Monday, February 25, 2008

Ingredient Info on Creating Bath Balts

If you have taken my bath salts and body scrubs class and are looking for more information regarding bath salts, Salt Works has provided detailed information in regarding to blending your sea salts.

Blending Bath Salts

Bath Salts: Sea salts and essential oils are a wonderfully synergistic combination. The relaxing properties of hot water compliment the effects of well chosen salts and essential oils. Aromatic baths can provide relief from stress and anxiety, assist with muscle and joint pains, and treat the symptoms of more severe skin conditions. Both men and women are enjoying aromatic baths in increasing numbers. The therapeutic benefits of sea salt baths are well known and often recommended by doctors for treating a wide range of medical conditions.

Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is the practice of controlled use of essential oils to maintain and promote physical, psychological, and spiritual well being. As a holistic medicine, Aromatherapy is both a preventative approach as well as an active treatment during acute and chronic stages of illness.

Essential Oils: Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts distilled from a variety of plant material including leaves, flowers, needles, fruit peels, grasses, wood and roots. These oils, with the exception of Lavender and Tea Tree, should always be diluted in carrier oil before applying directly to the skin.

Dried Herbs: Many dried herbs possess the same scent and healing properties of their essential oil counterparts. Herbs are popular additions to bath salts and bath teas and look great in a finished product, one draw back is that it can be messy in the tub. A good option is to include an organza bag with your salts to use as a tea bag - the salts melt, the herbs seep in the hot bath water and once the bag dries it is easy to empty out the herbs and re-use the bag.

Carrier Oils: moisturizing vegetable oils are commonly used as a "carrier" for essential oils. Most essential oils are too strong to apply directly to the skin and should be diluted 12-30 drops to 1oz of carrier oil. Carrier oils are also combined with sea salts to create defoliant salt scrubs.

Hydrogen Peroxide: Adding hydrogen peroxide to bathwater increases oxygen available to the body. Hydrogen peroxide baths leave the body feeling alert and revitalized, like just after a rain shower. This gentle bath is antibacterial, antiviral, and cleansing to the emotional and energetic bodies. Add six ounces of food-grade hydrogen peroxide to a hot bath and soak for 20-30 minutes. Be careful in handling this concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide as it can "burn" or irritate the skin. Diluted in the bathwater, it is fine for skin contact.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar baths restore a natural pH to the skin and hair, as well as rejuvenating and building up the body’s resistance. It helps restore acid mantle protection to the skin, which is lost from swimming and from routine use of soaps on the skin. It thus helps combat “unfriendly” bacteria, fungal overgrowth, and as helpful with vaginal and bladder infections. Apple cider vinegar baths are soothing to the skin, alleviating itchiness, poison ivy, and sunburn discomfort. As with all hot baths, it causes the pores to open and aids in general systemic detoxification. Make certain to use pure, unprocessed apply cider vinegar. Use 2-4 cups in a hot bath.

Sodium Bicarbonate: A hot bath with equal parts of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and sea salt assists in detoxification from exposure to heavy metals and radiation. It is also beneficial for cleansing the theauric field, and for soothing itchy skin. In combination, use 1-2 pounds of each. Sea salts is recommended, as opposed to rock salt or common table salt, which are depleted of nourishing minerals.

Citric Acid: Citric Acid is a key ingredient, along with Sodium Bicarbonate, for bath fizzies (recipe below). It is also great for making fizzy bath salts. The combination creates an effervescent blend that helps release the aroma of your essential oils into the air, creating an uplifting aromatic bath.

Colorants: FD&C dyes dispersed in liquid or glycerin are popular for adding color to bath salts. Herbs can also be used to create beautiful natural colors for your salts. Powdered Mica can create beautiful pearl essence salt.


Scenting Sea Salts

The amount of Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils you will need to use will depend on the quality of oil and the variety of oil used. For example, you would need more grapefruit in your salts than peppermint as the mint family is much stronger than the citrus. The oils will travel easily through the salts. Always store your scented salts in airtight glass or PET (type of plastic) containers.

Coloring Sea Salts: Be sure to use FD&C approved, or herbal, colorants for bath salts. It is recommended scenting the salts first and then coloring. Once you mix in the color, let sit in a sealed container overnight. The color will disperse for a more even coverage.

Sea Salt Cell: Some therapies call for a Sea Salt Cell or Dead Sea Salt Cell. This is simply a single bath portion of Sea Salts mixed with Therapeutic grade Essential Oils. A deep therapy cell will call for 2 lbs of salt mixed with approx. 40 drops of your chosen EO Blend.

If you like to check out there site for recipes on creating Salt Glows, Bath Teas, Salt Potpourri, Bath Fizzies, and Essential Oil Blends, click on this link, http://www.saltworks.us/salt_info/si_MakingBathSalts.asp

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