There are so many incredible ways to use essential oils and adding them to our bath routine is one of them! Detox baths can be an incredible way to help your body through acute needs, help with skin issues, or help you get back above the wellness line as soon as possible! My boys know that when they aren't feeling their best, a detox bath with Epsom salts will be one of the first things they'll get to do.
DETOX BATHS AT A GLANCE
- Helpful when we are under the weather
- Can be great for both kids and adults
- Are a great, customizable way to use oils for specific needs
- Use magnesium and essential oils to help the body process and detox from invaders, environmental exposures, and more
- Use very warm water, sit for at least 40 minutes, and ideally sweat during that time
Detox baths are a really great way to give your body comfort, support, and a little TLC! This is a wonderful tool when you are feeling your defense go down (or they have already been breached!) or are fighting an acute skincare or muscle need. Essential oils, baking soda, and Epsom salts or magnesium flakes combined in hot water can help flush impurities from the body by allowing it to sweat out toxins!
BASIC DETOX BATH RECIPE
This is a super easy way to use essential oils and also help give your body some magnesium! We like the Epsom salts but magnesium flakes will work as well.
1 cup Epsom salts
½ cup high quality baking soda (optional)
20-40 drops essential oils of choice
Simply add oils to the Epsom Salts and mix well.
To use, run hot water into the container of salts and let it overflow into the tub!
When adding essential oils to detox baths, you can use your own judgment on the number of drops, but remember that we are using this for an acute need (versus a relaxing soak!). Because of that you want to use enough oil to give your immune, respiratory, or other body system the boost that it needs. For most detox baths, we use around 30 drops of essential oil. When we are making detox baths for our little ones, we usually use about 15-20 drops of essential oil, depending on their age. You can use your discretion and start lower and add as desired!
The goal with a detox bath is to sit in the bath with the water as hot/warm as comfortably possible. Ideally you are sweating as you soak so that your body is processing (detoxing!) the invaders! You want to sit in the bath for 40 minutes or so, up to an hour. The first 20 minutes will give your body time to remove toxins from your system while the last 20 to 40 minutes will allow you to absorb the minerals in the water and help you emerge from the bath feeling rejuvenated.
Some of our favorite oils for detox baths include:
Northern Lights Black Spruce, Idaho Blue Spruce, Frankincense, Copaiba
Dorado Azul, Ravintsara, Eucalyptus
Cilantro Vitality, Lemon, Pine
Purification, Thieves, Aroma Siez
FLEW-AWAY DETOX BATH
This is the recipe we swear by for acute immune needs! If you don't have all these oils, use what you have on hand. Feel free to play with the number of drops for a recipe that is exactly what you want! Also, we like to use tepid water in the presence of a fever for even more comfort.
1 cup magnesium flakes or Epsom Salt
½ cup high quality baking soda (optional)
15 drops Ravintsara
6 drops Frankincense
6 drops Idaho Blue Spruce
3 drops Dorado Azul
2 drops Eucalyptus Radiata
1 drop Wintergreen
Add oils to epsom salt and mix well, then run hot water into the jar of salts/oils and overflow into the tub to mix!
RAINDROP DETOX BATH
This curated set of essential oils is a powerful tool for promoting health, wellness and vitality – both proactively and for acute needs since the oils included can be incredible tools for healing! We love using these oils in rollers, massages, and in detox baths.
1 cup magnesium flakes/Epsom Salts
½ cup high quality baking soda (optional)
1 drop each Oregano, Thyme, Basil, Cypress, Wintergreen, Marjoram, Peppermint, Valor and Aroma Siez essential oils
ROARING 20S DETOX BATH
In 2020, Pine, Geranium, and Lemon were huge players in our arsenal for ‘that which shall not be named.' Grab this recipe to help provide comfort and support for your immune system!
1 cup magnesium flakes/Epsom Salts
½ cup high quality baking soda (optional)
10 drops each Lemon, Geranium
15-20 drops Pine
SKIN SOOTHER DETOX BATH
This is one of our winter time go-tos. Adding oatmeal to the bath is helpful for more acute skin needs, especially for children. Think conventional oat baths but without the fake (chemical, man-made) fragrance!
1 cup organic oats, ground
¼ cup organic powdered milk (or coconut milk) (or goat milk)
1 Tbsp liquid castile soap
2 tsp Vitamin E oil
10-15 drops Frankincense
5 drops Lavender
5 drops Helichrysum
SOOTHING ACV DETOX BATH
This one is incredible for both the skin and for joints! An ACV soak with magnesium is a great way to support active lifestyles.
¼ cup magnesium flakes
¼ cup organic oats, ground
2 Tbsp sweet almond oil
10 drops each Frankincense, Idaho Blue Spruce, Lavender
¼ cup raw organic apple cider vinegar
Mix together and add to bath water. Then add ACV to the water and gently mix.
GENTLE DETOX FOR LITTLE ONES
This is a great recipe to tweak for your little ones! You can alter the oils as needed for specific issues, or you can add even less oils for younger children. If your child has trouble staying in the bath, consider reading to them or playing music while they soak!
1 cup magnesium flakes
½ cup high quality baking soda (optional)
15 drops Frankincense
5 drops Lavender
Simply add oils to magnesium and mix well.
To use, run hot water into the container of salts and let it overflow into the tub!
OIL CHOICES BASED ON NEEDS
Detox baths are a really wonderful tool to have in your toolbox and can benefit every need that you have. Use the basic recipe above and customize it based on your specific issue at hand:
Muscle love → Frankincense, Idaho Blue Spruce, Aroma Siez
Aches away → Peppermint, Lavender, Clove, Cypress
Immune needs → Purification, Lemon, Frankincense, Thieves
Shark week → Dragon Time, Copaiba, Aroma Siez
Belly woes → Ginger, Peppermint + Lemon, DiGize
General detox → Frankincense, Lemon, Aroma Siez, Lavender
Happy Soaking!
