One day, way back when… Hippocrates (the Father of Medicine) had heard that fishermen would soak their rough, injured hands in seawater to cleanse and heal them after a hard day’s work. Much to his surprise, he noticed they had very few infections or complications after the saltwater soaks, regardless of the nature of the wound. Soon after, he began encouraging patients to bathe in warmed seawater and called the therapeutic treatment “Thalassotherapy”.
Today, these baths are most commonly known as Himalayan Salt, Sole or Brine Baths and are often done in conjunction with certain phases of the moon. This is known as Moon or Moon Rhythm Bathing.
How It Works
In a regular bath, moisture is actually extracted from the skin. In a Himalayan Salt Bath, minerals are absorbed while toxins are released into the bath water via osmosis. The inside and the outside of your body detoxified through this process, while bio-energetic weak points are restored and energy flow is activated.
When To Do Them
- Full Moon = Healing. During a Full Moon, healing potential is at its peak, meaning the mineral absorption is optimized.
- New Moon = Cleansing. During a New Moon, cleansing is at it’s peak, meaning the body’s ability to internally and externally detoxify itself is at it’s highest potential.
- Anytime. Salt Baths are healing and detoxifying anytime, but are said to be more powerful during New and Full Lunar Cycles.
Benefits
- The detox effect of a sole (brine) bath is equivalent to that of a 3 day fast!
- Contains over 84 minerals and elements and is known as the purest salt on earth.
- Reduces acidity and inflammation in your body and balances the pH of your skin.
- Produces spiritual and mental balance, lightens depression and negativity, regulates sleep, relieves stress and restores all around harmony.
- Helps reduce inflammation of sprains, strains of muscles and joints, relieves pain and soreness from broken bones, arthritis and rheumatism, osteoarthritis, tendinitis.
- Stimulates circulation, promotes cellular regeneration and moisture retention in dry, irritated skin. Helps heal various skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis, allergic and recurrent infections, insect bites, blisters and provides relief from poison ivy, oak or sumac.
What You Need
- Bathtub
- Himalayan Pink Salt (to make a 1 % Solution = about 1 ½ lbs. per bath, any grain size) http://www.saltworks.us/himalayan-salt.asp
- Moon Phase Calendar
- Candle
- Glass of Water (to drink)
Tips
- Dry Brushing before hand loosens dead skin cells, increases circulation and opens pores to intensify detoxification
- The correct concentration of salt is critical to maintain 1% solution (about 2.6 lbs. per 27-32 gallons of water in a full, average-sized bathtub). I buy 5 lb. bulk bags and estimate about 1/2 the bag
- You can use any salt grain size. If you purchase fine grain, it dissolves faster and you can also use it for cooking if needed
- Light a candle – combining energies like fire, water, earth and air can be spiritually cleansing
- Drinking a glass of water is helpful in releasing toxins during the bath
Instructions
- Shower first, to avoid using bath additives like soap, shampoo, conditioner or shaving cream in your Salt Bath
- Fill tub with about 3 inches of hot water
- Add Himalayan Pink Salt and stir until dissolved
- Finish filling tub with very warm, but not hot water (about 98.6° Fahrenheit)
- Submerge as much of your body as possible and soak for at least 20-30 minutes.
- Sip your glass of water until finished!
- Don’t rinse off!
- Allow skin to air-dry or gently pat dry
- Skip the moisturizer – let your skin breathe
- Rinse tub
- 11. Rest for 30 minutes
- * Consult a physician if you have heart or circulatory problems. Himalayan Salt Baths can be a little taxing on your circulatory system and may cause slight dizziness afterwards.
Interesting Facts
- Sole bath water will remain at a constant temperature if a true, 1% solution is used. The biophysical composition of the salt solution is so strong, that it actually causes the molecules to move in a constant rhythm. When this happens, organ functions begin to resonate with the rhythm – activating the body’s self-healing powers.
- The temperature and ionic makeup of the brine bath is comparable to that of the amniotic fluid in the prenatal state… providing warmth, comfort and safety. This is often the same reason why we’re so drawn to the ocean – the negative ions are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase serotonin, alleviate depression, relieve stress and boost energy.
- Salt is a disinfectant; several people can actually share the same Sole baths, which is common in thalassotherapy spas around the world.
45 Comments
Melissa Kirk
June 16, 2011 at 5:22 amI’m totally doing this. Thanks, Mom! And Hippocrates.
mary shouvlin
June 16, 2011 at 5:49 amThis is wonderful, I am definitely going to try this. Thanks for the detailed tip! xo
Holistically Haute
June 16, 2011 at 1:18 pmI love Himalayan Pink Salt…and I love salt baths. Great post…very informative!
