Herbal Bath Tea Bags

Bath tea bags are blends of dried herbs that add scent and soothing qualities to your bath.

According to Wikipedia: ” Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses plant materials and aromatic plant oils, including essential oils and other aromatic compounds for the purpose of altering one’s mood, cognitive, psychological or physical well being.  Aromatherapists, who specialise in the practice of aromatherapy, utilise blends of therapeutic essential oils that can be issued through topical application, massage, inhalation or water immersion to stimulate a desired response.”

Although the jury is still out on their effectiveness due to lack of comprehensive clinical evidence, the use of essential oils for therapeutic, spiritual, hygienic and ritualistic purposes goes back to a number of ancient civilisations including the Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans who used them in cosmetics, perfumes and drugs.

Whether or not you believe in greater benefit, a soak in a warm scented bath is a wonderful soothing pleasure that should be indulged in regularly.  Even better if you can gain extra pleasure and satisfaction from knowing that you grew the herbs in your own garden.

They are called herbal tea bags because essentially you are making a herbal tea for your bath: boil the kettle and steep the bag in a bowl of very hot water for 10 minutes or so (or boil it in a pan on the stove top for 10 minutes). Then pour the herbal tea into the bath water along with the herbal bag.  Check the temperature and adjust as required. Then get in yourself and relax!

You can use a square of double thickness cheesecloth, scoop a few spoonfuls of your herbs into the middle and tie it up with string. Or I find that the little organza bags that you can pick up very cheaply are perfect for this and the draw-string means that they are easily re-useable.

There are lots of delicious recipes that you can use depending on what your favourite scents are, what herbs you have available or the particular benefits that you are seeking.  You can just use herbs or add a few drops of essential oil to the mix if you wish.

Citrus and Lavender Citrus scents and lavender work well together. A simple mix is:

• 1 cup dried lavender buds
• 1 cup dried lemon verbena leaves
• 1 cup dried orange peel, chopped fine

 

Soothing Flowers Lavender is well known for its relaxing properties; camomile is often used to promote sleep; and arnica is used for its anti-inflammatory properties (particularly for bruises).

• 1 cup dried lavender
• 1 cup dried camomile flowers
• 1 cup dried arnica flowers
• dried lemon slices as desired

You can add a few drops of lavender and camomile essential oils if you wish.  And if you have itchy skin, add a couple of cups of rolled oats to soothe irritated skin.

 

Citrus Spice Mix Another mix using lemongrass, lavender and cloves is purported to lift your mood, soothe your nerves and relax your muscles.  These ingredients have the benefit of being excellent skin-toning cleansers.

• 1 cup dried lemongrass
• 1 cup dried lavender
• 1/4 lightly crushed whole cloves
• 5 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

Stir ingredients together and put together in a glass jar.  Allow to sit with the lid on for at least 24 hours to let the mix of scents ‘cure’.

 

Rose and Green Tea ‘Deeply relaxing and healing, antioxidant-rich lavender, rose and green tea help fight the signs of aging’.  And it smells divine!

• 1 cup dried rose petals
• 1 cup dried lavender
• 1/2 cup green tea leaves (try jasmine scented tea)
• 5 drops rose (or rose geranium) essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

Stir ingredients together and put together in a glass jar.  Allow to sit with the lid on for at least 24 hours to let the mix of scents ‘cure’.

 

If you don’t have your own dried herbs and flowers there are lots of places you can buy these online.

 

Making as Gifts

Organza bags come in a range of different colours so you can colour-coordinate your gift giving.  If you want to pre-fill the bags with herbs, then store the bags in an airtight bag or jar to retain as much scent as possible. An alternative is to put a the herbal mix in a decorated jar or cellophane bag along with a bag to fill as needed for a bath.