How Baking Soda Baths Can Help

Baking soda is a mixture of sodium and bicarbonate ions that help remove odor, bacteria and acidity.  Adding 1/4 cup - 2 cups baking soda to a hot bath and soaking anywhere from 10-40 minutes could help your body by giving you detox support or killing candida or bacteria as in a yeast infection or UTI.  If you want extra detox support add 1/2 cup dead sea salts to the bath.  Dead sea salts is higher in trace minerals than Epsom salts.  This higher content of trace minerals makes Dead Sea salts a better option for detox or relaxing sore muscles. 

Always drink plenty of water before taking a baking soda bath to help flush out toxins.  For best detox support you may want to dry brush before the bath.  Dry brushing helps get rid of dead skin cells.  It also helps by opening up your pores to get the most detoxifying and purifying benefits.  Don’t get baking soda mixed up with baking powder.  You want baking soda.  It works so well because it is alkaline and our bodies tend to be too acidic so the alkaline water gets absorbed through the skin and creates a better pH.  It’s good for irritated skin as well.  

When you add the baking soda or salts make sure you swish it around so it dissolves.  I also recommend you rinse with fresh water after the bath to help get rid of toxins and residue.  Also drink more water after the bath as well to replace what was sweated out into the hot water.  

Take a baking soda bath if you want help with 

• Detox
• UTI
• Yeast infection
• Hemorrhoids
• Constipation
• Boost immune system
• Sore muscle relief (combine with Dead Sea Salt)
• Skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, poison ivy, hives, itchiness, etc.  

Be careful and talk to your health care provider before doing a baking soda bath if you have high blood pressure, open wounds, are nursing or pregnant. 

Detox Bath Recipes

Nothing is more relaxing than a warm bath… except perhaps a relaxing warm detox bath that also helps cleanse the body. Some of you may already have the epsom salt bath recipe from me that one of my patients shared with me but here are two other ones I would like to share with you as well! These detox baths will help remove toxins from the body and they also tend to make you tired so I suggest doing them before bed!

If you are detoxing, have a weak immune system or have skin issues these natural recipes are a simple and easy way to boost health! I’m always up for a warm bath, and these natural add-ons help improve health while you relax!

Before starting any bath dry brushing is recommended for it will help stimulate the lymphatic system and open up the pores for a deeper detox.

DEAD SEA SALT BATH

Dead Sea salt is rich in magnesium, bromide, sulfur, zinc, and sodium, which, when absorbed, all reap many health and beauty benefits.  While both magnesium and sulfur can be poorly absorbed through the stomach, studies show increased magnesium levels from soaking in a bath enriched with Dead Sea salt! Magnesium and sulfur are both easily absorbed through the skin. Sulfur plays an important role in the formation of brain tissue, joint proteins and the proteins that line the walls of the digestive tract. They stimulate the pancreas to generate digestive enzymes and are thought to help detoxify the body of medicines and environmental toxins and is great as an after-workout treat for it helps with sore muscles.

Directions:

Warm to hot bath (the hotter the water, the more intense the detox)
3-4 cups Dead Sea Salt
1 cup baking soda
Then pour 32 oz Hydrogen Peroxide right as you get into the water
Soak for about 20-30 minutes. Ideal to do at night, but any time of day will work!

You can also put grated fresh ginger (wrapped in cheese cloth or old nylon stocking) into the bath so it warms the skin and opens the pores for more oxygen to get into the system.


APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (ACV) BATH

This bath is a great overall detoxifier. It is also the best detox bath choice for those with candida issues that affect the skin as it returns the skin to an optimal, slightly acidic ph which is a difficult environment for candida to thrive. An ACV bath also draws excess uric acid out of the body. Uric acid is created when the body breaks down substances called purines in certain foods and drinks. Most uric acid is eliminated via the kidneys in the urine, but some folks such as those with gout can have issues with excess levels. An ACV cleansing bath can provide welcome relief for those with joint problems, arthritis, gout, bursitis, or tendonitis. It also is very helpful for those with excessive body odor problems.

Add 2 cups of pure apple cider vinegar (ACV) to a regular sized tub of water as hot as tolerated. Stay in the bath until the water has cooled which will be about 45 minutes. Towel dry and don’t shower for at least 8 hours.


CLAY DETOX BATH

This bath is great for removing a lot of toxins as the clay binds to heavy metals and the epsom salts help pull a variety of toxins from the body while replenishing magnesium levels.

1/2 cup bentonite clay
1/2 cup epsom salts
essential oils if desired

Dissolve the epsom salts in a warm/hot bath and add essential oils if desired. For the clay there are two options:

1) Vigorously mix the clay in to a small amount of water until the clumps are mostly dissolved. Do not use metal for this! I mix with a wooden spoon in a glass jar. Add the clay mix to the bath and soak for at least 20 minutes.

2) Mix that clay with a small amount of water to make a paste. Stand in the tub full of water and rub the clay mix all over your body to create a skin mask and let dry for 5 minutes before sitting down. This provides direct contact with the skin and effectively pulls toxins from the skin. Soak in bath at least 20 minutes or as long as desired. While soaking, use a wash cloth to scrub any remaining clay off the skin.