The Green Girl
June 16, 2011 at 2:49 pmThank you so much for this! I am going to try it… I too love Himalayan Pink salt. I never had even heard of it until my mom bought me a Salt Lamp for Christmas one year, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Jen
June 16, 2011 at 3:25 pmThis sounds great! Except I don’t have a bath to try it in :( Any recommendations for ways to get the benefits without a bath?
The Glamorganic Goddess
June 16, 2011 at 3:46 pmHaha Melissa!
Thanks HH & Green Girl!
Jen, I believe you can just soak your feet (maybe like a big bowl or one of those pedicure / foot bath thingys)???
xo
The GG :)
mina
June 16, 2011 at 4:04 pmOh GG you are soooo good. And your momma, too.
I just discovered Himalayan pink salt a few months ago and have felt there is definitely more to it than meets the eye. I can taste it…and almost feel it. Thank you for providing the science to back up my pseudo scientific assumptions!
I’m always so impressed with your thoroughness and with the great information you provide.
I’m also a blogger (http://www.lifetheuniverseand-hhope.blogspot.com/) interested in safe body care ingredients. I only hope to be half as useful to others as you have been to me.
The Glamorganic Goddess
June 16, 2011 at 4:24 pmAwwww… Thanks Mina! Do youhave a FB Page? If so, can you email me with it?
xo
The GG :)
mary
June 16, 2011 at 11:07 pmThis sounds so neat! The only thing I was wondering was if there was an explanation for why the moon phase thing works
Briar
June 17, 2011 at 1:15 amI love this! Thanks so much for sharing this technique, I’ll be trying it on the next full moon!
Anne
June 29, 2011 at 2:31 pmI’m confused- you said 2.5 pounds is for a full tub of water. But then you said you only fill your tub with 3 inches of water, and still add 2.5 pounds of salt?
Suzanne
May 2, 2015 at 8:40 pmFinish reading the directions. Step 4 says to continue filling the tub with warm water.
The Glamorganic Goddess
June 29, 2011 at 9:32 pmMary- not sure… something to do with how the gravitational flow of the moon motivates not only the earth’s oceans and rivers, but also our own bodily fluids. When the moon changes its phases, apparently there is a 24 hour period for the magnetic field of the Earth to change which influences your body to let go of excess fluids. For this reason, health practitioners, health retreats and nutritionists sometimes may recommend this specific period of the month to conduct a detoxification.
@ Anne- the first 3 inches are of HOT water just to dissolve the salt. The rest of the tub is filled with WARM water(similar to your body temp.).
xo
The GG :)
Stefani
June 30, 2011 at 4:01 amHow often do you do it? I’m going to give it a try too! Thanks you ROCK!!!
The Glamorganic Goddess
June 30, 2011 at 4:04 amHey Stefani!
Whenever I remember, Lol. I usually tend to do them way more in the summer for some reason- but I’m getting better at following the moon chart. You can do them as often as you want as far as I know.
xo
The GG :)
LimitlessLiving
July 16, 2011 at 9:27 pmSo are we doing this on the full moon or the new moon??
I have had salt lamps inmy house for years and always get comments on how serene my place feels. I also have one beside my computer while I work.
Thanks for the detailed description of how to do the bath. I <3 baths so can't wait to give it a try!
The Glamorganic Goddess
July 26, 2011 at 5:45 pmYou can do it on either moon. It depends on what you want to do… during a Full Moon, healing potential is at it’s peak, meaning the mineral absorption is optimized (Full Moon = Healing). During a New Moon, cleansing is at it’s peak, meaning the body’s ability to internally and externally detoxify itself is at it’s highest potential (New Moon = Cleansing).
xo
The GG :)
Kathy
August 3, 2014 at 1:34 amWas curious where you purchase the largest amount of PHS ? Should it be organic?
Danielle
August 3, 2014 at 3:02 pmHey Kathy! I don’t think salt can be organic, as it’s a mineral, but I buy mine in bulk from Salt Works or on Amazon. XO <3
Vanessa
March 26, 2017 at 11:15 pmI get a 5lb bag at TJ Maxx for about 9 bucks. Such a good price!!
Danielle
March 27, 2017 at 12:06 amNice, Vanessa! 😉 I recently got mine from Costco… think it was like, 6 LB for $7.99, maybe?! Lol! 🛀🏻 Hey, whatever works girl. 💗
XtineBeanie
August 30, 2011 at 3:17 pmThank you so much for this amazing info! I’m definitely going to try this. Do you recommend just doing it once every moon cycle?
