Mineral Bath Salts and Aromatherapy

     There is nothing more relaxing than soaking in a nice warm bath as the relaxing aroma of your favorite scent floats about your head. Even better is when you are soaking in a tub filled with warm water and minerals swirling around your body that are beneficial to your health and emotional being. For many years mineral baths and soaks have been used as a healing treatment.

     The most common minerals and gases contained in a mineral bath are: iron, hydrogen sulfide, chloride, potassium, magnesium, carbon dioxide, calicum, silicon dioxide, bicarbonate, and of course, sodium. Mineral baths are used for increasing circulation, treating hypertension, opening up the blood vessels and therefore used to treat hardening of the arteries. They are also used to help reduce stiffness inflamation in joints and restore balance to the endocrine system, which helps reduce stress.

     As you can see, there are many uses for a mineral bath or soak using mineral salts. Now all you have to do is either purchase some or you can make your own. I am one of the ones who enjoy making my own. So, I have included some recipes so you can give it a try too. I have used my own blending of essential oils that are known for their success in treating irritability, fatigue, exhaustion and burnout.

basil - strong, pungent, sweet, slightly spicy aroma. Blends well with: bergamot, clary sage, frankincense, lavender, and rosemary.

bergamot - clean, refreshing, fresh, fruity, citrusy, slightly spicy aroma. Blends well with: basil, clary sage, and lavender.

black pepper - warm, peppery, woody aroma. Blends wells with: basil, cypress, frankincense, ginger, grapefruit, lavender, and rosemary.

clary sage - sweet, nutty, spicy, strong, heady aroma. Blends well with: bergamot, cypress, jasmine and lavender.

cypress - woody, smoky, nutty, pine-like, spicy scent. Blends well with: clary sage, grapefruit, juniper, lavender, and rosemary.

frankincense - soft, sweet, warm, woody, lemony scent with a hit of citrus. Blends well with: basil, black pepper, lavender, lemon, neroli, patchouli, and vetiver.

ginger - warm, spicy, woody scent. Blends well with: black papper, frankincense, lemon and rosemary.

grapefruit - fresh, slightly sweet, citrusy scent. Blends well with: basil, frankincense, ginger, lavender, and vetivert.

helichrysum - fresh, sweet, warm, herbaceous, floral scent. Blends well with: lavender, neroli, clary sage, frankincense, patchouli, vetivert, and sandalwood.

jasmine - warm, honey-sweet, floral scent with fruity undertones. Blends well with: lemon and mandarin.

lavender - sweet floral, woody, herbal, scent. Blends well with: clary sage, helichrysum, grapefruit, basil, black pepper, grapefruit, lemon, and frankincense.

lemon - fresh, clean, citrusy scent. Blends well with: lavender, neroli, ginger, and sandalwood.

mandarin - light, sweet, tangy, citrusy aroma. Blends well with: neroli, bergamot, lemon and lavender.

neroli - refreshing floral scent that is powerful but delicate. Blends well with: lavender, sandalwood, clary sage, oman chamomile, frankincense, and patchouli.

patchouli - warm, sweet, earthy, musky, spicy, aroma. Blends well with: lavender, neroli, rosemary and bergamot.

Roman chamomile - crisp, sweet, fruity, apple-like aroma. Blends well with: bergamot, clary sage, lavender and patchouli.

rosemary - sweet, fresh, woody, herbal scent. Blends well with: lavender, basil, ginger, black pepper, frankincense, grapefruit and lemon.

sandalwood - warm, woody, sweet, fruity, exotic scent. Blends well with: frankincense, jasmine, bergamot, lavender and lemon.

vetivert - heady, sweet, earthy, woody, musty scent. Blends well with: lavender, lemon, and frankincense.

 Men

Woody bath salts

Ingredients:

1 cup sea salts

1 cup borax

3 drops bergamot essential oil

3 drops cypress essential oil

2 drops sandalwood essential oil

Directions:

In a medium size bowl, mix sea salt and borax together.  Blend together essential oils and add to salt mixture.  Toss gently to coat salts.  Store unused slats in a dark, cool space in a jar with a tight lid.  Pour salts into a bath of warm running water.  Soak for 20 - 30 minutes.

Spicy Mineral Soak

Ingredients:

1 cup sea salts

1 cup borax

1/2 cup baking soda

3 drops frankincense essential oil

2 drops ginger essential oil

3 drops black pepper essential oil

Directions:

In a medium bowl, blends together sea salt, borax and baking soda.  Blend essential oils and add to salts blend tossing lightly to mix well.  Store unused amount in cool, dark space in jar with tight fitting lid.  Pour salts in warm running water and soak for 20 - 30 minutes.

 

Women

Floral Mineral Salts

Ingredients:

1 cup sea salts

1 cup borax

3 drops lavender essential oil

2 drops helichrysum essential oil

3 drops patchouli essential oil

Directions:

In medium bowl blend sea salt and borax.  Blend together essential oils, add to salts tossing lightly to coat.  Store unused salts in cool, dark area in a jar with tightly fitting lid.  Pour salts into warm running water.  Soak for 20 - 30 minutes.

Citrusy Mineral Soak

Ingredients:

1 cup sea salts

1 cup borax

1/2 cup baking soda

3 drops grapefruit essential oil

2 drops mandarin essential oil

3 drops lemon essential oil

Directions:

Mix together sea salts, borax and baking soda in a medium bowl.  Blend together essential oils and add to salts mixture tossing lightly to blend well.  Store extra salts in a cool, dark spot in a jar with a tight fitting lid.   Pour salts into warm running water and soak for 20 - 30 minutes.

Note:  You can make your own blends for a more personal scent.  There are an unbelievable number of different combinations you can put together.  These mineral salts and soaks make a wonderful gift when they are packaged in a decorative jar.  Have fun making your own personal Mineral Salts and Mineral Soaks.  Relax, enjoy and happy soaking.