A homemade foot soak is the perfect cure for tired and aching feet at the end of a long day. When you come in from a day at work or shopping very often your feet will be swollen, sore and tired. This is especially the case if you wear shoes with high heels, or do not get the chance to sit down much during your day.

A homemade foot soak can be as simple as a washing up bowl of warm water. You simply place your feet in the bowl and sit and relax for twenty minutes. The warm water relaxes your feet and they feel much better. By adding other things to the water for your homemade foot soak you can get increased benefits. The most commonly added remedy for tired and sore feet is peppermint essential oil, which as well as smelling delicious eases the sore muscles in your feet. After soaking your feet rinse them and dry them gently. This is a good time to rub moisturizer into your feet, or get some one else to do it for a relaxing foot massage. A foot spa is a good investment if you enjoy the process of homemade foot soaks; you can still add anything you like to the water and they massage your feet as you soak them.

Various other essential oils are commonly used in homemade foot soaks. Lavender or chamomile oils are traditionally good for relaxation, and lavender has good antibacterial and antifungal properties if you have a fungal infection. Tea tree oil has similar antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is perfectly acceptable to add a few drops of several oils, each with their own benefits to the homemade foot soak. For skin that is irritated half a cup of healing honey can be added to the water. It disperses easily in the warm water. For dry skin a cup of oats can be very beneficial in the water.

A homemade foot soak can have other benefits as well. Soaking your feet is a traditional way to remove toxins from the body. A special mixture of salts, herbs and essential oils is added to the water, this is known as a magnum bath. After you have soaked your feet for twenty to thirty minutes you will find that the water has become cloudy with the toxins that have been withdrawn from the body. There is sometimes even a slight smell of vinegar from the acid toxins that have been removed. The removal of toxins by a homemade foot soak improves the circulation and energy flow within the body leading to better general health. The magnum foot spa recipe should be used every night for a week, and then no more than twice a week.

The soles of the feet contain many pores and that is why a homemade foot soak is so effective. The removal of toxins may also provide some relief for sufferers from arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.

The principal of toxin removal is also used in crystal healing and commercial foot patches are available with healing crystals embedded within them that will draw toxins from the body. The patches are left on overnight and users report dramatic results shown by the colour change of the patches. Herbal patches are available that give similar results. A homemade foot soak costs less and will give good results.

By: S Kennedy

About the Author:
Sue Kennedy shows you how easy it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle with natural herbal remedies. Her site at http://www.vitalitybliss.com aims to provide accurate advice and information on a range of alternative therapies for the mind, body and spirit.

Homemade bath salt is the perfect gift for many different occasions. It’s easy and inexpensive to make, plus it’s always appreciated by the recipient. There’s just something about homemade gifts that speaks more to the recipient than any store-bought item could.

But if you need more convincing to start your own homemade bath salt, there’s plenty more to this argument.

When it comes to gift-giving, homemade bath salt is extremely versatile. Possible reasons for giving homemade bath salt include: baby showers, bridal showers, birthdays, Christmas, Hanukah, other religious holidays, anniversaries, moving gifts, romantic gifts, friend gifts, celebrations, graduations, Mother’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, etc.

With so many difference gift giving possibilities, you may find yourself making large containers of homemade bath salt and keeping it on hand for any last-minute gifts.

Homemade bath salt is also a great way to personalize a gift. Because you’re choosing the various ingredients as well as the presentation, you can create a gift that shows how much you care without it being a lot of work.

For example, a baby shower gift of homemade bath salt might be for mom, but that’s no reason not to put the salt into a jar and then tie a rattle or pacifier to the outside. Or a wedding shower gift can include a lovely basket or a spa gift certificate.

A lot of people don’t realize that homemade bath salt is also very healthy for the body as well as the overall mind. Because bath salt helps the body to release toxins into the water, the user can feel refreshed and relaxed.

And without the added chemicals that are found in store bought brands, homemade bath salt can be even more nourishing to the body. You don’t have to add any ingredients that might cause a reaction in the recipient, nor do you have to add any coloring that they might sensitive to.

Homemade bath salt makes for a love way to greet guests that might be staying with you for a while. By placing a simple bottle of homemade bath salt on a guest towel with a note about how to use it, guests will feel like they are being pampered as well as being a special guest. And even if they don’t use it, they can bring it home as a special reminder of their stay with you.

The personalization of homemade bath salt goes beyond the occasion as well as the packaging. By including a note about the reasons why certain ingredients were chosen, the recipient can feel like they are genuinely cared for and appreciated.

Which mom doesn’t think that she needs homemade bath salt with relaxing herbs and fragrances? Or perhaps they want to feel rejuvenated once in a while (when they actually get to spend a night with their spouse – alone!).

And of course, homemade bath salt is simple to make with a few ingredients and a long afternoon. It’s doesn’t need to be intricate or overly complicated in order to fulfill its purpose. With a few herbs and a few drops of essential oils, the homemade bath salt can be ready to prepare and give to that special someone.

Homemade bath salt is the adult equivalent of making a gift for someone for an occasion, but with a lot more style and class. This is a gift that shows that you care about the person’s health and well-being, without having to spend a lot of time or money. And the best part? If the person enjoys the homemade bath salt that they received, you can always help them refill their jar.

By: Rachel Huston

About the Author:
Rachel Huston of http://www.makebathsalts.com is author of ‘The Comprehensive Guide to Handcrafted Bath Salts‘ and has taught thousands of people how to make homemade bath salts.

Homemade bubble bath is a wonderful product, and very easy to make. It there anything as relaxing and decadent than reclining in a delightful, bubbly hot bath? There are very few things in life that are so enjoyable, refreshing and inexpensive as soaking your cares away in the bath. After a stressful day, a luxurious bath is just what you need.

Homemade bubble bath allows you to avoid the horrible, harsh chemical ingredients of commercial bubble bath products. Unfortunately, these same chemicals are added to children’s bath products as well. By making your own bath and skin care items, you can avoid exposing yourself and your children to these chemicals. At the same time, making skin and bath products allows you to customize your experience. By choosing your own custom essential oils and carrier oils such as coconut and olive oils, you can make custom scented and highly moisturizing products.

Homemade bubble bath saves money as well. You can make a great bubble bath using inexpensive liquid castile soap, or save even more money by grating a bar of the same soap to use in your recipes. Liquid glycerin, a by-product of soap manufacturing, is another inexpensive addition to bubble bath that helps moisturize and soften your skin. If you prefer your glycerin to be from vegetable sources only, that particular kind of glycerin is available. It is a bit more expensive than the glycerin typically found in grocery and drug stores, and is sometimes more difficult to find. If you have any difficulty finding any ingredients for spa products, you can generally find them online very easily.

Homemade bubble bath should be used quickly, as it doesn’t contain the preservatives of commercial products. It should be stored in an unbreakable bottle, out of reach of children, as they can get easily carried away with the amount of this soap that they add to their baths. You don’t want to end up with a bathroom that looks like the scene of a comedy movie from an excess of bubbles! Kids also do strange things like drink things that they are not supposed to, so always err on the side of caution.

Homemade bubble bath also makes a thoughtful gift. In fact, you can make up a nice, inexpensive spa gift basket with this product, some homemade bath salts and homemade bath bombs for just a few dollars. You can also make bath teas to include, which are lovely bunches of herbs and tea put into large tea bags or tied up in cheesecloth. It’s so much fun, and so easy to make spa products like these? Don’t you want to try?

By: Michelle Lee Summers

About the Author:
Homemade bubble bath is a snap to make! For easy spa and skin care product recipes, visit http://homemadebeautyproducts.net. Get your free lip balm e-book now!