaxing bath.