I sometimes joke that my kids start coughing in November and stop in March. These coughs are especially troubling at night.
So before we put them to bed we like to soak them in a warm bath with respiratory supporting bath salts.
These salts are Dead Sea salt for extra minerals, especially magnesium.
Magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the human body. It impacts a wide range of health issues from blood pressure and immune function to metabolism and heart health. Like many chemicals, minerals and vitamin magnesium needs to be balanced with other minerals in the body especially calcium. Calcium is artificially added to many processed foods today from dairy and dairy alternatives to breakfast cereal. So we might be getting too much calcium which only exasperates the magnesium deficiency that according to some estimates is affecting 90% of us!
Since the skin is our largest organ of assimilation (and elimination) soaking in a magnesium-rich bath is a great way to supplement magnesium since many forms of oral magnesium supplements may be difficult for the body to absorb. The bath salts are also great for the skin and assist with skin rejuvenation, acne and eczema and improving skin hydration.
For these respiratory supportive bath salts, I chose to incorporate three herbs eucalyptus leaves, thyme leaves, and mint leaves. Eucalyptus is an expectorant as well as being an immune stimulator. Thyme is also a wonderful cold and cough remedy, and has a tonic effect, supporting normal body function.
Mint also has expectorant actions as well as a disinfectant effect on the respiratory system.
Respiratory support bath salts:
- 1 cup Epsom, Atlantic or Dead Sea salt - 2 tbsp each: ground eucalyptus leaf, mint leaf and thyme leaf - 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Mix well
Add 1/4 cup to a warm bath