Bathing is as essential as anything we do as humans, yet baths frequently get overlooked in any list of healing habits. When prepared for and taken properly, a bath can relieve your toxic load -- as well as mental and emotional stress -- easily and at very little expense. The bath is your missing tool to better health.

Bathing has always helped our bodies do that, easily and at very little expense. In effect, a proactive bath once a week can replace certain types of doctor's treatments, spa visits or other more invasive detox modalities.

The medical truth is that bathing is one of the most systemically corrective things that you can do for your body. When prepared for and taken properly, a bath can reduce real toxic as well as mental and emotional stress. The warm water in which you submerge gently stimulates detoxification through the skin and other organs of elimination (the kidneys, liver, colon and lungs) by inducing lymphatic flow, improving circulation, calming inflammation and encouraging sweating. Add scrubbing to the process as your dead skin layers naturally slough off in water, and you remove innumerable pollutants and metabolic waste products that have been collected there. Remember, the skin is the largest organ for detoxification and therefore a first line of defense for your body.

And we need to purify our skin more than ever in modern life. Toxins that are found in the skin include, but are not limited to: benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, styrene, deodorant, car exhaust, hydrocarbons, smog, household chemicals, perfumes, cosmetics, heavy metals including mercury, cadmium, aluminum, arsenic, lead, and nickel, dust mites, dust mite droppings, fungus, mold, bacteria, virus, parasites, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and hormones. It makes sense to rid the body of these elements as regularly as possible, in order to manage the toxic load we all carry to varying degrees.

*Throw a herbal bath teabag directly into the hot bathwater.
*Brew teabag in a pot, and then add the steeped tea to the bathwater.

How to make your own Half-Bath

Fill a bath to half way. The water temperature should be around 38-40 degree celsius.
Soak the lower part of your body for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure keep the top half of your body dry and cover your shoulders with a dry towel to stay warm.
Your body will gradually warm up after while and will start sweating even on your upper body. The sweats helps to eliminate waste products and toxins from your body through the skin.
After 20-30mins and you feel whole body warm up then you can then soak the whole body.
Make sure you have a glass of warm or room temperature water before and after Half bath to hydrate your body. You will get most benefit if you have a rest at least for a half an hour after bathing.

If you have any health concern or you are pregnant, please consult with your doctor before trying Half bath. Do not eat a heavy meal or drink alcohol in large quantities beforehand.
 

Half Bath - Korean body bathing
Bathing has a long historical tradition in Korea with resorts in Hakone and Ikaho similar to spa retreats in the west

Try adding the following natural remedies to enhance your Japanese bath:

Rice bran – is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acid. it softens and moistures the dry, sensitive skin. Simply tie a handful of rice bran into a clean muslim or cloth. You can also use the rice bran bag to scrub your body.

Citrus fruits – In Japan, we traditionally have a bath with aromatic citrus fruits called Yuzu, on the day of ‘touji’, winter solstice. Whole fruits are floated in the bath water. you can also squeeze the fruits to release amazing aroma from the peels.

Yuzu bath is believed to prevent from cold, moisture the skin and refresh the mind. Instead of yuzu, you can use unwaxed / organic orange, lemon or lime. The peels of citrus fruits contains essential oils which can improve circulation, reduce fluid retention, uplifts your mind. I would recommend to use citrus fruits only at night as the essential oils contain in the fruits makes your skin photosensitive.

Sea salt – Dead Sea salt or Epsom salt are particularly rich in minerals such as magnesium and potassium which helps to relax and ease muscular tension. The salt is also known to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and acne. Add one or two cups of sea salt into the bath.

Essential oils – mix a few drops of calming essential oils such as lavender, Roman chamomile, geranium or sandalwood with sea salt or a carrier oil before added to the bath. The pleasant aroma will enhance more relaxation. Alternatively, you can add dry herbs such as lavender flowers, rosebuds, chamomile flowers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much water should I boil with how much tea/herb?

Q: How do you calculate how much time you should boil water with tea/herb?

Q: Do you sell other tea/herbs not listed on the site?

Q: Can you mix household tea/herbs with leafnflower's tea/herbs?