A good bath

I don't know why I painted this. Maybe it's because sometimes I just feel like taking a bath. In the winter I take time-bending journeys to places like summer to try to remember what it feels like to be hot.

I wasn't in the habit of taking a bath until my doc suggested two cups of Epsom Salt in a hot water bath for no less than 15 minutes for muscle ache. It works great! This prompted me to go on a factoid-finding mission about bathing in general. Could it be that bathing is not just a hedonistic pleasure - that there is a good reason to take a bath? This is what I found out:

A diabetic can reduce blood sugar levels around 13 percent by taking a half hour soak in hot water. On the converse, a cold bath can raise blood sugar levels.

A 10 minute soak in hot water can improve heart health, especially for men.

A hot water bath (32 to 35 degrees Celsius), for at least 15 minutes opens pores that can help remove toxins. A hot bath also helps lower blood sugar level, heals muscle aches and helps maintain the function of the large intestine.

A cold bath (12 to 18 degrees Celsius), is great for reducing tension or stress. It narrows blood vessel and increases sugar level in blood.

Rashes and hives can be treated by adding adding baking soda to bath water. It acts as an antiseptic.
Soaking feet in hot water helps in healing flu, headache and refresh back exhausted feet. Put enough hot water in a container until it sinks down the ankle then add into it a few drops of oil such as lavender, peppermint or lemon. After that, wash your feet with cold water.

Soaking feet in cold water is great for you who have insomnia problem or problem to sleep. Put your feet into the cold water until they feel cold. This technique is also said useful for sore feet.

So there you have it. If just wanting to take a bath once in a while is not a good enough excuse for you, you can now play the health card. OMG - what have we come to!

A Good Bath • 8" x 8" watercolor framed to 12" x 12" • $200