Rosemary Baths Are Perfect for Mornings! A Foot Soak Might Be Nice at Night

RosemaryWeekend Homeis growing abundantly in my garden. So, I immediately researched it in books and online and decided to make bath salts. First, I cut about four sprigs of rosemary with scissors, rinsed them lightly, and then boiled them in a pot of water for about 30 minutes. After straining it through a sieve, I added it to my bath.—Oh, how simple! It was done already. I had thought making things with herbs would be difficult, but it was actually quite easy.

So, I tried the finished rosemary bath and was surprised by the refreshing sensation that cleared my nasal passages! It felt like I had applied menthol just below my nose. A refreshing sensation, like menthol applied to my spine, ran through me. I experienced this rosemary bath at night before bed, and I was astonished that the cool, tingly feeling on my back continued long after I fell asleep. It also provided a stimulating sensation to my brain, as if waking me up. Come to think of it, I also read that rosemary improves cognitive function and enhances memory and concentration. I had thought, “If herbs could do that, I wouldn’t have any problems,” but the refreshing feeling was so strong that I thought, “This might actually be true…!” Based on these results, I concluded that rosemary baths are best suited for the morning. However, since it also promotes blood circulation, a foot soak might be good on cold nights when you can’t sleep. Oh, and as for the pain-relieving effect, I think I felt it, but I’m not entirely sure… But then again, it’s a form of natural therapy. You have to be patient (I’m fully recovered now as I write this).

—I’ve written as if I made it smoothly without any problems, but actually, the first time I made it, I used about eight sprigs of rosemary haphazardly, resulting in an overly concentrated bath additive. The sensation was so intense it was more like a tingling than a refreshing coolness. Furthermore, when I tried to use the same bathwater the next morning, I hadn’t drained the tub, and the bathtub turned yellow from the rosemary! Fortunately, I was able to clean it off with bathtub bleach, but it turns out that stronger isn’t always better. The right amount is crucial. Since then, just in case, I always drain the bathwater after a rosemary bath. Oh, and I must mention that when made with the correct amount, the refreshing sensation is also more gentle.

Next, I Tried Making Dish Soap and Lotion!

Having gotten a taste for making rosemary bath additives, I decided to try my hand at making dish soap and lotion. I learned that soap base is needed for dish soap and glycerin for lotion, so I promptly ordered them online and set out to make them. First, dish soap. Aside from adding the soap base, it’s made the same way as the bath additive. You put water and rosemary in a pot, boil for about 30 minutes, strain, and let it cool to body temperature. Then, you add the appropriate amount of soap base. This is also super easy. However, I carelessly added the soap base after it had cooled too much, and it didn’t dissolve as expected. “If that’s the case,” I thought, and tried a double boiler with a pot of hot water, and it dissolved perfectly. But after a short while, it solidified into a loose gel…! I remembered reading something about soap base solidifying if added when too hot. Still, I figured it was definitely soap, so I used it, and it seemed to work fine. It effectively removed greasy stains, leaving dishes and glasses sparkling. It didn’t lather much, but I reasoned that if it cleans well, lather is unnecessary and just a matter of getting used to it. I make enough to fill a 2-liter bottle at once and use it within about two weeks.

Rosemary is said to be the main ingredient in a lotion favored by Princess Elisabeth of Hungary, known as the “elixir of youth.” After searching for various recipes, I decided to make the simplest version, adding only glycerin. It’s said to have astringent and moisturizing effects. Now, for the recipe… actually, I make the bath additive, dish soap, and lotion all at the same time. That is, after boiling and straining the rosemary, I simply divide it for each purpose. For the lotion, I just add about 5% of the total volume as glycerin. Despite how simple it is, as expected (?), my first attempt was a failure.

When I tried applying the finished lotion to my hands, my palms felt moisturized, but my fingers became as dry and rough as if I had touched paper for too long and stripped them of their natural oils. The cause was adding glycerin haphazardly. Apparently, if you add more than 15-20% glycerin, it can actually draw moisture out of the skin, causing dryness. So, again, the right amount, not just any amount, is crucial. Of course, I didn’t throw away the overly concentrated rosemary lotion. I diluted it with mineral water until my fingers stopped feeling dry, forcing it into a usable state. Naturally, if I had adhered to the 5% concentration from the start, it would have been much less trouble. I use this rosemary lotion on my entire body, heels, and to tighten pores on my nose. There are two important points: use it up as quickly as possible (I aim for about 10 days) and make sure to seal the lid tightly. Otherwise, the glycerin concentration may decrease, so please be careful.

Two Years Later, I Reaffirm the Power of Herbs

Incidentally, while writing this article, I remembered that I had written about herbs in the past. I searched for it and found that it was inmy series from March 2011where I wrote something like, “I want to actively incorporate herbs into my life.” I had been using rosemary in cooking and drinking fresh lemongrass and mint as herbal tea, but this was my first time making anything *from* the herbs themselves. In other words, it took me two years to finally put it into active practice. And it was triggered by my foot injury, so perhaps it can be called a “blessing in disguise.” Or maybe I’m the type who “never takes a fall lying down”!?