Studies have found that bathing either on a Full Moon or New Moon can have great benefits for the body and can enhance the great characteristics of Himalayan Salt.

Full Moon Bath
On the day of a full moon the body's absorption potential is at it’s peak. At full moon, the body will absorb the most minerals from the Himalayan Salt. Weak points of the body are harmonized and the body's own energy flow is activated.

New Moon Bath
During the new moon the body's capacity for detoxification at its highest peak. This is an ideal time for a cleansing and detoxifying salt bath with Himalayan Salt.

Why not try this? 
Fill up your tub with warm/hot water and add about 1 cup of Himalayan Salt, sit back, relax and let those minerals go to work! Soak your body for 20 minutes, hop out the tub and wrap your body in a warm towel and relax for another 15 minutes before rinsing (you can rinse if you’d like but it is not essential to rinse the body off) and enjoy these natural benefits from this amazing salt.

It happens to many of us, we finally get that much needed time away from our regular day-to-day lives, and though we’re away and off to some wonderful destination somewhere, sometimes we don’t get as much rest and relaxation as we would have hoped for during the trip.  I can vouch for this personally as most of the time while I’m away and on “vacation” I find myself running here and there either affixed to someone else’s schedule, busy sight seeing, or out enjoying the night life.  One thing’s for sure, I usually somehow come back feeling just as tired (or more tired!) than I was before I left.

So, I decided that I’m going to start my own vacation ritual by taking more baths, not only during my time away from home but also the days following my return.

When I think about it, it makes perfect sense to take more baths around vacation time. Bathing, especially with some of your favorite bath salts, can help soothe your tired and aching body after long plane rides, and eventful days.  Bathing with bath salts like Epsom Salt and Dead Sea Salt can also help rid the body of harmful toxins (consider the number of drinks consumed during vacation or those packed airplanes with who knows what kind of germs). Generally, the baths are just a nice way to unwind and let yourself truly relax at the end of the day and help you to get a better night’s sleep...

Here’s some of my picks for some great bath salt blends to try during and after your vacation to help you achieve true relaxation! Choose the one that’s most fitting for your own time away…

Sleep Lavender Salts   Cold & Flu Bath Salts   Spa Therapy Muscle Soak   

Spa Therapy Detox   Acai Berry Dead Sea Salt

We’re often asked which essential oils are used to make up our array of natural EO blends. This information can be found on the custom bath salt pages by clicking on the link “Essential Oils and/or Fragrance Oils” in the ingredients list. 

For a quick reference, I have noted each blend below, too!





100% Natural Essential Oil Blends

Citrus Crush ~  Tangerine & Ginger

Consciousness ~  Rosemary & Peppermint

Detox ~ Grapefruit & Juniperberry

Lime Tang ~  Tangerine & Lime

Mint Cooler ~ Eucalyptus & Peppermint

Moon Dreams ~  Lavender & Chamomile

Passion ~  Lavender, Lime, & Ginger

Relax ~ Eucalyptus & Ylang Ylang

Rose Garden ~  Geranium & Rosemary

Skincare Plus ~  Lavender, Rosemary, & Bergamot

Tranquility ~ Lavender, Eucalyptus, & Ylang Ylang

Now through the end of this month, we’re having our biggest sale on our Dead Sea Mud EVER! 

Save 30% through June 30^th.

We also now have MORE SIZES OF MUD TO CHOOSE FROM, TOO!

14 oz  regular price $12.99 on sale now for $8.99

2.5 lb  regular price $19.99 on sale now for $13.99

12.5 lb  regular price $59.99 on sale now for $39.99

50 lb  regular price $229.99 on sale now for $139.99

Our 100% Natural Dead Sea Mud (also known as Black Mud) is a wonderful way to create your own spa experience at home.  Obtained from ancient sedimentary clay of the Dead Sea, Dead Sea Mud can be used as a mask on the body, face and hair.  Dead Sea Mud has been recognized as a therapeutic beauty treatment for centuries because of its many benefits. 

Dead Sea Mud/Black Mud Benefits for the skin:
-Naturally cleanses and disinfects skin while removing toxins
-Exfoliates, and gently removes dead skin cells
-Tones and softens the skin while unclogging pores
-Stimulates circulation
-Replenishes essential minerals such as Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium
-Improves overall complexion of skin by removing impurities

To learn more about Dead Sea Mud and usage suggestions, or to buy click here: Dead Sea Mud

Weeks ago I was speaking to a customer of ours and she mentioned that she added Dead Sea Mud into her baths.  Now, it never occurred to me to use the mud in this way as I always thought of the mud as being used as a mask.  But, I was very curious about this so I decided to give it a try and found that I absolutely love it! 

Sure, adding the mud into my bath made the water turn brown but once I got in it felt wonderful.  The water didn’t feel “dirty” like I expected that it might, it actually felt really cleansing and the water was incredibly soft, too.

Try the recipe below for a bath that will almost make you feel as if you’re soaking in the real Dead Sea:

2 cups of Dead Sea Salt

¼ cup of Dead Sea Mud

Draw a nice warm bath and add the Dead Sea Salt and Dead Sea Mud.  Allow the salt and mud to disperse evenly throughout the tub.

Step in and enjoy your soak for 20 minutes, or as long as you’d like. 

When you’re ready to hop out, give yourself a quick rinse with fresh water.  Follow with a light rinse of the tub to wash out any remaining mud left behind.

Stock up while the sale is still on!

Our Light Pink Himalayan Salts are still on sale: 50% off for a limited time on our 25lb bulk bag + FREE SHIPPING in the coarse grain.

We only offer the highest quality Light Pink Himalayan Salts which are food grade, suitable as both a gourmet food salt or as a bath salt.  If you’re using this salt for culinary use, the coarse grain can be use in a salt mill or salt grinder.

Do you ever notice that most of the time when we are bathing, we never seem to notice the important things? Our feet!

Our feet are so important and we rely on them day in and day out to get us from place to place, don't you think they deserve some alone time, too? Or, do you like to get pedicures but never seem to find time to go to the Spa? No biggie, we have a solution for you!

Try our Spa Quality Foot Soaks and get the results from a high end Spa. This soak is great for disinfecting, cleansing, and softening those tired, achy feet of ours.

So sit back, fill up a bowl or your own personal pedicure tub with warm water, throw in a scoop of the soak and those feet will take a trip to the spa.

Simply just smelling certain essential orders can have therapeutic benefits for your state of mind.

Taking a nice, relaxing soak with bath salts scented with one of these essential oils can help uplift your mood whenever you’re feeling a little down or stressed out.

Bergamot, Chamomile, Sage (Clary), Clovebud, Lavender, Lemon, Orange, and Ylang Ylang


Bath Salts with these essential oils:

Spa Therapy: Moondreams             Himalayan Salt with Lavender & Chamomile essential oils

Sleep Lavender Salts                      Pacific Sea Salt with Lavender essential oil

Pure Organics: Lemon Squeeze       Grey Sea Salt with organic Lemon essential oil

Minera Deluxe                                Dead Sea Salt with the uplifting scent of your choice

Calspa Deluxe                                Pacific Sea Salt with the uplifting scent of your choice

SFBSC has a wide variety of bulk salon & spa quality products to pamper your customers from head to toe!  With economical prices and so much to choose from you won’t need to look any further to find your source for foot soaks, body and pedicure scrubs and more!

For those of you with a retail section in your salon or spa in which you sell the same great products that you use in your treatments, we also offer private labelling, starting at just 50 units.  You may also re-package any of our products for individual sale.  Check out our packaging page.


Wholesale/Bulk Spa Products available:

Pedicure Foot Soaks ~ UPDATED- check out what’s new! Luxurious soaks for pedicures (and manicures, too!) with strong colors & scents.
 
Pedicure Foot Scrub ~ An abrasive foot scrub to smooth even the roughest heels. 

Salt & Sugar Body Scrubs ~ Gentle, exfoliating scrubs for the body.  You choose your scent.

Fresh Sorbet Scrubs- NEW ARRIVAL- 100% natural, juicy scrubs with all natural colors and scents.

Dead Sea Mud ~  100% pure Dead Sea Mud from Israel.

Nourishing Lotion ~ Moisturizing, non-greasy lotion.  Available scented and non-scented.

Visit our archive files of past blogs to find more information on these products, usage suggestions, and recipes.

FREE SHIPPING now through Monday on our entire line of signature salts (on orders of 5 or more pounds)!

Artisan Salts

Sleep Lavender Salts

Rose Dead Sea Salts

Skin Nourishing Milk Bath

Pure Organics Soaks

Acai Berry Dead Sea Salt

Muscle Soak Spa Therapy

Cold & Flu Bath Soak

Visit our Signature Salts page for more info on each of these premium bath salt blends.

Our flagship store on Pier 39 in San Francisco will be closed for 3 weeks for renovations and because of this temporary closure, we have overstock of all of our freshly made Artisan Salts which are on sale now for 30% off!

About our Artisan Salts: All of our Artisan Salts as seen on the famous Pier 39 are made of Pacific Sea Salt (fine grain) with essential or fragrance oils and color. Choose from 24 of our most popular scent and color combinations!   

Please note:  We will be processing all orders placed online and over the phone as usual during this time as our production facility and offices in Union City will be open during our renovations.  So, if you place your order before noon (pacific time) you order will still ship same day!

Use this guide to help you choose which bath salt is right for you!

 

Check out this video segment as Dr. Oz, and a willing guest from the audience, demonstrate how Himalayan Salt Inhalers work.

These Himalayan Salt Inhalers are being used by those who are looking for a completely natural way to relieve symptoms associated with asthma, allergies, the common cold or flu, and others with various respiratory or nasal congestion symptoms.

It is recommended that the Himalayan Salt for these inhalers is replaced every couple months, or as needed. This will keep these inhalers at their best since “fresh” Himalayan Salt will emit the most negative ions, which gives this salts its therapeutic properties.

Sorry folks, we do not sell these salt inhalers at this time- but as always we do offer 100% pure Himalayan Salt at the best prices around for refilling the inhalers.  Feel free to check back with us because we may be offering the inhalers in the near future.

*These inhalers do not and should not replace rescue inhalers. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA.  These inhalers and this information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. Consult your physician before use if you have any health concerns.  

20 Pounds of Coarse Grain Dead Sea Salt- $38.99 + FREE SHIPPING!

Just 3 more days left of this special! Hurry, sale ends Monday…

We only sell Dead Sea Salt that is 100% pure and every order of our
Minera Dead Sea Salt comes with a certificate of authenticity.

This mineral rich salt has amazing therapeutic properties- it’s ideal for overall skincare and detoxing the body.

Learn more by visiting our complete Guide to Dead Sea Salts and the Miracle of the Dead Sea.

100% Natural Salt Scrubs

No Parabens, No Sodium Laureth Sulphate, No Artificial Coloring, No Funny Business

Our delightful, All-Natural Sorbet Scrubs burst with a collection of rejuvenating ingredients to get your skin back to tip-top shape. Each Sorbet Scrub is made of pure Epsom Salt for a gentle, yet effective way to exfoliate your skin, with Soybean Oil and Jojoba Oil for maintaining soft and supple skin with a lustrous glow. All sorbet scrubs are also enriched with Vitamin E and Vitamin C and Aloe Vera.

Every scrub is finished with its own bonus ingredients. Check out each sorbet scrubs ingredients to find out the rest!

3 Scents to Choose From:

Lemon Drop

Pomegranate Splash

Acai Berry

Special introductory rate- Sorbet Scrubs are 20% off for a limited time!

Calspa Deluxe, Minera Deluxe, Calspa Foaming…These are just a few of our bath salts that are made custom, just for you.  First you choose your salt and the quantity (our custom bath salts start at just 5 pounds).  Then, you get to choose your grain size, color and scent.  Now, when you scroll down our long list of scents you’ll notice some of them mention “Essential Oil” next to the name of the scent. 

So, what is the difference between essential oils and fragrance oils?

If you select an Essential Oil, this means that the scent you have chosen is completely natural.  Essential Oils are naturally derived from plants, herbs, flowers, fruits, leaves or gums.  We also offer a few Essential Oil Blends which consist of two or three Essential Oils combined to create unique, natural scents.

If you select any scent that does not mention Essential Oil next to it, this means that you have chosen a Fragrance Oil.  Fragrance Oils are synthetic scents that mimic the aromas of natural elements.  We only use premium quality Fragrance Oils in our salts.

Making your own bath salts or other bath and body products? We offer most of our Essential Oils, Essential Oil Blends, and Fragrance Oils separately in ½ oz, 2 oz, 4 oz, or 8 oz sizes under Make Bath Salt Supplies.  Contact us for pricing and availability on larger bulk sizes of these oils.

Remember, you can always purchase sample scent cards before placing a bulk order for custom salts.  This way, you can smell scents before placing a bulk order.

Long ago, Cleopatra was known to take frequent baths in milk as part of her beauty regimen. Today, we’ve taken this notable beauty secret from the past and gave it a make-over! Our luxurious Milk Bath Soaks are made with pure milk powder along with a collection of other fine ingredients for a nourishing and calming soak. 

Each Skin Nourishing Milk Bath features these essential ingredients which soothe and soften the skin:

Milk Powder- Soothes the skin. Mineral & vitamin rich.

Coconut Milk Powder- Moisturizes the skin.  High in proteins.
Ginseng Root Powder- Reduces inflammation and aides in skin repair.
Bamboo Powder- Cleanses and exfoliates the skin.
Honey Powder- Cleanses pores and softens skin.

