When was the last time you took a nice, relaxing detox bath? Maybe never! Our busy lifestyles lend themselves to quick showers over soaking in the tub. But the benefits of detox baths shouldn’t be ignored. Besides being a relaxing way to prepare for bed, they help your body work more effectively. This is why I think everyone should know how to do a detox bath.

Even those of us who live healthy lifestyles are inundated with toxins. So while we do our best to limit the amount we come into contact with, our bodies are exposed to all types of contaminants that we aren’t even aware of. Since the skin is the largest organ of the body, it just makes good sense to purify it often.

The body does have a process for shedding toxins, but with the amount of chemicals we deal with in our modern world, our bodies have to work really hard to get rid of them, which puts unneeded strain on the body. To help it out, we can use inexpensive items that we already keep in the house to perform one of the most effective ways to improve our health…the detox bath!

Note, I always include essential oils in my baths. They serve to help support detoxification pathways and also to help achieve a relaxed state. I only use therapeutic grade essential oils, because I am soaking in them. That way I know exactly what’s in them!

Here are my favorite oils to use in the bath:

• Lavender: it has a scent that’s a wonderful blend of fresh, floral, clean, and calm. A perfect oil to use for relaxation and balancing
• Peace & Calming: with a comforting, fresh aroma, Peace & Calming oil creates a relaxing environment that is perfect for meditation and relaxation
• Eucalyptus: applied topically, it is often used to support the respiratory system
• Gratitude: a soothing blend of therapeutic-grade essential oils designed to elevate the spirit, calm emotions, and bring relief to the body while helping to foster a grateful attitude (great for those days where you need a little reminder to be grateful for everything, despite having a hard day!)

Disclaimer: none of the information in this post is meant to be taken as direct medical advice. You should always consult with your primary care provider before trying any new detoxification protocol. 

How to Do a Detox Bath

• First, pour a hot bath, as hot as you can stand it
• Then add:
• 2 cups of Epsom salts — we buy them in bulk here
• 1-2 cups of baking soda
• ¼ cup unprocessed apple cider vinegar — like this
• ¼ cup bentonite clay — where to find
• 10 drops of your favorite aromatic essential oil
• Swish all ingredients around so it dissolves. There may be some bubbling when the baking soda and vinegar combine, which is a normal reaction. Relax and enjoy for 20-40 minutes. Once you get out of the bath, don’t rinse off, just towel dr

A Few Notes:

You will probably be tired and a bit lightheaded after the bath, so be careful getting out of the tub. This is just a normal sign that your body has detoxed. I like to do a detox bath before bedtime because I get so relaxed and sleepy it helps me drift right off to sleep.

The water should be as hot as you can bear because the heat brings the toxins up to the surface of the skin where they can be more easily removed. Once the water cools, the toxins are pulled out of the skin through osmosis.

We use Epson’s salt, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and bentonite clay because they each rid the body of pollutants and metabolic waste, and they are full of various minerals and vitamins that our skin absorbs into the body. Baking soda also neutralizes chlorine in the water and makes the skin soft and smooth. While the bentonite clay neutralizes the chemicals found in the tap water and softens the skin

Final Thoughts on How to do a Detox Bath:

• If you plan to shampoo or use soap, you will want to wash separately, after soaking. That’s because adding soap, body wash or shampoo to the mixture will make it less effective. Also, your pores will be wide open, and you don’t want your body to take back in any toxins from those products
• Don’t soak more than 2 times a week unless your doctor recommends it
• Don’t think you have to soak for 40 minutes if you are new to this. You will gain excellent benefits from a 20 minute soak. Build up to it if it’s more comfortable
• You’re going to sweat! In the bath and after. Just go with it. It’s your body’s way of releasing that junk your body has built up. Wear light clothing to allow your skin to sweat and breathe!
• Detox baths are a great way to reduce the symptoms and length of a cold or the flu! Flush that crud out!

If you want to know what other methods of detoxification that I do outside of my detox baths, I have a few posts on Why I do Regular Detoxification, Coffee Enemas, my Detox Salad recipe, my Liver Cleansing Detox Smoothie recipe,  and my Supercharged Detox Bath.

Now that you know how to do a detox bath are you going to jump right in? I would love to hear which method you will try first. Let me know how it goes in the comments below!

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