Detoxification Baths

Majority of the people unable to visit a sauna, but have a bathtub may take detoxifying baths - often referred to as 'poor man's sauna'. People with build-up of toxic xenobiotics especially find such hot baths beneficial. The hot water augments circulation and activities of the capillaries close to the skin's surface, resulting in rapid elimination of toxic substances from the body. In addition, the heat also causes profuse sweating, opening up the skin pores, thereby allowing easy elimination of toxins through perspiration. While it is preferable to use filtered or well water for hot baths, you may also use the city water, even though it is chlorinated. In fact, any water that is not contaminated is useful in detoxification baths.

Be prudent and use your common sense while approaching these baths. It is advisable that you should seek the help of a healthcare professional to oversee your entire detoxification program. You may have an extremely sick feeling if there is an excessive build-up of toxic chemicals in your body. Therefore, it is important that someone should be at home with you when you are taking your detoxification bath, as they will be able to help you provided you develop any symptoms. You should stop your bath immediately in case you have a headache or feel exhausted, dizzy, nauseated or feeble.

Prior to taking a hot water bath, ensure that you scrub your bathtub using only tolerated cleansing products. Your bathtub needs to be impeccably clean before a detoxification bath, because your aim is to eliminate toxic substances from your body and not take up new ones.

It is recommended that you follow the broad instructions listed below for taking a bath with plain water as well as a detox bath.

Before you take the bath, thoroughly wash your body in the shower using any tolerated soap. Use a loofa sponge, skin brush, sisal mitt or any rough washcloth to scrub your body to get rid of dead skin, overload of body oils and any build-up of toxins. Then rinse your body thoroughly.

Next, fill the bathtub with hot water - the temperature of the water should be sufficiently hot, but not too hot to burn your skin. Plug the overflow valve of the tub to ensure that the water level is high enough for you to immerse your body up to the neck in it.

Start by soaking yourself for about five minutes in the hot water. Remember, you should not be in the hot water for more than five minutes when you are taking your first hot water bath. Increase the time gradually, each time by five minutes till you are comfortable to soak yourself for 30 minutes without any symptoms. While soaking, it is likely that you may have a feeling of being well, but this may be deceptive at times. Hence, it is essential that you do not exceed the time limit while soaking yourself in the hot water.

It has been found that generally the symptoms do not crop up till the following day.

While you are soaking in the hot water, massage your muscles gently using a skin brush with a view to augment blood and lymph circulation to your skin. Following the soaking, take a shower to cleanse yourself. Scrub your entire body using any tolerated soap and wash properly so that all toxic substances that deposited on the skin during the bath can be eradicated. Ensure that you rinse your hair too. If any toxin remains, it will be absorbed by your body again. Take another shower in case you continue sweating or start sweating again.

Prior to and following each bath, you need to take a tolerated dosage of vitamin C, as it will facilitate your body in getting rid of the toxins that might have entered your bloodstream. In case you are using antioxidant dietary supplements, take them prior to the bath.

It is also essential to drink a full glass (8 ounce) of water prior to, during and subsequent to the detoxifying hot water bath.

It is recommended that you should take three detoxifying baths every week till there is improvement in your health. Subsequently, you may take the baths once or twice every week with a view to put off toxin build-up. In case, you come in contact with unusual chemicals, you should not only increase the regularity, but also the period of your baths. However, you should only do it under the direct supervision of a qualified and experienced healthcare professional.

Types of detoxification baths

Once you are comfortable taking a bath with plain hot water for a complete 30 minutes and do not develop any symptoms, you are fit and ready to start taking detoxification baths. In fact, you may add a variety of substances to your bath to promote detoxification. It is important that you always follow the broad directives about detoxifying baths discussed above and add any of the substances described below to your bath water. Apart from Epsom salts, you may be required to rotate the other substances listed below, because they may become less effective very quickly if you do not allow a break between using them.