Choose from three scents: Dulce de Leche, Green Tea Fusion, or Luscious Lavender- each delivering a unique bathing experience.

Dulce de Leche- Light and sweet, the smell of our Dulce de Leche Milk Bath will warm you from head to toe while you drift off to pure bliss.

Green Tea Fusion- Let the invigorating, herbal scent of green tea fill the room as you immerse yourself in our Green Tea Fusion Milk Bath.

Luscious Lavender- Everyone loves Lavender, so this is a must for our Milk Bath selection!  Pure Lavender Essential Oil accompanies this milk bath blend for an all natural, therapeutic soak.

 

The following article posted today on News-Medical.net explores The Dead Sea and its unique characteristics and conditions that make it one of the most healing places on the planet.

Dead Sea resorts introduce world-renowned treatment for people with dermatological diseases

The Dead Sea is the only place in the world that combines year-round hot weather, an oxygen-enriched atmosphere, therapeutic UVB solar radiation, a mineral-rich salt sea, world famous mineral-rich mud, thermo-mineral hot springs and luxurious spas.

Research has shown that the combined climatic factors have a long-lasting therapeutic effect on dermatological diseases such as psoriasis and eczema, as well as on rheumatic or degenerative joint diseases.

Dead Sea resorts are now introducing their world-renowned treatment for people with dermatological diseases.

A unique combination of natural resources having therapeutic effects has turned the Dead Sea area into a healing center unparalleled anywhere else on the face of the earth.

The salty seawater, with its unusually high concentration of minerals, the natural hot springs rich in minerals and sulphur, the therapeutic black mud and the extraordinary climatic conditions – including uniquely filtered sun rays and oxygen-rich dry air, due to the high barometric pressure prevailing in the lowest spot on earth (417 meters below sea level) – all combine in providing the basis for the successful effect of the Dead Sea therapies. These natural resources have been shown to have a beneficial effect on various illnesses, including chronic incurable diseases, and have led to the reputation of the Dead Sea area as a natural spa promoting health and improving quality of life.

The Dead Sea resorts are offering these treatments along with a fun vacation, where you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

SOURCE Dead Sea
__________________________________________

Article from:

Dead Sea resorts introduce world-renowned treatment for people with dermatological diseases. 2 March 2010. news-medical.net

There’s nothing I enjoy more at the end of a long day then to hop in the tub and take a nice relaxing bath.  But with all the events of the day circling around in my mind it’s sometimes difficult for me to wind down enough to lie in the tub and just “be”. 

The water will be the perfect temperature, and I’ll add some of my favorite bath salts and as I lay there I will be thinking of things that “I can’t forget to do tomorrow” instead of letting myself drift into that much needed relaxation.

I know the longer I stay in the tub, the more therapeutic it will be, and all the benefits of the salts will be greater if I can at least sit tight for a good twenty minutes, though I sometimes find myself a little restless and ready to hop out of the tub all too quickly.  So I started thinking of things that I could do to keep myself occupied in the tub while keeping stress at bay and came up with this list:

A few ways to keep entertained in the tub while staying in a tranquil set of mind:

1. Meditate.  Replace all thoughts that are stress inducing and focus on all the positive things around you, leaving out any negativity.  Reflecting on the good things in your life can leave you feeling centered and peaceful. 
2. Read.  It can be a tricky undertaking to manage to read a book without soaking it, but if you can manage, it can be an enjoyable way to multi-task while still taking a time out from the rest of the world.
   
3. Play Music. And sing along!  Listening to some of your favorite tunes (whether it’s relaxing music or not) while you bathe can help you unwind at the end of your day.  No matter the type of music, if you enjoy it, it’s sure to put you in a better mood.
   
4. Lather Up. Grab that loofah and spend the extra time you have in the tub exfoliating your skin from head to toe.  Focus on areas prone to dry skin like your elbows, knees, and feet that tend to get breezed over quickly during morning showers.
   
5. Create a tub for two.  Have your sweetie join you in the tub as a romantic ritual before bed.  It’s a great way to spend time together while you both get to relax.

Our "Pure Organics" collection features organic Grey Sea Salt certified by the famous "Nature et Progress" institution in France. The salt is hand harvested, using methods over a thousand years old, and the strictest quality control practices are observed. Each luxurious "Pure Organics" bath salt is handmade fresh with your selection of pure organic essential oils certified in the U.S.A.

Choose from these four completely natural scents:

Lavender Bliss
Because of its mildness and healing properties (not to mention its wonderfully soft and sweet smell!) this is our most popular essential oil, and for this one of a kind collection, it’s certified organic. Lavender’s antiseptic qualities help to treat skin conditions such as acne and can reduce inflammation. It also relieves muscle aches and pains and can remedy headaches. Simply smelling the aroma of this essential oil calms and relaxes ones mind and promotes restful sleep.

Grapefruit & Mandarin
An evening soak with our delightfully citrus Grapefruit Mandarin blend will improve your overall mood before sending you off to dreamland. This blend is not only good for the mind, it’s good for the body too as Mandarin and Grapefruit essential oils can aide with digestion and also reduce water retention.

Eucalyptus & Peppermint
We use the purest natural organic oils in this therapeutic bath soak blend to bring you a tried and proven remedy for soothing tired & aching muscles. Spend 15 minutes in a tub with this blend and you'll be ready to take on the world....

Lemon Squeeze
The stimulating scent of freshly squeezed lemons will fill the room when you bathe with this salt blend. Ideal for an early morning bath, the lemon aroma will truly awaken you and prepare you for the day ahead by leaving you focused, alert and in an overall more pleasant mood.

The amazing salts are available now at a special introductory rate.

Shop our Pure Organics Collection

In the chaos of today’s busy lifestyles we often become prone to cold and flu viruses that can leave us fatigued and uncomfortable. With the demands of our careers and families we don’t always have the luxury of taking a sick day to nurture our aching and exhausting symptoms. Often when it comes down to either going to work in a bit of misery or using up one of our treasured vacation days, we usually opt to drag ourselves out of bed and head to work.

 

A perfect way for those with a demanding schedule to combat the inevitable cold or flu virus is to pamper one's tired body with a Cold and Flu Bath Soak at the end of the day.  

Draw a bath to a comfortable temperature and add a couple handfuls of our Cold & Flu Bath Salts.  Post bath, enjoy a cup of your favorite tea to hydrate yourself and further help to comfort your symptoms.

 

Our Cold & Flu Bath Salts feature these therapeutic ingredients:

 

Vitamin C - To reduce the effects of the common cold, high in antioxidants

Lemon Essential Oil - Boosts the immune system and reduces inflammation

Eucalyptus Essential Oil - Boosts the immune system, relieves sore muscles

Tea Tree Essential Oil - A natural antiseptic, also boosts the immune system

Organic Rosehips - Packed with Vitamin C as well as A, D, and E

Organic Hibiscus flower - High in antioxidants

Organic Echinacea Root - Strengthens the immune system

Organic Ginseng Root - Energizes the body

 

When you become run down, take care by lending 20-45 minutes of well deserved attention for YOU!

If winter has taken its toll on your skin, use this bath recipe to get dry, dull and tired skin transformed back to its natural radiance.

Recipe:

Draw a warm bath (keep it comfortable, but not too hot) and add:
2 cups Dead Sea Salt
1 cup Himalayan Salt
1 cup of raw oats, grinded down to a powder

Soak in the tub for at least 20 minutes. 

Bathing with the mineral rich Himalayan Salts and Dead Sea Salts provide essential minerals that improve the overall tone of your skin.  These salts cleanse pores while lifting out harmful toxins leaving your skin soft and supple. Adding raw oats to the bath acts as an added bonus for softening and soothing skin and giving it that all over healthy glow.

For a truly spa like experience, make an oatmeal face mask while you soak by taking a small handful of the powdered oats and adding a little water to the oats in the palm in your hand to make a paste like consistency. Gently massage the oats onto your face.  Leave on as a mask for 5 minutes before rinsing for a natural way to cleanse your face and reveal younger, healthier skin.

If you're moving to a new place, this is yet another perfect time to take a bath… it can be the cause for a lot of extra stress and sore muscles from all the heavy lifting.  To relax and unwind at the end of these straining moving days, why not take a bath?

Taking a 20 minute bath with bath salts at the end of your day can reduce stress and tension while soothing tired and aching muscles.

Adding any type of bath salts to your tub will help you achieve true relaxation.  Epsom Salt is ideal for muscle replacement and our Spa Therapy Muscle Soak made of Epsom Salt with the essential oils of Peppermint and Eucalyptus is our most muscle relieving blend. Add two handfuls to your tub for a truly therapeutic bath.

You may also want to try our Epsoak Deluxe- Epsom Salt with your choice of fragrance or essential oils.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner…

Place your order today for our special Valentine’s Day Bath Salts to receive before the holiday- on sale now + free shipping! 

Choose From:

V-Day Bouquet
For My Sweet Pea
Raspberry Romance
Chocolate Truffle

These salts make the perfect gift when filled in our 6 oz or 2 oz Heart Shaped Bottles.

Want to fill multiple bottles to give as gifts but not sure how much salt you’ll need? Use our Bath Salt Calculator to determine what bulk bag size you should get.

These lovely bath salt blends for you or your sweetie are available now and will ship for free!

Our four Valentine’s Day Bath Salts are all made with a special blend of Pacific Sea Salt & Dead Sea Salt and are infused with ylang ylang and jasmine oils for a truly sensual soak in the tub. Choose from V-Day Bouquet, For My Sweet Pea, Raspberry Romance or Truffle Delight. 


Our Valentine’s Day soaks are perfect for gift giving

or

to share a romantic bath with your true love. Stock up on these salts to keep the romantic baths going even after Valentine’s has passed…

V-Day Bouquet
The newest way to give someone special a bouquet of roses! Rose colored pacific sea salts with an essential oil blend of Rosemary and Geranium. The perfect bath soak for a romantic evening in the tub. With the added help of these pure essential oils, these salts will calm and relax while doing wonders for the skin.

For My Sweet Pea
Share our Sweet Pea & Ivy scented bath salts with someone you love! This fragrance is a light, sweet scent, reminiscent of luscious gardens in the springtime. Pacific Sea Salts, lilac in color.

Raspberry Romance
Immerse yourself in the sweet smell of freshly ripened raspberries with our Raspberry Romance bath salts. A pleasant scent, sure to instantly boost your mood. Pacific Sea Salts, pink in color.

Truffle Delight
Treat yourself to the warm, sweet scent of delectable truffles when you bathe with our rich, chocolate scented bath salts. Pacific Sea Salts in a light brown/beige color.

Present these salts as a gift by packaging them in our decorative glass heart-shaped bottles. For more packaging options see our Bath Salt Packaging page.

Valentine’s Day is February 14^th.

Our Epsom Salt is now available in 3 different grain sizes (Fine, Medium and Coarse) and is on sale now! Right now our Epsom Salt can be purchased for as low as $0.49/ per pound!

Studies have shown that bathing with Epsom Salts can relieve tired and achy muscles, ease stress and promote relaxation, help you get a good night’s sleep, remove toxins from the body… and more!

There are many other ways to use Epsom Salts- see our article Epsoak- Premium Epsom Salts for more information on the benefits of Epsom Salts including tips and usage suggestions for health, beauty, and even helpful hints for using Epsom Salts in your own garden.

Please check out this short video clip as CNN senior medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, explores the healing benefits of bathing with mineral rich Dead Sea Salts.  This segment includes a true testimonial from a psoriasis patient who has been bathing regularly with salts from the Dead Sea to treat his skin condition, with great results.  The film includes incredible photos that were taken before and after he began this completely natural bathing routine.

Why choose Dead Sea Bath Salts?
Dead Sea Salts carry many benefits, particularly when used as bath salts. Dead Sea Salts effectively treat many skin conditions, from eczema and psoriasis to everyday conditions such as oily or dry skin. Dead Sea salts are also known to soothe rashes, calm allergic reactions, minimize dandruff and treat acne. Dead Sea salts have been known to improve the appearance of cellulite, manage the appearance of swelling due to water retention, and even treat hair loss. In addition, Dead Sea salts detoxify your skin, drawing out dirt, pollutants and impurities from each pore.

Customize your bath salts with a relaxation promoting essential oil.  Drawing a nice warm bath and adding a large handful of salts will help to ease stress and anxiety, uplifting your mood.  The salts will also soothe tired and achy muscles and make your skin feel amazing.

Our stress relieving essential oils:
Bergamot
Chamomile
Lavender
Lemon


Any of these oils can be ordered with our custom bath salts.

We recommend:

Light Pink Himalayan Salt-  For a limited time you can customize this salt with your choice of scent at no additional charge!

Calspa Deluxe- Pacific Sea Salt with your choice of color and/or scent

Minera Deluxe- Mineral rich Dead Sea Salt with your choice of color and/or scent

Calspa Foaming- Custom Pacific Sea Salt that foam. It would be difficult to not instantly be in a better mood with this fun bath soak!

“Which grain size should I choose?” This is a question that is often asked, so to help you decide what's the best choice for you be sure to read this article.

 

Is there a price difference depending on grain size?  Generally, no.  Pricing is almost always the same no matter which grain size is selected.  The only exception to this is if there is a sale or special running on a specific salt and grain size.

