There’s something so curative about a hot bath. Add fragrant soap and candle light and you’ve got a match made in heaven. You can’t talk about bathing without mentioning Sebastian Kniepp. Kniepp literally wrote the book on bathing. It’s been in print since 1897. This week’s focus is on how to bathe away stress, strain, and fatigue.

As mentioned, Kniepp was an 19th century German priest who literally wrote the book on bathing. Actually, he believed in a holistic approach to health that included hydrotherapy, herbs, exercise, nutrition, and spirituality.

The use of hot and cold water on reflex points is based upon Kneipp therapy. This water therapy system is still used in many spas today. Kniepp therapy uses baths, showers, rinses, wet compresses, and water exercises to treat a wide range of ailments from arthritis and rheumatism to sleep disorders and digestive problems.

Kniepp believed hydrotherapy soothed pain and cured diseases. He applied warm and cold water to improve circulation and stimulate the natural healing powers of the body.

Today hydrotherapy is used to treat a myriad of diseases in people and animals. Often after surgery a physical therapist will have a person exercise in a pool so they may exercise with a minimum amount of stress on the joints. I watch Animal Planet occasionally and have seen race horses being given therapy in water tanks as well.

Today Kniepp’s name is used on a line of herbal bath oils and salts. For a good night’s sleep, try Kneipp’s Valerian and Hops Herbal Bath. Remember, aromatherapy first works on the brain. There’s a chemical reaction going on when the flower essences hit brain receptors. Combine that with the effect of the herbs on your skin and hot water . . . heaven.

If you care to make your own, here’s a bath salt recipe you should enjoy–

• 1 cup Himalayan Crystal salt
• 2 tablespoons dried rose petals
• 2 tablespoons dried calendula petals
• 2 tablespoon green tea leaves
• 2-3 drops rose essential oil

Measure the salt into a glass bowl and add the rose petals, calendula petals and green tea leaves and mix thoroughly. You might want to break up the rose petals into smaller pieces, but leave the calendula and green tea as they are. Add the rose essential and mix thoroughly. Any extra should be stored in a glass jar.