Everyone loves a good soak in a warm and inviting bath. Having a bath ritual is great for many reasons such as indulging in some self-care time, trying out a new bath product, or just relax and let the stress of your day melt into the water.
Did you know that taking baths regularly can also increase your health, too? So if you are the casual soaker and only think baths should be taken on special occasions, think again. Check out the following ways in which baths can improve your health.
Helps with Muscle and Joint Soreness
If you, like many others, suffer from aches and pains in your muscles and joints, taking baths more often can help ease the soreness. The heat from the bath acts as a stimulate for blood flow, which in turn, helps your body decrease its muscle and joint inflammation. Since heat helps with inflammation, the relaxing warmth of a hot bath will help with your muscle and joint pains.
Alleviates Congestion
If you are one of the many out there that struggle with chronic congestion, allergies, or even the dreaded flu, regular baths can also help to ease the discomfort that comes with all the stuffiness. The hot water creates warm vapors and when inhaled, can ease the inflammation that causes congestion, thus allowing you to breathe more clearly through your sinuses and throat.
You can also take what is known as a detox bath, which is a bath that includes Epsom salts, baking soda, and essential oils. The combination of these ingredients acts as the ultimate cold and congestion buster so that you will feel back to your normal self after a good soak in it.
Helps with Depression and Anxiety
Incorporating baths into your bathing ritual is also good for helping with depression and anxiety. Because the warm or hot water from the bath can soothe muscles and joints, you’ll find yourself more relaxed afterward.
You can also add various essential oils to your bath and can also increase your mood and overall well being. Try mixing and matching different types of essentials that will help with your specific calming needs. Also, be sure you are using carrier oils when adding essential oils to your bath so that it is properly mixing with the bathwater to create the aromatherapy effect.
Baths Can Help Regulate Breathing
In addition to all the wonderful health benefits we mentioned earlier, taking baths regularly can also help regulate your breathing, which in turn can increase your lung capacity and oxygen intake.
This is due to the water temperature and pressure affecting your lungs and chest. When the bathwater is warmer, your body reacts to this by having your heart beat faster, which in turn causes your oxygen intake to increase, thus helping improve your breathing. So if you are having breathing problems due to cold, sinuses, or any other ailments, try taking warm to hot baths regularly to get your breathing back on track.
Helps with Insomnia
If you find yourself having many sleepless nights or just having issues falling asleep, taking baths regularly can help this. Because baths help ease joint and muscle pains along with easing symptoms of depression and anxiety, thus helping you relax and calm down before you go to sleep.
Since our body temperatures need to be at a certain level for it to create melatonin, the body’s natural chemical that induces sleep, warm baths can elevate your body temperature for it to then cool down afterward, thus stimulating the production of the melatonin hormone. So next time you’re finding it hard to get a good night’s right, take a warm bath to help you sleep.
Baths are Great for Your Overall Health
There are many wonderful benefits to taking baths regularly. From easing muscle and joint issues, helping with congestion, treating symptoms of depression and anxiety, regulating breathing to helping with insomnia, everyone should be taking regular baths.
You can also add in bath products to heighten your bath ritual and increase these health benefits by using essential bath oils or salts. So next time you’re experiencing any of the health issues listed above, give yourself a good soak to help ease those issues.