I want to make my own salt scrub, which grain size should I use?  The fine grain (or extra fine if available) is best for scrubs.  This way you’ll create an exfoliating scrub but not one that is too abrasive for the skin.

Does the coarse grain contain a higher mineral content?  This is a common misconception as no matter what grain size you choose it will still have the same variety of minerals.  It originates from the same source and has the same quality as the coarse grain. The only difference would be that the finer grain sizes have been grinded smaller.

Can I use the salt in my hot tub or Jacuzzi?  Typically this is ok as long as you use a fine grain size of a salt that dissolves quickly and completely.  There are some salts however that we would advise not to use in your hot tub or Jacuzzi as the high mineral content prevents the salt from dissolving all the way.  To learn more about this read our article Salt & Jacuzzi’s.

If I want to soak in a regular bath tub with salts which grain size should I use?  Any grain size is suitable for this so it’s really all a matter of preference of how quickly you want the grains to dissolve.  Fine grain is always going to dissolve faster.

I want to use the Sherpa Himalayan Salt as a gourmet food salt.  Which size is best for this?  Any of our Himalayan Salts can be used for consumption.  The extra fine is a popular choice because it can go right in a salt shaker.  Any grain size that is larger would need to be put in a salt mill or grinder if it is to be sprinkled directly onto food.

If you are having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night, you are not alone. Research conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services in 2007 found that nearly 64 million adults in the country regularly experienced symptoms of insomnia. 

Maintaining overall good sleep patterns is essential to our overall well being and our health.  We’re all individuals and therefore require different amounts of sleep each night.  Generally adults require somewhere between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. 

One of the best things to do if you are having symptoms of insomnia is to take a bath!  Bathing with the right bath salts before bedtime can be very helpful in getting that good night’s sleep.  Choosing the right scents for your bath salts is also the key to battling insomnia- picking the right essential oils will provide you will sleep promoting aromatherapy. 

Below are bath salts blends that we recommend for you to try tonight.  Sweet dreams!

Our customer’s #1 pick: Sleep Lavender Salts
Pacific sea salt in a soothing lilac color with lavender essential oil.  Add lavender herb buds at no extra charge.

Also try…

Spa Therapy Moon Dreams
Mineral rich Himalayan Salts scented with a blend of chamomile and lavender essential oil.

Spa Therapy Tranquility
Foaming bath salts with lavender, eucalyptus, and ylang ylang essential oils.

Another gourmet food salt is now available from SFBSC. We are very excited to be bringing you a new great salt that is favored by top chefs in France and all around the world!

Grey Sea Salt is formed as the sea water flows into the Guerande marshes during high tides.  The water is then directed to a vasiere, or a settling pond, where the water is evaporated leaving behind a naturally organic, crystallized salt.

The Grey Sea Salt gets it name from its natural coloring that occurs from the salt crystallizing on clay.  This contact with the clay provides the salt with its high mineral content that includes magnesium and many other trace minerals.

Grey Sea Salt has a much more delicate and richer taste than Mediterranean Sea Salt. It is 100% natural and unrefined and is certified organic.  We will be offering this salt in both fine and coarse grains in order to suite your gourmet salt needs.

Organic Grey Sea Salt will be joining our family of gourmet food salts which includes:

Sherpa Pink Himalayan Salt
Light Pink Himalayan Salt
Utah Red Salt
Ibiza European Salt

SFBSC has a wide variety of bulk salon & spa quality products to pamper your customers from head to toe!  With economical prices and lots of options to customize your products you won’t need to look any further to find your source for foot soaks, body scrubs and more!

If you also have a retail section in your salon or spa in which you sell the same great products that you use in your treatments we also offer private labeling, starting at 50 units.  Give customer service a call at 510.477.9600 or email customerservice@sfbsc.com to inquire on options and pricing.

Wholesale Spa Products available:

Pedicure Foot Soaks ~ Perfect soak for foot spas- Sea Salt with strong color & scent

Pedicure Foot Scrub ~ An abrasive foot scrub to smooth even the roughest heels. 

Salt & Sugar Body Scrubs ~ Gentle, exfoliating scrubs for body.  You choose your scent.

Dead Sea Mud ~  100% pure Dead Sea Mud from Israel.

Nourishing Lotion ~ Moisturizing, non-greasy lotion.  Available scented and non-scented.

Please look through our archive of past blogs to find more information on these products, usage suggestions and recipes.

 

Please click on the links below to learn more about these 3 great soaks now available at a special offer with free shipping on most quantities!

Acai Berry Infused Dead Sea Salt 
Dead Sea Salt with antioxidant rich Acai Berry extract and vitamins C, E and A.

Muscle Soak Spa Therapy
Espom Salt blend with eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils.

Cold & Flu Soak Rx
Pacific Sea Salt with a long list of added health promoting ingredients.

The evenings and just before bed aren’t the only good times to take baths!  Taking a bath as part of your morning routine can truly awaken you so that you can be energized, alert and focused for the day ahead.

The trick is to take a cool bath.  Make it comfortable, but still try to keep the water as brisk as possible because too warm of a bath will only relax you.  The second vital part to keeping it refreshing is to choose a scent, whether it be a fragrance or essential oil, that will also help to perk you up in the AM. A vibrant and cheerful colored bath salt can also help to set the tone of your day.

Recommend Morning Bath Soaks:

Calspa Deluxe or Minera Deluxe with your choice of one of these essential oils:
Eucalyptus, Juniperberry, Lemongrass, Orange, Peppermint, Spearmint or Lime.

Always rushing around in the morning?  Take a cool shower and use one of our exfoliating salt scrubs in one of the suggested scents above. 

If you are new to SFBSC or have used our products before but would like to try out some of our most popular soaks, our Spa Therapy line is a great place to start. Spa Therapy consists of 10 different soaks created to suite the specific benefits or mood you are looking to obtain.

They’re the perfect choice if you are trying out a particular salt for the first time as they are available in 5 oz sample sizes, 16 oz jars or 2lb bulk bags- and if you find a few that you absolutely love we also offer them in a 20lb spa therapy bulk bag.  Save More, Buy in Bulk.

Some of the Spa Therapy Soaks:

Want to drift off faster and get a better night’s sleep? 
Try our Moondreams- A Himalayan Salt blend with lavender and chamomile essential oils.

Tired, achy muscles?
How about our Muscle Soak? An Epsom Salt blend with eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils.

Looking to cleanse and purify your skin?
Our Detox formula of Dead Sea Salts, Kelp Powder, grapefruit & juniperberry essential oils with green tea works wonders.

Check out these and all the other exclusive Spa Therapy Line blends under Gift Ideas.

Have we peaked your interest?  Try them all! We offer a spa therapy sample set of all 10 soaks.

Floatation Tanks, also known as Isolation Tanks were created by John C. Lilly in the 1950s. These tanks are used for a variety of reasons including meditation, relaxation and natural healing.  How it works- A person will lie inside the tank while floating in salt water.  Subjects are completely isolated and undistracted from the rest of the world as the tanks are soundproof and completely dark.

 
Most tanks require about 800 lbs of Epsom Salt to allow subjects to be buoyant.  The Epsom salt also benefits those floating in the tank by detoxing the body and relieving muscle aches and pains.  

San Francisco Bath Salt Company has large quantities of Epsom Salt for floatation tanks readily available, so whether you’re an individual with a floatation tank at home or have your own floatation tank business, we can help.

We only sell the highest grade (USP grade), pure Magnesium-Sulfate Epsom Salts. To find out more about Epsom Salt and its many benefits and uses, read our article:  Epsoak – Premium Epsom Salt

Contact us to get the best possible shipping rate for high volume orders to your area.

Thank you for reading our blog on Epsom Salt for Floatation Tanks.

Are bath salts safe for Jacuzzi’s and Hot Tubs?  This question comes up often and the short answer is yes, however, we do have a few recommendations on how to choose the best salts that won’t interfere with the mechanisms of the spa as well as a few other helpful hints to assist you in getting the best results possible.

 

Selecting the type of salt:

Choosing the right type of salt is very important. We only suggest using salts that will dissolve completely in the water. Some salts which are highly mineralized will leave particles behind that will not dissolve completely. Bearing in mind the safety of the mechanics of the hot tub as well as the fact that water in these systems is not as frequently changed, we recommend the following salts in Fine Grain.

Minera Dead Sea Salt
Epsoak Epsom Salt
Calspa Pacific Sea Salt

Scents & Colors:

Many of our customers do use scented and/or colored salts in their Jacuzzi’s though our recommendation would to be to use one of the regular, raw salts listed above.  If you do choose to use color and scent it’s best to clean the hot tub and change the water often to prevent a build-up of over colored and over fragranced water.

Herbs:

We offer Dead Sea Salt and Pacific Sea Salt with mixed-in dried herbs.  We suggest using these particular salts exclusively in your bath tub and rather than in your Jacuzzi.

*Since all Jacuzzi’s, hot tubs, whirlpools, etc. are built differently, we strongly recommend checking with the supplier of your spa prior to using bath salts. 

For more frequently asked questions, visit our FAQ page.

Have you been ignoring your feet?  If so, think of this- our feet are constantly supporting our body’s weight while taking us everywhere we need to go, keeping up with us and our busy day to day schedules.

Give your feet the much needed attention that they deserve!  You can easily create a foot bath at home by trying one of the recipes below.  It’ll only take a few minutes and your feet will surely thank you for it.

First you’ll need a foot spa. This can be a large bowl, container or pale- whatever is large enough to allow you to fully submerge your feet (your ankles and lower legs, too!) in water.  Foot baths are convenient, too. You can place your foot bath in front of your favorite chair of sofa and relax while sitting down to read a novel or watch some television.

For each recipe below, fill your foot spa with medium warm water (for the Refreshing Foot Bath use cold water).  Next, simply measure out the ingredients and add them one at a time to your foot bath.  Each foot bath recipe calls for the perfect amount of ingredients for one therapeutic foot soak.  Finally, place your feet in the bowl and allow them to soak for at least 10 minutes.  When you’re finished soaking, pat your feet and legs dry with a soft towel and put on your comfy slippers (have these next to you before you start your spa treatment).

Repairing Foot Bath
½ cup Dead Sea Salt
3 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
1 teaspoon Sea Kelp Powder

If you’ve just stepped out in your favorite new pair of shoes and are feeling the effects of breaking them in- tired, achy feet and perhaps a few painful blisters, try the Repairing Foot Bath.  The Dead Sea Salt will cleanse and quicken the healing process of any broken skin.  The Bergamot & Peppermint oils and Sea Kelp Powder will aide in the skincare and healing process as well.

 
Detox Foot Bath
½ cup Dead Sea Salt
3 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
2 drops of Juniperberry Essential Oil
1 teaspoon Ginger Root Powder

For the ultimate purifying foot treatment try the Detox Foot Bath.  All of the ingredients for this recipe are ideal for ridding your feet, ankles and legs of toxins and impurities.

 
Refreshing Foot Bath
½ cup Himalayan Salt
3 drops Lime Essential Oil
3 drops Orange Essential Oil
1 teaspoon Ginger Root Powder

A great morning foot bath, the Refreshing Foot Bath will wake up and re-energize your tired tootsies.  Soaking your feet with mineral rich Himalayan salt will uplift you and by adding the refreshing citrus oils you’ll truly awaken and be ready for the day ahead of you.  The ginger powder will provide a detoxing element to your foot soak.  Remember to use cold water for this recipe.

 
Bedtime Foot Bath
½ cup Pacific Sea Salt
3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
1 drop Ylang Ylang III Essential Oil
1 teaspoon Mustard Powder

As you're winding down to the end of the day, soak your feet in a wonderfully calming foot bath.    The blend of salts and essential oils will help fight insomnia so you can be on your way to a pleasant night’s sleep.  Mustard powder is also added in this recipe as another calming and sleep promoting ingredient.

Fresh and fun new recipes for those times when you really could use a bath!

All of the below recipes call for Himalayan Salt which is a beautiful and highly therapeutic salt from the Himalayan Mountains containing 84 minerals that are essential to our over all well being. To find out more about these amazing salts click here: Sherpa Pink Himalayan Salt

For each recipe: In a small bowl, add the essential oil drops suggested for the bath of your choice to the Himalayan Salt (in the grain size of your choice).  Mix well and then add to a tub of warm water.  Each recipe will be the perfect amount for one soak.  You can purchase the Himalayan Salt in bulk so that you have Himalayan Salt on hand for whenever you want to create one of these recipes.

The Sunrise Bath
Good morning!  You’ve just woken up to a very important day and feel you need a boost.  Start your day off by taking a cool bath!

1 cup Himalayan Salt
2 drops Lime Essential Oil
5 drops Tangerine Essential Oil

The after-hitting-the-gym Bath
Whew- You’ve worked out hard and can feel it!  Your muscles are sore and you need to get some relief.  Take a bath!

1 cup Himalayan Salt
3 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
4 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

The PMS Bath
It’s that time of the month again and you’ve been bombarded by cramps.  Take time out to take a bath!

1 cup Himalayan Salt 
8 drops Lavender Essential Oil
3 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

The Time Machine Bath
You have a special event to attend to and you want to look your best.  Get that youthful skin back by taking a bath with Himalayan Salts.  Your skin will be radiant and you’ll lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

1 cup of Himalayan Salt
6 drops Geranium Essential Oil
3 drops Rosemary Essential Oil

The Sleepy Time Bath
Tossing and turning throughout the night trying to get to sleep?  Make bathing part of your getting-ready-for-bed routine!  You’ll fall asleep faster and keep on snoozing though the night.

