Therapeutic Bathing
Ancient Bathing Remedies for Modern Living
Denver, Colorado, USA
Hot Water Benefits

Hot Soak Botanicals

Time & Temperature

Hot Soak Protocol
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.
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 Botnanicals
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.
Next Topic
Cool Soaks
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Photo courtesy of Roberts Hot Tubs
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Ancient thermal bath in Lesvos, Greece