Nourish Your Soul, Be Kind To You ~

Hand, Foot and Full body Baths to Pamper Yourself!

Hand Baths can be used as a beauty treatment for your hands to soften any hard skin before you apply your hand cream/oil and conditions such as arthritis, aches and pains and burns etc. In a bowl place some warm water, 2 drops of patchouli, 2 drops of lemon and 3 drops of geranium. Allow your hands to soak for 5-10 minutes, remove from the water, making sure you have a towel next to the bowl to pat them dry. Apply your Aromatherapy hand cream or oil.

Foot baths are a wonderful alternative to full body baths, especially as we need to conserve our water. They can be relaxing, stimulating and used for many different conditions for example tired aching feet, swollen feet and ankles, softening hard skin, relaxing, anxiety, stress and tension.

Try this for a relaxing, soothing soak; fill a heatproof bowl with very warm water not too hot, what feels comfortable for you add rose, sandalwood, rosewood and lemon, 3 drops of each. Agitate the water gently, pop your feet straight in and soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Be sure to have a towel handy for when you have finished.

Tip - when getting ready for your foot bath place a towel under the bowl, then pour in your water, add the essential oils and agitate before placing your feet in the bowl.             Agitating the water helps to disperse the oils, sit back and enjoy. As an extra add some rock salt and fresh herbs. When you are ready to take your feet out, place them onto the towel, move the bowl carefully to one side, wrap the towel around your feet and pat dry. Apply moisturiser or an oil blend, sit back and relax.

If you don’t have any essential oils and feel like pampering yourself with a foot bath use fresh herbs from your garden,  calendula flowers, rose petals,  rosemary, lemon thyme, Marjoram or lavender. Add half a teaspoon of olive oil and some sliced lemon or lime.

Having an Aromatherapy bath is so healing on many levels. 

Bathing can be used for reducing stress, tension, anxiety and depression. Other conditions that can be treated muscular aches and pains, skin conditions for example very dry skin, a tepid bath can be used to reduce inflammation, insomnia, having time out and being mindful of the process.

When using essential oils in a bath, 6 - 10 drops of essential oil in total is recommended. Add your chosen essential oils just before hopping in and make sure you agitate the water to break up the oils. If you have sensitive skin you may choose to use a dispersant. A dispersant can be milk, vegetable oil or a product specifically made for use with essential oils, known as a disper. Always add your oils to the disper, milk or vegetable oil first, then pour into the bath and gently agitate. If vegetable oils used be sure to have a non-slip mat in your bath.

To receive the most benefit you only need to soak for 10 - 15 mins.

When bathing you have 2 methods of absorbtion they are through your skin known as the integumentary system and your olfactory by breathing in the oils.

A question I am sometimes asked.

Q. Why do we use the same amount of essential oil drops in a full body bath as a hand and foot bath, there is so much more water?

A. We are covering more area of our body with water; therefore we are receiving a higher absorbtion rate. As I mentioned earlier we also have two methods of Absorbtion, more is being taken in.

For some of us, it may not be practical to have a full body bath due to lack of water.  We live in the Hunter Valley and rely on rain water, other areas have water restrictions. So please do be conscious of how much water you use. Your bathing water can be recycled by using on your garden bed or pot plants.

Below are a few blends you may like to try for yourself. Remember to research the essential oils and their contra-indications. If in doubt you can contact me or a qualified Aromatherapist near you. The following recipes may aid in reducing some symptoms however we are all individuals and the results may differ from one person to another.

One of my old favourites in a full body bath

3 drops of Geranium, 2 drops of patchouli and 5 drops of bergamot This was a blend I would use at night before bed to help me relax as well as release stress and tension.

 Please take note that bergamot is best used at night, it is photosensitive which means it reacts to light (sunlight and possibly ultra-violet light), causing chloasma or temporary discolouration of the skin.

Here is a simply divine bath blend, totally indulging and decadent!

3 drops each of pure rose, neroli and jasmine absolutely brings out the Goddess in us all! If you are fortunate enough to have some tuberose add a couple of drops as well…

3 drops of vetiver or rhu khus, 2 drops of rosewood and 2 drops of lemon

Frankincense love it! 4 drops with 3 drops rose and 2 drops of champa

Foot bath recipes

3 drops of sandalwood, 2 drops of red myrtle and 3 drops lemon, I find this calming and refreshing

For an energising and invigorating blend I can’t go past 4 drops of grapefruit, 2 drops of cardamom and 1drop of ginger co2 ( ginger can irritate the skin so one drop is plenty)

Hand bath recipes

4 drops of neroli, 2 drops of geranium and 2 drops of lemon

3 drops of alpine lavender, 2 of drops geranium and 2 drops of sandalwood

Remember to be mindful, taking in the beautiful aroma’s breathing slowly and deeply. Enjoy pampering yourself!

When you purchase your essential oils here and spend $100 you will receive ‘Alassea’ from my ‘Ethereal’ range as a perfume spray valued at $44

(Source: aromatiqueessentials.com.au)