1 cup of Himalayan Salt
8 drops Lavender Essential Oil
3 drops Ylang Ylang III Essential Oil

Picking the right essential oil to add to your custom bath salts can be key in getting the most therapeutic bath possible.

Below are common desired benefits with their corresponding essential oils (in no particular order).

To relax and help you sleep:
Bergamot
Geranium
Lavender
Ylang Ylang III
Tangerine

To keep calm and balanced:
Geranium
Lavender
Ylang Ylang III
Spruce

To energize and uplift:
Eucalyptus
Juniperberry
Lemongrass
Orange
Peppermint
Spearmint
Lime

To keep productive and focussed at work:
Ginger
Lemon
Rosemary
Clovebud

For skincare:
Bergamot
Eucalyptus
Geranium
Lavender
Lemongrass
Patchouli
Peppermint
Rosemary
Tea Tree

For muscle aches and pains:
Sage (clary)
Ginger
Juniperberry
Lemon
Peppermint

To detox the body:
Grapefruit
Juniperberry

Check out our Spa Therapy Line to find a bath salt blend that's right for you.  This line consists of pre-selected salts, essential oils and other important ingredients that were created to fit the benefits you want.

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions out there and so many of us have searched for the perfect product that can battle this all too familiar problem.

Stress and hormone fluctuations are often to blame for the unsightly  breakouts that can occur on the face as well as other parts of the body.

You can treat acne naturally using Dead Sea Salts 2 ways:

1)     Add 2 cups of Dead Sea Salt to a warm bath and soak for 20 minutes, 3-4 times a week or daily!

Or

2)      You can use the Dead Sea Salt in the shower by taking a handful of fine grain Dead Sea Salt and massaging it directly onto prone acne areas, gently, in circular motions.  Rinse after.  You can use Dead Sea Salt on your face by first dissolving a small handful of salt in a cup of water- just be sure to avoid getting the salt in your eyes and mouth. Using dead sea salt on the face may slightly sting those with sensitive skin, so it's best the test on a small area of your face first.  You can make this part of your daily routine or a few times a week as needed.

 

How it works:

Dead Sea Salt is full of essential minerals which aide in overall skincare including:

Magnesium-  Necessary for cell metabolism.  This mineral also promotes the healing of skin tissue and gives skin’s surface anti-allergic elements.

Bromide- Soothes irritated skin.

Potassium- Moisturizes the skin.

Sulfur- Naturally disinfects while also working as a detoxifying agent.

Calcium- Cleanses pores.

Zinc- Helps protect the skin against elements such as sun and wind and is also an important factor for the enzymatic regulation of cell proliferation.

With Sea Salt and a few essential oils, you can obtain healthier, stronger and more brilliant nails and soften cuticles.

Ingredients:

For steps 1 & 2
Approx. 3 tbsp Dead Sea Salt (fine grain)
2 tbsp Olive Oil
Water
Small bowl

For step 3*
3 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil (anti-bacterial & anti-fungal oil)
3 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil (moisturizes and strengthens)
3 Drops Lavender Essential Oil (anti-bacterial & anti-fungal oil)
3 Drops Lemon Essential Oil (whitens and strengthens)
3 Vitamin E Gel Capsules (moisturizes)
1 oz Sweet Almond Oil (moisturizes)
Dark glass bottle

One-

To soften and soothe cuticles, combine 2 tablespoons of fine grain Dead Sea Salt,  2 tablespoons of olive oil and just enough water to allow you to soak your fingers into a small bowl.  Soak for 10 minutes.

Two-

For a beautiful shine on your nails, add a little bit of water to a tablespoon of Dead Sea Salt and buff your nails by gently massaging the salt directly onto your nails using circular motions. Then rinse hands with warm water.

Three-

For the finishing touch, which will help to strengthen brittle nails and give them a natural shine, take a small dark glass bottle and add in the drops of essential oils.  Then break the Vitamin E capsules and squeeze them into bottle.  Finally, add the sweet almond oil. Massage 2 or 3 drops of the blend onto your nails and cuticles.

*This blend will provide you with many uses since you only need to use a couple drops at a time.

If you’ve just over indulged the night before only to wake up feeling the effects the next morning- headache, nausea and feeling achy all over, treat yourself the this detoxifying bath.  If you can get someone to help you prepare this bath for you, all the better!

 
You will need:
1 Cup Dead Sea Salt OR Epsom Salt (to get rid of the toxins and soothe muscles)
5 drops of Grapefruit Essential Oil (uplifts while soothing nausea)
2 drops of Juniper Essential Oil (a detoxifying essential oil that will help to cleanse your body)
3 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (relaxes and relieves headaches)
Wash cloth and hand towel soaked with cold water

The How To: 
Place the salt into a bowl and add in the drops of essential oils, then mix.
Draw a bath of luke warm water (the tepid water will help you rejuvenate).
Next, sprinkle the bath salts in the tub.
Slowly make your way into the tub and place the cool hand towel behind your head as a cushion.  Then fold the cool washcloth and place it across your forehead.
Lie back and relax until you are ready to get on with the rest of your day.

Remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day!

Don’t forget another important family member that can also benefit from bathing with natural sea salt.

Bathing your dog with Dead Sea Salt can help them get relief from skins conditions like eczema.  These salts can also reduce itchiness and dandruff and draw out toxins from their body while softening their skin and coat.

 

The How To For Lucky’s Bath:

-In the tub, thoroughly wet his coat with warm water.
-Gently massage him with and handful of fine grain Minera Dead Sea Salt. Work the salt through the fur (or hair) and onto the skin.
-Thoroughly rinse off the salt, allowing the salts to remain in the tub of water so he continues to obtain the benefits of the salt.
-Follow by bathing him with his favorite ph balanced doggy shampoo.

 
You can also try using our Minera Deluxe Salts.  With these salts you can choose to add an essential oil to the salts to obtain the extra benefits of aromatherapy and to keep your dog smelling great (we recommend selecting natural white so there is no added coloring).  Be sure to choose an essential oil that is safe for dogs.  Here is a list of some of the essential oils that are dog friendly: 

Sage Clary, Geranium, Lavender and Peppermint.

An economical priced salt with so many uses!

 

Our Epsoak is a pure mineral compound of magnesium sulfate and we only sell the highest quality (USP grade).  You may know that by bathing with Epsom Salt you can relieve muscle aches and pains- but there’s so much more that you may not have heard.  Below are some suggested uses for this multi-purpose salt.

Glamour Tips:
Epsom Salt works wonder on the skin as it gently exfoliates.  It has perks for your hair, too!

 
Salt Scrub - For a stimulating body scrub, mix equal parts of salt and olive oil and gently massage onto skin with long upward and inward strokes, then rinse.
Body Wrap - Include Epsoak salts as a layering product in a body wrap.
Facial - Mix 1/2 teaspoon of Epsoak into cleansing cream for a deep-pore cleansing. Massage onto face and neck. Rinse with cool water and pat dry with wash cloth.
Hair Care- Flat Hair: Add volume to hair by mixing equal parts of Epsoak and conditioner. Heat the blend in a microwave safe container for 15 seconds. Massage the salt/conditioner mixture into your scalp and leave on for at least 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Oily Hair: To purify your hair, removing any oil, dirt and toxins add a teaspoon of Epsoak to a shampoo for oily hair (make sure your shampoo is PH balanced) and work into your scalp. Rinse well with cool water. Condition your hair focusing on the ends and not the scalp.

Suggested Usages for your Well-Being:
Studies have shown that bathing with Epsom Salts can relieve tired and achy muscles, ease stress and promote relaxation, help you get a good night’s sleep, remove toxins from the body and more!

 
For a relaxing soak - Add two cups of Epsoak to a hot bath (for a standard size tub) and soak for at least 12 minutes.
Relieve tired feet – In a large bowl or foot spa, add a handful of Epoak to warm water. Soak aching feet for at least 10 minutes, then rinse in cool water.
Remove dry skin - After bathing, and while still wet, give yourself a massage with dry salt, then rinse. This will remove dead skin cells and increase circulation.

Help your garden grow:
Research has found that Epsom Salts can help your plants thrive.  The magnesium and sulfur in the Epsom Salt are essential to produce chlorophyll. These minerals also help absorb phosphorus and nitrogen which are important to fertilization. The Magnesium also plays an important role in seed germination.

Indoor Plants: Once a month give your plants an extra boost by adding 2 tablespoons of Epsoak for each gallon of water.
Tomatoes: Every two weeks, add 1 tablespoon for each foot of the plant height onto the soil at the base of the plant.
Roses: Every two weeks, add 1 tablespoon for each foot of the plant height onto the soil at the base of the plant.  You can also spray a water/Epsom salt solution onto the roses to repel pests.
Lawns- Apply 3 pounds (for every 1,250 ft) of Epsom salt to your lawn using a spreader or by mixing with water in a sprayer.
Trees-Use Epsom salt three times a year, apply 2 tablespoons for every 9 square feet on the root zone.

 

Unwind, and drift into pure relaxation tonight by soaking in a warm bath using our Herbal Bath Salts.

You can easily create your own bath tea bags using these all natural bath salts with your choice of lavender buds, rose petals, and dried chamomile. These are a great way to enjoy the aromatherapy benefits of the herbs without having the clean up afterwards. 

For each tea bag you will need:
5oz (about a handful) of Minera Herbal or Calspa Herbal
Muslin tea bags (approx 4 x 5.5 inches)
Sting or yarn to tie

Place the bath salts in the muslin tea bags and tie the string around the top to seal the tea bag (leave about 12 inches of extra string)

When you are ready for your bath, tie the tea bag to the faucet and allow it to steep while the water is running.  Keep the tea bag steeping as long as you are in the tub.

Summer is just around the corner and warmer weather means you’ll be showing off a little more skin.  To prepare your skin for tanks, shorts and skirts we invite you to create your own at home spa experience using our sugar scrubs. 

Sugar scrubs are less abrasive than salt scrubs which make them a good choice for those with sensitive skin. You choose your favorite sugar- white or brown.

What’s the difference between the Brown Sugar Scrub and White Sugar Scrub?
It’s mostly a matter of preference since they are so similar, but if you have especially sensitive skin, the brown sugar is a bit softer than the white sugar.  Brown sugar also has that naturally delicious aroma!

What are the benefits of Sugar Scrubs?
Sugar Scrubs are a great way to gently exfoliate your skin, leaving you with a healthy glow and skin soft and touchable.  Sugar contains anti bacterial properties and won’t clog your pores.  It also helps to balance the natural oils of the skin.

What’s in a Sugar Scrub?
We add Sweet Almond Oil, Honey and Vitamin E to the sugar to create a truly luxurious scrub. You can customize your own sugar scrub by choosing one of our over 60 available scents.

To help you decide, here are our top 3 most popular choices:

Lavender (either brown or white sugar)
Oatmeal Milk & Honey (brown sugar)
Peppermint (white sugar)

SPECIAL: FREE SHIPPING ON ALL SALT & SUGAR SCRUBS 

Sea Salt is full of minerals that are essential for healthy, beautiful hair.

Our Minera Dead Sea Salt contains Magnesium, Potasium and Sulfates which are known to strengthen hair and regulate circulation. It also contains Calcium which is vital for healthy hair growth.

Our Epsoak Epsom Salt is a pure compound of Magnesium Sulfate, so this salt is very beneficial for hair as well.

Here are some common hair problems that can be tended to by using Sea Salt.

Dandruff: Regulate circulation on your scalp by massaging a couple tablespoons of Dead Sea Salt into your scalp (apply to wet hair) and then follow with a dandruff shampoo.

Hair Loss: Massaging Dead Sea Salt into the scalp has been shown to improve circulation and stimulate hair re-growth. Rub a few tablespoons into your scalp before shampooing.

Flat Hair: Add volume to your hair by mixing equal parts of Epsom Salt and conditioner. Heat the blend in a microwave safe container for 15 seconds. Massage the salt/conditioner mixture into your scalp and leave on for at least 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

*For a quick way to add body and waves to your hair, mix a couple tablespoons of Epsom Salt to water and put in a spray bottle.  Spray salt water onto slightly damp hair, tossle your hair a bit and allow your hair to air dry.

Oily Hair: To purify your hair, removing any oil, dirt and toxins add a teaspoon of Epsom Salt to a shampoo for oily hair (make sure your shampoo is PH balanced) and work into your scalp. Rinse well with cool water. Condition your hair focussing on the ends and not the scalp.

While sea salt has been shown to aide the following hair dilemmas, everyone is different so not everyone may obtain the same results. Check with your sylist before trying any of these recipes if you have color treated hair.

Obtain the powers of dried herbs by bathing with our Calspa Herbal & Minera Herbal. These blends are made of all natural ingredients- 100% Natural Salt, Essential Oils, Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and your choice of up to three herbs- chamomile, lavender, and rose buds. This is the perfect custom salt blend for those of you who are looking for a truly natural and therapeutic bathing experience. Great for muscle aches and pains and skincare.

If you are thinking that these herbs would be nice to use but worry about clogging your drain or just aren’t excited about having the herbs floating about you while you soak, there is a solution! You can achieve the same experience by simply making a tea bag with your salts which you can steep- the salt will still dissolve and you won’t have the clean up afterwards. Simply place a handful of the Calspa Herbal or Minera Herbal onto a square piece of muslin and tie with a sting (you can also purchase muslin bag with drawstrings). You can either tie the tea bag onto the faucet and allow the hot water to run or simply drop it in the tub.

