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 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!
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’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’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