Whether you’ve spent the day battling through snow, you’re exhausted from great day's sledging or even if you've been hunkered down with the doors firmly closed, why not soak away the winter chills with a warming mustard bath or foot soak?
It's the perfect remedy for easing aches and pains, and helping in the fight against the winter cold.
Never heard of a mustard bath? Well mustard - both oil and ground - is a traditional ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine, and has been used for centuries in baths and foot soaks.
There's evidence of mustard baths in ancient Greece and Rome, and today athletes rely on mustard baths for a post-workout relief to ease joint pain and inflammation.
Making a mustard bath is simple, so even if you’re snowed in you probably have the ingredients in your kitchen cupboard.
To make one mustard bath or foot soak:
- 1 tablespoon mustard powder
- 1 cup Epsom salt or sea salt
- 10 drops essential oil (optional). For a warming soak we like wintergreen, black pepper, rosemary & eucalyptus but use your favourite blend
Simply mix the mustard powder with the salt & essential oil in a bowl, making sure they are well combined with no clumps.
Once your warm bath or foot bath is ready, add the soak, immerse and relax those chills away!
A mustard bath makes a great present. Simply decant into a glass jar or bottle, add a label and make someone's day!
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Note: as mustard is a common allergen, avoid mustard baths if you have an allergy to mustard, sensitive skin or high blood pressure. If you experience any uncomfortable symptoms then stop using immediately.