benefits of epsom salt bath
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How to Create the Perfect, Health-Enhancing Bath

Inspired by Japanese onsen, the holy grail of bathing

Soaking in a traditional onsen bath is a top priority on my itinerary whenever I’ve travelled to Japan. Between sightseeing, shopping and hunting down the best ramen, udon and sushi, I take an average of 40,000 steps each day when I visit Tokyo or Osaka, so relaxing in mineral-rich steaming water before bed is a much-needed restorative ritual.

Both onsen, natural hot springs available near Japan’s volcanic areas, and sento, which are artificially heated bath facilities often found in hotels, offer a serene moment of peace and tranquility. Not just a soothing way to settle the body and mind, the waters are also rich in minerals such as iron, sodium-sulphate and sodium-chloride, thought to heal and beautify the skin. For the average Japanese person, it’s common practice to take a bath every night at home in their ofuro (or yubune, which refers to the bath with water) as an escape from the stress of everyday life.

They might be onto something. Baths have been associated with good sleep quality and better perception of one’s own health, but they may also lead to a longer, healthier life, according to new research published in the journal Heart. The long-term, peer-reviewed, observational study found that a daily hot bath is associated with a 28 per cent lower risk of heart disease and a 26 per cent lower risk of stroke, compared to a once- or twice-weekly bath or no bath at all.

The researchers tracked the bathing habits and cardiovascular disease risk of more than 30,000 Japanese adults aged 40 to 59 living in Akita, Iwate, Tokyo, Nagano and Okinawa over the course of 20 years, from 1990 to 2009. “We found that frequent tub bathing was significantly associated with a lower risk of hypertension, suggesting that a beneficial effect of tub bathing on risk of [cardiovascular disease] may be in part due to a reduced risk of developing hypertension,” the researchers summarized. Be right back. Drawing a bath right now.

Closer to home, therapeutic water facilities like Body Blitz spa in Toronto offer a similar experience to onsen bathing, offering warm dead sea salt pools, cold plunge pools and hot epsom salt pools. “The main benefit of taking a bath is to cleanse the body by opening the pores to remove dirt and environmental toxins. But baths can also help alleviate stress and anxiety, increase blood circulation, reduce pain and inflammation, relieve muscle tension and relax and calm the mind and body,” says Tina Griffin, Body Blitz resident skincare expert. Communal baths such as Body Blitz have just reopened as we enter stage 3 COVID protocols, but there are also plenty of ways to recreate that bliss—and potential health-promoting effects—at home. Here, Griffin’s tips on creating the perfect bath experience.

Do utilize different temperatures

“The body reacts differently to different water temperatures. Warm water opens the pores and kills bacteria, while relaxing and de-stressing the body, relieving skin irritation and improving muscle tension. Cold water closes the pores, tightens skin, tones muscles and reduces inflammation. It also encourages drainage of the lymph nodes. Hot water can relieve muscle discomfort by increasing blood flow to the soft tissues, reduce inflammation, activate sweat glands and fight colds and congestion.”

Don’t make it too hot

“We recommend not having the water temperature too hot—above 40°C—as it can be hard on the body and cause hypotension, which can lead to light dizziness and a drop in blood pressure. When your body is submerged, you should feel warm and cozy. After a warm bath, take a one-minute cold shower (or add cold water to your bath) to regulate your body temperature.”

Do take the time to prep

“Your face should be cleansed so that when the steam from the bath opens your pores, they are not clogged. We require guests to shower before doing the Therapeutic Waters Circuit because of health and safety standards, but also to get rid of dirt, oil and lotion from the skin, allowing the minerals to absorb better. Following the bath, while the skin is damp, apply a moisturizer to your face and body to seal in moisture.”

Don’t let your skin dry out

“Although baths are beneficial and relaxing, we would recommend having a bath no more than twice a week: Skin produces oil from the sebaceous glands for the purpose of lubricating the skin’s surface, and taking a bath on a very frequent basis can rid the skin of its natural oils. This can make the skin more susceptible to bacteria, and become itchy, dry and flaky.”

Do add salts and oils

“Add one to two cups of therapeutic dead sea salts (like Body Blitz Dead Sea Salts) or epsom salts to a warm bath and soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Dead sea salts are said to help ease muscle aches, improve joint mobility, provide relief from skin irritation, aid in eliminating toxins and replenish essential minerals. Besides easing muscle tension, detoxifying and deeply relaxing the body, Epsom salts (a.k.a. magnesium sulphate) are also said to help regulate over 325 enzymes in the body. To enhance the experience, add 18 to 20 drops of an essential oil blend to a full bath.”

 

 

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