Each herb has its own unique benefits and magical powers that have been shared for years.

Chamomile ~ Powers- Sleep, Love, Purification.
Use in your bath to attract love.
Try this: Moon Dreams Essential Oil Blend with Dried Chamomile

Lavender ~ Powers- Love, Sleep, Happiness, Peace.
Perfect bath to take right before bed for a good night’s sleep.
Try this: Lavender Essential Oil with Lavender Bud Herbs

Rose ~ Powers- Love, Healing, Luck.
Perfect herb to create a love bath.
Try this tonight: Rose Garden Essential Oil Blend with Rose Petals

There is a rumor that has circulated for years, concerning bathing during pregnancy: many believe that bathing during pregnancy is harmful for your unborn child. The most common believe is that germs and dirt from bath water could make it’s way up into the uterus and infect the fetus.

Turns out, this belief is in fact an old wives’ tale, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t bathe while pregnant. In fact, bathing during pregnancy is one of the best things you can do to nurture yourself. Baths are not only wonderful as a source of relaxation, they do wonders for aches and pains associated with pregnancy.

When you take your baths, be sure to keep the water very warm but not too hot - scalding water (at a temperature similar to a hot tub) is too hot and could harm the baby, particularly in the first trimester. 98.6 degrees is about as hot as you want to go, and that’s a nice temperature that will relax and soothe you perfectly.

Taking frequent baths - even two per day - is a wonderful way to treat yourself during this often challenging time. Here are some reasons why bathing during pregnancy is a good idea:

Relaxation: Pregnancy carries many rewards and is a beautiful process for many of us. But hormonal fluctuations, physical changes in our bodies, and the actual task of raising a child can all make us feel stressed out from time to time. Bathing helps decrease blood pressure and elevate mood, leaving us feeling relaxed and uplifted.

Aches and Pains: Many women experience backaches and other aches and pains associated with being pregnant. Bathing soothes tired, achy muscles and relaxes us from the inside out. In fact, bathing is one of the most popular - and one of the safest - treatments for muscle soreness.

Skin Care: Your friends and family have all noticed your new “glow”, thanks to the little one growing inside you! But despite your newfound dewy radiance, there may be some other changes to your skin that aren’t so favorable. Thanks to hormone fluctuations and stress, you may be breaking out and your skin acting up a bit more than usual. Bathing in sea salts - particularly Dead Sea salts - is a great way to clean and detoxify your skin, leaving it soft, supple, and clear. Now you can show off that glow, without anything else getting in the way!

To get the most out of your pregnancy baths, be sure to use high quality bath salts. Bath salts are made using real sea salts from around the world, and there are many varieties to address your specific needs.

Next week, we’ll explore the best salts for you as you go through this important phase in  your life. Until then, take a look at our site and familiarize yourself with the many bath salts we offer. Happy bathing!

Your poor skin. I mean, really – what other part of your body goes through as much as your skin does? You scrub it, you scratch it, you lather, rinse, and repeat. And the next day, you do it all over again. You’re not the only one picking on your skin – weather, sun exposure, pollution, and age itself, all take their toll on this delicate part of our bodies.

Our skin is our largest organ, and one that many of us take for granted. It regulates our temperature, protects us from the elements, and of course, it holds everything together. All too often, our skin is a reflection of poor diets, bad habits, and stress, creating fine lines and dry patches on otherwise youthful faces and bodies. During the course of each day, many factors contribute to unhealthy skin. Everything from central heating and air conditioning to dry winter weather depletes our skin of moisture and nutrients.

Most of us lead busy lives and seldom have the time to think about our skin.  We take quick, hot showers, wash ourselves with harsh soaps and follow up with a creamy moisturizer that promises to soothe and protect. We may actually be doing more harm than good: the hot shower actually robs our skin of moisture. Many soaps – even those that come in pretty packaging - strip away natural oils that keep our skin healthy. The moisturizer is a good idea, but not if you’re just putting the same moisture in that you just took out!

It’s the first thing we see each day, yet we seldom give it the pampering and attention it needs. For skin to be healthy, we must take the time to take care of it. So how can we make sure our skin is getting what it needs?

Bathing in sea salts, particularly Dead Sea salts, does wonders for the skin. Dead Sea salts are harvested from the southern end of the Dead Sea, where the water is filled with natural minerals. We all know that soaking in a hot bath makes us smell fresh, feel relaxed and leaves us feeling clean, but many people don’t know how baths with sea salts help restore, renew, and detoxify our skin from the inside out. A bath taken with Dead Sea salts can replenish these nutrients and restore moisture.

In addition to all this, Dead Sea salts contain minerals that have been proven to diminish the effects of aging, plumping up your skin’s outer layers just enough to minimize fine lines and creases. Dead Sea salts also increase your skin’s defense against the harsh effects of the environment while adding moisture, leaving your skin soft and supple with a healthy glow.

Try our Natural Spa Therapy line of bath salts, which are made from our exclusive Minera Dead Sea Salts – the highest quality of sea salts you will find. Minera Dead Sea Salts have not been processed, refined, or depleted of their natural minerals like many bath salts you’ll find. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and of course, pamper yourself! You’ll feel the difference immediately, and your skin will thank you for it.

You go to bed early one evening – around 10 pm. You have a long day ahead of you and want to make sure you get at least 8 hours of rest. You hit the pillow, close your eyes, and thoughts of the impending workday fill your mind. Then, your thoughts drift to your mother. Then, to the errands you have to run. You feel uncomfortable. What can you do with your left arm so it’s not directly underneath you? You shift to your stomach. 

You open your eyes and it’s 12:00 am and you’re still wide awake. You close your eyes and turn on your side again. Not comfortable. Turn to the other side. Nope, not comfortable. You open your eyes again – it’s 2:00 am. Finally, around 3:30, you fall asleep, only to wake at 6:00 with puffy eyes and a bad attitude. 

Sound familiar? You’re probably suffering from insomnia, a common sleep disorder.  Don’t worry, it’s not just you – 25% of us have it regularly. There are many causes for insomnia, including hormonal changes, certain medications, and depression. The most common cause, and the one that almost all of us experience, is stress. 

Your friends all offer advice- they tell you to stop thinking, to meditate, to exercise, to take sleeping pills or drink a nice glass of brandy before heading to bed. All of these can help, of course. But, one of the best cures for insomnia also happens to be a fantastic way to pamper yourself – go take a bath! 

Studies show that baths lower stress, alleviate tension, and leave you feeling restful and peaceful. When combined with aromatherapy, the results are simply amazing. Lavender, for instance, is known to relax and to soothe. Used in combination with nice, warm water and you’ll feel your blood pressure drop and the tension in your body seem to wash away.

Here’s what to do: 
Prepare your environment! Light some candles around your tub, place some fresh flowers on the side of the tub, dim the lights – make the space as tranquil as possible. Sure, it takes time, but you deserve it. 

Add a big handful of  bath salts of your choice to a tub full of hot water. Try our Lavender Bath Salts, or our Sleep Bath Soak. Swirl and mix the bath salts in the water, lean back, and breathe in the wonderful aromas. As the water begins to cool, chances are you won’t want to get out yet. Just add a little more hot water, add some fresh salts, and spend a little more time.

When you get out, put on your warmest, softest pajamas and slippers, hide under the covers with a good book, and before you know it, you’ll wake up the next day, ready for anything.

At Groom, 330 E. St. Paul Ave., the shelves are filled with products for men's hair and skin, and male customers chatter above the gentle hum of so many female-held clippers.                                                                

But if you're a reporter asking the guys if they ever think about taking a long bath rather than a shower, they tend to clam up.

Men seem to be shy about admitting they pamper themselves with a nice, warm bath. One man went on and on about the therapeutic benefits of his daily bath, the proper mix of bath salts and how 30 minutes was the perfect amount of time for a good soak. Then he decided he preferred that his co-workers didn't know about it.

Others just dismiss the idea out of hand.

"The only reason why I would (take a bath) is we have a whirlpool, so I would fill it up with hot water after a day of physical activity," said Ron Pipkorn, 42, of Milwaukee. Pipkorn prefers the convenience of a shower because he can shave, shampoo and condition and, boom, he's done...................

And then we found Lee Golden, 41, of Milwaukee, who enjoys his time luxuriating in the tub and admits it.

"I love baths," said Golden, who recently purchased a big, new bathtub and uses it three times a week. He likes the Aramus line of bath salts because they soothe aching muscles.

"It's very masculine and it foams a little," Golden said.

He hasn't given up on showers. It's just that he prefers a good soak.

"A bath is not a special occasion for me," he said

Article by By KATHY FLANIGAN from Journalsentinel

It makes sense that we are drawn to water when experiencing stress of anxiety. We know that nothing feels better than soaking in a tub full of warm water at the end of a long workday. What many people don’t know, however, is there are scientific reasons behind our natural inclination towards water as a healing agent.

Water makes up 70% of the human body and performs valuable functions, including flushing toxins from our cells, softening our skin, hydrating and lubricating our organs and systems so they function smoothly. Humans have been enjoying the benefits of bathing since the Middle Ages, when bathing was not only recognized as a social and stress-relieving past-time, but as a powerful therapy for a full range of illnesses and conditions.

Freshwater, also known as tap water, carries many benefits when we soak in its luxurious waves – but seawater is turning the heads of many scientists and medical specialists, for its vast health benefits and therapeutic properties. Seawater so closely approximates the water naturally residing in our bodies that our own white blood cells have been proven to survive in it!

Seawater is rich in trace minerals that aren’t found in our water at home, including iodine, magnesium, sodium, potassium, fluoride, sulfur and carbonates. These minerals are essential to our bodies’ functions and readily absorbed through the skin, which makes a seawater bath an important tool for our overall health.

All you have to do is add some of our sea salts to your bath. Hot water opens up our pores and creates “room” for the minerals to enter through our skin, thereby delivering powerful benefits to every part of us. These minerals are known to strengthen our immune system, eliminate harmful toxins, promote gland health and function, heal wounds and skin injuries, and reduce stress.

There are many creative ways to get the most out of your bath. Aromatherapy, for instance, does a lot more than make you and your bathroom smell good – combining different essential oils and scents to your bath can do wonders for a variety of issues, including stress, aches and pains, mood, and much more.

Browse our website to learn more and purchase what you need for your perfect, custom-made bath. And most importantly, have fun!

What if someone told you that a simple bath could relieve common skin disorders, alleviate painful aches and swelling, reduce stress, cure insomnia, and make you look and feel younger?

You’d probably take baths more often, right?

A plain bath is sure to feel good no matter what, but the magic ingredient that delivers all of these benefits is dead sea salts. Harvested from the mineral-rich southern end of the Dead Sea, dead sea salts provide proven theraputic effects and benefits.

The most obvious benefit to taking a long, luxurious bath is stress reduction. We all know how good it feels to emerge from a steaming, warm bath at the end of a hard day – you feel flushed, rested, and clean. Our sea salts – either added to your bath or applied with a mud pack – increase your circulation and reduce the level of toxins in your body, freeing your cells from the by-products often caused by stress. So a bath with dead sea salts is a bit of a double whammy – relaxing you from the inside out!

Many of us suffer from insomnia – a whopping 25% of Americans can’t seem to fall asleep! Insomnia is more than an annoyance, it makes us more susceptible to colds, flus, and more serious conditions – not to mention irritability. The stress-relieving properties of dead sea salts mentioned above also apply to insomnia, relaxing you and making it easy to enjoy good quality sleep.

As if all these benefits weren’t enough, dead sea salts do wonders for your skin. Adding dead sea salts to your daily bath has been proven to diminish the effects of aging by softening the skin and increasing your skin’s defense against environmental elements and chemicals. Wrinkles will be less noticeable, your skin will be soft and supple, and a natural glow will be restored. All of these benefits, combined with a lower stress level,  lead to a more youthful appearance.

All of us have had to contend with rashes, sores, hives, itching, and other skin problems. Dead sea salts contain large amounts of magnesium and bromide, which cleanse and disinfect your skin, making you less susceptible to skin-related allergies.

Even arthritis and back pain can be relieved with the help of this amazing addition to your bath – the minerals in dead sea salts help your body defend against swelling and join pain by acting as a muscle relaxant and detoxifying agent.

When you purchase dead sea salts from The San Francisco Bath Company, you are buying salts of the highest quality. Unlike salts sold elsewhere, ours are unprocessed and raw. If you purchase salts that have been washed or processed, many of the key minerals have been removed – and so have the benefits mentioned above!

So skip the shower for a week and take a bath with our dead sea salts. See how you feel! You’ll be surprised.

Psoriasis Self-care

Although self-help measures won't cure psoriasis, they may help improve the appearance and feel of damaged skin. These measures may benefit you:

• Take daily baths. Bathing daily helps remove scales and calm inflamed skin. Add bath oil, oiled oatmeal, Epsom salts or Dead Sea Salts to the water and soak for at least 15 minutes. Avoid hot water and harsh soaps, which can make your symptoms worse. Instead, use lukewarm water and mild soaps that have added oils and fats.
  
• Use moisturizer. Blot your skin after bathing, then immediately apply a heavy, ointment-based moisturizer while your skin is still moist. For very dry skin, oils may be preferable — they have more staying power than creams or lotions do and are more effective at preventing water from evaporating from your skin. During cold, dry weather, you may need to apply a moisturizer several times a day.
  
