Even if you cannot afford the luxury of a day at a spa, you can create the perfect spa at home by following these simple instructions.  Bathing in water enriched with botanicals awakens and strengthens all aspects of your wellbeing — emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and physical.  You can soak away stress, inspire creativity, alter moods, restore vital energy, and maintain healthy, glowing skin.

Classical Bath (Bath for Royalty)

• 4 pints whole cow’s milk (raw)

• 2 oz. liquid honey

• 2 oz. Tincture of Benzoin

• 30 drops orange essential oil

• 10 drops cinnamon essential oil

• 5 drops clove essential oil

• 10 drops lemon essential oil

Generally speaking, a bath is drying to the skin, so apply a generous layer of moisturizer after every bath.  This bath recipe counters that drying effect with its oils and milk.  Use the essential oils carefully in baths.  Mix them into an emulsifier such as a tablespoon of honey or whole milk, or they could burn your skin by floating on the top of bathwater as you enter the tub.

The temperature of the bathwater plays an important role in the healing effects of the bath.  The ideal water temperature for most of the baths, 98-102° F, matches the body’s natural temperature.  Very hot water (101-104° F) opens the pores, encourages a detoxifying sweat, stimulates the lymph system, and relaxes muscle spasms.

The hot bath should not be long;  your body will cool it for longer soaks.  Always follow it with a cool shower to restore the natural body temperature and close the pores.  Cool baths (90-95° F) are recommended during pregnancy, and they make excellent recovery baths for convalescents and nervous system upsets.

Relax and enjoy!