Bathe
/bath/ verb
to take a bath
to become immersed or absorbed
The medicinal benefits of bathing were first embraced in the Roman Era when bath houses became the social hub of society. Around the world the joys of bathing are celebrated and enjoyed from the Turkish Hamman to the Russian Banyas. In Japan communal bathing is said to play an important role in maintaining happiness and health of an ageing population.
So what exactly are the health benefits of bathing?
1. Detoxifying
By encouraging lymphatic flow, warm water stimulates detoxification through the skin, kidneys, liver, and colon. This is turn supports our body’s immune system.
2. Deeply Cleansing
Salt baths contain nutrients and minerals such magnesium, potassium, sodium, and calcium. Warm water opens our pores for absorption, purifying and cleansing skin which helps enhance skin texture and radiance. Simultaneously this process also helps draw out pollution, impurities, toxins, and dirt.
3. Stress Relieving
Magnesium found in Epsom bathing salts raises serotonin levels, this is turn slows down of our body’s stress responses and calms our central nervous system. As well as easing inflammation and muscle soreness, magnesium also helps induce a restful nights sleep.
4. Thalassotherapy
Thalassotherapy is the concept created by Frenchman Jacques for le Bonnardiere in the 1860s. Thalassotherapy translates from the Greek word ‘thalosso’ and ‘therepia’ as ‘sea therapy.’ The addition of seaweed extract to your bath can recreate the healing and beneficial properties of seawater in your own bathroom, helping to relieve stress, muscular aches and expel toxins from your body.
Seaweed is rich in antioxidants and vitamins that help promote collagen, improving skin tone, texture and elasticity. The anti- inflammatory properties of seaweed, along with a unique blend of minerals, help soothe and repair, resulting in healthy and supple skin.
5. ‘Water quiets all the noise, all the distractions, and connects you to your own thoughts.’
This was the opinion of Wallace J. Nichols, a US Marine Biologist who dedicated his life to understanding the effects of water on our brains. He believes that we all have a ‘blue mind’ triggered when we are near or in water. Nichols defines a blue mind as a ‘mildly meditative state characterised by calm, peacefulness, unity and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life at the moment.’
Bathing can help our brains rest from over stimulation. During these moments of peace and clarity our minds can wander freely, this in turn can trigger ideas or revelations. Lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury, wrote ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ while taking a bath in a hotel room in Munich, and Winston Churchill was known to have two baths a day to destress from wartime pressures.
Enjoy the health benefits of bathing at home...
Despite the ever evolving and changing trends in the health and wellness world, the humble bath has stood the test of time.
Inspired by the skin and mind cleansing benefits of sea swimming, the Phoenix and Providence Seaweed Bath Salts have been formulated to rejuvenate and renew, to create a simple self care ritual to be enjoyed in the comfort of your own bathroom.
The seaweed bath salts are made from seaweed foraged from the shores of St. Martin’s, dried in the Scillonian sunshine and ground by hand to soften and soothe skin. The seaweed is combined with mineral rich Epsom Salts and locally harvested sea salt.
The seaweed bath are salts are scented with an organic essential oil blend of calming lavender oil, peppermint oil to alleviate sore muscles and grounding vetiver root oil to ease emotional overwhelm.
You are welcome to enjoy the Phoenix & Providence curated bathtime Rejuvenate playlist.
If you love taking a bath then I can highly recommend reading ‘Bathe’ by Suzanne Duckett, it’s full of recipes to try in your own home as well as inspiring bathing rituals from around the world.