• Cover the affected areas overnight. To help improve redness and scaling, apply an ointment-based moisturizer to your skin and wrap with plastic wrap overnight. In the morning, remove the covering and wash away the scales with a bath or a shower.
  
• Expose your skin to small amounts of sunlight. A controlled amount of sunlight can significantly improve lesions, but too much sun can trigger or worsen outbreaks and increase the risk of skin cancer. If you sunbathe, it's best to try short sessions three or more times a week. Keep a record of when and how long you're in the sun to help avoid overexposure. And be sure to protect healthy skin with a sunscreen of at least 15 SPF, paying careful attention to your ears, hands and face. Before beginning any sunbathing program, ask your doctor about the best way to use natural sunlight to treat your skin.
  
• Apply cortisone. Apply an over-the-counter cortisone cream 0.5 percent or 1 percent, for a few weeks when your symptoms are especially bad.
  
• Avoid psoriasis triggers, if possible. Find out what triggers, if any, worsen your psoriasis and take steps to prevent or avoid them. Infections, injuries to your skin, stress, smoking and intense sun exposure can all worsen psoriasis.
  
• Avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol consumption may decrease the effectiveness of some psoriasis treatments.
  
  From Mayo Clinic - reference Psoriasis

If you are feeling a little anxious from the hustle and bustle of modern life try treating yourself to to a bath to relieve anxiety. One of the best ways to do this is to put everything aside and make a concious effort to focus on taking care of yourself first. Set the tone by turning off any exterior noise like televsions and letting family members know that you need some quiet private time. Draw a nice bath of warm/hot water, light some candles, turn off the lights and immerse your self into the tub. Try lavender bath salts for the soothing effects or maybe even a herbal bath. While bathing try scooping up some water into a jug and slowly pouring it over your head. As you feel the water trickling down your face imagine any stress and anxiety just drifting away. Soak in the water for 20 - 30 minutes to ensure that you are givnig yourself enough time in the bath to relieve your anxieties.

The Dead Sea is mystical. The concentration of minerals in its rich, black mud and water is ten times higher than those of any other sea on Earth. Bath salts made from Dead Sea salt act as a relaxant, rejuvenator, skin healer and bactericide. This unique combination of minerals allows damaged skin to recreate a healthier appearance and a more maintainable surface. The most effective elements are the richness in bromine, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These minerals have a positive influence on germs that live on the body’s skin and helps prevent infection and inflammation. They regenerate skin, alleviate itchiness and allow damaged skin to recreate a healthier appearance and maintainable surface.

Today, life is filled with stress. Daily tensions are taking their toll on mankind, both mentally and physically. Tension headaches, anxiety attacks and muscular aches and pains are ways that our body tells us it’s had too much of a bad thing. If you are feeling the effects of life’s hustle and bustle, take a daily, half-hour bath using Dead Sea bath salts. Your daily bath will give you the benefit of complete body relaxation, due to the bromine in the salt. This mineral is known world wide for its tranquilizing effect and is particularly beneficial in reducing anxiety, tension, stress and migraines.

The holidays are a time of excess - lots of parties, time spent with friends and family, and tons of good food. To combat any unwanted weight gain during the season, it’s a good idea to squeeze some exercise into your busy schedule. You’ll not only stay healthy and trim, you’ll be less likely to overindulge at parties when you see the rewards of all your hard work.

But while you’ll feel and look better, you will have to contend with one side-effect: muscle soreness. After rigorous activity (or any movement your body isn’t used to), you might find yourself feeling tight and sore for a day or two afterwards. This is mostly due to a buildup of lactic acid in your muscles during the cool-down phase of your workout, and tiny tears in the muscle fibers. These tears actually help you get stronger - as tissue builds up around them, your muscles get larger and stronger. Even though some moderate soreness can mean you had a great workout, it is still uncomfortable and makes it difficult to go about your daily activities.

One of the best ways to treat tired, sore muscles is to take a warm bath using high-quality bath salts and soaks. You don’t want to soak in the tub immediately after your workout - you should wait about 1-2 hours. Why? Warm water increases circulation and promotes inflammation; it’s best to gradually cool down your muscles and let them recover a bit before you head to the bath. Take a short walk, do some stretches and refuel with a healthy meal.

Then, take a bath! The warm water massages your muscles and makes them more pliable and less prone to cramping and tightness. The warmth increases your circulation and helps speed muscle recovery.

Bath salts are an essential ingredient in a post-workout bath. Bath salts are usually made from real sea salts, and high-quality salts contain minerals and nutrients that are essential for overall health and also happen to do wonders for sore muscles. Sea salts contain magnesium, a mineral known as a muscle relaxer, as well as other vital nutrients such as potassium.The bath salts also aid in the release of toxins that build up during exercise.

Dead Sea salts are an excellent choice for soothing tired muscles, since they are exceptionally high in mineral content. Essential oils of menthol and eucalyptus work to increase blood flow and cool the skin, resulting in great overall relief. You can create your own bath salts by mixing in your own essential oils and fragrances, or you can buy a soak designed to soothe sore muscles, such as our Muscle Soak bath salt formula.

So a few hours after your next workout, draw a nice, warm bath. Dim the lights and sprinkle in two heaping handfuls of bath salts - the more the better! Sit back, relax, and allow your body to unwind after all its hard work. You deserve it!

You’ve probably heard it before. You tell a friend you took a nice, long relaxing bath, and her response is: “But when you take a bath, aren’t you just soaking in your own dirt?”

Let’s examine this argument for a minute. Chances are you’re not squeaky clean when you first step into the tub. You lie there and soak – for 15, 20 minutes. There’s a ring on the tub when you’re done. Ewww, gross.

But hold on - the ring on the edge of your tub is a good thing, and here’s why. Bathing is an incredible way to cleanse your skin – much more effective than showering. When you take a shower, you quickly rub some soap on your skin, rinse, and get out. Thing is, you’ve only washed the outermost layers of your skin. Bathing in warm water, preferably with bath salts, draws impurities from deep inside your pores, cleansing you on a much deeper level than a simple shower. The dirt around your tub is dirt that has left your body – dirt that probably wouldn’t come out after a quick shower.

The warm water opens up your pores. The water, enhanced with the minerals and nutrients in your bath salts, is able to seep into nooks and crannies in your skin that water from a shower won’t hit. Oil, soap residue, pollutants and impurities rise to the surface and are drawn out and are gone forever. To answer your question, all the gunk that has left your skin will not come back in. Once it’s out, it’s out – and down the drain for good.

As we all know, time takes its toll on us and as we get older we seem to search more and more for the real fountain of youth. We begin to see changes in ourselves, from fine lines and wrinkles to a few more gray hairs. Whatever the side-effects, humans are not fond of the aging process, and we often resort to treatments that are ridiculous at best, painful and dangerous at worst. We nip and tuck, pull and tighten, stretch and massage our way to eternal youth. Only, it doesn’t work that way – no matter what we do, we are still aging.

You could get botox treatments, a face lift, liposuction. You could spend hundreds of dollars on empty promises: expensive lotions and “miracle” creams that don’t really work.

Or, you could take a bath once a week – Could this possibly be the fountain of youth we have been searching for?

That’s right – bathing is a healthy, enjoyable way to restore your body’s youth and vitality. Certain types of bath salts contain powerful minerals that replenish moisture in our skin, aid in our defense against elements such as sun and pollution, tighten and detoxify our pores. In addition, bathing is a wonderful way to relax and unwind, making us look and feel younger.

How does it work? First, you need high quality bath salts that naturally contain essential minerals and nutrients for the body such as magnesium, bromide, calcium, iodine, potassium. Magnesium aids in cell metabolism; bromide soothes the skin and relaxes nerves; calcium is known to strengthen bones and teeth while cleansing the pores of the skin; iodine aids in the body’s metabolic exchanges; potassium reduces water retention. These minerals all work to condition our skin, making it more resilient and able to defend against the elements.

The wrinkles and fine lines that we see as we get older are the result of a combination of factors. Sun exposure, stress, heredity, climate conditions and diet all contribute to our skin’s aging. Sea salts have been shown to decrease the depth of wrinkling by 40%. The minerals in Sea Sea salts draw out impurities and detoxify the skin, breaking down deposits that often get trapped just under the top layers of the skin and resulting in what we commonly refer to as cellulite. The salts also soothe and moisturize your skin, the result: your skin is smooth and supple, looking and feeling years younger.

Let’s not forget the biggest accelerator of the aging process: stress. Stress causes us to stay awake at night and not get enough sleep; it causes us to furrow our brows and frown (not helpful in making us look or feel youthful); it has more serious side effects such as heart disease. Taking a bath a few times a week will not only give you some much-needed quiet time – it will make you feel calmer and more relaxed during your hectic days. Start taking regular baths with some luxurious bath salts. Add your favorite scent, light some candles, and get ready for a younger, more vibrant body and mind. Maybe the fountain of youth is just a bath away!

You’ve been hitting the gym more than ever, and it shows. You feel healthier, you look better. But unfortunately, your muscles are so sore the next day you can’t get off the couch. You know you need a day of rest, but you’d like to be able to go about your day without being in pain!

Instead of that quick shower, try taking a bath after your workout. The warm water will soothe your tired muscles so they can recover faster. Your circulation will improve, and you’ll feel relaxed and refreshed. If you add bath salts to the mix, your skin will feel softer and more supple after your bath.

If you work out after work, you may find it’s actually difficult to fall asleep. Taking a bath will calm you down and lower your blood pressure, so you can get a full night’s rest. You’ll wake up feeling energized and ready for the day - and your muscles will feel the same.

At the moment, we’re pretty much surrounded by bad news. We turn on the TV and a news anchor is telling us our stocks have hit an all-time low. Turn the channel, and there is yet another negative political ad. Turn it once more, talking heads are telling us the horrific state of the global economy. You feel it is your duty to listen, to stay informed and be educated as to what’s going on. And undoubtably, you should - but not for hours upon hours. Balance is key.

So how do you achieve balance in your life? Chances are, you’re feeling stress about the current political and economic climate. While it’s good to stay “up” on the news, you should be taking care of yourself and taking a much-needed break fro the hype. You’re probably looking for an escape, and one that is inexpensive and won’t l break the bank. Solution: take a bath!

Instead of coming home from work and going straight to the couch, leave the remote on the coffee table and take a bath instead. You’ll feel energized and positive, something we all need. Taking a bath will allow you time to reflect on your day, take some quiet time for yourself and relax. You’ll get a better night sleep, your stress levels will decrease and you’ll gain some perspective.

Here are some steps you can take towards the perfect bath. Run some warm water and don’t forget to add bath salts. Natural bath salts (made from salts found in oceans around the world) contain an amazing variety of nutrients and minerals that will keep your body balanced and healthy from the inside out. The key is to find bath salts that have been left untreated, unwashed and are taken directly from their source to your home. At the San Francisco Bath Salt Company, our bath salts are always brought to you in their natural state, full of minerals and nutrients.

You can choose from an array of different bath salts to suit your needs, and the possibilities are endless. You can choose the color of your salts, and you can choose what fragrances, essential oils, and herbs are added to your bath salts. For instance, if you are feeling stress in your life, some blue bath salts infused with lavender will bring a you tranquility and relaxation. If you feel worn down and need energy, try yellow bath salts with citrus essential oils to invigorate you. Once your bath salts are immersed in water, their amazing healing properties will be released for you to soak in.

 Dim the lights, light a candle or two, and escape from this crazy world for a while. Make sure no radios or TVs are on in your house - this a time of complete silence and a time to get away from all the negativity crossing over the airwaves. Relaxing music is okay - just no talk radio! You can’t fix the world by worrying about it, and having a few extra moments to clear your mind might leave fertile ground for new ideas and perspectives. Who knows? After a good bath, maybe you can change the world.

There’s nothing cuter than seeing your little one in the tub, smiling and splashing in the water while he gets clean. Bath-time is one of the best times to bond with your baby, and bathing has many proven benefits that will improve both your lives. It’s important to prepare your baby’s bath carefully, to ensure safety and the best possible bathing experience.

But newborns aren’t old enough to safely bathe in the tub, so here are some tips to make your very own “mini-bath” for your littlest one.

Tips for The Perfect Baby Bath:

1.  Keep all your bathing things in a shoebox so it can be ready to go (if you forget anything, you’ll have to bring your baby with you, which is hard when they’re slippery from the tub!) In your box, keep supplies such as a clean diaper, a washcloth, toys, and some mild soap. Also, don’t forget to bring your fluffiest towels. Once everything you need is in the bathroom, bring in your baby!

2.  Fill a basin or a large bowl with warm water. Be sure to check the water and make sure it isn’t too hot. Don’t be afraid to add spongy toys or rubber duckies!

3.  Pick a place to bathe your baby. Be sure that the area is warm, not drafty or cool, as you don’t want your baby to experience drastic temperature changes.

4.  If you use a liner (foam or otherwise) in your basin or bowl, be sure to rinse it out after each use. This limits the growth of bacteria and the spreading of germs.

5.  Wash your baby’s face with a clean, damp washcloth. Don’t use soap, water is all you need. Don’t forget to wash behind those ears!

6. Wash your baby’s scalp and hair with baby shampoo (the kind that doesn’t irritate eyes, like “No Tears” by Johnson & Johnson).

