How To Create A Detox Bath At Home

From soothing tired muscles to calming stress, we all know the restorative power of a good bath, but a detox bath is the way to get your health and mind back on track. From calming busy thoughts to easing inflammation, improving cold and flu symptoms, and soothing irritated skin, essential oils can help troubleshoot your individual concern.

But which to choose for which ailment? Belle spoke to Emilie de Block, founder of Bio Scents essential oil products, who advises on her preferred aromas to treat everything from imablanced hormones to a hangover!

SLEEP & INSOMNIA | Lavender & Cedarwood

If you’re struggling with insomnia, lavender is the usual tonic which we love. Made from flowering lavender top this scent soothes tension in the body and calms the mind to aid sleep. Lavender is also a grend oil to
blend with other scents, we love blending it with Cedarwood from our Immunity range for a great night’s sleep. Similar to lavender,
cedarwood is a natural sedative and great for detoxifying and clearing negative emotions. When inhaled cedarwood triggers the release of serotonin in the brain which converts to melatonin. Don’t discount the power of essential oils – they are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream, so they get to work to instantly relax you. If you can’t sleep because you’re worried or overthinking, look to essential oils such as bergamot, and if you’re feeling emotional, look to geranium and lavender – a blissful combination!

STRESS & ANXIETY | Frankincense & Ylang Ylang

Few things melt away the stressors of daily life like a sudsy soak but if you’re feeling particularly burnt-out, but if there’s one stress-busting ingredient to look out for, it’s frankincense. Frankincense has the
capacity to relax the diaphragm, enabling deeper breathing, therefore having a deeply calming effect on your body. It’s beautifully scented, extremely healing and is highly beneficial for countless stress-related conditions. We also love recommending our Ylang Ylang Body Oil post bath which is made from essential oils extracted from fresh Ylang Ylang flowers. When you are feeling stressed, your adrenal glands create a hormone called cortisol and release it into your bloodstream. It’s this Cortisol in your bloodstream that increases your heart rate and increases your blood pressure. Studies have shown that Ylang Ylang lowers the levels of cortisol,
naturally lowering your blood pressure and heart rate back down. It is also a natural soothing antidepressant which has been widely used by experts to alleviate depression, panic attacks, anxiety and chronic stress.

HORMONES & PMS | Clary Sage & Geranium

If you’re feeling overwhelmed emotionally, your hormones are out of balance or your simply feeling off kilter Essential Oils can be a wonderful remedy that will rebalance your mind and body naturally. Clary Sage can
elicit feelings of relaxation and reduce negative thinking, stress and anxiety; all commonly associated with emotion and hormone imbalance. Clary Sage also contains an ester called linalyl acetate which is renowned for its ability to balance hormones so adding a few drops to your detox bath will naturally centre and balance you. Not for you? Try Geranium as an alternative. Thanks to its qualities as an astringent and all-round healer, Geranium has powerful effects when it comes to balancing hormones and mood swings and adding a few drops to your bath at night will help lift your mood and leave you feeling re-balanced.

COLD & FLU | Eucalyptus & Peppermint

If you aren’t feeling 100%, essential oils should be your go-to. Eucalyptus is a great first choice, it’s one of the best-known decongestants for cold and catarrh as well as having a powerful bactericidal and antiviral action.
Peppermint is also one to try – it’s highly beneficial for clearing the chest and easing respiratory difficulties. Concoct your own bath by adding one to two drops of each essential oil in one tablespoon of jojoba oil; add to the bath once run and soak for 20 minutes. If you’re looking for a quick fix, why not try our Eucalyptus + Peppermint Body Oil to apply pre or after your bath? Eucalyptus makes light work of decongesting, while Peppermint really helps open up the nose and also relieves headaches resulting from stuffed sinuses and colds.

LOW ENERGY & HANGOVERS | Sweet Orange & Lemongrass

Epsom and Himalayan salts will work wonders to absorb toxins when
you’re feeling sluggish and overindulged, so make them your first port of call and then go the extra step – because your body needs it! Add a few drops of Sweet Orange or Lemongrass essential oil. Both of these citrus scents improve sluggishness which is caused by an overworked liver. You can also try our Scotch Pine essential oil from the Immunity Collection, which has strong reviving properties.

• Bio Scents are available from £10.00 per pot from www.bio-scents.com.