For thousands of years, detox baths have been used in traditional cultures as a way to cleanse and rejuvenate the body. In today's world, where we are constantly exposed to toxins from various sources, detox baths offer a gentle, easy, and relaxing way to support our body's natural detoxification processes. While the idea of weight loss through detox baths might seem appealing, it's essential to understand the science behind it and manage expectations.
Understanding Detox Baths
Detox baths are therapeutic baths that utilize specific ingredients to help the body eliminate toxins through the skin. Our bodies are constantly detoxing through various pathways of elimination, such as our gut, breath, and skin. Detox baths aim to enhance this process, promoting overall well-being.
What are Toxins?
Toxins are poisonous substances that negatively affect our health. We are exposed to toxins daily through our environment, including air pollution, household products, toiletries, processed foods, radiation, and chemicals like pesticides.
Key Ingredients for Detox Baths
The key to a healing detox bath lies in the ingredients you choose to add to the water. Bath salts, particularly Epsom salt, are a common base due to their numerous benefits. Other ingredients, such as baking soda, bentonite clay, apple cider vinegar, and essential oils, can further enhance the detoxifying and soothing effects of the bath.
Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is a compound made of magnesium and sulfate, unlike table salt, which is sodium. It has reportedly been used for over 400 years for its remarkable healing properties. Magnesium chloride and sulphate are readily absorbed through the skin, making Epsom salt baths an easy and ideal way to enjoy the amazing health benefits.
Read also: Explore the pros and cons of fruit juice detoxes.
Benefits of Epsom Salt:
- Magnesium Absorption: Magnesium plays a number of roles in the body including regulating the activity of over 325 enzymes, reducing inflammation, helping muscle and nerve function and helping to prevent artery hardening. While more studies are needed to confirm magnesium absorption through the skin, a 2004 study found increased levels of magnesium and sulfate in the blood after Epsom salt baths.
- Sulfate Benefits: Sulfates help improve the absorption of nutrients, flush toxins and help ease migraine headaches.
- Relaxation and Soreness Relief: Heat helps with relaxation, soreness, and aches.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another household ingredient commonly used for rapidly detoxifying the body. It has been used to treat radiation exposure by binding with dangerous elements like uranium. Baking soda also has an alkalizing effect on the body, which is beneficial for a variety of ailments ranging from bone loss to back pain.
Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay is a clay composed of ash from volcanoes. Similar clays have been used by cultures worldwide as a digestive aid and to remove unwanted pathogens like parasites, however it also binds to toxins in the body. The secret to Bentonite clay’s toxin-binding powers lies in its negative ionic charge and absorption abilities, which pull positively-charged ions from the bloodstream for elimination.
Other Ingredients
Other ingredients, such as apple cider vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, are sometimes added to detox baths for their potential benefits. The acids in apple cider vinegar are great for rejuvenating your skin, killing off bacteria and yeast, and balancing the PH levels on your skin. Hydrogen peroxide is thought to release an extra oxygen molecule that is absorbed through your skin, oxygenizing your body and helping to break down toxins, energize your cells, and boost your immune system. Essential oils like lavender, peppermint, or tea tree can be added for aromatherapy benefits.
Detox Bath Recipes
There are different recipes for detox baths, depending on your symptoms. You can take detox baths once a week to start. Here are a few examples:
Bentonite Clay Detox Bath
This recipe utilizes the potent detoxifying properties of bentonite clay.
Read also: Supporting Detoxification
- 2 cups Epsom salt
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup bentonite clay
Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Bath
This recipe uses apple cider vinegar to rejuvenate the skin.
- 2 cups Epsom salt
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
Hydrogen Peroxide Detox Bath
This recipe incorporates hydrogen peroxide for its oxygenizing effects.
- 1 cup Epsom salt
- 1 cup hydrogen peroxide
How to Take a Detox Bath
- Hydrate: Make sure you are hydrated before your bath. Always drink plenty of water before, during, and after a detox bath.
