Baths and bathing have been a large part of human health so much so that every culture on the planet has a bathing tradition! ⁠

Whether that’s Turkish hammams, Japanese onsens, Roman baths, or Swedish saunas, the list is endless for people harnessing the power of being submerged in water – whether hot or cold!

But why are they so good for you?

Baths can help relieve tired and sore muscles, promote deep sleep, and reduce stress.⁠

They are also good for irritated skin if you suffer from eczema or other skin conditions especially if you add in oils.

By adding bath salts you’re amplifying the benefits with added magnesium, iodine and calcium.⁠

The most benefit comes from having a bath that’s not too hot either as sometimes that can cause heat stress on the body, so it’s best to make it around body temperature – 37 °C.

Saying that though, steam from a hot bath does wonders if you’ve got a cold, especially if you add in some eucalyptus or tea tree essential oils to help clear blocked noses.

And on the complete other send of the spectrum there is a case made for ice cold bathing or submersion, a form of cryotherapy, for improved immunity, reducing inflammation and helping lymphatic drainage.

A Great Way To De-Stress

And finally they are thought to be a great de-stressor thanks to lowering your blood pressure and their naturally supported solo time away from the demands of every day life – even if you are taking a particularly thrilling Netflix season in for company.

So next time you’ve got some spare time and a shower just isn’t going to cut it. Prepare for some you-time and draw yourself a bath, find a good book or podcast, light a candle, pour in your bath salts, and lie back and relax.

This post was originally written for, and appears on, The Botanical Store blog.

Is There A Natural Deodorant That Actually Works?

We’ve all spent our fair share of time on public transport or a night on a dance floor and known that our fellow humans were among us simply by scent alone, and in my youth I was so paranoid of smelling that I would use a roll on and an aerosol deodorant (I know!) but surely there must be a happy place in between chemical annihilation and clearing a one-metre radius everywhere you go.

Enter the natural deodorant!

Now some work better than others and we’re pretty sure to have cracked the winning formula here at The Botanical Store.

So let’s break it down…

Antiperspirants are designed to block your pores and stop you from sweating, this isn’t a good thing because  we need to sweat to regulate our temperature. Deodorant prevents bacteria from mixing with the sweat and creating a smell or odor. Harsh chemicals used to do this though are thought to cause other health problems later down the line (you can read more here.)

So to save the day is the natural deodorant – one that allows you to sweat, keeps the natural bacteria that live on your skin alive and keep you smelling fresh, and the bad bacteria out!

We find it’s the perfect balance of natural oils that nourish the underarm and odor-eating, natural ingredient hero – bicarbonate soda (some people may be sensitive though so always do a patch test and make sure it’s suitable for you). As well as the power houses Lavender and Lemon essential oil for more antibacterial action.

Blended with other high performing plant-based ingredients a paste is created that a pea-sized amount under each arm should see you scent free all day. Of course if you’re exercising at the gym, hitting the dance floor, presenting that big pitch at work or raising your heart rate in anyway, a second application may be needed.

All our deodorants are in a 120ml jar that is made to be refilled when you’re finished.

Grab yourself one in our online store here or pop into store to find out more and grab a jar for yourself!