[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Do you love a good soak in the tub? Here’s your excuse to indulge more often: Soaking in a hot bath benefits health in a number of ways.
We all know that
‘ahhh’ feeling we get when we slip into a hot bath. Our muscles immediately relax, and our nervous system soon follows suit. Those feel-good effects of a nice hot bath aren’t in your head; scientific research has demonstrated that soaking in hot water has some demonstrable benefits to your health.
Though we often just see them as a less efficient way to get clean than showering, hot baths’ benefits come from the combination of two therapeutic elements, heat and water.
Hydrotherapy — submerging in water for a period of time — confers a range of benefits, as does
thermal (heat) therapy. Put the two together in one bathtub and you have a recipe for some serious benefits for your health.
Learn about the many benefits of hot baths and you’ll want to make time for a soak in the tub more frequently.
4 Benefits of Hot Baths
Wash away aches and pains
Got an achy back or tense shoulders? Overdid it at the gym? A hot bath may provide some relief.
You’ve probably experienced the instant relaxation soaking in a tub can bring to tight or sore muscles.
Studies exploring the effects of thermal therapy on muscle recovery have found that heat helps promote blood flow and healing of damaged muscle tissue, while
research suggests that immersion in water is a powerful tool for alleviating pain.
Whether you’ve been training hard or just have upper-body tension from
too much time at your desk, soaking in a hot bath may help your sore muscles recover and relax.
Lower blood pressure and support circulatory health
Not only relaxing for our muscles, baths can relax our
entire circulatory system, lowering blood pressure and reducing disease risk related to circulatory function.
One longitudinal study of over 30,000 Japanese adults found that those who took daily baths had a 28% less risk of heart disease and a 26% lower incidence of stroke.
Research suggests that thermal therapy may have some of the same health benefits as exercise,
according to a paper published in the
Journal of Applied Physiology. While no one proposes taking baths in place of your run or gym workout, hot baths may be viewed as an additional way to achieve some of the health benefits we seek through regular exercise.
Relieve stress and improve mood
Have you felt your stress melt away when you sink into a hot bath?
A 2018 study had participants assess their feelings of stress and mental health after two weeks of regular baths and after two weeks of regular showers. Participants reported lower levels of stress, pain and fatigue and better feelings of mental and physical health during the part of the study that included baths.
In addition to immediate beneficial effects on your mood, research suggests that hot baths may also help to alleviate depression.
One small study found that two hot baths per week helped lessen depressive symptoms in study participants as compared to a control group after four weeks.
Some of the benefits of hot baths may stem from our taking the time for
self care, but some likely also derives directly from the action of the water on our bodies. By lessening pain and lowering blood pressure, hot baths can make us feel less stressed and put us in a happier frame of mind.
Encourage sounder sleep
Relaxing our muscles and lowering our stress levels, a hot bath before bed can help promote
better sleep. Additionally, the drop in body temperature that happens when we get out of a hot bath
signals our brain that it’s time to wind down for the night. Combine these effects, and it’s no wonder that
studies have shown that a hot bath in the hours before bed can encourage better quality sleep.
Dim the bathroom lights, add some
lavender to your
diffuser, put on some
relaxing music, and your pre-bedtime bath may set you up for a more restful night.
So many great reasons to soak in the benefits of hot baths more often!
How to increase the benefits of hot baths
On its own, soaking in hot water offers many health benefits, but you can amplify the benefits of hot baths with additional ingredients. Try incorporating some of these elements into your bathtime ritual for even greater benefits from your bath.
Mellowing magnesium: Epsom salts in baths have long been a go-to for soothing the inflammation that causes muscles to feel sore. An estimated 75% of Americans
don’t get enough magnesium in their diets, and we can absorb the
magnesium in bath salts through our skin. In addition to aiding muscle recovery,
getting magnesium in your bath could help ensure that you get plenty of this critical nutrient.
†
Relaxing aromatherapy: Combine the healing effects of hot water therapy with
aromatherapy and you have a recipe for deep relaxation. Try adding
lavender oil or
frankincense to your bath for an extra-soothing soak in the tub.
Helpful herbs: To get more out of your bath, add herbs. Like the wellness benefits of herbal tea,
herbal tea baths can soothe your nerves, promote better sleep and even moisturize your skin.
FAQs
What temperature should water be to get the benefits of hot baths?
Most experts suggest aiming for roughly 100 to 105°F. People who are pregnant or who have heart conditions should speak to their doctor before soaking in a hot bath.
How long should you soak in a hot bath?
The studies looking at the benefits of hot baths used 20 minutes as a therapeutic amount of time, 3 to 4 times per week.
†These statements have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
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