Lifestyle

The restorative power of the bath



Habitual bathing can be traced back to the ancient Indians, who took elaborate thrice-daily dips in the third millennium BC.

Later, the Ancient Greeks crafted small footbaths, basins and even luxurious alabaster versions that have been subsequently excavated at Santorini.

Everywhere from Japan to the Middle East, Morocco, Mexico and Finland, a vast and varied array of incarnations have followed suit. And far from being a perfunctory means of dispelling dirt, bathing practices have been celebrated for playing varied, essential and often ritualistic roles in their communities, including spirit cleansing, body strengthening, beautifying, medicinal and community building.

Doctor Barbara Kubicka, who practises cosmetic and medical treatments alongside health and lifestyle therapies at her London clinic, hopes to spread the word of the transforming power of bathing in her new book, The Bath Project — The Art And Science Of Bathing (£24.99; thebathproject.com). She describes baths as ‘something easy, inexpensive and pleasurable’, which can be ‘brought to life with modern science’ — the wealth of proven benefits includes everything from improving circulation to strengthening the immune system and spiking serotonin levels. And she’s not the only one who believes in the power of the tub. ‘Hardly anything is as beneficial as a bath,’ adds beauty and wellness expert Susanne Kaufmann. ‘It is not just a well-deserved moment of rest, but also relief for the back, joints and muscles.’

Here, Kubicka designs five potent concoctions to tip into your water. So whether you already subscribe to decadent baths at your leisure or rely on soaking sessions for mental survival, consider capitalising on your me time with these formulas.

To alleviate anxiety

Life takes its toll. The more exhausted the body, the harder it is to soothe the mind. And the more frantic the mind, the trickier it is to give your body the rest it requires. Break the cycle with this combination.

Base: camomile and mint infusion. To make the base for each formula, steep two bags of the herbal tea in question in 100ml of hot, but not boiling, water for 5 minutes.

Aroma: 1-3 drops each of peppermint, bergamot and juniper berry aromatherapy oils.

Salt: 200g of Epsom salts.

Bach flower remedies: 3 drops each of oak, chestnut bud and rock water.

Temp: 41C.

Time in the tub: 25 minutes.

To encourage sleep

An overstimulated nervous system can result in stress, restlessness and poor quality sleep. This bath restores calm and promotes rest by soothing the nervous system and minimising racing thoughts.

Base: Camomile infusion.

Aroma: 1–3 drops each of lavender (left), marjoram and mandarin aromatherapy oils.

Salt: 200g Epsom salts, 100g of magnesium flakes.

Bach flower remedies: 3 drops each of rock rose, impatiens and vervain.

Temp: 40C.

Time in the tub: 20 minutes.

For muscular tension

Aching muscles are caused by intensive exercise and also stress. This bath counteracts lactic acid build-up to relax muscles, minimise emotional over-stimulation and recharge the body and mind.  

Base: Black tea.

Aroma: 1–3 drops each of rosemary, lavender and orange aromatherapy oils.

Salt: 400g Epsom salts.

Bach flower remedies: 3 drops each of olive, walnut and heather. 

Temp: 42C.

Time: 25 minutes.

To boost low mood

The black dog is a strange beast, coming from nowhere to perch heavily on our shoulders. Shake off negativity with this lifting tub to stimulate and boost your mental energy and psychological wellbeing. 

Base: St John’s wort infusion.

Aroma: 1–3 drops each of mandarin or orange, ylang-ylang and rosewood aromatherapy oils.

Salt: Dead Sea salt.

Bach flower remedies: 3 drops each of rock rose, gorse and wild rose.

Temp: 38C.

Time: 20 minutes.

To minimise a hangover

Alcohol leaves our bodies tired, acidic and dehydrated. Treat lethargy and nausea with this refreshing bath designed to soothe nerves and shake off that headache. 

Base: Lemongrass infusion and the juice of one lemon. 

Aroma: 1-3 drops each of lemongrass, lemon, jasmine and lily of the valley aromatherapy oils.

Salt: 200g of Himalayan salt.

Bach flower remedies: 3 drops each of beech, sweet chestnut and cerato.

Temp: 38C.

Time: 15 minutes.



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