What can be more pleasant on a cold autumn evening than to soak in a warm bath. It will help to warm up, calm nerves and improve well-being.
Unsempted monarch
The father of medicine Hippocrates believed that "baths help with many diseases, when everything else has already ceased to help." Priests in ancient Egypt took a bath at least 4 times a day, and the Roman patricians spent long hours in public baths, discussing state affairs and philosophical treatises.
However, over time, the attitude to water procedures has changed. In times of gloomy Middle Ages, it was believed that water baths weaken the body, expand the pores and can cause illness and even death. The doctors of that time were sure that through the cleared pores the air contaminated with the infection could enter the body. Fearing to fall ill, the medieval aristocracy was washed no more often than once or twice a year. At the same time, the hygienic procedure was beginning to be prepared the day before. Before taking a bath, it was supposed to make a cleansing enema. And the French King Louis XIV washed himself only twice in his life at the insistence of the court physicians. At the same time, the washing plunged the monarch into such horror that he did not ever take water procedures.
Modern doctors treat the bath very respectfully and recommend water procedures to virtually everyone without exception. However, in order for the bath to bring benefit and pleasure, you need to observe a few simple rules.
Subtlety of bathing
• Many believe that the hotter the water in the bath, the more benefits the one who is in it is getting. In fact, this is not so. Too hot water adversely affects the heart and dries the skin. Therefore, do not take a bath with water above 37 °.
• Do not stay in the tub for more than 15 minutes. Too long bathing can cause weakness and dizziness.
• Do not take a bath too often. Experts are sure that 1-2 times a week is enough.
• If you want to add sea salt, essential oil or herbal collection to the bath, you need to wash yourself in the shower before taking a bath. Pure skin absorbs useful substances.
• After bathing, you should rest for at least half an hour. So do not take a bath if you need to hurry.
• Do not start water procedures immediately after eating. Wait at least a couple of hours.
Soap opera
Many people are sure that in order to clean up properly, there is enough soap and there is no sense to spend on shower gels. However, compared with the gel soap contains quite a lot of alkali and greatly dries the skin. In addition, the harmful effect of alkali in shower gels is mitigated by special additives, for example citric acid. Well, moisturizing supplements and essential oils make it possible to avoid dry skin after washing. However, in order for the shower gel to retain its useful properties, do not store the tube with gel next to the radiators, tighten the lid of the vial tightly and do not dilute the gel with water.
How much salt to pour in
Baths with sea salt nourish the skin, prevent the appearance of cellulite, strengthen the heart, fight with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, soothe the nervous system. However, if you want to improve your health, it is better to consult a doctor who will choose the dosage you need.
Usually, for people with cardiovascular diseases, the optimal salt concentration is 200 g per bath, for fighting colds and eliminating cellulite - 1 kg per bath, for radiculitis treatment - 1.5 kg.
Oil against stress
Fans of aromatherapy certainly like baths with essential oils. Such water procedures are not only pleasant, but also able to eliminate malaise and become a good preventive tool for various diseases. In order to prepare a fragrant bath, it is enough to drop a little oil (5-6 drops) into the water and mix the water slightly so that the oil does not accumulate in one place.
• Bath with mint remarkably relieves fatigue and stress, tones up and refreshes the skin, has a beneficial effect on the condition of nails and hair. In ancient times it was believed that mint increases mental ability. Of course, it is unlikely that you will be able to significantly grow wiser by breathing in mint pairs, but in this way you will be able to increase efficiency and raise your spirits.
• The bath with sage is very useful for oily skin, since sage works well with inflammation and acne . In addition, a pair of sage help the body resist infections.
• Inhalation of rose oil vapors helps with spasms of the vessels, relieves migraine, dizziness and nausea. Rose oil is a part of many cosmetics. It rejuvenates, increases the elasticity and elasticity of the skin, normalizes the work of the sebaceous glands, improves the complexion.
Lemon for immunity
Those who do not want to spend on expensive essential oils, but at the same time want to benefit your body, baths with herbal decoctions will do.
• The bath with chamomile has a calming effect and is used to treat skin diseases. 250 grams of chamomile flowers in a pharmacy pour 1.5 liters of water and boil for 10 minutes. Then strain the broth and pour into the tub.
• Decoction of oak bark eliminates excessive sweating and narrows the pores with oily skin. Handful of oak bark boil in water for 10 minutes, strain and add to the bath with water.
• Those who want to strengthen nerves and immunity, will help the citrus bath. Five lemons with peel cut into slices and pour cold water for 2 hours. Then infuse the infusion and pour into the bath. However, remember: you can not take a lemon bath too often. Citric acid dries the skin.
Interesting
• Egyptian queen Cleopatra took a bath exclusively to the accompaniment of her musicians. Throughout the bathing time of the mistress, they stood side by side and played calm, pacifying music.
• In Ancient Greece to offer a guest a bath was considered a good form.
• Seven brothers-emigrants Jacuzzi tried to conquer the United States by the invention of pumps, airplanes and an improved propeller. Constantly studying the interaction of water and air, one of the brothers had no difficulty in devising a device that when immersed in a bath of water produced a massage jet from a mixture of water and air. The device was intended for the sick son Candido Jacuzzi, who needed a daily massage.
By the way
We soften the water. Too much tap water often causes irritation and redness in people with sensitive skin. You can soften the water if you add drinking soda at the rate of 1/2 tsp to a liter of water.