Whether you’re fighting a cold or just looking for ways to support your immune system, a ginger detox bath soak may be helpful. Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and can help clear congestion and support the respiratory system. Plus, it’s soothing and smells lovely!
A detox bath is a natural way to help remove toxins from the body. Ingredients like ginger, Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), and essential oils are utilized and added to warm bath water during a detox bath. You can soak for 20 minutes to an hour at a time.
Adding Epsom salt to a bath helps increase magnesium levels in the body. Thus allowing the body to dispose of lactic acid, which, in turn, can help ease the body of aches and pains. It may also help relax the muscles.
Applying certain essential oils may have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. For example, Juniper Berry essential oil (Juniperus communis L., Cupressaceae) may be therapeutic for upper respiratory viruses and help ease congestion.
Experiencing a cold, cough, or the flu may lead to symptoms including muscle aches and soreness, and detox baths may help with these symptoms.
So if you’re feeling a little under the weather, consider taking a detox bath with ginger. It may help you feel better by relieving muscle aches and pains and perhaps shortening the duration of your cold. Here’s how to make your ginger detox bath at home.
Water Quality
When you turn on the water for a bath or shower, you might not think twice about what’s coming out of the faucet. However, your tap water is likely to contain chlorine and fluoride, and exposure to these chemicals can harm your health. Some studies have linked chlorine exposure to chronic fatigue due to the constant exposure to chlorine while showering, including an increased risk of cancer. In contrast, others have found it can interfere with the body’s ability to heal.
Fluoride has also been linked to many health problems, including bone weakness and thyroid damage. As a result, it’s critical to reduce exposure to these chemicals. One way to do this is to install a filter in your shower or a reverse osmosis water system throughout your home. Overall, experts recommend a high-end filter designed to remove fluoride and chlorine from the water.
Ginger’s Therapeutic Benefits
A Ginger detox bath has many therapeutic benefits and is very similar to sauna bathing. The hot water opens up your pores, and the steam carries the ginger deep into your system.
It has a cleansing, stimulating, and detoxifying effect on your body. You can use fresh ginger or use powdered. I prefer powdered ginger because it works faster and is more in-depth. However, it serves best for you.
8 Benefits of a Ginger Detox Bath
- Ginger also helps to improve circulation and supports the immune system. It is anti-inflammatory, heating and soothing, making it the perfect herb to use in a detox bath.
- Ginger is also a vasodilator, an excellent decongestant, and helps to open up pores. It is also anti-fungal and anti-viral, making it a great choice for anyone with a respiratory infection or cold.
- This bath will also help lessen your cold symptoms and possibly shorten the overall duration of illness.
- Calms digestive discomfort
- Aids in proper digestion
- Increases blood circulation
- Reduces inflammation
- Helps to improve metabolism
What To Expect
This ginger detox bath will cause a slight increase in body temperature and make your body hot; you will sweat more than you would in a typical hot bath; this assists in driving out toxins. This bath can be extremely dehydrating. It is essential to hydrate with lemon water or pure coconut water before, during, and after your detox bath. Furthermore, this soak may cause you to become relatively tired so if feasible, rest directly after.
Organic coconut water is an excellent option for the reasons below.
- Coconut water is a highly nutritious, cleansing, refreshing juice loaded with B-complex vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and manganese.
- It is also considered one of the highest sources of electrolytes known with the same level of electrolytic balance that we have in our blood.
Juniper Berry Essential Oil Benefits
Juniper Berry essential oil,(Juniperus communis L., Cupressaceae) is derived and extracted from the needles and berries of the Juniperus communis plant. An evergreen tree that is native to the northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Juniper Berry essential oil, has a sweet, woodsy scent and is considered a powerful detoxifier and immune system booster.
Medicinal Qualities –
Juniper Berry has a long history assisting in both short term and long term illnesses and is used as a medicinal treatment for respiratory infections, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, and helps to soothe skin flare-ups such as eczema. Juniper Berry may also help with digestion, and insomnia as well.
Research revealed over 87 different active constituent compounds in Juniper Berry essential oil, including potent antioxidants, antibacterials, and antifungals. Juniper is also high in flavonoids and polyphenol antioxidants that have strong free radical scavenging abilities.
Side Effects Of Juniper Berries
Juniper Berries are considered safe; however, they may have various side effects in some individuals with diabetes, bleeding disorders, and women who are pregnant or lactating.
Optional oils that may be used
Essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, or tea tree oil. These help to open up the respiratory system and have anti-viral and antibacterial properties.
After Your Bath
Wrap yourself in a large towel and lay down to rest, covering yourself with a blanket for 45 minutes to 1 hour. You’ll continue to sweat during this period.
Then after 45 minutes to an hour, shower, and rinse off. Continue to drink plenty of water or coconut water to rehydrate.
Further Comforting And Therapeutic Effects
Use 15-20 drops of both lavender essential oil and chamomile essential oil and add to 30 ml (1 oz.) carrier oil such as jojoba oil and apply all over the body.
