Have you ever used essential bath oils?

Oh my, essential bath oils make you feel so wonderful. We speak and write frequently about the medicinal and healing properties in floral and herbal essences; we talk a great deal about how to mix our favorite fragrances into soaps, shampoos, conditioners, massage oils, and perfumes. We look right past the therapeutic benefits of the baths and showers themselves, probably because we have hidden them in such obvious places. So, take a moment and consider how many benefits you derive from a long, hot, very private, intensely fragrant soak in your tub.

Do not fast-forward to essential bath oil’s undeniable benefits for your skin and hair. Focus first on psyche and spirit, remembering you must match your essential bath oil mix with its function. Most of us seek refuge and sanctuary in the bath, immersing ourselves in steaming-soothing waters to wash away our troubles. Stress relief gives the first benchmark of relaxation, and we feel stress dissolve as our necks, shoulders, and lower backs relax. Naturally, lavender and chamomile promote stress relief, and they have become neurologists’ and anesthetists’ “complementary” medicines of choice for treatment of headaches and pain management. We frankly cannot imagine an essential bath oil recipe without lavender and chamomile. What would be the point?

Of course, you do not need four years of medical school and two years of grueling residency to understand the psycho-genesis of your neck, shoulder, and lower back pains. Maintaining your focus on psyche and spirit, consider either escape from or the power to rise above your torment, turmoil, conflict, contradiction, cognitive, dissonance, dysphoria, and general yuckiness. Carefully chosen essential bath oils either will transport you to your safe place or will empower you to sort and deal with your difficulties. Apply psychotherapists’ latest research into the value of nostalgia: Using essential oils to trigger powerful, poignant memories, let recollection and reflection wash over you like head-high cleansing waves. Guide your thoughts toward discovery or recovery of all that your peak experiences reveal about your character, values, and expectations. Do not dwell on plots and outcomes; focus, instead, on your character and promise, drinking in your favorite fragrances’ power to liberate your strength. Even your greatest heartbreak reveals your innate capacity for love and affection; and even your greatest betrayal shows your resilience and determination. Strong base oils-cedar, sandalwood, jasmine, exotic myrrh, or piquant bourbon vanilla-will help you flex your psychological and spiritual muscles.

No matter where memories and reflections lead, citrus will lift your spirits and buoy your optimism. We think orange is good, but mandarin orange really packs a sweet little psychological punch. Just serendipitously mandarin cleanses, detoxifies, and removes free radicals from your skin; we insist, though, we value it for its mood-elevating effects. Mix liberally with mango or cherry blossom, both of which boost your resilience. As you float through your memories, dreams, and reflections, recognize your fundamental goodness and strength in all you have done and accomplished. Accept responsibility as conscience dictates, but wash away all blame. Forge and alloy your resolve with essential spices. You must love clove; but we dare you to try coriander-the secret spice in all the designers’ most potent perfumes.

Ah, delectably steaming hot water laced with lavender and chamomile boosted by strong base oils, powered by delicious citrus, and sparked by delightful spices-how perfect is that? Really, how could you possibly rinse, rise from, and towel off after a bath like that and not feel like a whole new woman?