Taking to the waters has been a part of healing for centuries and is a powerful delivery of wellbeing.
Sinking into a warm tub of water at the end of a long day is a great feeling. Not only is soaking in the bath good for soothing sore muscles and easing aches and pains; but it is also a great tool for your whole self. Mentally, physically and spiritually. Simply by adding a few of your favourite minerals, you can give your mind and body a natural health high.
Since as far back as ancient times, water has been hailed as the essence of life. The Indians and Greeks believed water to be the basis of the world and of humanity. It did not take long for people to discover the healing properties contained in water. The Nile became sacred to the Egyptians, the waters in Jordan were sacred to the Israelites and the Ganges was holy water for India; all places where people immersed themselves to heal their body and soul.
In Egypt, women added natural minerals to their daily bath routine for cosmetic purposes. Even Cleopatra herself made mud wraps from the Dead Sea to keep her skin looking youthful. Yet it was the Greeks who discovered the healing power of thermal waters and soon temples of natural hot springs were born. They discovered the combination of warm water in sulphurous springs the ideal solution for soothing muscular and joint pain. So it was not long before the idea of restorative bathing and hydrotherapy became popular.
It was the Greek philosopher Hippocrates who studied how thermal waters impacted positively on the human body. He claimed that the chemical and organoleptic features combined with the hot and cold effects on the body, that diseases started with the imbalance of bodily fluids. To restore balance it was recommended that a habit and environment change in the form of bathing, perspiration, walking and massages was required.
The Romans went one step further, using bathing as a social setting to improve the mental wellbeing of their people. The idea of relaxing the mind and body grew popular and community baths became a normal part of daily life.
Fast forward thousands of years later and there is now scientific evidence to support what the ancient civilisations have known all along. Water absorbed into your skin directly impacts positively on your wellbeing and bathing is the most effective way of ensuing this.
In terms of science, your skin is the biggest organ in your body and as such has the ability to absorb moisture (water) and filter out harmful toxins so that healthy nutrients can enter the blood system. Relaxing in a bath of warm water allows these healing properties to enter your body through the skin.
Transdermal absorption is the medical term used for the way water enters your body through the pores of the skin. One function is to keep the moisture in and harmful toxins are flushed out, the other function is to regulate temperature and act as a detoxification process.
Not all water is the same, of course. Different types are used for specific purposes depending on the situation you want to resolve. Each type of water has different health benefits, each providing a natural cocktail of elements that the body absorbs to heal and glow. Geothermal waters, cold mineral waters, salts and essential oils: they all have their benefits for your inner and outer health.
These thee types of water are ideal for relieving stress at the end of your day. Simply settle back and let the stressors of your day float away, restoring balance to the endocrine system.
As you adopt and improve the ways of the ancient world in the field of bathing, the evidence is clear that water does in fact improve your health and wellbeing. Mentally, physically and spiritually. By understanding the science of soaking in water and natural oils and minerals, you can adjust your bath time routine to help manage your stressors and other ailments.