How to Take a Detox Bath
Inside: Here’s how to take a detox bath to rid your body of toxins. This is a great natural remedy for when you have a cold or flu–or when you’ve overindulged at your family’s holiday meal!
For years, I spent the afternoon and day after Thanksgiving and Christmas feeling, well, horrible!
Such a heavy meal would leave me wanting to do nothing but nap.
It seemed to get even worse when we started visiting family after our family went largely gluten-free due to our oldest daughter’s food allergies.
(At the time we didn’t realize the rest of us are sensitive to it as well!) We all felt awful after overdosing on the gluten our bodies were no longer used to.
But a couple years ago my husband and I discovered detox baths!
Detox baths help to flush all the post-holiday toxins (or toxins any time of the year!) out of our bodies!
This is probably one of the easiest ways to detox.
There are several different methods of how to take a detox bath, but my favorite–and perhaps the simplest–is the salt/clay detox bath.
Ingredients
- 1 part bath salts on Amazon - draws out toxins AND remineralizes the body!
- 1 part bentonite clay
- essential oils
Instructions
- Draw a bath of HOT water. The hotter the water, the more detoxing benefits of the bath! (If the water is too hot by the time you get in, add some colder water to cool things down a bit.)
- Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of bath salts into the hot running water.
- Dissolve 1/2 cup to 1 cup of the bentonite clay in the water as well. It may help to dissolve the clay in a cup of warm water first if it seems to clump up. (Do NOT use a metal spoon to mix the clay! Use wooden or plastic.)
- Add a couple drops of any desired essential oils. Lavender is great for relaxing or to relieve tension. Peppermint is good if you have a headache. Eucalyptus is a great one to clear congestion. These are three of our favorites! You can find all of these online at Plant Therapy.
- Soak and relax in the bath for 20-30 minutes! That’s it! For more information on salt detox baths, see information here and on clay detox baths, see information here. And if you want to make your bath extra special and pampering, you can add some homemade moisturizing bath bombs!
- Be aware that the salt is truly natural. It will leave a clay-colored sediment in your bath tub–which is quickly and easily washed down the drain. You may have to wipe the clay off the tub with a towel.
My preferred brand of bath salts and bentonite clay are both from Redmond Trading Company.
I’ve been using these–along with several of their other products (I use Earthpaste and Real Salt daily!) for many years. You can purchase via the Redmond Trading Company website or from Amazon.
Related: What It’s Really Like to Have COVID (and Promising Immune Boosters That Can Actually Help)
Is this detox bath safe while breastfeeding?
The only kind of detox I did while breastfeeding is a detox bath. However, I didn’t take detox baths early on in my nursing and did not use the clay in the bath until the baby was well over a year old (and not nursing much). Others may do so, but I was extra cautious when it came to detoxing while breastfeeding.
I personally feel OK with taking detox baths once nursing is fully established and the baby isn’t nursing quite as frequently–because the toxins are released through the pores in your skin–not through your breast milk.
I did take warm sitz baths postpartum with just a little bath salt.
Never detox while pregnant.
My favorite detox bath products
Redmond Trading’s Bentonite Clay
My Husband’s DIY Natural Bath Bombs
What’s your favorite way to detox? Have you ever taken a detox bath?
Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional. This blog is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Please consult your own trusted healthcare provider before making decisions about your health.
Judy Brandt
what a great gift this would be for my families health
Erin
Yes, it would be!
Elizabeth M
I’ve heard of this and haven’t tried it yet. Will be making time to try this soon
Erin
It’s great! I took one last night!
JessicaD
Not sure how to enter, but I love salt baths!
Erin
Check out the Rafflecopter widget above!
Hannah
I entered. Haven’t tried the detox bath, but looks like a great idea!
Erin
I love them! Hope you win! 🙂
Kristen R.
Hi Erin! I wanted to let you know I enjoy reading your blog and nominated you for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. You can find the details here: http://notjustasahm.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/sisterhood-of-the-world-bloggers-award/ Have a happy 2014!
Erin
I am so honored, Kristen!! Thank you so much!!
Paula
What a great gift to win. Love your blog
Erin
Thank you! I love these bath salts!
Jill
I tried the detox bath this week. Is there any sort of recommended after care? I had a lot of itching on my feet like I had with cholestasis of pregnancy which at that time is related to bile acids and the liver trying to process them.
Thoughts?
Erin
Wow, Jill! I’ve never had that happen! I would ask your trusted healthcare provider.
grammie
This sounds comfortingly delicious. I just have to share here and not keep it a ‘secret.’ I learned, very indirectly, by trying to suppress estrogen after breast cancer to keep it from returning (11 yrs now), the way for me to detox from the inside, too. I had to submit to a whole new ‘ideology,’ that of adding the highest soluble fiber there is to my daily diet. Legumes or psyllium husk. 3X or more/day. Made with any seasonings, even my favorite, bacon … the HIGH volume of s. fiber binds with our bile and fats and fatty toxins and takes them totally from the body rather than some or much of them recirculating due to a lower-soluble fiber diet that most of us has. So, I’d love to attack those toxins from the inside AND outside. P.S. NO illnesses (arthritis tho, pain much decreased by NO sugar or excess carbs) and have lost 65 pounds in 3 years. For the lady with itching, does a quality, non-perfumed moisturizer help?
Linda
I have a silly question. All the bentonite clay recipes state not to use a metal spoon or bowl to mix the clay because it deactivates the clay. So, what happens when the clay goes in the tub and hits the metal ring? Is it rendered useless?
Rose
Hi, I don’t know if you still check this but could you PLEASE tell me why to not detox while pregnant? I’ve been taking baths using epsom salt since the beginning since it makes the aches go away and helped tons with morning sickness. I don’t use clay or other salts.
Katie
Hi! I’d love to try this detox bath. Do you have to run extra water down the drain to keep the clay from clogging the drain? Just making sure, I don’t want to clog it! But thanks for sharing this post!
Cheryl
Can I print this for the radiologist that is giving my thyroid uptake scan ?