Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- What is a Detox Bath?
- How to Take a Detoxification Bath
- How Often Should You Take a Detox Bath?
- Baking Soda Baths
- Epsom Salt Bath for Detoxing
- Sea Salt and Baking Soda Detox Baths
- Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Detox Bath
- Hydrogen Peroxide Bath
- Fever Bath Benefits
- Contraindications and Why NOT to Mix IngredientsÂ
- Don’t Have a Bathtub? Do This Instead
- How-to Video
The best detox baths to use by specific health condition to ensure optimal effectiveness, enjoyment, and safety. Plus, how often to take, when to mix ingredients and when to avoid rinsing afterward.
One casualty of the hurry, hurry modern lifestyle is the regular practice of highly beneficial and therapeutic detox baths.
A quick shower in the morning or after working out has gained favor over a more leisurely soak with bathing ingredients carefully chosen to support internal cleansing, overall health and even to remedy specific ailments or injuries.
I first became familiar with the benefits of cleansing baths during my travels in Asia just before I launched into my corporate career after college.
What is a Detox Bath?
The Japanese in particular greatly value cleansing, detox baths, so much so that public baths remain popular even today.  The Japanese favor using water as hot as a person can possibly stand with a special type of cloth used to exfoliate and thereby encourage detoxification via the body’s largest organ – the skin.
According to nutritional pioneer Dr. Hazel Parcells, 65% of body cleansing is achieved via the skin!
In America, bathing is viewed more for relaxation than detoxification as a general rule. The focus on bathing enjoyment can be observed at bed and bath stores where a plethora of artificially scented, hormone-disrupting bubble bath concoctions are creatively displayed and are best sellers year-round.
I would venture to suggest that health cannot easily be maintained over the long term without the regular incorporation of detox baths. If traditional cultures valued therapeutic cleansing baths back when our world was pristine with clean water, air, and unprocessed, additive-free food, one can only imagine how important a gentle and regular detoxification bathing protocol is today given our toxic soup world with chemicals and other biologically disrupting agents nearly everywhere!
If the body is clogged up with toxins from the physiological stress of modern living and the chemical assault from every direction, it cannot properly utilize the nutrient-dense food that is consumed.
How to Take a Detoxification Bath
The reason water as hot as can be tolerated is typically used is because this initially draws toxins to the surface of the skin, as described by Dr. Hazel Parcells in her book The Pioneer Nutritionist  Dr. Hazel Parcells in Her Own Words. Then, as the water gradually cools down, the toxins are pulled into the water via the principle of osmosis – the weak energy from the cooling water draws from the strong energy from the body heated up initially by the very hot water.
How Often Should You Take a Detox Bath?
If the wisdom of cleansing baths appeals to you, below is a primer on seven different types of therapeutic bathing.
Generally speaking, a cleansing bath 2-3 times per week with only one per day maximum works well for most people. This works to keep elimination channels open and gently encourage the detoxification process on a regular basis.
Note that sometimes during or after bathing, you will notice the skin exfoliating. If you find this happening to you, try dry skin brushing before your next therapeutic bath. While not suitable for everyone, it can be a helpful step to encourage additional detoxification when done immediately before a cleansing soak.
Baking Soda Baths
A baking soda bath is one of the first types of cleansing soaks people try because they usually have a box right in their pantry!
Dissolve 4 cups of aluminum-free baking soda (source) in a regular size tubful of water as hot as you can tolerate. Use more as needed if your tub is oversized. Stay in the bath until the water has cooled which will take approximately 45 minutes. Do not rinse after the bath. Simply towel dry.
This bath is beneficial for exposure to irradiated food, swollen glands, sore throat (including strep throat) or soreness of the gums and mouth. It is also beneficial for those with digestive impairment such as the inability to hold food in the stomach comfortably.
Epsom Salt Bath for Detoxing
Epsom salts are readily available at most drug stores and supermarkets. It is very affordable to try this detox bath next.
Dissolve 2 cups of Epsom salts (source) in a regular sized bath. Use more as needed if your tub is oversized. The temperature should be comfortably warm but not overly hot. Soak for at least 12 minutes and up to 20-30 minutes. Rinse and towel dry.
The scientific name for Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. Magnesium and sulfur are both critical nutrients but surprisingly can be poorly absorbed from our food. Soaking in Epsom salts overcomes this problem as these minerals both absorb readily via the skin.