I love your blog, by the way! I recently started a blog as well, about cleaner living. Please feel free to check it out, it’s just a baby still :) http://xtinebeanie-cleanlivingidirtyworld.blogspot.com/
The Glamorganic Goddess
August 30, 2011 at 3:35 pmHey XtineBeanie!
Love your blog… I want to make your sister’s stew! YUM!
You can take the salt baths as often as you want… I do it whenever I remember!
xo
The GG :)
Tricialy
September 2, 2011 at 11:43 pmI can’t wait to try this – bought the salt in June and keep missing the new moon.
The Glamorganic Goddess
September 12, 2011 at 8:20 pmHey Tricialy!
You can do it at any time… it’s just that those times in the moon cycle seem to be the most effective.
xo
The GG :)
Jade
June 23, 2014 at 8:31 pmWow! This is so cool and interesting. I’m so glad I just got to learn about this :) I suppose this solution works pretty differently than Epsom salts? We have tons of Himalayan salt at the house.. And I believe this Friday is a New Moon <3 I look forward to trying this beautiful self-care treatment.
Shellies
February 19, 2016 at 2:43 pmI love Himalayan salt too!
ReNee
May 25, 2016 at 2:16 amSo if you are timing it with the moon, does it need to be the day after the night that had the new it full moon? Or in the evening when the moon is out instead of day time?
Danielle
May 31, 2016 at 11:49 amHey ReNee! Honestly, I’m not sure if it really matters… I just try to do them either the night before, or the next day. <3
Moon Rocks
August 30, 2018 at 2:34 pmHimalayan Pink Salt is one off my favorite thanks for shearing technique
Unique Mineral
February 13, 2019 at 7:04 amI love Himalayan Pink Salt…and I have Himalayan Salt Products. Great post…very informative!
StandardSalt
February 14, 2020 at 2:05 pmHimalayan Pink Salt is one of the best mineral to use for detox bathing. Thanks for sharing detailed information about Himalayan pink salt moon bathing.
Diane
April 25, 2020 at 11:54 amI use Himalayan Pink salt a lot in cooking, though would have never thought of using in a detox bath. Trying that tonight!
Danielle
April 25, 2020 at 7:08 pmLet us know how you like it! Enjoy! 💕
Katie
June 29, 2020 at 4:45 amThis sounds so neat! The only thing I was wondering was if there was an explanation for why the moon phase thing works
Danielle
June 29, 2020 at 11:27 amI know there’s a reason… I really can’t remember what it is though. Lol. I know with certain diseases like Lyme, Parasites, etc. they can also be severely effected by moon cycles as well (where symptoms worsen around full moons, etc.). It’s all so interesting how nature works. 💗
Lisa Win
October 28, 2020 at 8:05 amAmazing stuff Danielle. There is no doubt that people use Himalayan pink salt for preserving food in start but with the passage of time when they come to know and researches prove its benefits, it become like white gold. Thanks.
Himalayan Salt
February 23, 2021 at 6:33 amDanielle You nailed it!!!! Himalayan Salt Will salute you :)
Danielle
February 24, 2021 at 12:22 amThanks! ♥️
pink salt
April 28, 2021 at 4:03 amDanielle thanks for sharing your idea with us. Himalayan pink salt is full of minerals and we can use in different ways.
786enterprises
May 5, 2021 at 5:56 amDanielle thanks for sharing techniques with us. pink Himalayan salt is full of minerals and its natural product. we can use for a different purpose not only for cooking.
Harlie D
June 9, 2021 at 2:23 amThanx for this! Only thing is, I have salt ROCKS, not actual salt. So how do I work with that? Any suggestions? The instructions say to add a capful, which sounds weird when it’s for pink salt rocks. I had a horrible day, so I decided to soak in the tub & use my rocks I got for Christmas for the first time. But I can only find advice for grain salt. I love my rocks, but any suggestions?
Danielle
June 12, 2021 at 12:03 pmHey Harlie! Hmmm… it’s honestly been a while since I’ve used the larger Salt Rocks. If I remember correctly, I think you can just place a few in a thin washcloth, or a mesh bag (tie them with a hair elastic) and set them in the tub during your bath. Depending on the size, they might not totally dissolve. If they don’t, just spread them out on plate to dry out when you’re done, and save them for next time. Let me know ow it goes! 😉🛁
Himalayan PinkSalt
September 25, 2021 at 7:03 amAccording to Natural Living Ideas, you need about 1.28 ounces of himalayan salt per gallon of water in your bath. This creates a reverse osmosis process that will detoxify your body, remove bloating and impurities from your system.
Angela Bordio
February 27, 2023 at 1:22 pmI absolutely love the self-care rituals, since it makes me feel way better about myself. It boosts my mood and makes me less stressed than I usually am. Thank you for useful info!