Mustard bath is a conventional ayurvedic treatment used for stress, cold, fatigue, muscular stiffness, and pyrexia. Mustard contains antioxidant components and is known to have a stimulatory effect on sweat glands. The antioxidant effect and opening of pores allow the body to get rid of harmful toxins that may cause oxidative stress in the body.
1. Mustard bath history
Mustard bath - because of their benefits for the body – have long been used as an ayurvedic treatment in Indian and roman culture.
Because it’s a whole natural therapy, so, it can be counted as one of the most considerable Ayurveda benefits.
In addition to the benefits of Mustard oil for hair, mustard bath treatment has been started as standard medical therapy for sore muscles, body pain, insomnia, stress and cold.
Mustard seeds have the potential of warming up the body because of their active constituents that make them a great antioxidant.
Mustard rejuvenates the skin, decreases the stress - as there are many psychological effects of stress on human body and mind -, helps to detoxify the body inner environment and increases blood flow to the skin.
Mustard bath treatment has also been used in Greek and European culture as an ayurvedic therapy and is in use till now.
It an effective way to forget about stress as it provides you a peaceful me time.
1.1. Mustard seed – ingredients
Mustard oil has always been used as a home remedy for dry hair. Mustard seeds have the following constituents and the amounts have been described for one tsp – 6.30 g - of mustard seeds.
Total calories = 32
| Component | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Saturated fat | 0.10 g |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.60 g |
| Monounsaturated fat | 1.40 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 g |
| Sodium | 1.00 mg |
| Potassium | 46.0 mg |
| Dietary fiber | 0.80 g |
| Sugar | 0.40 g |
| Calcium | 1% |
| Iron | 3% |
| Magnesium | 5% |
1.2. Dr. Singha’s mustard bath
Dr. Shyam Singha was an acupuncturist, chef, and homeopath in England. He studied his ayurvedic in India and was raised in a spiritual environment in the Himalayas.
He opened his school of acupuncture in Britain in 1964 and founded the Natural therapeutics research trust limited in London in the year 1969.
He introduced the therapeutic bath containing mustard and several relaxing bath salts and essential oils in his late 20s.
Dr. Singha’s mustard bath is a well-known therapeutic bath and still in practice as the business was continued by his co-founder Anna Searles.
1.3. Dr. Singha’s mustard bath composition
Mustard bath entered an all-new era after it was introduced in the market for sale by Anna Searles according to the wish of Dr. Singha.
There is exactly the needed combination of essential oils and relaxing salts in the bottle of Dr. Singha’s mustard bath.
In a small-sized, blue-colored container, having a yellow label – this is Dr. Singha’s fine, herbaceous powder.
Ingredients include
- Mustard seeds
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Wintergreen
- Baking soda
- Benzoin gum
Baking soda is added for skin softness and the essential oils to improve the breathing that causes relief of congestion.
Key component is of course mustard that is known to have antioxidant and warming properties and long has been used in ayurvedic medicines.
Summary
Mustard bath is a historical ayurvedic therapy used to treat muscle soreness, cold symptoms, and stress. Mustard powder, sea salt, and essential oils are used in the preparation of mustard bath. 15-30 minutes soaking provides warmth and increases sweating.
2. Mustard bath – weight loss
The mustard bath is a traditional ayurvedic treatment used in England - as a cure for stress, cold, fatigue, muscular stiffness, insomnia, and pyrexia.
In addition to isolation tank – an emergency therapy, a mustard bath therapy is also the best way to get physical and mental relaxation.
Mustard seeds – normally used as a condiment - have some active ingredients that act as detoxification agents and help the body to get rid of harmful wastes.
These wastes that are produced as a result of digestion within the body are mandatory to expel out of the body.
- Aching muscles
- Having cold symptoms
- Chilled hand and feet
- Swollen muscles or edema in feet
- Insomnia and interrupted sleep
- Depression and anxiety
- Congestion
- Weight gain
- Less sweating than required
Mustard bath can be used as a home remedy for the above-mentioned conditions as mustard has long been used as a condiment to treat cold symptoms and congestion.
Essential oils are used to have deep breathing and it may be regarded as one of the important breathing techniques for stress relief.
It helps you in losing weight as it acts as a natural detoxifying agent and increases sweating. If you do regular exercise and yet don’t sweat, there may be some problem with your sweat glands.
Mustard bath stimulates the sweat gland and opens the pores that cause sweating. Reactive oxidative species that are produced in the body are required to be expelled out of the body.
So, mustard because of having the antioxidant effect unclogs the pores and opening of pores allows the body to get rid of harmful toxins that may cause oxidative stress in the body.
Getting rid of harmful toxins increases the blood circulation to terminal body areas and improves homeostasis.
3. Mustard bath ingredients
Although ready to use mustard bath powder is available in markets yet DIY warm mustard bath can be prepared at home and can give you the best effects with far less cost.
3.1. Ingredients
Mustard powder – one cup
Lavender oil – 10-15 drops
Eucalyptus, ginger, rosemary oil – 5 drop each
Baking soda – ¼ cup
Epsom or sea salt – one cup
Depression – a silent killer – is a main cause of hypertension that finally leads to heart failure. So, Epsom salt is used as mental relief therapy.
Epsom salt is main component in the isolation tank that is used as a relaxation therapy. Epsom salt is also known as magnesium sulfate. It consists of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen.
