How to Make Herbal Bath Teas

Herbal teas are remarkable for their distinctive aromas and calming properties. Depending on the ingredients, an herbal tea can soothe, relax, or energize you. Instead of drinking herbal tea, try soaking in it! Run a bath and toss in a tea bag full of dried herbs. Then, get in the tub and soak while your bath tea steeps. Breathe deeply and enjoy a naturally calming bathtime experience.

[Edit]Ingredients

[Edit]Rejuvenating Bath Tea

• 1 teaspoon (0.7 g) of dried comfrey
• 1 teaspoon (0.7 g) of dried alfalfa leaves
• 1 teaspoon (0.5 g) of dried parsley
• Peel from 1 lemon
• Peel from 1 orange

Makes enough for 1 bath

[Edit]Sleepy Time Bath Tea

• 1 tablespoon (2.5 g) of dried lavender flowers
• 1 tablespoon (2 g) of dried chamomile flowers
• 1 tablespoon (2 g) of dried peppermint leaves

Makes enough for 1 bath

[Edit]Skin-Nourishing Bath Tea

• 1/8 cup (5 g) of lavender flowers
• 1/8 cup (4 g) of chamomile buds
• 1/8 cup of (4 g) of calendula buds
• 2 cups (480 g) of Epsom salt or sea salt
• 1 cup (180 g) of baking soda
• 1/2 cup (62 g) of powdered milk, optional
• 15 to 20 drops essential oils of your choosing, optional

Makes enough for 5 baths

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Rejuvenating Bath Tea

1. Peel 1 lemon and 1 orange. Rinse the fruit and use a vegetable peeler to cut away the peel from the lemon and orange. If you prefer, peel the fruit with your bare hands or use a small knife to carefully cut away the peel. Don't throw the peel away since you'll be using it for the bath tea.^[1]
   
   
   
   • If you don't want citrus that's been treated with pesticides, purchase organic fruit.
   • You won't need the fruit itself for the bath teas.
2. Put the peels in a muslin bag with comfrey, alfalfa, and parsley. Get out a large muslin tea bag and put the peels from the orange and lemon into it. Then, add 1 teaspoon (0.7 g) of dried comfrey, 1 teaspoon (0.7 g) of dried alfalfa leaves, and 1 teaspoon (0.5 g) of dried parsley.^[2]
   
   
   • Comfrey may reduce pain and manage inflammation, muscle strain, and arthritis while the citrus can lift your mood.
   • Parsley contains anti-inflammatory flavonoids that can calm an upset stomach.
3. Tie the bag to the bathtub faucet. Pull away the drawstrings from the sides of the bag to close it and use the strings to tie the bag closed. Then, tie the strings to the tub's faucet so the tea bag hangs below it.^[3]
   
   
   
   • If you prefer, toss the tea bag directly into the tub.
4. Run a bath. Turn on the water so it's your preferred temperature and fill the tub as high as you would like. Then, turn off the faucet and untie the tea bag. Drop it into the tub and enjoy as you soak in your bath tea!^[4]
   
   
   
   • Discard the tea bag after 2 days since the tea will begin to mold.

[Edit]Sleepy Time Bath Tea

1. Fill a tea bag with equal parts of dried lavender, chamomile, and peppermint. Get out a muslin tea bag with a drawstring or a disposable tea filter. Then, put 1 tablespoon (2.5 g) of dried lavender flowers, 1 tablespoon (2 g) of dried chamomile flowers, and 1 tablespoon (2 g) of dried peppermint leaves into the bag or filter.^[5]
   
   
   • Lavender and chamomile are known for their soothing and relaxing qualities.
2. Tie the bag or filter closed. If you're using a muslin tea bag, pull the drawstrings tightly and tie them together. If you're using a filter, use a piece of twine or a rubber band and wrap it tightly around the open end of the filter so the tea doesn't fall out.^[6]
   
   
   • If you can't find any filters, put the tea into a clean sock. Then, tie the end of the sock closed so the tea stays in the bottom of the sock.
3. Secure the bag to your tub's faucet. Use the bag's drawstrings or attach twine to the filter so you can tie the tea bag to the bathtub faucet. The water will flow from the faucet through the tea bag as you bath runs.^[7]
   
   
   
4. Fill the bath with water. Turn on your water and adjust the temperature until the water is as hot as you like. Keep running the water so the tub fills up with your sleepy time tea.
   
