Salt was money before money came into existence. The building block of human civilization when we talk about salt—a substance entwined with ancient practices; salt was so valuable it is believed to have been part of a Roman soldier’s wages, and ancient governments controlled its movement. France only ended its unpopular salt tax, which begun in 1286, and 500 years later, yep table salt.
It has been used for centuries to cleanse, soften and treat the skin and hair. The Egyptians and Romans made salt rubs by massaging a mixture of salt, herbs and natural oils into the body to cleanse and refresh. Hippocrates was one of the first to promote the use of salt in the bath to heal and soothe the body.
In the bath, salt is soothing to sore muscles, helps boost circulation and draws toxins from the body. Coarse salt is mixed with light oils and other aromatic ingredients and massaged into damp skin to help remove dead skin cells and other surface impurities, leaving your skin sparkling clean.
When shopping for salt, you will find many different kinds, from common kitchen salt to the more exotic sea salts that come from all over the world. These range in color from bright white to pink and even black. You will also find salt in several different sizes or grains, from fine to large rocks. Depending on how you are using the salt, you can choose your grain size. Finer grains mix and dissolve very easily in recipes such as bath soaks; larger, coarse grains have more scrubbing power and are used for cleansing tough skin spots such as heels and elbows.
Soothing Muscle Soak: 1 cup salt, 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup Epsom salts; To use: Fill your tub with warm water and pour 1 to 2 cups of the bath salt mixture under the running water. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes
Cleansing Bath: 1/4 cup selected dried herbs, 2 cups coarse sea salt or kosher salt; Mix together the herbs and salt and stir well. Pour into a clean container with a tight-fitting lid. To use: Fill your tub with warm water and pour 1/2 to 1 cup of the bath salts under the running water. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
Herbal Bath Salts: Bath Salt Blends
Stimulating:
rosemary, lavender, peppermint
Relaxing:
chamomile, elderflower, angelica
Refreshing:
basil, mint, lemon balm
Invigorating:
raspberry leaves, bay leaves, mugwort
Exfoliating Treatment: 2 cups kosher salt, 1 cup almond oil; mix. To use: Stand in the shower or tub, take a handful of the rub and massage it into your skin, starting with your feet. Massage the Sea Salt Body Scrub all over your body. When you’ve finished and your body is covered, rinse well with warm water. Don’t use soap, or you’ll remove the oil and its benefits. Also use caution when in the shower, as the oil will make things a bit slippery.
Emergency blemish treatment: Soak a cotton ball in warm salt water solution and press on top of a breakout or blemish for 3 minutes to help dissolve the top and disinfect the area. Dab a bit of honey on the spot and let sit for another 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Read more: http://www.herbcompanion.com/heal/body-care/health-benefits-of-salt-zmrz12jjzdeb.aspx#ixzz1wdOC6yqe
