Whether it’s from over-exercising, helping a friend move or shoveling snow, we’ve all woken up stiff and sore. Bath bombs are a wonderful way to relax sore muscles and leave you feeling better. When you make bath bombs at home, you can tailor the recipe to provide exactly the benefit you want.
A bath bomb (AKA bath fizzy) is a fizzing tablet or ball used in the bath. The active ingredients, citric acid and baking soda create a reaction in the water that releases carbon dioxide and produces bubbles like those in sparkling water.
So how do they relieve sore muscles? There are three ingredients you can use when you make bath bombs that will make them especially effective.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the key ingredients that make bath bombs fizzy. Muscle soreness is caused by a build-up of lactic acid, so the key to relieving sore muscles is getting the lactic acid out. Baking soda in the bath is known to detoxify the system, and it is very effective in helping to leach lactic acid from your body.
As an added bonus, baking soda is great for the skin and leaves it feeling silky and smooth.
Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is essential to relieving sore muscles. Epsom salt is a source of magnesium and sulfate, both of which are more readily absorbed through the skin than orally, making epsom salt baths very beneficial. The sulfate draws toxins from the muscles along with lactic acid. The magnesium reduces swelling and relieves pain. Adding epsom salt when you make bath bombs doubles the muscle relaxing benefits of them.
Aromatherapy
Essential oils should always be used when you make bath bombs. If you don’t use them, you’re missing out on the opportunity to make use of them to relax, de-stress, calm anxiety or, in this case, help to relieve sore muscles. There are several essential oils that are effective in relieving sore muscles.
These include:
- Lavender
- Cedarwood
- Chamomile
- Ylang-ylang
- Black pepper
- Juniper berry
- Ginger
This is my favorite recipe for making bath bombs to relieve sore muscles. It contains the baking soda, epsom salt and essential oils that you would expect, and packs the added bonus of powdered ginger. The powdered ginger isn’t some exotic ingredient – it’s just the stuff you find in the spice section of your supermarket. In fact, you probably have some in your cupboard.
Muscle Relaxing Bath Bomb Recipe
Ingredients
1 c. baking soda
½ c. citric acid
½ c. tapioca starch
1/3 c. epsom salts
2 tbsp. powdered or ground ginger
2 tbsp. shea butter, melted
12 drops lavender essential oil
8 drops ginger essential oil
8 drops ylang-ylang essential oil
5 drops black pepper essential oil
Spray bottle of witch hazel
Directions
Sift dry ingredients together in a large glass bowl. Combine shea butter and essential oils, drizzle over dry mixture and mix with hands. Spritz with witch hazel as needed to hold mixture together. Pack into molds, pressing firmly.
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