You can’t put life on hold when you get sick, even though the only thing you want to do is curl up in bed to sleep the sickness away. When you develop a cold or the flu, there’s nothing more comforting than relaxing in a soothing bath. Soaking in a hot bath helps to relieve achy muscles and almost acts as a mini steam room, which helps clear up your sinuses. Because the cold, flu, and allergy season is upon us, one of the best defenses is to be proactive by making cold and flu bath salts.
Sure, you can take a regular bath, but it is better to take a bath with added benefits. The recipes we found contain Epsom salt, which is loaded with magnesium and works to soothe sore muscles. Magnesium also works to combat stress hormones in the body and reduce overall inflammation. You can use sea salt in the recipes, below, but we recommend using Epsom salt.
You’ll also notice that both of these recipes contain eucalyptus essential oil. In addition to the antimicrobial properties that benefit the skin, eucalyptus essential oil is commonly used to relieve cold symptoms. It acts as an expectorant, which helps to naturally loosen phlegm and aid decongestion. Recent studies also indicate that eucalyptus extract can benefit those with respiratory tract infections.
Breathe Easy Bath Salt
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Epsom salt
- ½ cup baking soda
- 3 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 8 drops alcohol-free vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients to an airtight glass jar and mix well. Store this in a cool, dry place.
- Use ¼-½ cup when you take a bath. Soak in this for at least 15 minutes to absorb the benefits.
Soothing Vapor Bath Salt
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Epsom salt
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
- 15 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
- 8 drops tea tree essential oil
Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients to an airtight glass jar and mix well. Store this in a cool, dry place.
- Use ½ cup or 1 cup of the mixture when you take a bath. Soak in this for at least 20 minutes for optimum results.
