Eight Powerful Benefits of Baths and Soaks
Water is a precious resource. Treat it with respect and take a bath like you mean it.
Whether you call it self-care, spa life, time-out or me-time, bath soaks are real medicine for the soul. We consider ourselves quite the bath aficionados and firmly believe in using baths as spa therapy for all types of ailments. While balneotherapy deserves more studies, the evidence that baths have powerful benefits has been there for years. In fact, studies have shown that being near water is good for our mental health because it helps soothe anxiety and boost our mood. The father of medicine himself, Hippocrates, prescribed and documented hydrotherapy as a powerful treatment. Whether you enjoy meditating to the sound of waves, swimming in the lake, drinking water, or playing a water sport, you are taking part in healing and nurturing yourself with the powerful force that is water. If you consider yourself more of a shower person, we urge you to re-consider and come over to the bath side once or twice a week. Here are all the benefits you could be getting from a bath soak.
8 Benefits of a Bath Soak
IMPROVED SLEEP Hello Insomniacs! A hot bath soaks soaks one or two hours before bedtime can help you fall asleep faster and result in deeper sleep. Studies have shown that when we soak in a warm bath the increased blood circulation helps rid us of warmth through our hands and feet, therefore lowering the core body temperature. Since our body temperature lowers around bedtime, giving the process a nudge will help you fall asleep a lot faster.
DECREASED STRESS AND/OR ANXIETY Balneotherapy has been practiced for centuries at spas and hospitals. Bath soaks calm your nerves and help you learn mindfulness by making you take a pause, stay in the moment, and focus on the present. Unplug from technology, make waves with your hands, pay attention to the movements of your body, and inhale the scent of your favorite bath oil. In another words, it helps you get into a meditative state of mind, get back in your body and even fight anxiety.
RELEAVE MUSCLE SORNESS Bath soaks have a superpower effect on relaxing tired and tight muscles, therefore the psyche. Besides stretching and drinking water, a warm bath can help you loosen sore muscles, relieving pain and therefore relaxing the mind. Combine your bath with Epsom salt or any replenishing salt soak and watch it work its magic. The warm water, combined with magnesium, helps improve circulation and reduce inflammation.
NATURAL ANTIDEPRESSANT Warm bath soaks act as a mild anti-depressant or mood booster (at least we find it helpful). Deciding to take a bath when you feel low is a great choice. Although there are not enough studies done to prove that bath soaks can be a real treatment for depression, balneotherapy has been practiced for centuries at spas and hospitals. This study has showed that 15-20 minute baths can help depression more than exercise can. The only way to prove it is by seeing if a bath soak can be your personal mood booster.
SOOTHE DRY SKIN Relieve dry and itchy skin by turning your bath into a mini spa. The National Eczema Association recommends using lukewarm (never hot) water and hydrating products. Add a bath oil or even colloidal oatmeal to your bath water, and do not scrub irritated areas. The trick to resolving dry skin is to keep your skin hydrated, and the best way to seal in moisture is to use your products immediately after your bath.
HOT BATHS BURN CALORIES A hot bath should not replace exercise, but according to this study from 2017 at Loughborough University, a hot bath can help you burn up to 240 calories. Participants were asked to lie in a hot bath for an hour, fitted with equipment to measure how many calories they burned. According to exercise physiologist Steve Faulkner results can be attributed to “heat shock proteins,” specific proteins that are made when cells are briefly exposed to temperatures above their normal growth temperature. Raised levels of these proteins may help the function of insulin and improve blood sugar control. So go ahead, get in the tub, even a sauna, just be careful with the amount of time you spend in them.
RELIEVE COLD OR FLU SYMPTOMS When you feel under the weather a hot bath is the last thing you want to do, but once you discover how much relief it provides, you will want to do it over and over again. Bath soaks allow you to breathe better. A warm bath and steam allow you to clear your chest and sinuses. When you are soaking in warm water up to your neck, your heart works faster, allowing for more oxygen. For even more relief, combine your bath time with a eucalyptus or lavender scent. Taking a bath while sick helps you fight your symptoms, shortening the length of recovery.
BOOSTED CREATIVITY Bath soaks allow for creativity. Have you ever noticed that when you take a bath or shower, you turn to internal thoughts? This is when our best ideas come to mind. Try keeping a pen and paper nearby to write down those important ideas. The best thing about baths is all the free time, which allows for more things that bring you joy. Watch your favorite show, read a book or journal. We even like to enjoy a snack, or a glass of wine.
Try limiting your time in a bath, anywhere from 15-20 minutes. These tips are not meant to be used as medical advice. Always check in with your doctor first.