Then, dry body brush with a natural bristle body brush or loofah. Start by brushing the skin in a circular motion going towards the heart; this technique stimulates blood and lymph circulation, and helps with exfoliation.
Your Favorite Tea
A cup of your favorite tea after hydrating would also be of great help. A few Organic Teas that I use are Organic Roasted Dandelion Root, Organic Chamomile & Lavender Herbal, Rosehip & Hibiscus, Rose Petal, Ginger Root, and Moringa.
Frequency Of Detox Bath
This ginger detox bath can be taken twice a week for amazing therapeutic benefits.
Don’t Have a Bathtub?
If you do not have a bathtub, that’s okay. You can still do a mini detox with a foot soak. Just half your ingredient list for a foot detox, making sure your feet are entirely immersed in the water and kept in for 30 minutes.
Also, steam inhalation (also called steam therapy) can help soothe and open the nasal passages to help relieve the symptoms of a cold or sinus. The warm, moist air helps to loosen the mucus in the nasal passages, throat, and lungs, thus relieving symptoms of inflamed, swollen blood vessels in your nasal passages. While the other ingredients bring a much needed therapeutic benefit.
Great Detox Herbs
If you’re looking for other ways to support your immune system, consider adding some of these ingredients to your ginger detox bath as well as using these particular herbs in a internal/oral supplement form.
- Echinacea
A natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory, echinacea can help to fight off infection and speed up healing. Supplement form - Licorice Root
Licorice root is a natural expectorant and can help to loosen congestion and expel mucus from the respiratory system. - Peppermint
Peppermint is a natural decongestant and can help to open up the nasal passages and relieve congestion. - Rosemary
Rosemary is a natural antiseptic and can help to kill bacteria and viruses. - Thyme is also a natural antiseptic and can help to kill bacteria and viruses.
Contraindications:
As with any treatment, a ginger bath can have small, unintended side effects. Some common side effects:
- Skin irritation
- Dizziness
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Muscle soreness
Headaches
Most people develop headaches occasionally or all the time after a hot bath or shower, not identifying why. Below are three probable causes of why you may suffer from a headache afterward.
1 – Cluster Headaches
An increase in body temperature can cause cluster headache attacks, typically affecting one side of the face, characterized by severe pain around the eye. These headaches are triggered by an elevation of body heat induced by a hot bath or shower.
2 – Dehydration / Electrolyte imbalance
The majority of people today are chronically dehydrated, even if they don’t realize it or even feel thirsty. This problem is caused by the dehydrating effect of toxins and poisons, including heavy metals, radiation, viruses, and DDT.
Electrolyte imbalance often due to:
- cancer treatment
- certain medications, such as laxatives and diuretics
- congestive heart failure
- diarrhea
- eating disorders
- excessive sweating
- liver or kidney problems
- not drinking enough fluids
- not eating enough
- vomiting
3 – CONTAMINANTS in the WATER
- Chlorine can irritate the nasal lining and sinus membrane in your nose, bringing on what’s known as a sinus headache.
- Fluoride, another approved substance in tap water, has been shown in studies to accumulate in and affect the pineal gland. This organ stores brain serotonin, produces melatonin, and regulates the sleep cycle—all functions relating to depression, a known component of migraine attacks.
Please consult with your physician or practitioner before you start any detox bath If you have any existing health conditions such as:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- History of heart disease
- Have a liver condition
- Taking blood thinners
- Are pregnant
- * Not recommended for children under two years of age.
A Ginger Detox Bath For Colds + Immune Support
A Ginger Detox Bath For Colds + Immune Support helps to detoxify and drain your lymphatic system, lessens cold symptoms and shortens the duration of sickness.
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp. - Organic Ground Ginger or 1/2 cup of fresh grated ginger root
- 4 Drops - Organic Ginger Essential Oil
- 8 Drops - Organic Juniper Berry Essential Oil
- 1 Cup - Baking Soda
- 2 Cups - Epsom Salt or, 2 Cups - Magnesium Chloride Flakes - (If you have had a negative reaction to Epsom salts due to sulfates)
- Essential OIL After Bath -
- Organic Jojoba Oil
- Chamomile Essential Oil - Roman
- Lavender Essential Oil - L. Angustifolia
Instructions
For The Bath -
For a ginger detox for colds + immune support, detox bath you can either use fresh ginger or use powdered. I prefer powdered ginger because it works faster and is more in-depth.
Optional oils that may be used
Essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, or tea tree oil. These help to open up the respiratory system and have anti-viral and antibacterial properties.
Directions -
Add organic ginger, Epsom salt, and organic ginger essential oil to running bath water. Mix well.
When using this detox bath, use the hottest water you can safely tolerate and soak for at least 20 minutes up to 45 minutes.
Notes
Please consult with your physician or naturopathic practitioner before you start any detox bath If you have any existing health conditions such as -
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- History of heart disease
- Have a liver condition
- Taking blood thinners
- Are pregnant.
* Not recommended for children under two years of age.
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