- Prepare the Bath: Run the bath water as hot as can be tolerated as this will draw toxins to the surface of the skin and aids any absorption. Use 2 cups of Epsom salt for a standard-size bathtub with warm water (never more than 101.5 to 102°F (38.6 to 38.8°C). Pour the salt under the water spout to allow it to dissolve faster. The water mixture should feel soapy.
- Reduce Chlorine: Reduce the amount of chlorine in the bath water if possible (the best is a mains filter).
- Soak and Relax: Start out with a shorter period of time in the bath (12 to 20 minutes) to see how your body reacts to the detox bath. If you find them relaxing and don’t have any additional negative reactions, you can increase the time of your detox baths and work up to three baths per week. Soak in the tub for at least 12 minutes (or 20, for constipation).
- Post-Bath Care: Pat yourself dry and be kind to your skin. Note that sometimes during or after bathing, you will notice the skin exfoliating. If you find this happening to you, try dry skin brushing before your next therapeutic bath.
Detox Baths and Weight Loss: What to Expect
While detox baths can be a relaxing and beneficial addition to your wellness routine, it's important to have realistic expectations about their impact on weight loss. Reports of weight loss may be due to sweating and loss of water weight. At most, 1 hour in a hot bath may help you burn about 130 calories. This is the same as a 30-minute walk, but without the benefits of building physical strength or endurance.
The Truth About Salt Detoxes
A salt detox isn’t the same as pouring table salt into your bathtub. Salt detox baths are usually made of Epsom salt, which allows for minerals to “draw out” toxins from the body. Supporters may claim that soaking in an Epsom salt bath can remove harmful toxins and balance the body.
The Dangers of Drinking Epsom Salt
Experts advise against drinking Epsom salt as a “salt” detox. Most weight loss will be water weight, which will be quickly regained when you stop drinking Epsom salt. You may also experience diarrhea, as it’s also a laxative.
Read also: Your guide to a 3-day detox meal plan.
Safe and Effective Weight Loss Strategies
There are much more effective and longer lasting ways to attain healthy weight loss. The first steps include:
- Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet
- Exercising regularly
- Practicing self-care
- Limiting alcohol and sugar intake
Alcohol particularly depletes the body of magnesium, so you should limit alcoholic beverages if you’re trying to watch your magnesium levels.
Precautions and Safety
Check with your doctor to see if detox baths are safe for you to try. The risks of side effects from an Epsom salt bath are low. Your body won’t absorb that much magnesium through your skin. An Epsom salt bath is also relatively safe for children, but you should take extra precautions to prevent your child or infant from drinking Epsom salt water.
Pregnant women, children, and people with impaired kidney function should not take detox baths or take oral magnesium. If your kidneys are not working at their optimal levels, your body may not be able to get rid of excess magnesium, putting you at risk for serious health complications.
Side effects of magnesium overdose, usually from ingestion, include:
- Lethargy
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness or fainting
- Breathing problems
- Increase or decrease in urination
- Slow heartbeat
- Muscle weakness
Side effects are rare in people with normal kidney function. See a doctor if your symptoms continue or don’t get better. Check with your doctor if you have any concerns about taking an Epsom salt bath due to magnesium overdose.
Additional Detox Bath Recipes
Here are a few additional detox bath recipes to try:
- Energizing Lemongrass and Lime Detox Bath: This bath includes Epsom salts, baking soda, sea salt, lemongrass essential oil, lime essential oil, lemongrass stalks, and lime wheels.
- Relaxing Bedtime Bath: This bath can include frangipani flowers or fresh rose petals.
- Foot Detox: If you don’t have a bathtub, try a foot detox with Epsom salts, Dead Sea salt, bentonite clay, ACV, and essential oils.
- Oatmeal Detox Bath: Add Epsom salt to an oatmeal bath for a detoxifying and skin-soothing experience.
- Milk Bath: Customize a milk bath with your choice of milk (coconut, oat, almond, goat, breast, cow, or buttermilk) and essential oils.