A relaxing bath is perfect when you want to soothe arthritis pain from rheumatoid arthritis. A relaxing bathtub offers more than just a few minutes of pleasure. It can actually become a valuable therapeutic tool in managing your symptoms.
I take a relaxing bath almost every evening after dinner. It makes such a huge difference for me. It relaxes me so I can get through the evening and prepares me to be able to go to sleep.
Safety First!
Before we get into the fun stuff I want to talk about safety. The last thing you want to do is fall in the bathtub! Slips and falls are one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in the US and the bathroom is where they happen most. Your intent is a relaxing bath, not an accident.
If you are reading this and thinking about soaking in a soothing relaxing bathtub, then most likely you are fairly stable and limber enough to get in and out of the tub. However, you may need just a little bit of assistance like me.
A perfect solution for this is a suction cup grab bar. These are not designed for people who really need assistance and would need to pull hard on a grab bar. They are designed to just give you a little stability so you don’t fall. Or to pull on them just a little to give yourself a little push to get up and down.
This link will take you to an entire article about suction cup grabs bars and what you need to know before you buy one.
Now on to the fun stuff!
This post may contain affiliate links for products I recommend.
What are the Best Essential Oils for a Relaxing Bath?
What you need to know before adding essential oils to your bath:
We all know that water and oil do not mix. So if you pour essential oils directly into your bath water they will just float around and not mix in with the water. Not only does this not give you the full effect you need to benefit from the oils, but it can also irritate or even burn your skin. This can impact your entire body. Red blotchy skin is not the result you are looking for when your intention is to take a soothing bath.
Probably the best way is to mix the essential oils with a carrier oil such as apricot kernel, grapeseed oil, jojova oil, sweet almond. or coconut oil. Three to twelve drops of essential oil in a tablespoon (15 ml) of carrier oil is enough to create a very aromatic, therapeutic bath.
Do not add the oils while the water is running. This will cause the essential oils to escape the bath and just make the bathroom smell pretty. Fill the tub and turn off the water before you add the essential oils that have been mixed with your carrier oil. Then stir the water to make sure they have mixed in. There may be some oils that will not mix in, but because they have been mixed with the carrier oil they would be safe to rub onto your skin.
Now back to safety. Adding oils to your bath can make your tub slippery. Be careful getting out of the tub! This is where your suction cup grab bars can come in handy. Be sure to clean the tub afterwards to prevent future falls. Baking soda and castile soap are great de-greasers.
Essential Oil Recipes:
There are so many essential oil recipes out there. Here are a few that I have found for you that will pertain to your rheumatoid arthritis.
Relieve Muscle Soreness
5-8 drops peppermint oil, 5 drops lavender, 5 drops citrus, blend into a carrier oil.
or
10 drops lavender oil, 5 drops peppermint oil, 5 drops citrus oil, 2 drops clove oil, mix into a carrier oil
Reduce Anxiety:
10 drops frankincense, 5 drops lavender and 5 drops bergamot
Invigorating:
10 drops rosemary, 5 drops lemon, 5 drops orange, 2 drops frankincense, 1 tsp olive oil
Relaxing Bath:
5 drops lavender, 4 drops chamomile, 3 drops frankincense, combine with a tablespoon of carrier oil
When you are choosing which essential oils you will use, be sure that they are of a therapeutic grade. Quality makes a difference when you are using essential oils.
Now Peppermint Essential Oil
NOW Essential Oils, Lavender Oil
Citrus Fresh Essential Oil BlendNOW Lemon Essential Oil
Bergamot Essential OilNow Rosemary Essential Oil
NOW Frankincense OilRoman Chamomile Essential Oil
NOW Sweet Orange Essential OilNOW Clove Bud Oil
Luxury Bubble Bath Products
L’Occitane Foaming Lavender Bubble Bath
This lavender foaming bath offers all the relaxing benefits of Haute-Provence lavender. Almost everyone who reviewed this product loved the scent of the lavender. Most people were happy with the amount of bubbles it produced. Keep in mind that the hardness of your water will affect the amount of bubbles that you get.
This lavender bubble bath is more expensive than most. However, the general consensus is that the old saying of “you get what you pay for” seems to hold true with this product.