7.  After washing your baby, be sure to rinse him or her off and be careful that no soap bubbles or suds get into the eyes or nose.

8.  Pat your baby dry very gently with a soft, fluffy towel and make sure your baby is warm and covered until dry.

Now It’s Your Turn
After your baby is nice and clean, smelling fresh and fast asleep in bed, take some time for yourself and take a nice relaxing soak in the tub. Don’t forget to add some soothing bath salt . Taking caring of a newborn is hard work so a nice bath should help take away some of the daily stress.

Some Important Safety Notes:
Tragedies can occur in less than 10 seconds: before, during, and after your bath, don’t leave your baby alone - not even for a second. Before bath time, tell your family/roommates/friends you are busy and can’t be disturbed. If you must leave the room to answer the phone (and really, do you?) or to retrieve something you forgot, wrap your baby in a warm towel and take him with you. While your baby is in the tub, don’t turn your back on him, and, obviously, don’t leave the room. Also, be very careful that the water isn’t too hot. Water that seems hot - in a good way - to you, might be too warm for your baby.  Test the water by leaving your wrist in it for a few moments. Also, do not use bubble baths or detergents - in very young infants, they can cause rashes.

Stay safe, and have fun!!

Your baby or toddler cries non-stop, allowing you only a few hours of precious sleep. You’ve tried everything but he or she can’t seem to calm down. Solution: treat your little one to a nice, warm bath before bedtime! Even better, share the tub and take a bath together.

Turn the lights down, sprinkle some scented bath salts in the tub, and bring goodies- toy boats, rubber duckies, the more the better! The warm water will lower both you and your baby’s blood pressure, making you feel relaxed and calm and ready for bed. Scents such as lavender and rose are wonderfully soothing, and the bath salts will soften and smooth the skin, so you’ll both feel soft and supple! Bathing is also a wonderful excuse to share time alone together. Sweet dreams!

You’re a guy. Your morning ritual consists of a quick shower using only the basics: a bar of deodorant soap (Coast, anyone?) and a shaver. If it’s a special occasion, you may use aftershave. You’re out the door quickly and you pride yourself in taking less time to get ready than your female counterparts. But consider this: everyone, regardless of gender, benefits from having softer, healthier skin, a better night’s sleep, and a stronger libido - which can all be yours if you take regular baths. Bathing, particularly when using sea salts, delivers valuable nutrients and minerals to your skin that help protect and nourish it - making it softer, smoother, more supple, and able to defend against harsh elements. Bathing also lowers your blood pressure and has a wonderful calming effect, so bathing at night time is a great treatment for insomnia and other sleep disorders. And yes, bathing can actually increase your sex drive. The warm water and the invigorating effect of bath salts will increase your circulation - ‘nuff said. Not to mention, you’ll feel more relaxed, healthier, and smoother to the touch. Try taking a bath instead of that quick shower twice a week - you won’t regret it!

Even Martha Stewarts website is now recommending a good relaxing bath. See excerpt below from marthastewart.com

A bath is a quick and easy way to unwind. Ten to twenty minutes in the tub is a proven way to reduce tension, rejuvenate the body, and clear your head. Adding a fragrant oil or a sprinkling of salts can make for an even more peaceful environment. Here are some tips.

Calming Scents
Some aromas have particularly soothing effects. The best ones for overall relaxation are basil, grapefruit, pine, lavender, tangerine, rose geranium, chamomile, lemongrass, and orange. Use them in the form of essential oils or scented bath products.

The ideal water temperature for a tranquil soak should be between 90 and 104 degrees. Use these ingredients for added benefits: Bath salts (most of which are made from either sea or Epsom salts) can help to draw soreness out of muscles and joints. Pour in two to three cups of warm milk (basic powdered milk is fine, too); the lactic acid gently exfoliates dry skin. Treat yourself to a tub full of frothy bubbles, or toss in effervescent bath tablets -- they perfume the water while releasing skin-softening oils. For hydrating and smoothing the skin, use a few drops of oil or a bar of moisturizing soap that has a calming fragrance.

First Published: Winter 2004

San Francisco Bay Area, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 9, 2008 - "It's simple, affordable, and enjoyable and is rapidly gaining widespread popularity and attention: bathing in natural bath salts. Offering a wide range of natural healing and therapeutic benefits, many people are starting to spend more time in the bath to enjoy the benefits of a relaxing soak. Leading this new trend is the San Francisco Bath Salt Company, a Bay-Area based company who over the last 6 years has re-invented the forgotten art of bathing.

Our daily lives are becoming more fast-paced

“The benefits of bathing in sea salt are incredibly far-reaching,” says Lee Williamson, Founder and CEO of the San Francisco Bath Salt Company. “When you add sea salts to your bath, you are essentially bathing in the ocean, which has long been known to promote skin health and general well-being”. Williamson grew up in the UK, where bathing in sea salts was a part of his daily routine. It has been his mission to bring his appreciation and love for bathing to the United States.

Bathing has always been a popular way to decrease stress and soothe muscle aches and pains, but most people aren’t aware of the many other valuable benefits of bath salts. Individuals with common skin conditions such as psoriasis, dry skin, or acne are now turning to bathing as a natural, lower-cost alternative to expensive and often ineffective treatments.

Many cosmetic companies are now selling new lines of bath salt products designed to soften the skin, slow the aging process, decrease stress and even cure insomnia. The salts are harvested around the world, mainly from the Pacific Ocean, the Himalayan Mountains, and the Dead Sea. They can be sold plain or infused with a variety of herbs, fragrances and essential oils to increase the therapeutic effects. The San Francisco Bath Salt Company recently launched a new innovative “Spa Therapy” line of bath salts, which capitalizes on the many benefits of natural sea salts from around the World.

Established in 2002, The San Francisco Bath Salt Company, is a known leader in the bathing industry, and offers retail, bulk, and private label products. All manufacturing is done in California and their website www.sfbsc.com is the largest resource for bath salts in the world. “Our daily lives are becoming more fast-paced,” says Williamson, “and we need the benefits of bathing more than ever before. Bath salts are indeed becoming the newest trend in skin care and relaxation.”

PRWEB - PRESS RELEASE

Bath salts are nothing new - you’ve probably seen them on the shelf in the bath and beauty aisle of your favorite supermarket or drug store. You’ve probably received bath salts as a gift and they are still in your cupboard, gathering dust.

Not all bath salts are created equal. Most bath salts look pretty, but are void of all the minerals and nutrients that make bath salts beneficial. Here at the San Francisco Bath Salt Company, we offer only the highest quality bath salts, carefully chosen for their high mineral content and left untreated for maximum benefit. Our salts hail from all over the world, from the majestic peaks of the Himalayas down to the ancient waters of the Dead Sea, across the ocean to the shores of the beautiful San Francisco Bay.

We offer the largest variety of bath salts you will find anywhere on the web or otherwise. You can choose between an astounding variety of colors, scents, and grain sizes, not to mention essential oils and herbs. We have salts for everyone, to match every need. We offer the lowest prices and shipping cost out there, and we ship all orders within 24 hours of fulfillment.

Most importantly, we are the leading authority in the bath salt world. We have a knowledgeable staff and strive to provide our customers with the latest, most up to date information and research regarding bathing. We have a true passion for and love of bathing and this drives us to make the best bath products in the world.

Bathing has been a ritual and popular pastime for hundreds of years. Centuries ago in Rome and Greece, stately bathhouses were considered a place to for the elite to congregate, to socialize and be seen. These gorgeous structures were built in all the major city centers, complete with marble pillars and large, often colorful communal tubs. Food and drink abounded, servants hurried between bathers offering massage, towel service, and therapy. Music and dance offered entertainment for those inside, and only the most affluent were allowed to pass through the doors.

Later, after a decline in communal bathing (mostly due to religious groups who regarded bathing as a pseudo-sexual and, ironically, an unclean activity), bathing became private. Bathtubs of all shapes and sizes were soon found in private residences but still considered a privilege reserved for the upper class. Private bathing increased in popularity as a way to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit. Soon bathtubs became a fixture in homes throughout the world. In Europe and Asia, the practice of bathing continues to thrive. In England in particular, large clawfoot tubs are quite popular and in the US, the demand for larger, more comfortable tubs is on the rise.

In a culture where quick showers and efficient personal hygiene reigns, more and more Americans are turning to bathing as an alternative. This modern age presents us with endless activity - constant communication via new technologies and gadgets, longer workdays, larger families, thousands of television channels, video games, and consumer electronics. We are constantly busy, easily distracted by the newest, fanciest shiny object. To create some hint of balance in our lives we take meditation classes, yoga, or tai chi; we read self-help books, pop pills and pay professionals to help us simplify our lives. We are on a constant race towards the impossible goals of perfection, of endless youth and boundless energy. We want to be the richest, thinnest, youngest, happiest, and most successful, and we spend thousands of dollars in our quest to get there.

It’s obvious - we need to slow down. Bathing offers an unmatched respite from all the noise mentioned above. It is a miracle for your mind and your body - it is the true fountain of youth, as it smoothes your skin, tightens pores and lifts out  toxins. Bathing increases circulation, lowers blood pressure and alleviates stress. Bathing can treat the ailments which plague our pores, help our skin defend against harsh climates, pollution, and the effects of aging. It is inexpensive, relaxing, and can be done any time.

Bathing is a universal healer. It gives us a chance to take time out from our busy lives, to indulge our spirits and our bodies. It’s a much-needed excuse to unplug the phone, turn off the television, shut down the computer. Bathing offers us solitude in a society where we are each, constantly, on call. We can close the door and enjoy tranquility and quiet, if only for a few stolen moments before returning to the outside world. But we will return with new energy, resilience and beauty.

Welcome to the New Age of Bathing.

Salt has long been used in a bath due to its therapeutic properties. People traveled across the world to bathe in salt waters such as the dead sea. Hippocrates encourages his patients to bathe in salt water in a therapy called thalassotherapy.

Since then, many more benefits of using salt in baths has been discovered. Using salt can increase moisture retention, improve circulation, detoxify your skin, helps dry dry skin. Bath salt contains numerous minerals, which helps to restore our body's mineral balance.

Make sure you use them in your next bath!

Benefits Of Bath Salt 
Bath salts are very good for detoxifying your body. It can ease your sore muscles, aching feet, back pain, muscle tensions and even suppresses athlete's foot and corns.

Bath salts are also known to rejuvenate your skin and add radiance by removing dirt and toxins. By removing these impurities, it can often "cure" common skin problems like eczema, psoriasis and itching. It can also be used to minimize scars while at the same time retains moisture in the skin.

You can mix bath salt and essential oil for a soothing session of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy can induce calmness, helping to ensure you will have a sound and relaxing sleep.

Not All Salts Are Made Equal. 
Sea salt. These salts are also known as "all-purpose"salt. They are high in minerals and often use to detoxify skin and soothe muscles. Very inexpensive.

Dead sea salt. These have higher minerals than ordinary sea salts but are more expensive. Dead sea salt has all the benefits of ordinary sea salt but more potent.

Epsom salt. These are the cheapest of them all. Used to soothe muscles aches and joint discomfort.

Exotic salts. These salts has unique texture that are highly sought after, and therefore they are are more expensive than normal sea salt are.

Dendritic salt. These are used to retain fragrance. Essential oils are often added to these salt and subsequently these are added to normal salts.

Different Ways To Use Bath Salt 
Although they are called BATH salt, they can also be used for other purposes.

1. It can dissolved into water and you can use that water to relieve your tired feet or soak in it for a relaxing bath.

2. You run bath salt on your body, while wet, to remove dry skin and help restoration.

3. Male salt scrub. Mix salt with olive oil and you have your very own true all natural facial scrub.

4. You can add salt into your conditioner to add more body to your hair.

Article coutesy of Squidoo

Hydrotherapy (Dictionary)
External use of water in the medical treatment of certain diseases.

What is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is the use of water, either internally or externally, to maintain health and prevent disease. Although it was the Romans who introduced spas throughout the Roman empire, modern hydrotherapy is commonly attributed to Father Sebastian Kneipp (1821-97), who believed that water would ‘dissolve, remove and strengthen’. Dissolve matter-containing disease, remove diseased matter from the body and strengthen the body by restoring cleansed blood to the tissues and maximizing circulation.

There is no drug on the market that can rival the number of beneficial physiological effects that water is capable of producing, and it is widely available (unless you happen to be in a desert) and cheap. In fact, there are no substances known to man that possess as many remedial and health-promoting qualities as water. Its therapeutic qualities include sedative, antipyretic (reducing body temperature, anodyne (analgesic,), anticonvulsant, astringent, tonic, anaesthetic, and derivative.

According to its mineral content, water taken internally can have a laxative, diuretic, phlegmatic (phlegm producing) or diaphoretic (perspiration-inducing) effects. Used externally, water has the power to improve blood and lymph circulation, relax tension in the tissues, alleviate pain and calm the nervous system.

In the past, little controlled research had been carried out into hydrotherapy; and what little there had been done, was more often than not, conducted in Germany. However, in recent years some interesting studies have been carried out into the varied forms and applications of hydrotherapy in medicine.

Some Uses for Hydrotherapy

Relaxation: The buoyancy and temperature of the water during hydrotherapy can relax your muscles and connective tissue, which is important in rehabilitation.

Pain Relief: The warm water temperature and bubbling water provide a weightless rehabilitation environment. In this instance, hydrotherapy reduces the muscle stress and strain at the point of injury and throughout your body.

