One of my favorite self-care activities is a detox bath. However, I’m often asked “how long should you take a detox bath?” It’s a great question, and it is of course important to be safe with your body when taking a detox bath, so let’s address it!
Depending on the source you’ll find the duration of time to be 15-30 minutes. I personally shoot for 20 minutes, minimum. You body needs time to soak in the Epsom salt and baking soda so it can start working on balancing your pH, relaxing your muscles and releasing the melatonin into your system for ultimate relaxation.
What are the Benefits?
A detox bath is a great way to encourage the body to efficiently flush out toxins naturally. Our body has some incredible detoxification systems already set up, but let’s face it, every part of our body is over-worked, so if we can give it some help and relax for a few minutes, then it’s a win-win!
One of my favorite benefits of taking a detox bath is a boost to my immune system. When metabolic waste from toxins builds up in our body, we get sick. Functional medicine expert, Dr. Mark Hyman, puts it this way, “problems with detoxification is one root of illness. If you feel lousy, it’s likely you’re toxic.”
This is also why I give my kids a detox bath when they show signs of a cold or flu. **Note that I do not make the water as hot for them as what I can handle, but it needs to be warm enough to pull out toxins.**
In my article Benefits of a Detox Bath, I take you through the individual benefits of each of the ingredients involved. Check it out!
Time to Relax
The most important part of a detox bath is the water temperature. Of course what you put in the bath is very important, but if the water is only mildly warm versus hot, then you won’t be extracting the toxins from your system in an effective manner.
You want to sweat! I know for some, that doesn’t sound relaxing, but trust me. If your body is aching, if you don’t feel well or you’ve had a really hard workout, you’ll want to sweat out all the crap. It can still be relaxing even if you sweat, just have ice water handy, sorry gals – no wine.
In the end, how much time you spend in the bath is up to you! It is driven by the amount of time you have, or if you’re new to taking this style of bath, it can take some getting used to. But the more you do it, the longer you’ll be able to soak and reap all the benefits.
The Best Alternative
When you just can’t make 30 minutes work in your day, bust out your foam roller! There are still incredible benefits from just 5-10 minutes rolling out and massaging your muscles. End with a few minutes of svanasana, relax your mind, meditate and feel refreshed. Or, maybe get your best night’s sleep of the week!
Enjoy all the benefit of your Me time!
xo, Tiff
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Here’s what you need for the perfect bath!