Beauty Therapy - The Healing Power of Water

from bath and body

The ultimate relaxing bath is around 38 degrees Centigrade; this is the temperature that's been shown to relax the muscles and stimulate the production of calming chemicals in the brain. Add soothing bath oils containing scents like lavender, melissa or patchouli.

• Before you get in the bath gently exfoliate with a loofah, as this will help your body absorb relaxing oils a lot more effectively.
• Turn down the lights, pop some candles round the bath if you like, or float some flower petals on the top.
• Stay in there for 20 to 30 minutes, enjoying the peace and silence.

Soothing

Back and shoulder aches seem to be a common part of many people's working lives but you can help to heal these things in the bath. Epsom or sea salts contain ingredients that, when absorbed by the body, have an anti-inflammatory action. Add to this the healing benefits of hot water and it's easy to see how a bath can soothe away the aches and pains of the day.

• Run water of around 38 degrees Centigrade and add some Epsom salts or mineral-based bath salts.
• Lie under the water and try a spot of hydrotherapy.Turn the shower head on at full blast and put it into the water, directing the jet onto your back and shoulders to give an excellent underwater massage.

Smoothing

Baths can help you create super smooth skin, if you know how. Try out the following suggestions:

• Start with damp skin and apply an exfoliating scrub to remove the dead skin cells.
• Run a bath that's warm enough to sit in comfortably, but not too hot (hot water will only dehydrate the skin).
• Add a pint of milk or cream.Theae contain ingredients like whey protein which hydrate the skin.
• Relax for 20 minutes (the optimum timQ for hydration) and gently massage the water into your skin.
• Get out and lightly pat yourself dry.
• Before the last drops of water absorb into your skin, apply a rich body lotion.

Energizing

Most of us use the bath to relax and the shower to give us that get up and go, but it doesn't have to be that way. Sitz baths (where the upper and lower body is exposed to different temperatures) have been used for years to energize and invigorate the body. Here's how to create the effect.

• Run a bath warm enough to sit in. Put in energizing bath foams or oils concentrating on scents like lemon, orange or grapefruit.
• Before you get in, brush your body vigorously to start your circulation soaring. Use firm quick strokes, moving up towards the heart.
• Get in the bath and relax for five to ten minutes with a cup of peppermint or green tea, with your feet at the end near the taps.
• Start running cold water over your feet to boost your metabolism and to energize. Get out when the water has cooled.
• Apply body lotion and you'll be set to face the day.

Detox

Normally, we take baths to make us clean. Here's how to do some serious, deep-down cleansing.

• Make sure your bathroom is warm enough and start off with an empty bath. Using a few handfuls of damp sea salt, exfoliate your body from head to toe using big circular movements.
• Rinse this off, then towel-dry well.
• Apply a mud or seaweed mask to your whole body for a great detox (don't worry if things start to get messy!) and wrap yourself in a towel - preferably one you don't mind getting filthy. Even better, get someone to wrap your body in a bin bag (obviously keeping your head well clear).
• Relax for 20 minutes.
• Shower off the mask and then run a warm bath.
• Add more seaweed mixture or some green clay (which you'll find at many health food stores).
• Relax for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Finish with a blast of cold water to boost your circulation.

Top 5 tips for bathing

• Enhance the action of your bath with essential oils. Six drops in the water are enough to make a difference.Try grapefruit, bergamot or lime to energize; clary sage, rosemary or patchouli to soothe your mind; and melissa, lavender or camomile to send you to sleep.*
• If you're using essential oils, put them in once you have finished running the water. Close the door and wait two to three minutes before you get in - this helps the oils evaporate into the air and maximizes their powers.
• For the best beauty results, baths should be either long or short. Short baths (five to ten minutes) cleanse the skin without dehydration, while if you stay in the bath for over 20 minutes you'll start to rehydrate your skin from outside (the reason you go pruny).
• On the other hand, baths that last between 10 and 20 minutes should be avoided, as you actually lose water from the skin while you bathe. This can result in dehydration.
• Just a couple of words of warning: if you are allergic to seafood, skip seaweed baths. If you have sensitive skin, body brushing, salts, essential oils or bath foams are best avoided. If you have any heart or blood pressure problems avoid very hot or very cold baths or showers.