Walking in an evergreen forest has a way of taking me to a place of calm. Does it do that for you? The thick layer of needles under foot makes everything quiet, and breathing in the amazing aroma makes me slow down, and just enjoy the here and now.
There are days when I’m frazzled and hurried and anything but calm. I may not be able to get myself out into the woods, but I can bathe with pine bath salts, and they help to lift my mood, and dispel my fatigue.
Benefits of Pine
Pine can:
- lift your mood
- dispel worry and fatigue
- relieve the pain of sore muscles
- relieve headaches
- soothe frazzled nerves
- relieve skin irritations
Pine Identification
Pine trees are, of course, evergreens and so the needles are available year round. All evergreens, however, are not necessarily pines. Pine can easily be identified by their needles, which always grow in clusters of 2 to 5 depending on the species. The needles of no other evergreen grow in clusters.
If you’re looking for more info on identifying pine, see my post on identifying pine.
Pine Needle Bath Salts
For the bath salts, all that is needed are pine needles, epsom or sea salts, and pine essential oil. Be sure to read my post on the safe way to add essential oils to a bath.
If pine needles are not available in your area, spruce, fir, or even hemlock needles may be used in the bath salt recipe. Use dried needles unless you’ll be using the bath salts immediately. And it’s ok to use small stems as well.
You’ll want to be sure to place the bath salts in a cloth bag so that the pine needles don’t clog your drain. Alternatively, tie the bath salts in a paper coffee filter.
Please note that pine can cause allergic reactions in some. If you know that you are allergic to Christmas trees, for example, don’t use these pine bath salts.
More Posts that Will Interest You
The Forager’s Guide to Plant Identification
How to Harvest Pine Resin and Use it to Make a Salve
Bath Salts: The Safe Way to Add Essential Oils to Your Bath
Pine Bath Salts for Natural Stress Relief
Ingredients
- 1 cup epsom salts, or coarse sea salt
- 1 cup dried pine needles finely chopped
- 15–30 drops pine essential oil
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight jar.
- Place 1/4–1/2 cup of pine bath salts in a cloth bag, or tie in a coffee filter. Place in your tub as you are running your bath.