   
   • Check the water as you're filling the bath so you can adjust the temperature if needed.
5. Remove the tea bag and toss it in the tub before you soak. Untie the drawstring or twine and squeeze the bag gently. Concentrated tea will fall into the bathwater. Then, drop the bag into the tub and get into your bath tea.^[8]
   
   
   • To save the bath tea for another bath, remove the pouch and squeeze it. Let it dry completely and use it again within 2 days.
   • Throw away the tea bag after 2 days because it will mold.

[Edit]Skin-Nourishing Bath Tea

1. Put the lavender, chamomile, calendula, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. Get out a mixing bowl and place 1/8 cup (5 g) of lavender flowers into it. Add 1/8 cup (4 g) of chamomile buds, 1/8 cup of (4 g) of calendula buds, 2 cups (480 g) of Epsom salt or sea salt, and 1 cup (180 g) of baking soda.^[9]
   
   
   • Baking soda can soothe skin irritation and stop itching.
   • Epsom salt is known for relieving muscle aches and it can act as an exfoliant to slough off dead skin.
2. Add 1/2 cup (62 g) of powdered milk if you'd like creamy bath tea. Although there's no research showing that milk baths can relieve itchy skin or moisturize it, milk has been a popular bath addition for centuries. If you'd like to try a creamy herbal bath tea, put the powdered milk into the bowl with the herbs, baking soda, and salt.^[10]
   
   
   • If you don't feel like trying a creamy bath, you can leave it out.
3. Include 15 to 20 drops of essential oil if you'd like a strong fragrance. Choose your favorite scents or look for essential oils that could help your skin type. For example, if you enjoy floral scents, use rose or geranium essential oils or if you have acne-prone skin, for instance, add tea tree oil to your bath tea. Research shows that this essential oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects that could soothe your skin.^[11]
   
   
   • Essential oils are never safe to apply directly to your skin, which is why diluting them in the bath is a good way to use them.
4. Mix the tea and divide it between 5 muslin tea bags. Use a spoon or your hands to combine all of the herbal bath tea ingredients. Once the mixture is uniform, get out 5 muslin tea bags with drawstrings. Use a spoon or small scoop to divide the tea between each bag.^[12]
   
   
   • If you don't have muslin bags, fill large disposable tea filters with the tea and tie them closed with twine.
5. Run a bath and drop 1 filled bag in the water to steep. Fill your tub with water that's as hot as you like and place a tea bag in the water. Leave the bag in the bath while you soak. Try to soak for at least 20 to 30 minutes so you can relax and your skin can soften.
   
   
   • Use a new bag of herbal bath tea for each bath since the powdered milk, salt, and essential oils will dissolve completely in the bath.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• Play around with your favorite herbal combinations. You might want to write down which herbs you enjoy soaking in and note any effects you felt.

[Edit]Warnings

• Although you could brew and drink these herbal infusions, you shouldn't drink bath tea that you've soaked in.
• Avoid using herbal bath teas if you're pregnant or nursing. Your skin can absorb the tea and some ingredients haven't been proven safe for use during pregnancy.
• If you're allergic to any of the ingredients listed for the herbal bath teas, don't use them.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

[Edit]Rejuvenating Bath Tea

• Measuring spoons
• Muslin tea bag
• Vegetable peeler or small knife

[Edit]Sleepy Time Bath Tea

• Measuring spoons
• Muslin tea bag or disposable tea filter

[Edit]Skin-Soothing Bath Tea

• Measuring cups
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon
• Muslin tea bags or disposable tea filters
• Airtight storage container

[Edit]References

1. ↑ http://www.bathandbodyrecipes.com/bath-and-body-recipes/bath-tea-recipes/refreshing-citrus-bath-tea-recipe/
2. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491633/
3. ↑ http://www.bathandbodyrecipes.com/bath-and-body-recipes/bath-tea-recipes/refreshing-citrus-bath-tea-recipe/
4. ↑ http://www.bathandbodyrecipes.com/bath-and-body-recipes/bath-tea-recipes/refreshing-citrus-bath-tea-recipe/
5. ↑ https://keeperofthehome.org/make-your-own-herbal-bath-tea-sleepy-time/
6. ↑ https://keeperofthehome.org/make-your-own-herbal-bath-tea-sleepy-time/
7. ↑ https://youtu.be/C9cC_2E81vo?t=192
8. ↑ https://youtu.be/C9cC_2E81vo?t=207
9. ↑ https://helloglow.co/diy-tub-tea/
10. ↑ http://teachsoap.com/2013/08/07/cleopatras-milk-bath/
11. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924857914003458?via%3Dihub
12. ↑ https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/17685

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