Run-down? Chilled to the bone? Exhausted? One easy and accessible remedy is a bath. With health treatments becoming prohibitively expensive, wellness journalist Suzanne Duckett penned Bathe: The Art of Finding Rest, Relaxation and Rejuvenation in a Busy World. This cites studies that prove bathing can lower blood pressure and blood sugar, improve sleep, boost circulation and heart health, balance hormone levels, reduce inflammation and ward off infections.

One of the most interesting observations from Yale University showed “many of us take warm baths to consciously eliminate feelings of being alone. The greater the feelings of loneliness, the longer we stay in the bath and the hotter the temperature. Scientists concluded the association between warmth and comfort is hardwired in our brains in infancy, explaining why we seek solace in hot drinks and soup.”

BATHED IN SUCCESS

It’s not just the internal processes triggered by bathing that are beneficial, either; natural bath additives are skin conditioning. Suzanne prefers essential oils as they are such “miraculous mood alterers.” We also think Cleopatra had the right idea with milk – we just prefer the vegan kind.

The Nourishing Coconut Milk Bath from Āman is pretty steep, but it’s the closest most of us can get to the ultra-luxe Amanpulo or Amankila spa experience. It contains Himalayan salt, copper, vitamins and minerals and has a heavenly jasmine scent. Pink Himalayan salt (which originates in Pakistan) is highly prized, yet local alternatives have a smaller footprint and are considered just as effective.

Philip Tanswell from the Cornish Sea Salt Company says, “salt has been shown to have anti-viral, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory benefits. As the skin is a semi-permeable membrane, the benefit is not only on the skin, it’s in the skin.” The Lizard Peninsula, where they harvest the salt and seaweed that go into Living Sea Therapy bath salts, enjoys high levels of unique minerals.