There's no need to buy expensive imported bath salts when you can easily -- and inexpensively -- make them yourself. Photo by Phygras, Creative Commons license.
It’s no secret I’m a fan of the hot bath for caregiver stress relief and self-care. A good soak in a hot bathtub can improve your mood a thousandfold at the end of a long day.
On the downside, fancy bath products to make a tired caregiver feel pampered can be pricey. And let’s face it: a hot bath with a bar of Ivory doesn’t exactly make you feel special.
That’s why I was excited to find a whole slew of videos on YouTube that show how to make scented bath salts for a song. The ingredients are readily available, inexpensive, and you can use essential oils to create the specific mood you want: relaxing, energizing, or anything in between.
This particular DIY bath salts video shows you step by step how to mix up a batch of soothing salts for your next soak session.
Even better, bath salts are so simple to make that they’re a great project for you to do with your loved one. Since there’s no “wrong” way to mix scents and color, even people with memory loss can participate in this activity. Later, they can use their salts for a bath, shower, or even a sponge bath.
The basic recipe consists of coarse sea salt and/or Epsom salts, a small amount of oil (some people use olive oil while others invest in almond oil), essential oils of your choice, and a skin-safe colorant. All of these ingredients should be readily available at either your local big-box retailer, organic grocery store, herbalist, or online.
Homemade bath salts also make an easy and inexpensive gift. With one recent study showing that caregivers spend as much as $250 per month of their own money on caregiving activities, wouldn’t it be nice to save a little cash on holiday gifts? And who wouldn’t love to receive a gift that promotes relaxation and was handmade by the giver?
So banish any remaining excuses about why you ‘can’t’ pamper yourself on a regular basis. Go get some Epsom salts, some lavender essence, and soak away the day’s stresses for mere pennies. You give so much to others; give this small luxury to yourself.
{ 0 comments }
