Mineral Baths
My fascination with minerals started when I was dealing with chronic migraines. Before that I didn’t really pay deep attention other than the hype about zinc during cold/flu season and random things like iron or sodium that you’d read about in magazines. I actually did take supplements but I had no idea why, I mean REALLY WHY until I was trying to get well. Before it was just what you did to be “healthy” but at the time I also believed in the food pyramid so that tells you where my learning was.
When I first heard that maybe magnesium would help the migraines I bought supplements and topicals. I tried mineral spray on oils that left me quite itchy. I really did not like those, and switched to lotions. But I never felt like I was getting much benefit —and then what else was in that lotion that was going into my body?
Naturally I used many different supplements. Personally, magnesium malate works best for me, and then an essential mineral complex supplement and switch it up with a chelated multimineral supplement. I do use a zinc supplement if I’m exposed to a lot of people like traveling or know I’ve been around someone who is actively sick. I do notice when I do and don’t take these, but it is quite subtle.
Mineral baths, and hot mineral baths are different. I do feel these. I have an “angry” spot in my right shoulder blade that acts up from time to time. It is 3 weeks to get an appointment and who wants to hurt for 3 weeks? That is when these mineral baths help a lot. I fill my tub with hot water which takes some getting used to. And then I soak in the tub for about 15 minutes.
Here is the product I love: Pure Dead Sea Minerals
I have tried regular epsom salts and did not feel much help. When a friend mentioned they were using dead sea minerals I bought some to try. I added 3 full scoops.
There are so many benefits to hot mineral baths. What I do is fill the tub ¼ full with moderately warm water, and add the minerals. Then I get in and turn the heat up. It is easier to acclimate this way and I can get the tub quite warm. My goal is to get the water as hot as I can (within reason) and stay in for about 15 minutes. It is a bit too much to go into for this post, but a hot bath stimulates heat shock proteins (HSPs) which aid in protein folding, indirectly supporting cellular health. THAT is a whole other blog post but just know there are good things going on other than the following list.
A hot bath before bed, particularly when combined with Dead Sea minerals, can have several beneficial effects on sleep:
- Muscle Relaxation: Soaking in a hot bath helps relax tense muscles. The heat from the bath increases blood circulation, which can help release tension and promote relaxation. Tossing in the Dead Sea minerals just amps it all up as the minerals themselves have natural muscle-relaxing properties.
- Stress Reduction: We’ve heard a lot about cortisol lately, and not to hop on that bandwagon, but a hot bath can act as a natural stress reliever by helping to reduce levels of cortisol. Dead Sea minerals contain compounds known to have calming and stress-reducing effects, making the bath even more effective for relaxation.
- Body Temperature Regulation: Taking a hot bath before bedtime can raise your body temperature so when you get out of the bath, your body temperature begins to cool down. That signals to your brain that it’s time to sleep. This drop in body temperature can help initiate the natural sleep process and promote deeper sleep.
- Enhanced Sleep Quality: I bet this one doesn’t surprise anyone after the last couple of points, but this really is a great way to boost sleep quality. The combination of muscle relaxation, stress reduction, and body temperature regulation caused by a hot bath can lead to improved sleep quality. Dead Sea minerals, with their additional therapeutic properties, can lead to even better sleep outcomes.
- Skin Health: Dead Sea minerals are known for their skin-nourishing properties. Soaking in a bath enriched with these minerals can help hydrate and soften the skin, which may contribute to a more comfortable and relaxing bathing experience. Healthy skin can also promote better sleep by reducing discomfort or irritation that could disrupt sleep.
Taking a hot bath, especially one infused with Dead Sea minerals, before bedtime can not only help with relaxation and relieving muscle strains and aches, it can help reduce stress hormones and help us get better sleep. It is a huge win.
Disclaimer and Affiliate information:
Please note that I am not a doctor nor am I prescribing anything. This is not medical advice. Even though I am a holistic nutritionist I am not your holistic nutrition. I’m sharing what worked for me and hoping that somehow this information will help you as you work to get better, stronger and healthier. Check with your own healthcare provider before embarking on any lifestyle or wellness change or adding any supplement. Also, the link above is an affiliate link for the Pure Dead Sea Minerals that I personally use. There is no obligation to use it or buy it but if you choose to use this product and buy it with my link there is no charge to you at all and I will get a small commission which helps support my work. I appreciate that you are here.
