A SPICY BATH
You would have added sweet-smelling essential oils to your bath, but have you ever thought of adding spices? I did it.
The other day I was browsing the net when I came across an article in Into The Gloss that talked about mustard baths. The author gave a suggestion of several store-bought products with mustard powder, but it got me thinking, why invest in those when that ingredient is one of the most commonly found spices in an Indian kitchen. And why just mustard? What if I experiment with some other common spices like black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric and so on. The idea got me searching my kitchen cabinets and beauty journals for ingredients that could make their way into my bath. So here’s a list of spices and herbs that went into my bathing water. Do remember this is just how I like it. My reason for sharing this with you is to get you started on your unique recipe.
-Mustard seeds: Mustard being the inspiration behind this recipe had to go in first. Mustard baths have been well-known as a traditional remedy for stress, fatigue, achy muscles, fever, cold and congestion. They are famous since Roman times. By adding mustard to the bath you let your body open up the pores and remove all the toxins present in it. Use powdered mustard seeds, it will be easier to dissolve.
-Black Pepper: This can be added in its original form or in form of black pepper oil. It increases the warmth of the body, relieving from achy muscles and joints. It also helps improve blood circulation.
-Turmeric: It is an ingredient that is present in most dishes that step out of Indian kitchens. And how could we forget that the brides-to-be are applied turmeric paste before marriage, that is because it is really good for skin. Turmeric opens up the clogged pores and helps in reducing scars and pigmentation after few uses. The healing properties of turmeric make it a compulsory addition in this spice bath. But with turmeric you need to be careful as it has the tendancy to stain not just clothes but skin also. Don’t panic as the yellowish colour would go off from the skin after a few washes.
-Cinnamon: This spice is better off when used in powdered form but if you want to use as it is then 3-4 sticks will be sufficient. It is a natural disinfectant and its astringent properties help in cleansing and detoxifying the body. Its smell is what I like the most.
-Dried Herbs & flowers: After all the ingredients have gone in the bath recipe you can also add some herbs & flowers. Herbs and flowers have therapeutic advantages on the body. They have relaxing effects and also benefit with their antiseptic properties. The advantage of adding these herbs is that they have a nice fragrance that brightens up the mood and the fragrance stays on the body even after the bath. Calendula flowers, rosemary leaf, lavender flowers, eucalyptus leaf, fennel seeds, peppermint leaf, rosemary leaf, rose petals, jasmine flowers are few of the herbs and flowers that can be added to your bath. These dried herbs have ability to relax, soothe and rejuvenate the body. When speaking of herbs and flowers, one can’t forget the Neem. It is easily available and known for its beneficial effects on skin. It solves most of the skin problems. But when using neem in bathing water don’t forget to boil the leaves in water before use. Its astringent properties will do good for your skin.
Things to remember:
-Don’t add the spice if you are allergic to it.
-All the ingredients can be added to the water straight away. But if you are using herbs and spices in their original form then you need to wrap all the ingredients in a cloth and then put into the water. Or another way to handle them is by adding 1/2 cup of all the ingredients in 2 cups of water and bringing it to boil and simmering it for 15-20 minutes. Strain and add this decoction to your bathing water.
This recipe can be used as a foot soak also that would be equally relaxing.
Try it once yourself or send us your recipe for a rejuvenating bath.
