Bathing and its mental health benefits

Bathing and its mental health benefits

The older you get the more stressed you get. Whether it is from work, school, or the environment we live in. Every one of us gets stressed and from time to time, our mind needs a break from all of this. Some of will choose to go out for a vacation day to maybe remove the stress from our body. Others choose a spa day to detox your body from toxins. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to take a whole day of break from everything. So why not just take a bath to help release the mental stress or negativity you have been absorbing all day? If you think that taking a bath will not help your mental health, well think again. There have been a few researches confirming that bathing can actually help you mentally. To lessen your stress, we listed the mental health benefits of bathing below.

Bathing may help increase endorphins. Depression affects at least 10 percent of American adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many drugs treat depression, depending on the severity or duration of symptoms. One holistic method of treatment that’s gaining popularity is hydrotherapy. Taking a cold bath for up to 5 minutes, 2 to 3 times per week, was shown to help relieve symptoms of depression in a clinical trial. For people with depression, cold water bath can work as a kind of gentle electroshock therapy (electroshock therapy is a psychiatric treatment where a generalized seizure is electrically induced to manage refractory mental disorders). The cold water sends many electrical impulses to your brain. They jolt your system to increase alertness, clarity, and energy levels. Endorphins, which are sometimes called happiness hormones, are also released. This effect leads to feelings of well-being and optimism.

Adding Epsom salt to your bath can also help your mental health. Epsom salt or Magnesium Sulfate is popularly known as an ingredient added to your bath bomb or bath water to help reduce your body pain. In addition to these benefits, research has found that Epsom salt baths may be helpful for some individuals as a natural treatment for anxiety, although more comprehensive studies are still needed. Magnesium deficiency may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety. Magnesium is also believed to affect the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that helps regulate the pituitary and adrenal glands. These glands play a role in regulating your response to stress. One of the reasons why magnesium deficiency is associated with anxiety is that the mineral may improve brain function. Research shows that magnesium plays an important role in regulating neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that send messages throughout the brain and body. There is an inverse correlation in adults between magnesium intake and psychiatric states, such as anxiety and depression. Magnesium sulfate has been used to treat depression as far back as 1921. Research suggests that magnesium supplementation may help prevent depression and may be useful as adjuvant therapy. However, research has found no effect of magnesium supplementation on postpartum anxiety. Magnesium is necessary for the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. Studies have found supplementation with magnesium may be useful for treating insomnia and other sleep disorders. Magnesium is needed as a coenzyme to convert tryptophan to serotonin, a neurotransmitter recognized as a major determinant of mental health and mood. There is a relationship between anxiety and depression, as many people with depression also suffer from anxiety. But of course, do not intake Epsom salt since it has other ingredients that are not for ingesting.

Adding Essential oils to your bath water may also help with dealing insomnia. For a good night’s sleep try ylang ylang, and to invigorate, try a citrus oil such as petitgrain or bergamot. Why not take it a step further and add fresh rose petals to your bathwater? This creates a soothing rosewater scent that is suitable for even sensitive skins. It is important to always use a carrier oil to dilute your chosen essential oil, otherwise they may cause skin irritation. A good rule of thumb when making a 2% dilution is to add 12 drops per 30ml of oil.
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