Garden Flora Soothing Bath Soak & Body Oil

I just spent the day working in the garden. It’s taken me six whole hours to clean up the beds and amend the soil in order to prepare the space for spring planting. Hauling loads of damp soil, raking heavy piles of gravel, tugging and uprooting stubborn weeds, raking years of fallen leaves, and churning compost is breath-heaving physical work. It creates a certain sort of soreness in all the large and small muscles that is most gratifying. As I dust off my knees, hang up my tools for the day and rub my allergy itchy eyes, the only thing I want to do is take a long hot soak in the tub. It’s my favorite way to nurse my body after a hard day in the yard. So I turn to a few of my favorite floral plant allies to quickly craft up a nourishing and soothing blend of bath soak and body oil. 

When I think of soothing floral blends, rose buds and chamomile come to mind. Of course lavender is always a staple herbal remedy too, but this spring rose is the flower that beckons me. A blend of rose and chamomile is a soft, calming and soothing blend known to ease upset stomach, menstrual cramps, and improve digestion. I also love that both of these herbal flowers are commonly found in both gardens and in the wild. 

A blend of rose and chamomile can be used as a nourishing tea rich in vitamin C, eases upset stomach and menstrual cramps and improves digestion. Rose and chamomile herbal tea is also a great way to relax after a busy day as it can calm the central nervous system, reducing the chance of depression and anxiety. As a bath soak and body oil blend, it’s divinely aromatic and calming. As I soak the day away at golden hour and watch the buds of rose and chamomile swirl in the steaming waters around my knees and hair I dream of the flowers that will soon burst to life in my freshly prepped garden. 

To make this blend I used dried herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs, however come late-spring and early-summer, both of these flowers bloom widespread in the wild and in gardens. If you choose to harvest from a yard or in the wild be sure to only harvest from a plant that is abundant, healthy, and has not been exposed to toxic chemicals. Remember to leave more than what you take. You can use them fresh or dried. To cure the flowers, letting them dry thoroughly in a well ventilated area for a few weeks before storing them in an airtight container. 

Garden Flora Soothing Bath Soak

1 ½ cups of unscented magnesium flakes

½ cup of dried rose buds (Rosa damascena)

½ cup of dried chamomile flowers (Atricaria recutita)

5 drops of bergamot essential oil*

5 drops of lemongrass essential oil*

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. Use ¼ cup - ½ cup for each bath ritual. To keep your tub clean, use a muslin sachet to contain the herbs. *You can use any essential oil of your choice to make this blend unique to you. Consider cedar, vanilla, grapefruit, bergamot, lemongrass or lavender. 

Garden Flora Calming Body Oil

8 oz glass container

2 tbsp of rose buds (Rosa damascena)

2 tbsp of chamomile flowers (Atricaria recutita)

Jojoba Oil*

Add flowers to a glass container and pour in the oil until the jar is full. Leave it for 4-6 weeks for the oil to fully extract the medicinal properties of the herbs. After this extraction is complete, you can remove the herbs by straining it into another clean jar through muslin or gauze fabric. *You can use any carrier oil, like fractionated coconut oil, almond oil, or olive oil, but I find jojoba to be the silkiest and absorb the most into the skin for nourishment. Other oils can leave a greasy feeling. 

The medicinal benefits of rose buds:

Roses are one of the oldest flowers in the world, and have been referenced in literature, music, and art for centuries. They’re beloved by gardeners as a hardy, long-lasting plant. They can be used in a host of beneficial applications. They make a beautiful addition to herbal potpourris, sachets, pillow mixes, and body and facial sprays. Roses have been valued for their beauty, perfume, and healing properties for hundreds of years.

There are hundreds of rose varieties that are considered safe for human use. Roses are added to a range of products for both their fragrance and potential health benefits. Roses are also often used in the kitchen, especially in Middle Eastern, Indian, and Chinese cuisine. The aromatic flower is added to cakes, jams, and confections. 

Rose tea is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where it is used to regulate qi, or life energy. TCM considers rose tea a potential remedy for stomach and digestive problems, fatigue and improving sleep, irritability and mood swings, menstrual cramps and menopausal symptoms. Rose petals are a good source of Vitamin C, A, and E, Iron, and Calcium. Rose petals are also high in phytonutrients, plant compounds with antioxidant properties.

The medicinal benefits of chamomile:

Chamomile is a well-known blossom in the herbal world and is renowned for its gentle actions. German chamomile is most often prepared as an infusion of chamomile tea, and the flowers are widely used in hair and skin care recipes. Chamomile promotes relaxation and supports digestive health*. Chamomile is a gentle herb known throughout most of the world which has been used continually for many centuries.

A member of the Asteraceae family, these aromatic herbaceous plants have white daisy-like flowers and scent reminiscent of apples or pineapple. The green leaves are feather-like. Common preparations are teas, baths and sitz-baths, gargles, inhalations, and compresses. In many indigenous traditions, this herb was used to support healthy respiratory function and as a mood-lifter. Chamomile possesses what Rosemary Gladstar describes as "soft power" to assuage occasional stress and tension. She suggests not only sipping chamomile tea while bathing in it, but also tucking a chamomile sachet under the pillow at night to promote restful sleep.

Precautions

There are no known precautions with rose buds. Persons with allergies to other members of the Asteraceae family should exercise caution with chamomile. The infusion should not be used near the eyes. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

*The statements made in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.