You’re wound up like a top from work, or your in-laws showed up unexpectedly for the weekend. What do you do?
Take a bath and let your troubles melt away. Don’t just pour some soap into the bathtub and pretend you’re at the spa. Try these concoctions to really help you relax.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are made through steam distillation of botanicals, capturing the pure essence of the plant.
They are potent, aromatic, and highly therapeutic. Since one of the best ways to benefit from essential oils is vaporization, putting drops into a hot bath is an excellent way to use them. This is a form of aromatherapy. “Aromatherapy can be defined as the controlled use of essential oils to maintain and promote physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing,” according to Gabriel Mojay.
Essential Oils for Relaxation
- Chamomile
- Clary sage
- Frankincense
- Jasmine
- Lavender
- Rose
- Marjoram
- Ylang ylang
How to Use Essential Oils
To help the oils dissolve better, add them to the bath with a tablespoon of whole milk or Epsom salts. Add the drops just before entering the bath, and use your hands to stir them around the tub.
Try this relaxing recipe from Laurel Vukovic, author of “Herbal Healing Secrets for Women”:
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
- 3 drops sandalwood essential oil
- 2 drops clary sage essential oil