Analgesic Effect: Hot water in hydrotherapy can override pain impulses producing an analgesic effect. Reliving pain. Which you need in Rehabilitation.

Improves Sleep: Hydrotherapy promotes sleep. (National Sleep Foundation)

Recovery Time: Some studies report hydrotherapy improves your rehabilitation time.

Improves Circulation: Hydrotherapy increases blood flow throughout your body, which can help relieve and heal injuries.

Relieves Muscle Spasms: The increase of blood and oxygen through your blood stream during hydrotherapy reduces and relieves muscle spasms.

Reduces Inflammation: As blood flow increases and the blood vessels contract, you’ll experience relief allowing inflammation to decrease.

Increases Range of Motion: During hydrotherapy, your muscles simply relax increasing your range of motion. This is usually done in conjunction with some rehabilitation exercises. You can increase your range of motion by about 20% in 113 degrees F water.

Tissue Healing: Studies report hydrotherapy in heated water increases your metabolism multiplying white blood cells which aid in healing tissue damage.

You’re ready for 2008, armed with a list of things you’d like to start doing, stop doing, and do better. You’ll actually use your gym membership; you’ll eat healthier; you’ll quit smoking/drinking/talking too much/being lazy.

None of that sounds like much fun, and by February, you may find yourself returning to your old ways.

But there is one healthy resolution you can make that is so enjoyable, you’re sure to keep it: take more baths!

The benefits of bathing extend much further than simple enjoyment - there are numerous health benefits you may not be aware of. Bathing in warm water can reduce your blood pressure, leaving you feeling calm and refreshed. When you add bath salts to the mix, the benefits are amazing. Sea water holds minerals and nutrients that are essential in your skin's ability to regenerate and heal, not to mention to simply function well on a day-to-day basis. When you add bath salts to your bath, you are in effect creating your very own sea water, and will reap many natural benefits of the ocean. The warm water causes your skin's pores to open, allowing healthy nutrients in the salts to be absorbed.

You can find bath salts that address your specific needs. There are salts designed to improve your skin’s health, elasticity and tone; some salts are known to draw impurities from your skin and detoxify you from the inside out; some bath salts are known to produce a calming, relaxing effect.

Think about your challenges, and create a bath that will help you live healthier and happier. Are you often stressed and anxious? Add some lavender or peppermint salts to your bath. Do you suffer from insomnia? Bathing by itself can treat insomnia by relaxing your muscles and your mind, and the right salts infused with essential oils can deliver and amazing nights’ sleep. If you’re concerned about toxins and pollution in the air (and perhaps your diet), take a bath with our Detox salts, formulated using Dead Sea salts.
If you're often tired and out of energy, soak in an energizing blend of citrus oils and herbs to perk you up. No matter what your needs, you can find the perfect bathing “recipe”!

Make a resolution to take at least one bath a week. Pick a day and a time to be alone, to relax, and treat yourself to a healthy, long, relaxing bath. Start the New Year right, with a resolution you'll be happy to keep!

For those of you, like us, who are crazy about bathing, here's some interesting reading material before we ring in the new year................reference material is from wikipedia.org

Japanese Bathing Overview
For anyone who has not had the pleasure of a Japanese bath, they really are missing out. The first rule of bathing Japanese style is that baths are not places where you clean yourself. Instead, you first rinse yourself before you enter the bath. Traditionally, you would use cold water from a bucket but a modern shower, although not too hot, will suffice.

Now enter the bath. The bath should not contain any soaps or bubbles but a collection of bath salts dependant on the effect one is after. The water is as hot as you can take it. As you immerse yourself to the neck for up to fifteen minutes, you will feel yourself drift away with the relaxing combination of salts and heat.

Well soaked now, you will next clean. To do this you get out of the bath and use the shower. Do not wash in the bath. When fully scrubbed and rinsed, re-enter the bath for another fifteen minutes. Finish with a cold shower and you will feel like a new person.

If someone else is bathing after you, don't let the water out. Because the water is only for soaking, it can be used by multiple people. The insulation of a driftwood bath will ensure it stays warm.

Japanese Bathing - Rituals and Etiquette
Bathing is an important part of the daily routine in Japan. Baths are for relaxing; the body and hair must be thoroughly scrubbed and all soap removed before entering the bathtub or ¤ªïL.Î(ofuro). This is normally done at a small faucet or shower located in the same room as the tub, while seated on a small stool. The traditional shape of the tub is smaller and deeper than is common in Western homes. A traditional Japanese bathtub is square, and deep enough that the water will cover the shoulders, but requires the bather to sit with the knees drawn up to the chest. Newer bathtubs are more like the western shape. Rather than being drained at the end of each bath, the water is kept warm by means of special heaters, and the same water is used by all the family members. After use, some homes take the hot bath water from the tub and use it to wash clothes in a washing machine. A lid is placed on the tub to maintain the water temperature when not in use, and to prevent evaporation. Any hair or debris is scooped from the water after the bath.

In homes with small tubs, each family member bathes one by one, in order of seniority, traditionally starting with the oldest male. However, many young Japanese women now refuse to bathe after their fathers. If there are guests in the home, they will be given priority. In homes with larger tubs, it is not uncommon for family members to bathe together. Typically one or both parents will bathe with babies and toddlers, and even as children grow older they may still bathe with one of their parents.

Bathtubs are increasingly common in modern Japanese homes, but there are still many homes, particularly in older or rural areas, that do not have bathtubs, so public bathhouses called sent¨­ (äE?«) are common. A regular bathhouse will have tap water heated in a boiler. In all but the most rural areas baths are segregated by sex, and customers bathe nude, many using a small washcloth to cover the genitals. Hotels, pachinko parlours and other venues may have on-site sent¨­ for customer use.

Patrons of traditional Japanese inns or Ryokan will be offered the use of an Ofuro for bathing, either a communal Ofuro with bathing times being scheduled in advance, or a private Ofuro.

Onsen (ÎÂȪ) are baths that by definition use naturally hot water from geothermally-heated springs, sometimes outdoors. Larger onsen will have separate pools for men and women, and visitors normally bathe nude. As with home baths, at sent¨­ and onsen bathers must wash thoroughly before entering the communal baths. Many sent¨­ and onsen ban customers with tattoos which are traditionally taboo, citing concerns over yakuza activity. Very rarely, non-Japanese visitors are banned, a practice regarded as xenophobia. The bathhouses respond that non-Japanese, particularly Russian sailors visiting Hokkaid¨­ in northern Japan, are unfamiliar with the correct etiquette and either dirty the bathwater or behave inappropriately.

reference material from wikipedia

The scent of lavender is everywhere – its wonderful aroma is found in perfumes, scented candles, sachets, eye pillows, massage oil, bath salts, soap, and countless other products. You might think lavender is popular because of its famous scent – and sure, who can resist the light, sweet fragrance of lavender? But lavender isn’t just a pretty scent. It seems to have a wide range of effects on the mind, body, and spirit, and is used in both aromatherapy and alternative medicine.
   
Ever since the 1920’s, when French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse drenched his badly burned arm in a vat of this wonderfully aromatic liquid, lavender oil has gained quite a bit of notoriety in the aromatherapy world. Nobody knew about the healing properties of lavender essential oil until Rene set his arm on fire and, desperate to douse in the flames, dipped his arm in a large tub filled with it. He was awed by how quickly his burn healed, and by the noticeable lack of scarring thereafter. He went on to dedicate his life to studying the benefits of essential oils.

    In terms of medicinal uses, lavender essential oil is used as first aid to treat many common ailments. Lavender is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antiseptic and is commonly used to soothe painful cuts, burns, bites, and stings. Lavender is also a popular treatment for sunburns and sunstroke, and can be combined with chamomile to treat eczema. It is also used to relieve toothaches and heart palpitations. When used in a foot bath, lavender essential oil curtails fatigue – and makes your feet smell like flowers, which is always a good thing.

    Lavender oil is also known to repel insects such as lice, fleas, and mosquitos. If any of these annoying pests are stubborn enough to bite you anyway, you can use lavender oil to treat the bite.

    Lavender doesn’t just soothe painful cuts and bruises – it is also known to soothe and calm the mind. Lavender essential oil is often added to candles, pillows, and a variety of bath products. The sweet scent of lavender is incredibly relaxing, and it is said to help people rid themselves of stress and anxiety. Lavender is often present in massage oils and lotions.

    With so many lavender products out there, it’s easy to enjoy the benefits of lavender essential oil in your own home. Perhaps one of the nicest ways to take advantage of lavender’s wonderful scent and soothing nature is to take a nice, hot bath with some bath salts infused with lavender essential oil. As you fill the tub with warm water, take a handful of lavender scented bath salts and pour them into the stream of water to agitate the salts and release the aroma. Turn off the lights and light a few candles, and draw the bath curtain closed around the tub to keep the powerful, sweet vapors from escaping. Close your eyes and breathe in the gorgeous scent of fresh lavender, and stay in the tub for a while. After all, what’s the rush?

Water is our key element. We spend the first months of our life floating in an amniotic bath and we most likely evolved from aquatic creatures. We use water for cleansing, refreshing, and relaxing. We are made up of 70% water and water is the basis for our body's evaporative cooling system. It flushes out toxic wastes, plumps up our cells, and lubricates our moving parts. Water is crucial to our survival.

There are few of us who could deny the relaxation brought about by a warm bath or a hot tub and this in itself is theraputic. However, there are a number of differences between plain bath water and the sea - and it is these differences that are thought to have a significant impact on our health and well-being.

In 1904, Rene Quinton published the medical work L'eau de Mer, Milien Organique' (Sea Water, Organic Medium). Quinton's study indicated that seawater and human plasma are almost identical in their composition of mineral salts, proteins and various other elements. Indeed, it is now known that the similarities between sea water and human blood plasma are so great that, when removed from the body, white blood cells are able to survive in sea water.

Have you ever noticed when you spend time in the sea how your skin gets conditioned, cuts, grazes, rashes, eczema and psoriasis heal faster? This is because the ocean?s are rich in trace minerals, such as iodine, magnesium, sodium, potassium, fluoride, sulfur and carbonates to name but a few. All of those minerals are absorbed by the skin and play a significant role on the skin and within the body.

As sea water and seaweeds contain nutrients (particularly minerals) essential to the function of human skin cells, it is believed that their topical application can be of great benefit. To a large extent, this works on the principle of osmosis, whereby the skin is capable of absorbing the nutrient-rich water through the cells. Hot water dilates the pores and blood vessels, allowing the skin to be more receptive to the minerals and vitamins from the sea water.

Trace amounts of minerals are absorbed by the body when you bathe in a mineral bath and provide healing effects to various body organs and systems. These healing effects can include stimulation of the immune system, physical and mental relaxation, normalized gland function and detoxification. Mineral waters can also ease the effects of skin conditions such as psoriasis, dermatitis, fungal infections and help the healing of wounds and other skin injuries.

Furthermore, bathing in hot water increases blood circulation and cell oxygenation. The increase in blood flow also helps dissolve and eliminate toxins from the body and increases the flow of oxygen-rich blood throughout the body, bringing improved nourishment to vital organs and tissues.

Finally Aromatherapy has been universally adopted as a valuable synergistic component of most spa therapies. The plant extracts used to make essential oil can enhance a spa therapy.

Many natural and herbal medicines are shunned by the public, and virtually gather no interest and whatsoever from the modern people of today due to the fact that their life is extremely fast, and no one has the time to make anything homemade anymore. Before this happened, most people made remedies in their home, to give to those who needed it, with the use of their own ingredients right in the kitchen. But this is no more, as the general public has turned their focus to faster ways of curing themselves. But the notion that mass produced cures are more effective is a myth, a big one at that. The generation of today should understand that as time passes, the chemicals put in medicines are more complicated, and have more side effects, as compared to the good old natural remedies done at home.

Epsom salt is one of the more effective home natural remedies that people seemed to have forgotten about. The scientific name of Epsom Salt is magnesium sulfate, and it has a lot of medicinal uses. In the early days when people did not turn to instant gratification, Epsom salt was used as stomach pain medications and ache solutions. Toxins inside the body are also flushed out through the use of Epsom salt, through soaking in a warm bath full of this miracle salt.

Muscle pains are easily soothed by foot soak solutions that are more inclined to Epsom salt, and it also acts as an absorbent to the bad odors and rough skin patches which are not only unappealing but also painful for one to endure. Epsom saltis a good remedy for the aforementioned small problems, and it is also very easy to use. One may reap the benefits of Epsom Salt through adding about half a cup of pure Epsom salt to a medium to large sized pan half filled by lukewarm water. Once this is done, put the aching foot or feet onto the pan filled with Epsom salt, and wait till the ache subsides. The results are instant, and quite cheap.

But of course people do not pay attention anymore to the simple and humble Epsom salt, as new medicines have emerged and treatment from the small body aches are easily available through pills and other kinds of topical creams. Though most of the new medicines that are being pedaled into the market are normally harmless, many people still get allergies from specific brands of pills and the like, because they are allergic to one or two of the main ingredients (or active ingredients) of the medicine they have ingested or rubbed onto their skin. The fact is, there are less people who are allergic to natural remedies, and in this case, Epsom salt than the ultra fancy marketing strategies that big companies have developed.

For an even better Epsom salt therapy treatment try our Muscle Soak Spa Therapy Salts - USP premium grade Epsom salt with Eucalyptus and Peppermint Essential oils.