Natural way to combat illness for kids and adults

We’ve written before (a lot) about natural remedies but this natural detox bath is by far one our favorites and widely used in our household.

Our family was introduced to detox baths by a close friend, and studying herbalist, when Isla was just shy of 16 months. She had come down with RSV, a respiratory virus that tends to occur in children under the age of 2. She was cranky, irritable, wasn’t sleeping well, had a fever, and was coughing and wheezing.

After a trip to Urgent Care, we were desperate for a natural way to help manage her symptoms and prevent the virus from leading to more serious issues, such as pneumonia.

Shortly after arriving home, my dear friend dropped off a care packing, including magnesium and other essential ingredients for a detox bath. Immediately after the magnesium detox bath, we noticed a difference in Isla’s disposition.

Since that day, this detox bath has been one of our favorite ways to kick the common cold, boost immunity and stay healthy.

Not just for the cold and flu

What started out as a natural remedy when sick, has transformed into a weekly self-care ritual to keep our family’s immune system strong, calm our body and mind, sleep better, feel more energized during the day and help our body absorb magnesium, minerals and other nutrients necessary to thrive.

Can you tell we’re strong believers in the power of this detox bath?

Why we love this natural remedy

• Keeps the immune system healthy
• Improves circulation
• Rids your body of toxins that accumulate from your environment, products you use and the foods you eat
• Calms body, mind
• Soothes and relaxes
• Improves sleep
• Reduces inflammation
• Improves skin hydration
• Restores magnesium balance (because many of us don’t get enough)

Toxic burden and how it harms your immune system

Your body is like a machine. It works endlessly each and every day to filter out toxins both from the outside environment and from within your own tissues.

From the air we breathe, the food we eat, the skincare products we use, household products we clean with, and even the water we drink and bathe in, almost everything we come into contact with on a daily basis deposits tiny amounts of unwanted substances in our body. Our body must then work to metabolize and eliminate these toxins so that we don’t become overloaded with unwanted substances.

Sometimes after repeated exposure our well-oiled “machine” starts to slow and show signs of toxin overload. This is exactly why reducing toxins in our body is SO IMPORTANT. Otherwise, our immune system weakens, inflammation occurs, there’s a greater potential for immune dysfunction and we’re more prone to infection.

Common signs of toxic burden

• Headaches
• Nasal/ sinus congestion
• Flu-like symptoms
• Digestive problems
• Skin issues (breakouts, eczema, redness)
• Muscle and joint pain
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability
• Brain fog
• Sugar cravings

Why is magnesium necessary?

Magnesium, which is one of the most abundant minerals in your body, plays several important roles in the health of your brain and body. In fact, every cell in your body needs it to function. It helps with movement, maintenance, formation and regulation. It also aids in eliminating toxins.

Unfortunately, many of us don’t get enough of it.

While there are other ways to supplement magnesium, one of the easiest ways to aid in absorption is soaking in bathwater that’s enriched with it. This technique has been around for centuries as a go-to treatment for easing all kinds of aches and pains.

Are Epsom salts different than magnesium flakes and can they be swapped 1:1?

Without getting into a science lesson, Epsom salts are made up of magnesium and sulfate while Magnesium flakes are made up of magnesium and chloride.

The main difference:

Magnesium flakes have a higher concentration of pure magnesium. The flakes are also absorbed much more easily, which is why we often choose to use them in place of Epsom salt.

That being said, you can substitute Magnesium flakes with Epsom salt, but it may not be as effective.

When choosing Magnesium flakes, look for one that’s 100% pure and doesn’t have any added ingredients.

When choosing an Epsom salt, look for one that doesn’t have any added ingredients and has been marked as “USP” (United States Pharmacopeia-approved) and has a “Drug Facts” label (which indicates it’s been FDA-approved).

Our go-to brands:

• Magnesium flakes
• Epsom salt

Essential Oils in a detox bath

You can add Essential Oils in your detox bath for an array of benefits, such as relaxation, immune system benefits and to help alleviate cold/ flu-like symptoms. While they’re not absolutely necessary for your detox bath, they’re a great addition.

These ingredients may seem like an investment if this is your first homemade natural remedy, beauty or body care project. Don’t fret! They’re well worth it and can be used in many other DIY projects.

When it comes to adding them to your bath, make sure they are mixed with the magnesium flakes first, NOT just added directly into the water. Think of the old adage, oil and water don’t mix. Without adding the EO’s to the flakes first, the small droplets can adhere to your skin when you climb into the tub (as if you’d applied the undiluted oil directly to your skin) and can irritate your tissue.

Some favorite EO’s in a detox bath

• Lavender Essential Oil: This EO is a superstar for relaxation, soothing achy muscles, irritated skin, supporting the nervous system, and aiding in sleep and healing.
• Eucalyptus Essential Oil: From alleviating cold/flu-like symptoms, to aiding in problems such as acne, asthma and arthritis, it’s anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties are amazing!
• Lemon Essential Oil: Along with an array of other benefits, lemon EO’s have the ability to stimulate the immune system and help keep you healthy by fighting harmful viruses, bacteria and reducing inflammation.

How to shop for high-quality Essential Oils

The quality of essential oils on the market varies greatly. It’s important to use quality, therapeutic-grade oils. These oils (while more expensive) take a large amount of plant material to produce their high concentration.

Many of the inexpensive oils on the market are diluted or watered down, which minimized the effectiveness.

Your essential oils should be produced without any added ingredients, chemicals and ideally should come from organic plants. For this reason, we often recommend the brands Young Living and DoTerra.

Should you remove chemicals that are found in bathwater?

If chemicals in bathwater, such as chlorine, are something you’re concerned about, there are a few ways you can help filter the water and aid in the elimination of these chemicals so they aren’t absorbed into the skin.

Vitamin C Powder or Baking soda:

To neutralize chlorine and alkalize the water, add 2 tablespoons of Vitamin C Powder or Baking soda into the bathwater 2-5 minutes before getting in.

Bentonite clay:

Healing clays, like bentonite clay are known for their ability remove toxins, as well as bind to and absorb heavy metals, chemicals and impurities. Bonus, it fights bacteria and has amazing healing and detoxifying benefits. In a cup, bowl or mason jar, mix 2 tablespoons of bentonite clay with water and pour into the tub. This should be done AFTER the chlorine is neutralized. Because bentonite clay’s effectiveness can be reduced if it comes into contact with anything metal, it’s best to store your cream in a glass jar.

Use this Natural Detox Bath to help kick colds, boost immunity, eliminate toxins and reduce stress.

Adding detox baths into your library of natural remedies can help your body rid itself of harmful toxins, boost your immune function, help you sleep better and feel more energized during the day.

Whether using this detox bath weekly, as a natural remedy when you or someone in your household comes down with a cold, or as a DIY gift to help someone special indulge in a little self-care, we definitely urge you to bookmark or PIN it for later!