Everything You Need To Know About Herbal Baths

Feb 05, 2017

Written by Maria Chow

Everything You Need To Know About Herbal Baths

Herbs are so versatile! We can prepare them in so many ways! We can eat them, drink them, make them into tinctures, teas, salves, powders, capsules, sprays, compresses, poultices, steams, and of course herbal baths.

All About Herbal Baths

Herb baths are a great way for anyone to experience the restorative benefits of medicinal herbs. Did you know that you can infuse herbs into a bath for nearly any ailment? We all know that wonderful feeling of pleasure bumps on your skin as you sink down into warm, healing water. That feeling along with the therapeutic properties and active alkaloids found in herbs is what makes herbal baths so beneficial. You can make a full-body soak in the tub, a small foot bath, or an even smaller sitz bath for your bottom.

herb baths

Benefits of Herbal Baths

Often, when we are new to herbal remedies, we think only in terms of herbal medicine like capsules, exotic elixirs, or syrups. Remember herbal medicine is an ancient healing art that has its roots in every culture around the globe. It is definitely not a 1:1 replacement for our prescriptions and over the counter chemical medications. Rather, herbs are a part of a whole-body approach to healing and healthy living.

When we soak in herb baths, the water is infused with the medicinal compounds of the herbs we’ve chosen. Usually, an herb bath will be filled with anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, immune-boosting or relaxing herbs that stimulate the body’s natural healing processes.

As the largest organ, the skin is both a giant pathway for the healing properties of the herbs to be absorbed into the body. The skin is also a powerful protector for our body, creating a difficult barrier for pathogens to enter our bodies.

The warm water helps to open the pores to hydrate the body and allows the benefits of the herbs to be absorbed into the body. Working with herbs also means that we work with our bodies' own natural processes. In order for herb baths to work we need to soak for at least 20-30 minutes in the water. This is important to understand because during the first 15 minutes your body is simply hydrating and the next 15 minutes your body is absorbing the active herbal compounds. If you stay in longer than 30 minutes you actually start losing hydration and you will not receive the full benefits that herbal baths offer.

Why Make An Herbal Bath?

There are so many possibilities for the type of herb bath you are going to prepare, it all depends on what you’d like to accomplish. Ask your self these questions to get clarity on your goal: Why are you making an herb bath? Is it to aid in postpartum healing for perineal tears, stitches, and body aches? Are you wanting to make an herb bath because someone has a fever? For a cough, lung congestion, and stuffy nose? Do you want to take a bath to help hydrate you because you are pregnant and are suffering from morning sickness and vomiting? Are you making it so your child can fall asleep better? Are you wanting to relieve aches and pains from bruises, cuts, and scrapes? Do you just have sore muscles and a headache? Or are you wanting to cleanse your energy field and release stored toxic emotions? All of these are great reasons to soak in herbs.

As you can see, herb baths are great for nearly any occasion, but some conditions are especially suited for a good herbal soak, such as:

Postpartum- recovery, pelvic floor recovery, whole-body restoration
Newborns- to help dry the umbilical cord, diaper rash, colic, and bonding
Children- during colds and flu, relieve bug bites, rashes, growing pains
Immune boosting- and infection-fighting for all ages
Cold & flu season- clears congestion, body aches, and breaks fevers
Lung congestion- clears upper and lower respiratory infections
Detoxification- releases toxins stored in the skin and organs
Relaxation- helps relax physical and emotional stress and tension
Sore muscles- relaxes body aches and pains from injury or tension
Hemorrhoids- reduces swelling and restores broken tissue and vessels
Achy feet- relieves pain and invigorates tired and sore feet
Hand-soaking- soothes aches and pains from arthritis
Self-Care- make self-care a loving act and a priority

ceremonial sage

Best Herbs for Herbal Baths:

Choosing the best herbs for your herb bath depends on your answer to the question of why make a herb bath. Once you figure that part out, selecting which botanicals to soak in is easy.

Most of the time I make my baths with dried aromatic, leafy or flower petals. Of course, you can take a bath with fresh herbs too. Honestly, I stick with a few tried-and-true herbs that either stimulate blood flow, boost immunity, are antiseptic and prevent infection, promote cell regeneration, are anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, or relaxing. A few of my favorites include:

Thyme- antimicrobial effective against strep- great for kids too
Lavender- relaxing and great for aches and pains
Yarrow- powerful first aid, immune-boosting wonderful for postpartum
Calendula- soothing for the skin, antiseptic, and joyful
Peppermint- uplifting and invigorating to the body
Eucalyptus- clears lung and sinus congestion
Plantain- soothing for trauma, bruises, and soothes skin
Ceremonial sage- clears toxic emotions and stagnation
Dandelion- Detoxifies the body

Here at Birth Song Botanicals, these are our favorite herbal bath blends.

Keep in mind the healing power of ambiance and pleasure when you are selecting and creating your herbal blend. For example, some herbs may be incredibly relaxing and great for tension and pain but they are very pungent and have an unpleasant aroma. Valerian is a perfect example of this. So either avoid it or include small amounts to your blend with other better smelling herbs and be sure you are aware of the scent before you choose to soak in your herbs.

calendula

When and How to Prepare Herbal Baths:

Herb baths can be prepared in full soaking tubs, in smaller amounts like a sitz bath, or a foot bath. Consider what benefits you’d like to get from the bath and whether you just need to soak part of your body or could benefit from a full bath.

To prepare an herb bath, simply brew a strong “tea” from a cup or two of dried herbs for a full bath. You might also add salts. If you use essential oils, be sure to choose gentle oils and then stir them into salts first, as oil and water do not mix. The salts will help them to disperse more evenly.

For a stronger bath, put the herbs into a satchel of cheesecloth or a pantyhose sock and tie it secure, then place that directly into the bath. Once you are in the bath, massage the herb bundle to release even more of the therapeutic properties of the herbs.

I hope you can see just how easy making an herb bath is and more importantly how many conditions can be addressed with the simple things in life. Water, heat, and herbs.

I'd like to direct you to some of the other resources we have for you: