There’s nothing more relaxing than submerging into a warm bath at the end of the day. But what if a simple soak could do more than just ease tension and sore muscles?
You can simply make a detox bath—six different ones, actually—using what you have in your kitchen. The thing about detox baths is, they’re pretty simple—even the least crafty among us can handle it. In fact, the ones that have been used for centuries to heal and rejuvenate each rely on a single, powerful ingredient to help flush the body of toxins and heavy metals (in addition to a laundry list of other things).
One quick caveat before we dig in: While elements of this bath-time ritual will most certainly feel relaxing, detox baths get you hot. Like, really, really hot. Like, you should be sweating for most of your bath and will likely continue to sweat afterwards for a period of time. Make sure you are hydrated before starting, commit to drinking a gallon of water afterwards, and are prepared to sweat, baby, sweat.
#1. THE OG:
EPSOM SALT BATH
Ingredients: 2 cups Epsom salts
Instructions: Pour Epsom salt into warm (like, really warm) water as bath is filling. Soak for 15-30 minutes, rinse, and towel-dry.
Benefits: According to Dr. Axe, Epsom salt baths are an excellent source of magnesium and sulfur, relax muscles and joints, reduce inflammation, and flush toxins and heavy metals from the body.
#2. K.I.S.S. (KEEP IT SIMPLE, SEXY):
BAKING SODA BATH
Ingredients: 4 cups aluminum-free baking soda
Instructions: Mix baking soda into bath as hot (!) water is running. Once temperature is cool enough for you to handle (but still hot), soak for 30-45 minutes, then towel-dry. As weird as it may feel, do not rinse or shower until the following day.
Benefits: Draws harmful toxins and metals out of the body, relieves muscle aches and pains, alkalizes the body.
#3. DEEP DETOX SOAK:
BENTONITE CLAY BATH
Ingredients: 3/4 cup bentonite clay
Instructions: Mix clay with warm water in a separate bowl to form a paste. Now you have two options: 1) Draw a bath with very warm water and pour the mixture into the tub, swirling around with your hand or a wooden spoon. 2) Rub the clay mixture on your body and let it dry for 5 minutes, creating a skin mask that will provide an even deeper detox (and may even help get rid of cellulite). With either method, soak in the bath for a minimum of 20 minutes, rinse in the shower with cool water, and towel-dry.
Benefits: Reduces inflammation, flushes toxins from the body, improves hydration, and leaves the skin feeling silky-smooth.
#4. SWEATY & SMELLY:
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR BATH
Ingredients: 1-2 cups of raw ACV
Instructions: Pour ACV into the bath as you’re filling it with very warm water. Soak for 30-45 minutes before towel-drying. Do not shower for a minimum of eight hours. May we suggest encouraging your significant other to spend the night at their buddy’s?
Benefits: Amazing head-to-toe detoxifier, relieves muscle aches and pains, restores optimal body alkalinity (which also creates an environment candida cannot survive in!), and can help treat any body-odor problems for all our ladies trying to make the switch to natural deodorant…
#5. MINERAL DRIP:
GREEN TEA BATH
Ingredients: 5-10 green tea bags
Instructions: Start to run bath with hot (!) water. When the tub is almost halfway full, put in desired number of tea bags (at least 5) and let them soak as the tub fills. Keep the tea bags in there for around 15 minutes soaking (water should start to change color) before getting in. Soak for 30-40 minutes, then rinse off in the shower with cool water, and towel-dry.
Benefits: You know all those antioxidants, minerals, and healing properties found in green tea that people have sworn by for centuries? Well, your skin is one large porous organ that will happily soak them up.
#6. DIY INFRARED SAUNA:
GINGER BATH
Ingredients: 1/2 cup freshly grated ginger (can also use 1-2 rounded tablespoons of ginger powder), organic if possible
Instructions: Fill tub with very warm water. Once tub is filled, pour ginger in, using your hand to mix throughout. Soak for 20 minutes, then rinse in the shower with cool water, and towel-dry.
Benefits: Also known as a “fever bath,” ginger baths boost detoxification and immunity by raising the body’s temperature and encouraging sweating.
P.S: If any of the above baths have a smell you can’t stand, or if you’re looking to boost the relaxation factor of the bath, add your favorite essential oils. Lavender for calming, peppermint for soothing, and citrus for stimulating.