According to the Epsom Salt Industry Council, a simple soak is beneficial to the heart and circulatory health, can lower blood pressure, helps ease muscle pain and eliminates harmful substances from the body. It also improves nerve function by encouraging proper regulation of electrolytes.
Soak in Epsom salts 2-3 times weekly for general health maintenance or to alleviate the discomfort of bruising and sprains. An Epsom salts soak also encourages detoxification of drugs remaining in the body after surgery.
More information is contained this article on the benefits of Epsom salt baths. A fun way to use Epsom salts therapeutically and for children is to make homemade bath bombs.
Be sure of the quality of the source where you buy Epsom salts. They should be certified USP, not agricultural grade.
Sea Salt and Baking Soda Detox Baths
Dissolve one pound of sea salt or rock salt (source) and one pound of baking soda (source) to a regular-sized tub of water (more if the tub is large) as hot as you can stand it. Stay in the bath until the water has cooled which will be about 45 minutes. If the bath is too hot, you can add some cold water if this is the only way you can manage to stay in for at least 30 minutes. Don’t ever add more hot water after entering the bath, however.
Do not rinse or shower but simply towel dry after the bath is complete. This bath will likely make you tired so do it in the evening before bed if possible.
This bath is therapeutic for any exposure to environmental radiation, x-rays, plane flights or airport screenings by TSA.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Detox Bath
Add 2 cups of store-bought or homemade apple cider vinegar (source) to a regular-sized tub of water as hot as tolerated. Use more as needed if your tub is oversized. Stay in the vinegar bath until the water has cooled which will be about 45 minutes. Towel dry and don’t shower for at least 8 hours.
This bath is a great overall detoxifier and for muscle aches and pains brought on by physical exertion. It is also helpful and the best detox bath choice for those with candida issues that affect the skin as it returns the skin to an optimal, slightly acidic ph which is a difficult environment for candida to thrive.
An ACV bath draws excess uric acid out of the body. Uric acid is created when the body breaks down substances called purines in certain foods and drinks. Most uric acid is eliminated via the kidneys in the urine, but some folks such as those with gout can have issues with excess levels. An ACV cleansing bath can provide welcome relief for those with joint problems, arthritis, gout, bursitis, or tendonitis. It also is very helpful for those with excessive body odor problems.
Note that you can use any type of vinegar if you don’t have any ACV on hand. But, watch out as most white distilled vinegar is made from GMO corn and likely contains glyphosate residue.
Hydrogen Peroxide Bath
While not officially a detox bath per se, a soak in water with a bit of H2O2 added is beneficial for healing skin ulcers and other infections of the dermis. This article on the benefits of hydrogen peroxide baths elaborates.
Fever Bath Benefits
Another therapeutic bath that hastens detoxification by raising body temperature by a couple of degrees is the fever bath. It works similarly to the benefits of infrared sauna by stimulating the immune system and encouraging sweating. This article on the benefits of fever baths explains more.
If a fever bath is too much to handle, a ginger bath is another option that encourages sweating with more lukewarm water temperature as opposed to the very hot water required for a fever bath.
Contraindications and Why NOT to Mix IngredientsÂ
Be sure to only do one bathing formula per day. Do not mix ingredients from different recipes for detox baths. This is because one ingredient may compete with another. For example, pushing nutrients into the body with an Epsom salt bath versus pulling toxins out in a vinegar bath – acid versus alkaline.
One exception to this is the sea salt/baking soda detox bath as both ingredients are alkaline and do not compete with each other.
If you want to do a pregnancy detox, consult with your healthcare practitioner before commencing any cleansing bath routine.
Don’t Have a Bathtub? Do This Instead
If your residence doesn’t have ready access to a bathtub to take your cleansing baths, try one or more of these soothing recipes for a foot detox instead. All you need is a large bowl or basin about a foot deep.
Hint: skip those useless and expensive detox foot pads though!
How-to Video
References
The Pioneer Nutritionist  Dr. Hazel Parcells in Her Own Words
More Information
7 Ways to Avoid Detox Symptoms
Top 4 Cleansing Myths
Coffee Enema: Unmatched Detoxification for Health and Recovery
Natural Deworming Methods that are Safe and Effective
Seaweed Wrap: Minerals In, Heavy Metals Out
Castor Oil Pack
How to Do a Hair Detox
Rebounding: A Great Way to Gently Detox
Juicing 101: Why Do It, Which Juicers are Best, Recipes to Try
Larissa
Can you use these detox baths for children as young as 2 and 4? I only fill the bathtub 4 – 6 inches when I bathe them. Is this enough water? Would you decrease the amount of the ingredients you put in the bath? Is it okay if they drink some of the water?
