The Art Of Bathing

Ranked #8,614 in Home & Garden, #133,779 overall | Donates to Wild Animal Sanctuary

Relax, Unwind, and De-Stress

After a stressful day nothing beats a long, languishing, soak in a warm tub. For thousands of years mankind has sought solace in the water, adding fragrant herbs, oils and salts to lift the spirits, improve the health, cleanse the skin, treat illnesses and to simply relax and take a deep breath. Today there is a bedazzling array of bombs, bubbles, salts, oils, fizzies, fragrances, sachets, teas, pearls and more to choose from for your own ultimate bath experience.

The History Of Bathing

Since the beginning of time, the art of bathing in water has been essential to one's good health and peace of mind. As early as the third century, bathing emporiums quickly became the fashion. The Greeks and Romans were the leaders in erecting many elaborate, expensive bathhouses in which they could conduct business, gossip with friends, eat, drink, or arrange social contacts.

Although both the Greeks and Romans began to enjoy bathing at around the same time, they did practice it in different ways. The Romans bathed to keep themselves healthy while the Greeks believed only women should immerse their whole body in water. The Greeks viewed bathing as something one simply did to cleanse one's self.

Not only Europeans, but also many other cultures had a passion for the many pleasures bathhouses offered them. The Turks developed very hot baths, which to this day are still known as Turkish Baths, or steam baths.

Bathhouses became so popular in Rome that not long after the third century the government learned to transport water by means of aqueducts. The initial reward was all of Rome was supplied with abundant water for their needs. We truly owe our modern sanitation to the Romans and their passion for bathing!

Once people learned that the large public baths encouraged the spread of major epidemics, they fell out of fashion.

Photobucket
The Roman Baths in the appropriately named town of Bath, England

Bathe Like A Queen

High-born women from all eras have recognized the beneficial properties of bathing in milk. For an indulgent soak add 2 cups of milk to a warm bath and soak for 30 minutes or longer. The lactic acid contained in animal's milk softens and smoothes the skin.

Fizzy Things

Bath "bombs" - also called fizzes, are made from a combination of citric acid and baking soda. When these 2 substances are immersed, they dissolve and release hydrogen dioxide into the water, which bubbles up to the surface. Bombs are usually enhanced with fragrance, oils or butters, salts, herbs, or decorative elements and surprises. Children especially are delighted by the bubbling orbs, especially if there is a surprise waiting to be discovered inside!

Different bombs serve different purposes, although generally just used to condition and scent the water, other ingredients can provide additional properties for the skin and body.

Loading

Stress And Health

Dr. Edward Bach was one of the first modern physicians to recognize the intimate relationship between physical health and emotional health. A good soak in a warm bath has proven benefits of lifting the spirits, reducing mental stress, and easing physical pain.

The beneficial effects of the simple act of submersing in water to cleanse the body can be enhanced by the addition of water additives (oils, soaps, salts), music or lighting. A bath can be personalized to cater to the bather's preferences, whims, and desires.

The Lure of The Ocean

Salts

Salt, when added to bathwater, soothes and detoxifies the skin. Salts are available in every scent imaginable, from inexpensively fragranced sea salt, to exotic, organic blends of beneficial herbs and different types of salts. The benefits of salts are enhanced by trace minerals present. These minerals vary according to the source of the salt.
Loading

Your Personal Soak

Buy a bag of sea salt, place in a jar with a few drops of your favorite aromatherapy or perfume oil, cover with the lid and let it sit for a couple of weeks. You have your very own personally blended bath salts.

Soothe The Aches

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bathing in natural pools rich in minerals and sulphur became a popular 'cure' for just about every ailment imaginable. These eventually led to our concept of "spas" today. Health spas were especially important to Tuberculosis patients and later during the last Polio outbreak in the United States when bathing in warm water was recognized for its muscle soothing abilities.

Around The World and Throughout History

Japan is another culture known for its bathing customs and obsession about cleanliness. Spiritual pursuits of purity, hygiene and ritual purification were an important part of their culture since the dawn of recorded history.

The Muslims also erected bathhouses where one could meditate, pray to the Creator, or think. It was the custom to cleanse at a public bath before going to the mosque to worship and many mosques were therefore conveniently built on the same streets as the bathhouses.

Around this period of time, the Christians started to embrace their dirt because cleanliness was considered to be too sensuous and sexual. Dirt became a symbol of spiritual purity and indicated that the focus was outside one's self, rather than on personal hygiene.

It was also believed that dirt was a protection from germs due to the numerous plagues that had previously killed a large population of England and Europe. Powders, perfumes, wigs, cosmetics, and layers of clothes hid the grime and body scent. If overwhelmed by a particularly potent smell, a bit of snuff to clear one's nostrils was all that was needed.

Photobucket



Today, most societies have adopted the same general attitudes towards bathing, using it to clean, to socialize, and to heal. Spas, saunas, Jacuzzis, birthing pools, hot springs baths, are enjoyed around the world.

Squeeky Clean

Toss the Ivory or Dial and buy yourself some high quality soap. Handmade or premium soaps are worth every dime. They're gentler on your skin, better for the environment, and are just lovely.

Premium Soaps

Loading

Don't Forget To Get Smooth!

Loading

Bubbles, Bubbles, and MORE Bubbles....

Shower Gels and Body Washes can do double duty as bubble bath! They're basically the same thing anyway, just a crafty marketing ploy.

Bath Treats From Japan

Loading

Oils, Beads, and Melts

Oils have the longest recorded use of any bath additive. They soften and scent the skin and were once held to have healing and religious significance. BE CAREFUL using any oils (or product containing oils) in your tub. They can make the bath slippery!

Enhance Your Bath

Loading

For The Littlest Bathers

Loading

Quack!!!!

Don't forget the duckie!!

Loading

Share Your Favorite Bath Tips.

submit
  • Reply
    Sheryl Sep 28, 2009 @ 6:26 pm | delete
    I am such a marathon bath taker, love it. Have my own TV in there, large pitcher of ice water, snack, and in winter water very hot and window open. My only problem is when I get in my whirlpool bath, that has a heater up to 104 degrees so water never gets cold, is that I never want to get out. My personal best time is six hours !!!!! Loved it.
  • Reply
    pmolinero Nov 5, 2008 @ 5:24 pm | delete
    Bathing and shaving go very well together and both can be seen as an art. Fav'd, lensrolled and 5*
  • Reply
    ElizabethJeanAllen Nov 1, 2008 @ 7:38 pm | delete
    there's nothing like a hot bath, glass of wine, and a good book. What better way to unwind?
    Great lens
    Lizzy
  • Reply
    Oct 27, 2008 @ 9:01 pm | delete
    This is very unique. Very creative topic.=) I love bathing and i would love to bathe the whole day but I wouldn't want to turn into a prune.
  • Reply
    Lisa_Jo Oct 22, 2008 @ 12:37 pm | delete
    So many bath products to choose from! I don't know which to try first. This is a wonderful lens. I love the rubber ducky down below. :) 5 stars and a Digg!
  • Load More

Don't Forget the Shampoo!

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

by

The_Homeopath

Mother of four awesome kiddos, Classical Homeopath and Holistic Health Consultant, divine prairie chick, birdwatching enthusiast, and Etsy addict. Usually... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!