Herbal bathing is relaxing, enjoyable and an invaluable self-care tool. In this article, you’ll discover the benefits of an herbal bath and how to use fresh herbs to create a seasonal garden bath.
Reducing stress is one of the most effective things we can do to increase our vitality, and taking time to luxuriate in the bath is a well-known stress-buster.
If you enjoy bathing, then an herbal bathing routine can be one of your best tools for taming the accumulated stress and tension of everyday life.
Most people have experienced the muscle relaxation results of spending time in a bath or hot tub. When you add the healing properties of herbs to the mix, your bathing routine takes your wellness to another level and becomes indispensable to your overall quality of life.
Herbal Bath Benefits
Herbal bathing is a simple practice that has many healing benefits. Steeping your body in a bath tub full of medicinal leaves and flowers is more than pampering; it is preventive medicine that washes away stress and tension.
Many herbal constituents can be absorbed through the skin and taking the time out to lie down in the bathtub is healing in itself. There are many benefits of herbal baths, which can…
- Calm the mind
- Lift the spirits
- Reduce stress
- Relax sore muscles
- Increase circulation
- Promote mental clarity
- Help the body release toxins
- Fight off colds
- Heal the skin
Many cultures throughout the world use herbal bathing as a primary healing modality. Herbal bathing can be powerful preventive medicine.
The healing benefits of the bathing herbs can be absorbed directly through the skin, and many herbs stimulate and enhance healthy skin metabolism and secretion.
Seasonal Garden Baths
Herbal garden baths are a wonderful seasonal experience. You steep your body in the abundance of what is growing at the time you take the bath.
It is like eating seasonal food from your garden or the farmers market. Just as the seasons shine through your meals, your bath also reflects the time of year. Each season takes on a deeper sensory recognition and understanding as you steep your body in the unique herbal bounty. Emerge from your bath tub refreshed, renewed and more in touch with yourself and the earth.
- Spring brings cleansing baths of dandelion and peppermint.
- Summer fills our bath tub with lemon verbena, rose petals and calendula blossoms.
- Autumn bath rituals are infused with the solitude of sage.
- Winter baths are garnished with evergreens such as pine needles and cedar.
Lavender and rosemary are staple herbs for every season of garden baths at our house. I have large hedges of both. Lavender and rosemary are perennial herbs and the leaves can be harvested any time of the year.
If you are just beginning to plant your herbal bathing garden, rosemary and lavender are two good herbs to get started with because you can use them during every season.
Many people have the desire to feel more connected with the earth. Submerging yourself in the changing scents, pigments and textures of the plants is one way to cultivate a deeper awareness of the earth. It is a very subtle path, but over time you realize how much more you perceive and appreciate the simple and complex intricacies of each season.
How to Make a Garden Bath With Fresh Herbs
The main thing that distinguishes the garden bath from other herbal bathing methods is that you are using fresh herbs in the bath.
Preparing for this bath is as simple as walking through your garden and picking a handful of whatever healing herbs are available and putting them directly into the tub. You could use just a few sprigs or several cups of herbs.
What goes into my garden bath varies from season to season. Sometimes I use one or two herbs, and other times I put in a few pieces of a dozen or more healing herbs that I have growing in my garden.
“Steeping your body in a bath full of medicinal leaves and flowers is more than pampering; it is preventive medicine.”
When picking fresh herbs for your bath, it is very important to have completely accurate identification of the plants you are using. Please do not guess at which plant is what. It is important to know exactly which herbs you are working with.
If you aren’t so familiar with your garden herbs and flowers yet, begin by learning one useful plant at a time. It is easier to really get to know one plant, rather than trying to learn about all of them at once. A great place to start is with roses! Rose petals are a wonderful addition to any bath. You can pick fresh roses from a rose bush of any color and add them to your bath tub.
When you are done with your garden bath therapy, just scoop up all the leftover plant material in the tub and put it into your compost pile. It is important to note that if you leave the plants in the tub, they can stain it. Some of the bathing herbs act as a dye and stain the tub permanently if left in after the bath; believe me, I know this from experience!
Can You Use Dried Herbs for Baths?
People have asked me if you can just put loose, chopped up dried herbs into the bath tub.
Dried herb pieces stick to your body much more than fresh herbs, so when I use dried herbs, I make herbal bath tea bags.
In order to make a garden bath, you need to have an herbal garden or access to one. If you don’t have an herbal garden, then you can make bath tea bags with dried herbs.
Healing Garden Bath
Ingredients
- Simply pick a few sprigs or up to 4 cups of fresh medicinal herbs
Instructions
- Crush the herbs slightly with your fingers to release the plant aromas and then put them directly into your bath tub.
- Put the herbs into the tub while the water is running or after the bath is drawn.
- Leave the herbs in the bath while you are soaking. Be careful not to swallow or get them in your eyes. More caution is needed with this around children.
- When you are done with your bath, scoop up all the leftover plant material in the tub and put it into your compost pile. If you leave the plants in the tub, they can stain it.
This is great! I ❤️ baths! They’re relaxing & so needed for me. Happy to learn more & how to utilize these herbs for an even better experience! Like can add to compost too.
As always Kami, such wisdom!
🌺🌻💐🌷🌿🌾
Enjoy!
This is such a great idea for our outdoor bath we use in warmer weather. We have many bushes of rosemary growing nearby, also lemon verbena and others. How easy to throw these into the bath! Why didn’t I think of doing this !
I like to use a large tea ball, a strainer for making a large pot of tea. Still let’s the goodness out and strains the bits for easy clean up.
Thank your for such a lovely article. I love the beautiful photos and all the detail about how to make a herbal bath. I’m going to try it as you make it sound so luxurious!
I love my herbal baths!
Oh, no! I just had my husband shred up a cart load of mint and catnip for the compost pile. Into the bath tub it goes next time. And now I know what to do with the abundance of lemon balm growing down by the creek. Thanks!
Yes, into the bath tub!