THERAPEUTICS BATH SACHETS

Soaking in a tub of warm fragrant water is one of the most relaxing, effective ways of reducing stress as well as giving yourself a full body skincare treatment. If you have dry, dehydrated skin, or if you are prone to allergies, rashes and other skin irritations, you can make healing bath sachets using ingredients you probably have right in your kitchen!

Simple, natural ingredients like oatmeal, ground grain and nut meals and brans, honey and milk provide much needed nourishment to trouble skin and bathwater makes the perfect carrier to disperse these healing agents.

Oatmeal in particular has a long tradition of regulating and balancing the skin and assisting in skin metabolism. Cultivated cereal oats (Avena sativa) are rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids, as well as beta glucan, a natural humectant capable penetrating the skin to moisturize and nourish. The unique composition of nutrients in oatmeal gives it, its special ability to relieve itching and inflammation and its remarkable cleansing and skin soothing abilities when added to bathwater. Colloidal oatmeal is routinely prescribed by doctors for a variety of skin disorders including hives, eczema, psoriasis, sunburn, insect bites and skin rashes.

In addition, to oatmeal, ground nut and grain meals and brans are natural substances that soothe inflammed, rough or itchy skin. Almond meals and other finely ground nut meals are full of vitamins and natural oils. Oat bran, wheat bran and rice bran add a gentle bio-active exfoliating element to bath bags. Powdered milk contains protein, calcium and vitamins. You can easily make your own therapeutic bath bags at home by combining grain meals with powdered herbs and essential oils.

First, select your ingredients from the list below and combine the meals, starches or brans in a bowl. If you are treating a specific skin condition, stir in herbal powders and essential oils next. Stir constantly as you add essential oils drop by drop. When the mixture is fully blended, fill small unbleached muslin bags with the mixture. The loose weave of the muslin fabric will enable the ingredients inside to infuse the bathwater with their healing powers.

Place a bath bag under the faucet and pour your bath. You will notice the water turning a creamy, opaque colour, with a texture like silk. While bathing, hold the bag in your hand and rub it all over your body. No soap is needed for this special bath treatment - the ingredients are natural cleansers that draw dirt and oils away from the skin. If you have not taken a bath using these therapeutic ingredients before, you will be surprised by the soft, velvety feel of your skin as it absorbs nutrients from the bag and bathwater.

INGREDIENTS FOR MAKING THERAPEUTIC BATH BAGS, BY SKIN TYPE
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For dry, sensitive or easily irritated skin:

• fine-ground oatmeal
• almond meal and other nut meals
• powdered milk
• honey
• essential oils, eg. lavender, rose geranium, chamomile, sandalwood, ylang-ylang

For normal to dry skin:

• oatmeal
• cornmeal
• almond meal
• dried citrus peel
• powdered herbs, eg. benzoin, frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood
• essential oils, eg. ylang-ylang, mandarin, sweet orange, lavender

For oily, problem skin:

• oatmeal
• cornmeal
• brans, eg. oat, wheat and rice bran
• powdered herbs, eg. goldenseal, echinacea, St. John's Wort
• essential oils, eg. eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary, clary sage

For itchy skin prone to rashes:

• rice starch
• oat starch
• colloidal oatmeal
• powdered milk
• whey powder
• aloe vera powder
• honey
• essential oils, eg. rose absolute, lavender, chamomile

OAT AND MILK SACHETS WITH YLANG-YLANG
Aromatic bath bags that soothe irrtated skin while imparting the sweet fragrance of tropical flowers. For all skin types.

• 6 tbsp ground oatmeal
• 6 tbsp powdered milk
• 30 drops ylang-ylang Pure Essential Oil

Combine the ingredients thoroughly and fill small bath bags. Tie bags tightly, and store in a dry place. Use as needed.

NOURISHING CITRUS ALMOND SACHETS
A delicious mixture of skin smoothing ingredients to clarify and nurture problem skin. For all skin types.

• 4 tbsp oatmeal
• 4 tbsp ground almond meal
• 1 tbsp powdered milk
• 1 tbsp dried orange peel
• 1 tbsp sandalwood powder
• 1 tbsp unpasteurized honey
• 30 drops sweet orange Pure Essential Oil

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, stirring well. Stuff the mixture into muslin bags, tie and store. Use as needed.