.jpg)
Holistic Living
SALT:
An Ancient Healing Ritual with Modern Appeal
by Alegra Marcel Bartzat
Salt has been used by humans for millennia, from flavoring and curing foods, to disinfecting wounds, cleaning and relaxing. Our relationship to salt is one of necessity and great social significance. Salt is used in religious and cultural practices nearly as much as it used in cooking and medicine.
Salt is a grounding mineral, typically made of sodium, potassium, magnesium, or calcium bound to other minerals in similar chemical arrangements. It is either evaporated from seawater or mined from mineral deposits in the Earth. Sea salt is a better source for ritual use, as it contains a closer chemical relationship to its source.
Table salt—otherwise known as sodium chloride, a combination of sodium and chlorine—is most common, but it lacks other essential minerals and is typically a highly refined product. As a beauty product and a spiritual remedy, table salt lacks many of the qualities we seek.
Sea salt, on the other hand, has many minerals that vary depending on the sea it comes form. Like hot springs, various chemical combinations have different healing properties. All of the added minerals generally help to relieve muscle and joint pain, as well as help improve the quality of the skin.
Epsom salt is mag-nesium sulfate and contains no sodium at all. If it is consumed, it is primarily used medicinally as a lax-ative. Epsom salt is more widely used in a bath because sulfates found in it can penetrate the skin to help relieve aching muscles and remove toxins.
With so many salts available, it is a wonder that more people do not use salt in healing or beauty rituals. Alone, a salty bath can be a meditative and physically healing endeavor. With friends, mixing our own personalized bath salts can be a joyful community process in which we address our physical and emotional needs. We can create bath salts as a meaningful ritual to share with each other our own unique reasons for mixing in certain herbs or essential oils. We can also write a mantra to read when we take the bath, bringing the ritual to full circle.
Bath salts are very easy to make with either Epsom salt or sea salts. As part of a healing ritual, every choice adds meaning to the bath salt mixture. If you are dreaming of a fellowship to France, add French sea salt. If you need a mental escape, look for sea salt from Bali to represent a mental vacation. Once you have your salts selected, you then move on to the herbs and scents.
Extracted from various plants, essential oils are one of the best ways to add healing and meaning to your bath salts. They are easy to use and do not make a mess in your bathtub later. Be sure to use only the highest quality, pure oils. Since many oils are created synthetically in a lab, they’re chemically different than the real stuff and can be harmful or irritating to the skin.
You always want to add a little “carrier” oil to your bath salts. A mild oil such as olive helps disperse the essential oils, thereby preventing any irritation on your skin from essential oils that may be too concentrated.
A few of my favorite essential oils are lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint. These mix very well together and offer an amazing suite of healing properties. Lavender is calming and soothing, bringing deep relaxation. Eucalyptus and peppermint are revitalizing and detoxifying, as well as good for clearing your lungs and sinuses. These three mixed together offer a great escape from the everyday hustle and bustle, and can be used as part of a de-stress ritual. I also find them good for regaining focus on specific goals.
Herbs can also be fun, and they can add color to your bath salt ritual. I recommend a mortar and pestle, because ground herbs will go down the drain without a problem, while whole leaf herbs can sometimes cause drainage issues. Green tea is a fantastic addition. Tea is part of a daily ritual for many people, so adding it to a special bath ceremony can add meaning—not to mention that it’s great for your skin and has antioxidant properties.
Whether you gather with friends or do it alone, set aside a block of time to think about why you are drawn to mixing your own bath salts and what you hope to gain from it. Taking a bath can be great for your muscles, your skin, and your mind. The hot water depresses your heart rate, calming your mind and relieving stress. Soothing salts penetrate your skin and body, removing toxins and further relaxing your body. When you mix the salts yourself, you add a richer layer of meaning and intention to the process, turning a simple act of relaxing into a meaningful form of prayer.
Alegra Marcel Bartzat lives in San Diego. She is a salt party hostess, providing you and your guests with all the materials and expertise you need to make your own customized bath salts. Learn more at doubledaisy.com.