10 Jan Tue 2012
ABOUT BATH TEAS OR BATH HERBS
A lot of people like to make bath teas or bath herbs for themselves. Some of the recipes that I've seen however, are way too much for a single bath. It seems that people think the same way with herbs as they do with medicine. If a little works good, a lot should work even better! This is a dangerous attitude to have. Herbs are potent, just as medicine is potent. Whenever I make up a formula it is just the right amount for a certain amount of small bath teas.
If a large (5 x 7) bath tea is just tossed into a tub full of water, the very first bath is dangerous for you to take! Look at the color of your bath water! Is it a rust, or bright green or can you see bright color at all? If you can, there are TOO MUCH herbs in your bath! And, you should not get in that tub!
A small tea bag or muslin bag (3 x 5) is all you need for one ½ to ¾ full bath tub. And that same tea bag can be used one more time! You will see a very light color in your bath water,such as; light green or light yellow, but, your bath water color shouldn't change dramatically. You also should not spend more than 20 minutes in your herbal bath. Nor, should you be using other soaps, bubble bath products or what have you. When you step out of the tub, take a rough towel and dry yourself. Do not use lotions, otherwise you have just destroyed the good of the herbs.
The only time a large tea bag can be used is if you make it in a concentrate form; using 2 gallons of water, heat the water til boiling; drop ONE large tea bag in and let it steep NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. Take the bag out of the water. Let the water cool and pour the water into 2 glass gallon containers. When you want to take a bath, use NOT MORE THAN 1 cup of the concentrate that you just made, in a tub full of water.
That is the correct way to use a large (5 x 7) bath tea.
I agree...I made a mistake of taking a bath with 4 bags of green tea. I was incredibly tired and thought it would be great for relaxation. WRONG! Instead, I was ready to run a marathon because of all the caffeine that was absorbed through my skin. Please consider this before you try a tea bath.
I have a question about the recommended amount: I have powdered lavender and chamomile, are those more concentrated than dried flowers? I don't want to use too much and end up with side effects or wasting my powder.
Would you recommend a teaspoon of each for a full tub? Is that too much/little?
Hi Katie!
I think a teaspoon of each herb is just enough. If you can, try to put the herbs in a cloth or muslin bag so that the herbs don't clog up the tub and also don't get all over you.
Don't put anymore than 1 teaspoon of each. Also, clean yourself first, and then fill the tub with water drop in the herbs and just soak or use just a loafa sponge and rub the herbs into your skin. Stay in the tub for 20 minutes.
Elaynn
Thank you for the informative post. I purchased 3x5 muslin bags and have a few different mixtures in mason jars ready to make the sachets. Should I be measuring a 1/2 cup for each bag? More?
Thank you!