One of the best cold remedies is hot steam; this is why you find relief from chest tightness and stuffy nose when you take a hot shower. Aromatherapy using essential oils is also beneficial, so why not combine the two? You can always purchase congestion-specific bath bombs at stores, but they are often expensive and full of chemicals. However, you can prepare them at home yourself by spending a fraction of what you would pay in stores, not to mention that - more importantly - you have perfect control of their contents. Usually, they are based on citric acid, but if you can't get it, you can also use baking soda.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Basic Recipe
Step 1. Combine the powdered ingredients
You need 100 g of baking soda, 60 g of citric acid for food use and 30 g of corn starch; put them together in a small bowl and stir with a spoon to blend them evenly until there are no more lumps.
Another useful ingredient for this is maranta starch, but if you can't find it, you can replace it with corn starch
Step 2. Add 2 drops of peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus essential oil
Eucalyptus relieves chest congestion and clears the nose, as well as thinning the phlegm; mint contains menthol, a natural decongestant which in turn helps loosen mucus. Finally, lavender is not very useful for soothing colds, but it is a natural calming and relaxant and can provide relief from congestion-induced headaches.
- If you want to get a more intense scent, you can use 3 or 4 drops of each of these oils instead of just 2, but don't exceed that dose.
- If you are making the bath bomb for a child who is 10 or older, add only 2 drops of each oil; any larger quantity can be harmful. If, on the other hand, the child is under the age of 10, you must ask your pediatrician for advice.
Step 3. Add 1 to 3 tablespoons (15-45ml) of water or witch hazel
Pour in only one tablespoon (15 ml) at a time, stirring carefully with a rubber spatula after each addition; continue in this way until the mixture takes on the consistency of wet sand and the mixture remains compact.
- You can also spray the water or witch hazel using a spray bottle; about 5-7 sprays are sufficient.
- Be careful not to overdo the liquid or the mixture will start to fizz.
- Alternatively, you can use 50g of melted coconut oil; the oil can make the shower floor slippery, but it has aggregating properties.
Step 4. Compact the mixture you have prepared well by placing it in a silicone mold
Choose an element with a flat base, so that the mixture can rest well on the shower tray without rolling; you can use any type of mold suitable for baking cupcakes or making candy / chocolates. Optionally, you can also use other types of molds, such as plastic ones for candy making or mini muffins.
Make sure the mixture is pressed well; otherwise, the bath bombs will not compact properly and may crumble when you handle them
Step 5. Leave them undisturbed for an hour
The ideal place to keep them at this stage is on a baking sheet inside the cold oven.
Step 6. Take the bath bombs out of the mold gently and let the drying process complete overnight
If they start to crumble, take them and put them back in the molds for a few more hours; once they are completely dry, take them off again and leave them on a flat surface overnight.
Step 7. Use them
Enter the shower, turn on the water tap and put a bath bomb on the floor, closing the drain; hot water dissolves the compound that releases essential oils into the environment. Store any you don't use in an airtight container.
Method 2 of 2: Preparing in the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 100-180 ° C
Step 2. Mix the powdered ingredients in a small bowl
You need 200g of baking soda and 2 tablespoons (15g) of cornstarch; mix the two ingredients with a whisk or spoon until they are well blended.
If you can't get starch, you can use maranta starch; if you can't find both products, you can still make bath bombs using only baking soda and water
Step 3. Add the water a little at a time until the mixture takes on the consistency of a slurry
You need 80ml of liquid in all, mix it with the baking soda using a rubber spatula.
Step 4. Firmly press the mixture into a silicone mold
Check that it is safe for use in the oven; some are sold as "silicone" products, but are not always suitable for cooking; those for baking cupcakes or for making candies / chocolates are fine and you can use them safely.
Make sure to compact the mixture as tightly as possible, otherwise the blocks can fall apart easily when you use them
Step 5. Place the mold on a baking sheet and leave it in the appliance for two hours
During this time the compound dries and hardens. If you do not want to use the oven, put the mold in a place where it is not disturbed for 24-48 hours; the goal is to let the dough dry completely.
Step 6. Remove the bath bombs from the oven and let them cool
Don't take them out of the mold right away though; if you go too early, they may not be perfectly dry and crumble.
Step 7. Take them out of the mold carefully
If you find that they flake easily, it means that they are not completely dry; in this case, wait another 12 hours before checking them again.
Step 8. Put a drop of peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus essential oil on the surface of each block
Eucalyptus and mint help relieve nasal and chest congestion, as well as loosen or thin mucus; lavender, on the other hand, allows you to relax the muscles and soothe the headache caused by colds.
Step 9. Use bath bombs
Turn on the shower faucet and place one on the floor near the drain. The hot water dissolves it, thus releasing the essential oils that spread into the air; keep the others for future use in an airtight container.
Advice
- Add some dried herbs (such as lavender) or dried mint leaves to the bottom of the mold before adding the mixture; in this way, the bath bomb is more aesthetically pleasing.
- Before putting the mixture in the mold you can add a few colored sugar balls or sugar of various colors to the bottom, to make the dough more lively and give a different texture.
- You can also add 3 or 4 drops of food coloring to the still dry baking soda to make your creations look more interesting; you can use the color you prefer, but blue and green match better with the fragrances used.
- If you can't find the silicone molds, you can use the muffin pan and some baking cups; however, keep in mind that the compound could stick to the latter, making extraction difficult.
- Remember that the larger the mold, the longer the bath bombs take to dry / cook.
- Make sure the shower water is hot; Although bath bombs can dissolve and fizz even with cold ones, you won't get any benefit from essential oils.
- If you can't find corn starch, you can use maranta starch instead.
Warnings
- Do not use peppermint essential oil for children under the age of 6, as the menthol contained in this oil can cause respiratory problems.
- Eucalyptus oil can irritate children's eyes and is therefore not recommended for anyone under the age of 7; however, it can be used safely for older children. If your child has sensitive eyes, have them wear swimming goggles.
- Ask your pediatrician for advice before using these products for babies; aromatherapy may not be suitable for clearing their nose or airways, and your doctor may recommend something else.
- Keep bath bombs out of the reach of children and pets; they might look nice and tasty, but they're not edible.
- Don't get them wet until you're ready to use them.
