Do you have plans for the weekend?
It’s early yet. It’s only Thursday, but I love a plan.
On a recent trip to Asheville, my friend Ashley introduced me to the time-tested wonders of a mustard bath. Upon reviewing that last sentence in my head, it might sound as though my friend Ashley bathed me… which she did not because I am grown and fully capable.
Mustard baths are traditional in England (as the Internet tells me) and often used as a cold or flu creeps into your system. Typical Winter troubles. A mustard bath warms the insides and as the body warms, it sweats, creating a natural detox. I’ve added Epsom salt to soothe achy muscles, baking soda to soften the skin, and eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils to promote deep breathing and clear thoughts. Plus… the warm water of a bath is just soothing in general.
To enhance you weekend bath, might I also suggest the new Netflix series Love and a glass of wine? Oh. And while you’re at the drug store buying Epsom salts, please note that it is Easter season… which is the best candy season of the year. Ok good.
The baking soda might be lumpy. There’s two options here: leave it lumpy because it’s going into a big hot bath and will dissolve or break it down using your fingers.
A soak for heat and comfort and soothing and ease.
It’s Winter. Let’s warm.
Print
Warm Mustard Bath Powder
- Yield: 3 1x
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Epsom salt
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 cup mustard powder
- 15 drops eucalyptus essential oil (optional)
- 15 drops peppermint essential oil (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together salt, baking soda, mustard powder, and essential oils. Use your fingers to break up any baking soda lumps. Store in an airtight container.
- When ready to run a bath, add 1 heaping cup of mustard mixture to a hot running bath. Soak for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse off in warm water. Bundle in warm clothes and have a cup of tea. Stay warm and let your body sweat and relax as part of the detox bath process.
34 Responses
I’ve never done a bath soak but my grandmother (her grandmother was a Scot) insisted on the mustard foot soak if one got very wet and chilled or at the first sign of a cold
I’ve tried to get the recipe on 2 different browsers on my computer and the recipe part doesn’t show up. I have to use my phone. Any ideas why?
I have tried this mustard bath and it’s amazing.. It does not hurt the private area at all no hot stinking feeling. I soaked in it for 20 mins using hot water hot as your body can take and the mustard mixture..I then took a cold shower same cold as your body can take then dried with a towel rubbing a little rougher to simulate the circulation.. I did this hour before going to bed. When I woke the next morning I felt refreshed . This is such a easy soak to make and enjoy. SO than you for sharing this..
I tried this last night because I’m coming down with something I was congested and have a fever. My skin was soft from the baking soda, the salt soothed my muscles and I was definitely less congested. I didn’t have the oils on hand so I left it out but I’ll be doing this again today for more relief. Thanks for the remedy!
This is such a cool blog, Joy, learning so much each day, never heard of this before, yet intrigued with what mustard could do and the reader comments make it even more interesting.Thank you, for a touching on every subject, totally love that aspect of this blog :)
My husband did these once a month a few days after chemo and he felt so much better after a bath.
Perfect timing! I am suffering from the worst allergy attack I’ve had in years, and am already a big fan of epsom baths.
We are currently in the middle of a bath plug crisis in our house. Apparently the builder didn’t leave us with the plug that came with the bath, and the hole isn’t a standard size carried by hardware stores. Or any store.
I will find a bath plug. And then I shall have a victory soak in this gorgeous bath powder.
Condiments of the season I say.
I have never heard of these before! What a cool idea!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
I have tea tree oil (melaleuca) Could I replace the Eucalyptus with that??
Absolutely! Tea Tree is a variety of Eucalyptus anyway, and it has more therapeutic value than most other eucalyptus oils.
Just finished my 2hr bath (I treat myself to one 2 a month) and just having a relaxing evening and came across your post. This will make a great addition to my next bath in 2 weeks if the weather will still be so cold! Will be trying it out :) yey, looking forward to it.
Thank you for the ,recipe, and inspiration :)
https://potsofsmiles.blogspot.co.uk/
xxxxx
I am OBSESSED with baths! Now I can add something new to my bath routine–mustard! PS I’m going for a salt-water soak in the dark in STL. We’re doing this when you come ;)
I take ginger baths using similar ingredients above and it gives the same warming effect. A really good detox bath!— 2C epsom, 1C baking soda, 2T ground ginger, 1/2C ACV, and an essential oil to match the mood.
My mother endured mustard plasters on her chest for bronchitis in the era before antibiotics. Rough on the skin but very effective for illness. Now where does one get mustard powder in such large quantities?
Hi Sarah, try any Indian spice store or go to bulkapothecary.com
This does sound like it would be quite warming but I’m also wondering if it might be a little too warming on the umm lady parts? As in kind of stingy?? Someone please try this and let us know! :)
Yes, I think this bath accompanied by a hot dog and some fries would be perfect!! :)
totally not stingy! my lady parts tested it.
I used to work in a British import shop and an English customer once told me that if you have terrible period cramps, soaking your feet in a mustard bath helps draw the blood from your lady areas down to your feet. I’m not sure how effective it is but she and her daughters swore by it.
I am both slightly suspicious and very interested by this mustard bath. It’s been a warm winter here (32 degrees today! Woohoo!), but I may still have to try this.
I have neeeever heard of a mustard bath, but this makes me want to give it a go. It would be totally acceptable to eat some fries while in a mustard bath, right? ;)
It’s a British thing. Soaking your feet in hot mustard bath was a common old fashioned treatment for colds and also to help prevent a cold if you ‘got chilled’ or felt as if you might be coming down with something.
Hey Joy
Dad said Granddad took these when he wasn’t feeling well.
Wow, sounds very interesting – I am definitely going to try this. And now I’ve got a hankering for a hot dog, for some reason.
I guess there’s actually only one option… leave it lumpy :) Very interesting idea
Love it, and bring back the activated charcoal drink too! I like that the blog is and actual cross section of stuff you’re into and not just only food cause someone random on the internet feels like it should be a just a food blog. You’re not uni-dimensional. Sheesh. In other words, preach on mustard bath!
I love Joy! great idea
Oh I love this idea! Also nice in bath: a little cheesecloth bag filled with oatmeal for a soft skin, now that we’re talking food in bath-tub. :)
I’ve never heard of such a thing. Completely intrigued…and also wondering if you smell afterwards…
How do you smell afterward………? Like a sandwich? How does the mustard smell with the essential oils? :) Very interesting. Thank you.
A mustard soak has no prepared mustard (which is made with vinegar). It has a light fragrance from the essential oils and that’s pretty much it.
So cool, I’ve never heard of this before!
My grandmother swore by these.