L’Occitane Relaxing & Foaming Lavender Bubble Bath
Relaxing Bubble Bath for Sleep, Dry Skin & Sore Muscles
- Therapeutic formula yields tons of bubbles
- Homeopathic solution to reduce stress and muscle pain
- Lavender detoxes, boosts your mood and soothes sore muscles
- Hypoallergenic
- Enhanced with Palmarosa for extra cleansing and clary sage which acts as a deodorant
Bath Salts for a Relaxing Bath
Taking a relaxing bath in the evening with sea salt is a great way to set yourself up for a better night’s rest. It will open up your pores to help flush out harmful toxins from the body and cleanse your skin. Bathing with sea salt will also leave your skin softer and smoother and will help to soothe skin irritations.
San Francisco Muscle Soak Bath Salts
Muscle Soak Bath Salts – 2 lb. Luxury Gift Bag by San Francisco Salt Company
Asutra Dead Sea Bath Salts
Tension, anxiety and stress are things that people with rheumatoid arthritis can battle on a daily basis. Asutra “Soak the Day Away” is a mixture of 100% pure dead sea bath salts blended with organic essential oils. These fine grain salts contain over 20 healing minerals that can improve blood circulation which in turn can ease muscular aches and pains.
The essential oils that are blended in all have a purpose. Lavender oil is a natural sedative for your nervous system. Chamomile oil helps to reduce hormone levels that are associated with stress. Marjoram helps to reduce inflammation. And cedarwood gives a calming effect to the body. The aloe vera and vitamin E will strengthen your skin helping it to look smooth and healthy. Taking a relaxing bath with these bath salts and breathing in this unique blend of essential oils and minerals will leave you with a peaceful feeling that will wash away all that tension and stress.
Asutra “Soak the Day Away” is an Amazon’s Choice. It has very good reviews on Amazon. And…. the makers of this product are so sure that you are going to love it that they offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee. It doesn’t get much better than that so why not give it a try.
ASUTRA Dead Sea Bath Salts – Perfect for a Relaxing Bath
Bath Pillow Reviews
You’ve drawn your hot water. You’ve added some bubble bath or some bath salts and now you are ready to relax. Just one more thing to add for the perfect relaxing bath – a bathtub pillow.
Bathtub Neck Pillow for a Relaxing Bath
- Fits any tub
- Grips the tub with 2 large suction cups
- The flexible hinge is adaptable to any shape bath tub, spa or jacuzzi
- Has a 3-D mesh technology that allows the water to flow throughout the pillow so it will dry quickly
- Designed so that it will not attract dirt or bad smell
- Amazon’s Choice
Comfortable Bath Pillow with Suction Cups, Supports Neck and Shoulders
Relax With This Ergonomically Designed Bathtub Spa Pillow
- Premium “wave pattern” stitching provides strategic support
- 3D ventilation so your pillow “breathes” allowing constant, refreshing airflow
- Does not get hot and soggy, dries fast
- 6 extra strong suction cups to keep your pillow attached firmly to the back of your tub
- Blissful Bath guarantee
- Amazon’s Choice
Ergonomic Bathtub Pillow with Quilted Air Mesh for Breathable Comfort
Gorilla Grip Original Spa Bath Pillow
- 7 suction cups help eliminate pillow slippage
- 2″ of padded foam for luxurious comfort
- available in a two panel design or a three panel design
- fits any size tub, spa or jacuzzi
- Easy to wipe down and keep clean
- 10 year NO QUESTIONS ASKED GUARANTEE
Bath Pillow Features with Powerful Gripping Technology
Luxury Extra Large Spa Pillow
- Twice as thick, 4″ thick inner filling for head and neck support and 2″ thick filling for the shoulders
- Special contoured shape with orthopedic 2 panel design
- Adaptable to any shaped tub
- No more slipping and sliding
- 3D air mesh technology material allows water & air to flow through the washable bathtub pillow
- The material in the pillow’s material keeps it cool. allowing you to take a bath without feeling overheated.
Extra Large Luxury Spa Bath Pillow with Head, Neck, Shoulder and Back Support
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