Our Bodies are full of toxins from all kinds of foods we eat and things we use on a daily basis. These toxins are poisoning our bodies and preventing our bodies from functioning normally. I recently posted a
list of beneficial foods and foods to avoid for detoxing - but you can also take some much needed time and soak away some of the toxins that are overloading your body!
Ingredients
- Epsom salt
- Baking soda
- Optional Ingredients - Essential oils (optional): Lavender, ylang ylang, tea tree oil, or eucalyptus, ground ginger, or fresh ginger tea
Prep
- Make sure to have 20 to 40 minutes available to bathe. The first 20 minutes are said to help your body remove the toxins. The second 20 minutes are for absorbing the minerals in the water.
- Do not eat immediately before or after bathing.
- Drink a full glass of water before taking bath.
- Prepare one to three glasses of ice water to drink while bathing.
- Place towel close to tub.
Steps
- Fill the tub with comfortably hot water.
- Add Epsom salts (aka magnesium sulfate). Soaking in Epsom salts actually helps replenish the body’s magnesium levels. Magnesium regulates the activity of over 325 enzymes, reducing inflammation, helping muscle and nerve function. It also helps the body produce serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of calm and relaxation. Sulfate improves the absorption of nutrients, helps ease migraine headaches, and also flushes toxins and heavy metals from cells. Epsom salt is very inexpensive, and can be purchased at any pharmacy or grocery store in the pharmaceutical section.
- For children under 60 lbs, add 1/2 cup to a standard bath.
- For children 60 lbs to 100 lbs, add 1 cup to a standard bath.
- For people 100 lbs to 200 lbs, add 2 cups to a standard bath.
- For people 200 lbs and up, add 3 cups to a standard bath.
- Add the same amount of baking soda (a.k.a. sodium bicarbonate) as Epsom salt. Sodium bicarbonate is used to help balance the pH of the body to be more alkaline.
- Baking soda has anti-fungal properties and promotes the elimination of toxins. It also leaves skin very soft.
- Stir all of the ingredients around in the tub.S
- oak, relax and drink water. Aim for at least 20 minutes but 40 minutes is recommended (the longer the better). You should start sweating within the first few minutes.
- If you feel too hot, drink a glass of ice water or start adding cold water into the tub until you cool off.
*Optional
- Add aromatherapy oil once in the tub. Lavender, peppermint, ylang ylang, tea tree oil or eucalyptus will assist with detoxification. Add the oils while in the tub by placing 5 drops in your hand and swish your hand in the water. Add more if desired but be aware of any irritation of skin or discomfort.
- *Add ground ginger or fresh ginger tea once in the tub. Add anywhere from 1 tablespoon to 1/3 cup depending on your sensitivity. Ginger helps to sweat out toxins by increasing your temperature levels. Since it is heating to the body, be careful with the amount you add and add a tablespoon at a time up to 1/3 cup. It may cause your skin to turn slightly red for a few minutes.
- Most people sweat profusely with the addition of the ginger. This is especially beneficial if you are trying to rid the body of a bug of some sort, like the flu, or a cold.
After the bath
- Get out of the tub slowly and carefully. You may feel dizzy, lightheaded, and weak or drained because your body has been working hard to detox.
- Wrap in your towel immediately so that you can continue to detox. You may feel warm for up to an hour after the bath.
- Drink a lot of water. You need to flush out the toxins. If not there is a chance you may feel sick.
- Get the lymphatic system draining. The lymphatic system is a system of vessels that carry a clear-white fluid called lymph. Lymph is full of white blood cells that fight infections and carries away waist products such as toxins and fat.
- Skin brushing can be used to stimulate the lymphatic system, and is a great way to get your lymph moving to eliminate toxins. This can be done with a wash cloth, bristle skin brush, or exfoliating hand gloves. Take your wash cloth and dampen it with warm water. Starting at the tips of your toes and brush/rub upwards towards the heart in a circular motion. Do the same starting at your fingertips and brush/rub inward toward the heart. Brush/rub just enough to make the skin pink.
- Relax for the rest of the day or evening and allow your body to continue to heal.
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Missy Briggeman
Empowering Patients · Educating Minds · Healing Bodies
701 W. Queens St. Suite 100
photo credit:
HaoJan via
photopin cc
