Hot Baths

Hot water bathing applies to baths that are between 98 and 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Natural mineral springs are the most common hot baths, but hot
baths are also taken at home. It is best to take hot baths with the addition of minerals and/or certain botanicals.

Only recently recognized in the United States as a necessity for health maintenance, water therapies are quickly growing in popularity. Your bathroom can be your own mini-spa. Adding beautiful mineral and botanical mixtures provides a luxurious, pampered, and therapeutic experience.

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Hot Water Benefits

Bathing in a nice hot bath offers more physical and emotional benefits than one may readily consider. Hot water stimulates nerve reflexes on the spinal cord and subsequently calms and soothes the body. The Mayo clinic recently concluded that regular use of hot water bath therapies imparts many of the physical benefits of exercise without added strain on the heart. They concluded that hot water baths increase the heart rate, but do not increase blood pressure. When the body is submerged in hot water, the heart rate quickens whereby sending the warmed blood to the surface in order to disperse the increased bodily heat. After a few minutes, the warmed blood causes the blood vessels to dilate and thus increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure.

Hot water baths are primarily for relaxation and balancing erratic bodily energy. Hot water baths also increase sweating and therefore help to eliminate toxins. The addition of minerals and botanicals also provide therapeutic benefits that over time produce phenomenal results for the bathers.

Hot Soak Botanicals

Soaking in hot water baths with the addition of botanical mixtures provides added benefits that tap water alone cannot provide. Adding mixtures that contain the proper ratios of minerals, herbs, and skin conditioning milk, yogurt, etc., provides nutrients that have therapeutic properties such as relaxation, anti-depression, stress reduction, detoxification, and energizing. Please scroll down to hot water bathing protocols below for the proper application of hot soak botanical mixtures.

Time and Temperatures

It is important to not over-soak or over-heat. A hot water bath should not exceed 20 minutes. Additional time in the bath will not increase the benefits, and may cause minor dehydration.

The ideal hot water bathing temperature when using botanical mixtures is 100
degrees Fahrenheit. Mineral baths are beneficial at even higher temperatures and can be taken at 102 to 106 F. The hottest baths should be avoided by those with high blood pressure.

Hot Soak Protocol

To receive the most benefits from your hot botanical soak, follow the guidelines below.

1.   Take a cleansing shower with olive oil soap.
2.   Fill tub 1/2 full with warm water.
3.   Add botanical mixture to tub and stir.
4.   Add hotter or cooler water to obtain the correct temperature.
5.   Enjoy a 15 - 20 minute soak.
6.   Rinse with cool or cold water.
7.   Apply an after-bath body oil or butter rather than lotion.

None of the information contained on this site is intended to be a substitute for medical care. If your condition is serious, you should seek the advice of your physician. The information contained on this site is intended to promote well-being through hydro-therapeutic practices that help to prevent and reduce stress and provide relief from common minor ailments. Those with heart conditions and other serious ailments or pregnant women should always seek advice from their physicians before undergoing a hydrotherapy program.