Epsom salts: Epsom salts facilitate in eliminating toxic substances from the body by means of stimulating fluid movement through the tissues as well as by promoting perspiration. In fact, these salts work on the skin like a counter-irritant and augment blood circulation to the skin. In addition, Epsom salts also alter the skin surface pH level. Epsom salts contain sulfur which helps in the detoxification process. Over the centuries, people have always acknowledged the therapeutic as well as purifying properties of sulfur springs.
Start your Epsom salt detox bath with just one-fourth cup of the salts. Increase the quantity gradually every time you take a bath with these salts till you are using four cups of Epsom salts for every tub of water. In case you experience any symptom at any stage of your bath, continue at that level (using that particular amount of the salts) till you are comfortable soaking yourself for full 30 minutes and do not develop any symptoms.
Apple cider vinegar: Vinegar is also effective for detox baths working in the form of a counter-irritant. It augments blood circulation to the skin and, at the same time, works to alter the pH level of the skin. To begin with, use just one-fourth cup apple cider vinegar. Increase the quantity gradually to a maximum of one cup for ever tub of water. Ensure that you only use apple cider vinegar, as white vinegar is a product made from synthetic chemicals.
Clorox: Only use the liquid bleach of the Clorox brand for a detox bath. Add two tablespoons of this bleach liquid to a bathtub full of hot water. It is important to note that people who are sensitive to chlorine should not use Clorox. This bleaching liquid possesses oxidizing properties that help in detoxifying the body.
Hydrogen peroxide: In you are taking a detox bath with hydrogen peroxide, use a maximum of 8 ounces of the compound in a half-full bathtub of hot water. It may be noted that when hydrogen peroxide in added to hot water this compound weakens very rapidly. Be cautious that taking a detox bath with hydrogen peroxide before retiring to bed may possibly make it difficult for you to fall asleep. In fact, this bath augments the amount of oxygen in the cells, thereby enhancing one's alertness.
Baking soda: Baking soda, which is actually sodium bicarbonate, makes the bath alkaline, which helps in reinstating the acid-alkaline equilibrium by means of osmosis. Add just 8 ounces of this compound to a bathtub filled with hot water. Taking a detox bath with baking soda is especially helpful for cleansing as well as drying up infected, open sores in the skin. In addition, it also alleviates all kinds of skin itching and irritations.
Soda and sea salt: Detox baths with soda and sea salt are very helpful for detoxifying the toxins accumulated by the body owing to exposure to X-ray or any other type of radiation. Use equivalent quantities of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and sea salt that is not iodized, accumulating to a maximum of one pound of each in a full bathtub.
Clay: Most often, clay is used in packs or compresses. Nevertheless, the alkalizing as well as extracting action of taking a clay bath makes it an effective substance for use in detox baths. Ideally, you need to add half a cup (125 ml) of clay to a bathtub full of hot water. In fact, stores selling health foods offer various types of clays, all of which are suitable for use in detoxifying baths.
Ginger root: Ginger possesses many curative properties that result in perspiration and, at the same time, augment circulation. In addition, ginger also has the ability to invigorate as well as pull out toxic substances to the surface of the skin. Take a ginger root about the size of your thumb and slice it finely; add it to a container of water and place it on a stove. Bring the water to boil and then turn off the stove. Allow the ginger slices to infuse in the hot water for about 30 minutes. Subsequently, filter the liquid and add it to a bathtub filled with water. Soak yourself in the tub for 30 minutes for an effective detox bath.
Burdock root: Taking a detox bath with burdock root facilitates the body to expel uric acid, in addition to helping in clearing rashes and cleansing boils. Add a level handful of burdock roots to two quarts of water and boil it for about 30 minutes. Subsequently, filter the liquid and add it to a bathtub filled with tolerable hot water. You can purchase burdock roots from stores selling herbal products and health foods.
Oat straw: Taking oat straw detox baths helps to augment the skin metabolism, which in turn facilitates the body to decontaminate further rapidly. Add a heaping handful of this herb to two quarts of water and boil it for about 25 minutes. Strain the liquid and pour it into a bathtub filled with hot water. You may purchase oat straw from herbal shops as well as stores selling health foods.
Herbal tea: You may use several different herbal teas in detox baths to get rid of the harmful chemical build-up in your system. Some of the herbs which you may use to prepare teas for use in detoxifying baths include blessed thistle, boneset, blue vervain, chamomile, catnip, horsetail, pleurisy root and peppermint. Majority of these herbal teas possess diaphoretic properties and, hence, stimulate perspiration. It is recommended that you use one cup (250 ml) of infused tea for every bathtub of hot, hygienic water. It is important to note that you should use only one herb to prepare the tea for each bath and not a combination of the herbs. It is possible that people who are sensitive would not be able to put up with a number of the herbs mentioned above.