• Brighter mood- Being submerged in warm water reduces stress and anxiety by calming the nervous system. Not only this, an increase in your body temperature raises serotonin levels, inducing feelings of well-being, positivity and a brighter mood.
• Reduced pain - Being submerged in water takes the weight off the joints and the entire muscular/skeletal system, relieving pressure on areas of discomfort - regular baths help to reduce pain and inflammation. Serotonin is also involved with regulating pain receptors, in fact, low serotonin levels actually lower your pain threshold, which is why anti-depressants are regularly prescribed for chronic pain conditions.
• Deeper sleep - Increasing your core body temperature with a regular afternoon bath, helps to regulate your circadian rhythm, which governs your sleep wake cycle. Ensuring your body temperature is warmer in the day and cooler at night stimulates the production and release of melatonin, your essential sleep hormone.
• Blood flow and oxygenation- Steam works to clear your airways, you breath deeper and slower, both the warmth and the weight of water on the chest promotes increased blood flow, giving the heart a healthy workout while oxygenating and bringing nutrients to all the cells of your body.

Optimal temperature for bath water is just a few degrees warmer than body temperature - around 40 to 45C. If you have a bath at night, keep your bedroom cool so that your core temperature is able to drop and melatonin can be released.

Warm low lighting, soothing feel good music and beautiful scents all work to relax and restore the body and mind. If you do not have an oil burner, adding a few drops of essential oil straight into your bath will help you to unwind or be invigorated, depending on what need and the oils you choose.

For example:

• • 2 drops of Wintergreen and menthol eases sore muscles, aches and pains and supports recovery from sports or injury.
  • An oat bag + 3 drops of calendula calms and repairs inflamed, dry or itchy skin such as eczema or dermatitis.
  • 4 drops of Lavender and chamomile soothes the nervous system into deep relaxation and sleep.
  • 3 drops of grapefruit, orange or rosemary will uplift, invigorate and brighten your mood.