3.2. Method of preparation
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Mix the ingredients
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Grind by using a grinder
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Make a fine powder
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Store in an airtight container
3.3. How to use it?
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Take a tub full of hot water
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Take one cup of the above-mentioned mustard powder
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Mix the powder in the hot water
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Soak your body in the mustard water
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After a few minutes you will be starting warmth in your body
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Nerves start to be relaxed and body temperature rises than normal
Precaution: don’t mix too much mustard powder as it may cause irritation to the body.
3.4. What do you feel during a mustard bath?
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As body temperature rises while taking the mustard bath, you may be sweating while bathing.
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Sweating over the body or exposed parts of the body are quite normal and don’t be worried about it.
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You will be feeling warmth in your body, that’s normal.
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Your nerves will be relaxed after 10-15 minutes in the mustard bath.
3.5. What to do after a mustard bath?
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Mustard bath is recommended to take in the evening.
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After coming out of the bathtub, take bath with cold water.
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Use a scrub after it as it may help you get rid of ■■■■ skin cells as the skin is softened by a warm bath.
Not to worry
If the mustard bath contains essential oils - such as eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, wintergreen oil, or thyme oil – it may be pungent smelling and you may experience sneezing during the initial 3-5 minutes.
Pro tip 1
You can dry comb your body before jumping in as it stimulates the epidermal layer and tends to open the pores soon after getting into hot water.
Pro tip 2
Add mustard powder is fully hot water to get the best results. You can jump in when the temperature becomes bearable.
Take a full cup of mustard powder and mix in very hot water. When water temperature becomes normal, soak your body in it. Essential oils may cause sneezing and if there is a high amount of mustard, you may feel skin irritation.
4. Mustard bath benefits
Mustard bath benefits can be summarized in 4 lines:
- Provides hydration
- Offers detoxification
- Treats muscular soreness
- Treats pulmonary congestion
Mustard bath causes detoxification – as it unclogs the pores and skin being the largest site of elimination gets rid of harmful toxins produced in the body.
This natural anti-oxidant effect helps to improve immunity, blood circulation, and homeostasis.
Helps getting rid of insomnia and you will have much peaceful sleep after having a mustard bath.
Helps to treat cold symptoms, pain in muscles, stress, pyrexia, and even congestion.
Joint pain, edema in lower body parts, and sinuses can be improved by having a mustard bath.
5. Mustard bath vs Epsom salt bath
Epsom salt – also known as magnesium sulfate – consists of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen.
Epsom salt is used in higher quantities in the Float tanks that are used as mental relaxation therapy.
In an era, where everyone is searching for how to get rid of depression, there have been a lot of techniques to get rid of anxiety and depression.
So, Epsom salt – aka bath salt - and mustard bath both are used as a treatment to sore mind and sore body respectively.
Magnesium of Epsom salt has certain health benefits that have been mentioned below:
- Natural stress reliever
- Soothes sore muscles
- Cures muscle cramps
- Releases melatonin and improves sleep
- Reduces arthritic pain by treating inflammation
Mustard bath – a traditional roman and Indian ayurvedic therapy – is used to detoxify the body. It has more physical effects as compared to CNS oriented effects.
Mustard contains antioxidants and is known to have a stimulatory effect on sweat glands. Hence, a mustard bath warms the body and this warmth causes sweating.
Sweating helps to get rid of harmful toxins and regulates homeostasis also boosting natural immunity.
A warm mustard bath with Epsom salt can be prepared at home and ingredients are given below:
Epsom salt – 1.5 cup
Baking soda – one cup
Mustard powder – one cup
Eucalyptus oil or peppermint oil – optional – 10-15 drops
How to use?
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Mix all the ingredients and break the lumps of baking soda.
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Keep in an airtight container for future use.
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While bathing, mix one full cup of powder in hot water.
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Soak yourself for 15-30 minutes.
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It helps you in detoxification.
Frequently asked questions
There are a lot of questions related to mustard bath therapy. Some of them have been answered briefly to satisfy the queries:
1. How do you make mustard bath salts?
Recipe!
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Take a large bowl
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Mix the mustard powder, essential oils, baking soda, and Epsom or sea salt.
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Wisk well to mix them completely.
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Break the lumps of baking powder if there are any.
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Before the bath, take one full cup of mixed mustard bath and add it into hot water.
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When the temperature of the bathtub becomes bearable, soak your body for 15-30 minutes.
2. Is it good to add baking powder to your mustard bath?
Yes!
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Baking soda is added to bathwater as it helps in removing the germs.
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A bath with baking soda helps in relieving the difficulty in urination.
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Mixing a 1/4th cup of baking soda in your bath water and soaking the body for half an hour helps to get the best benefits.
3. How do you make old fashioned mustard plaster?
Mustard helps to relieve pulmonary congestion and is used as a remedy for cold and cough.
Recipe!
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Mix mustard powder and flour – one tablespoon each
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Add water to make a thick paste
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Take a square fabric piece and spread the mustard powder over it.
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Place the plaster on the affected area.
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Keep for 15-20 minutes and then remove
Conclusion
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Mustard bath is a conventional/traditional ayurvedic treatment used in England and Roman culture as a cure for stress, cold, fatigue, muscular stiffness, congestion, and pyrexia.
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Mustard contains antioxidant ingredients and is known to have a stimulatory effect on sweat glands. Unclogging of pores increases sweating.
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Antioxidant effect of mustard and opening of epidermal pores allows the body to get rid of harmful toxins that may cause oxidative stress in the body.
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Detoxification is the best result that is obtained by a mustard bath and with the addition of Epsom salt, benefits of magnesium are also added to the bath.
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