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
I do epsom salts or baking soda baths for my children all the time and have for years.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Depending on the quality of your bath water, it may or may not be fine to drink a bit. Note that epsom salts have a laxative effect when taken internally. Remember also that toxins are being pulled into the water so getting a mouthful at least toward the end of the bath is probably not a good idea.
Coley
Are these still beneficial if I don’t have a water filter? I love my detox baths but worry they may be doing more harm than good!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
The baths would still be beneficial even with treated city water. Get a bath filter or whole house filter as soon as you can to boost effectiveness of the regimen.
Liesl
I put a teaspoon of sodium ascorbate (vit c) powder into my bath as it is supposed to neutralize the chlorine. I hope this is the case.
Beth
Those bath ball filters look pretty interesting. They just hang under the bathtub spigot. You may want to check it out.
Amber@BareNaturalMommy
Great to know! I love baking soda, I find there are so many good uses for baking soda. Been putting that in my daughters bath for months. Thanks for the information!
Rebekah
One of the biggest “itch” factors in taking a bath or shower is the chlorine in the water. I highly recommend a chlorine shower filter and bath ball. Label the box w/the date you start using them and put it w/your bathroom supplies, this way you can know when to get a new ball or replace the filter insert. With that said, detox baths are so wonderful and very healing.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Great tip! Yes, you really need pure water for the detox bath to be optimally effective. We have a well, so chlorine is not an issue for our particular situation.
Beth
We were able to install a shower filter on the handheld hose nozzle of our claw-foot tub.
I haven’t heard of the bath balls but will have to look that up!
Cynthia
Sarah,
Would you recommend that detox baths should be skipped altogether if the water is chlorinated? Or maybe just take them less frequently? We buy spring water for drinking, but don’t have a water filter for our bath water. I recently started GAPS for autoimmune thyroid disorder and food allergies. I’d really be interested in your judgment call on this. Thanks!
Cynthia
Cynthia
Oh! I just saw your comments on this topic as I scrolled down the remaining comments:-)
Diana
How can we know that epsom salts are 100% pure? What are the trusted sources?
Sally
This is great – thanks so much for sharing. My daughter has medical problems and doesn’t clear toxins well so her doc has recommended Epsoms and Baking soda baths as part of her regular regime. It really makes a difference for her in physical and behavioral health. mBut I didn’t know about the other two – good information.
Lori
Yes I have mixed soda and epsom salt before but won’t mix anymore.
Thank you for this info Sarah.
Chelsea N.
I agree with Eileen about the confusion regarding not mixing items. I have also been recommended to mix ACV and epsom salts for muscle soreness by my fitness instructor and have not had any issues. Is there a specific reason you included that? Or just as a general precaution for people?
Thanks!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
The caution not to mix is from Dr. Parcells’s book (sourced above). She does not give a reason for this … my guess is that it could overstimulate the detoxification pathways. If one is very toxic, this could result in illness perhaps. I personally choose not to mix detox bath ingredients.
Beth
I believe Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride also recommends in her GAPS book to not mix the ingredients but alternate them.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Thank you Beth! Now that you mention that, I do remember her saying this very thing at a Conference. She did emphasize not mixing ingredients.
Eileen
I love your recipes, but am confused about your comment to not mix them. I use ACV and epsom salt together in a bath all the time and haven’t had any problems. Occasionally even throwing in some baking soda in there.
Linda
I was just about to ask the same question, Eileen. I use baking soda, epsom salt and ginger in my detox bath. I too would like to know the reason the ingredients should not be mixed.
Sarah
My youngest had moderate eczema a year ago. A bath every 10 days would cause horrible flare ups and itching that would just begin to recover at about 5 days. I would cringe on bath day. I began adding epsom salts to the bath. What joy bath time became! We went to using a bath every other day to help control the itch!!! I am not a scientist but I could not ignore the obvious improvements that the epsom salts brought about for my little one. She is MUCH better now but epsom salts are now a regular purchase and mainstay in this household!
Beth
That’s great to know how this helped your son. My eczema healed when I started making homemade raw milk kefir. Detoxification practices are so important, and incorporating one or more into our daily lives is so beneficial.
Beth
Your daughter, that is.