DIY Mineral Salt Baths

We all enjoy the dreamy idea of soaking in hot mineral baths, but how often are we actually indulging in them? Once a month? Once a year? If we told you that frequently soaking in salt baths would greatly impact your overall well-being, would you start? Now’s the time to change your routine and start treating yourself to all the therapeutic benefits of a mineral salt bath. There are an ample number of reasons why salt baths are great for your body and your overall health and this is what you need to know:

What is Epsom salt and how does it work?

Epsom salt simply is crystals of hydrated magnesium sulfate. For centuries, people have been using Epsom salt as a healing agent and pain reliever. When mixed with hot water, these minerals break down and get into our bodies through our skin; skin being our largest organ. The minerals then have the therapeutic ability to treat and manage a variety of conditions like muscle soreness and stiffness, cramps, arthritis, inflammation and stress, while also removing toxins from the body and promoting overall wellness.

Dead Sea salt

The Dead Sea is a salt lake in the Middle East more than 15 million years old. It is 10 times saltier than our ocean with a hyper-salinity of 34.2%. For more than 2,000 years people have been traveling to and bathing in Dead Sea salt to experience the luxurious, therapeutic effects from its supremely rich mineral content. These salts naturally contain more than 20 trace minerals, the most abundant minerals being magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and sulfur. Some of the many benefits of bathing in these key minerals of Dead Sea salt are:

> powerful anti-inflammatory

> pain reliever

> improves sleep

> fights against anxiety and depression

> regulates pH balance

> detoxifies and cleanses body of toxins and heavy metals

> deeply hydrating for the skin

> treats skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis

> cleanses and disinfects

> promotes youthful skin

> soothes sore muscles, achy joints and tendons

Make your own mineral bath, it’s easy!

This is the fun part. Bath salts are so simple and easy to create. They're great gift ideas and fun to make with kids. The bottom line is you need Epsom salt, Dead Sea salt, and baking soda- that's it. If you want a luxurious, “I have a Day Spa in my own home” feel, mix in your favorite essential oils and/or dried herbs for their abundant aromatherapy and therapeutic benefits. Looking for a relaxing and calming bath before bed? Mix in lavender and chamomile. Are you wanting to feel energized and revitalized? Mix in peppermint and eucalyptus.

In a large bowl, mix together your ingredients:

1 cup Epsom salt

1 cup Dead Sea salt

1 tbsp baking soda to soften the water

10 drops lavender essential oil

10 drops Roman chamomile essential oil

We used dried herbs for ours: dried lavender, dried chamomile and rose buds. (often times dried herbs are an affordable alternative to essential oils… and they look really nice!)

When contents are mixed, you are ready to put them in your hot bath. It is best to pour the contents in the tub while it is filling to help ensure the ingredients get mixed around. Then, voila. You're ready to soak. Reap all the benefits of your very own homemade, therapeutic, mineral salt bath! Take them often. Your mind, body and spirit will thank you! Remember, don't wash off with soap after your bath. Let everything soak in and save the soap for another time.

*All ingredients can be found at Sierra Sundance in our bulk jars. We also carry a wide variety of high-quality essential oils.