How to Make Your Own Bathtub Tea

Whiling away some time in a tub can be heavenly. There may be candles and music involved, or it might just be a “let’s get clean” activity. Whatever bathtime means to you, there are several benefits of having a good soak.

Indulging in a warm bath before bed can promote sleepiness and help your body to wind down. A soak in nice warm water can help to relax sore muscles, relieve pain and promote circulation. Time in the tub is a great way to soften dry and cracked skin, making it easier to exfoliate. If you are a little congested, inhaling the steam from a warm bath can relieve some of the pressure you might be feeling.

We haven’t even started on all of the goodies that you can put into your bath for added luxury, aromatherapy, and skincare. Soaps, bubbles, salts, and oils are just a few of the things we can toss into our bathtub water. Such accouterments can transform bath-time into your little spa-like event.

Another way to enhance your bathtime experience is by making your bathtub teabags. By doing this, you can personalize your soak with all the ingredients that you love, and your body can benefit from.  

What Is a Bathtub Teabag?

Source: Kelly Taylor/Flickr

A bathtub teabag, as the name suggests, is a teabag for your bathtub, not your teacup. It is a little pouch filled with dried herbs and petals, salts, essential oils, and other items that are beneficial to you and your skin. You can buy empty teabag pouches that are used for making regular homemade drinkable teas, or you can make your little bags from cheesecloth, muslin, or organza. 

The beauty of using a teabag is that you can use all of the ingredients in your bathtub without feeling as though you are bathing in potpourri and without the messy cleanup. 

What Do I Need?

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Aside from the teabag itself, you need all the good stuff that goes inside. There are several ingredients that you can choose from. It is a good idea to make a large batch and store it in a mason jar so that you can fill teabags as and when you need them. However, it is totally fine to just mix up enough filling for one teabag.  

There are no hard-fast rules as to what you should put in your tub of tea. You will choose ingredients based on your mood, the time of day, or any ailments that you might be feeling.

Here are a few ideas for what you might use:

Dried Flowers

• Chamomile– This is a soothing herb that promotes relaxation and sleep. Chamomile is anti-inflammatory and has skin healing properties. 
• Rose– The aroma of rose petals is said to help to enhance your mood and relieve headaches. They also have an antiseptic property that aids in the healing of small wounds.  
• Lavender– Famed for its relaxing and calming aroma, lavender can also help to soothe irritated skin and heal small nicks and cuts. Use lavender in a pre-bedtime bath for a little extra help falling asleep.
• Calendula– Another stunning plant used in the healing of skin ailments with its antifungal and anti-inflammatory compounds.

Dried Herbs

• Peppermint- Putting peppermint in your tub teas will be especially helpful if you are feeling congested or “headachey.” It may also help to relax tired muscles. 
• Lemon balm– This herb can help to calm the nerves and promote better sleep. Use lemon balm in your bath in the evening for a relaxing soak. 
• Rosemary– Inhaling rosemary can help to enhance your mood if you are feeling stressed and can help you to feel more mentally alert.

Other Ingredients

• Epsom Salts– Many of you might put Epsom salt on your garden plants, but it has huge benefits for you, too. Epsom salt contains magnesium which is essential for our bodies. Soaking in an Epsom salt bath is said to help reduce muscle soreness.
• Oats– Putting oats in your bathwater adds a “milkiness” that helps to moisturize, soften and soothe the skin.  
• Baking Soda– A soak in a baking soda bath can help to alleviate symptoms of eczema, poison ivy, and yeast infections. 
• Essential oils– Adding a few drops of essential oil to the mix will add extra aromatherapy qualities to the bath. You could choose scents that you enjoy or add the essential oil version of the herbs and flowers listed above for a more concentrated and powerful effect. Use essential oils carefully. Research individual oils for dosage and any warnings. 

After you have chosen your teabag content, mix handfuls of the ingredients into a bowl. Then, either store this mixture in a mason jar or start spooning the tea into your teabags.  

How Do I Use My Teabags?

Start by running your warm water into your bathtub. You can either toss your teabag into the tub or, for a more intense infusion, hang your teabag over the hot faucet and let the water run through it as the tub fills. Leave your teabag in the water with you as you soak. 

This is a clean, easy and fun way to pamper yourself in the bathtub. They are so pretty that you could make some for friends and family as a gift. Be sure to let them know that they are for the tub, not the teacup! 

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Do skin tests before applying anything new to the skin. Consult a medical professional before using herbal remedies.

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• 10 DIY Alternatives to Bath and Body Products
• The Best Natural Soaps for Bath and Body

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