Had a rough day? Slide into a nice hot bath and spoil yourself! Adding an herbal tea to the water will work wonders to melt away the stress, beautify your skin, and rejuvenate you-- body, mind and spirit.
Herbal teas are easy and inexpensive to make, using common ingredients such as oatmeal, epsom salts, herbs, essential oils, and citrus peels. They are placed in small muslin bags that you toss into the bath water, or they can be stored in simple jars.
They make lovely gifts as well, for friends and family members who appreciate handmade items. Unleash your creativity and adorn the jars and tea bags with lace, ribbon, and other pretty finishing touches.
Below are eight easy recipes for herbal bath teas that are sure to please. Why not give them a try?
Calming:
1/2 cup lavender
1/2 cup epsom salts
1/2 cup rose petals
1/4 cup chamomile
Relaxing:
1/2 cup lavender
1/2 cup chamomile
1/4 cup hops
1/4 cup rosebuds
15 drops of lavender essential oil
Aching muscles:
1/2 cup thyme
1/2 cup rosemary
1/2 cup lavender
1/4 cup cramp bark
1/4 cup epsom salt
Lemon Lift:
1/2 cup lemon balm or lemon verbena
1/4 cup lemongrass
1/4 cup lemon peel
1/4 cup peppermint (or rose, if preferred)
1/4 cup green tea
15 drops lemon or peppermint essential oils
Oriental pick-me-up:
(recommended for oily skin types)
2 tbs epsom salt
1 tbs lemongrass
1 tbs ginger cut small
1 tbs lemon verbena
1 tbs comfrey leaf
1 tbs orange peel
1 tbs chamomile
1 tbs jasmine flowers
1 tbs green tea
15 drops lemon or orange essential oil
Therapeutic:
1/2 cup yarrow flower
1/2 cup ginger, cut small
1/4 cup cayenne pepper, crushed
1/4 cup part rosemary
15 drops rosemary, tea tree or eucalyptus essential oils
Troubled skin:
1/2 cup rooibos tea
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup sassafras
1/4 cup chamomile
1/4 cup comfrey leaf
Oatmeal bath sachets:
3 and 1/2 cups oatmeal
1/4 cup lavender
1/4 cup rosemary
15 drops lavender or rosemary essential oils
Optional ingredients: rose, mint, chamomile, cornmeal, dry orange peel, ground almonds
Coarsely grind oats and herbs. Place in a muslin or cloth bag and tie tightly.
Add to bath water, squeezing the bag to let the water flow through it. Rub the sachet on to your skin.
For supplies and ingredients:
Glenbrook Farms Herbs & Such
9228 169th Road
Live Oak, FL 32060
Toll Free: (888)716-7627
FAX 1-386-362-6481
http://www.glenbrookfarms.com
For more information:
The Chamomile Times website
http://www.chamomiletimes.com
What’s Cooking website
http://camilleclaudel.tripod.com/whatscooking
Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com
