Bathtub Club http://bathrx.com/blog BathRX transforms your bath water into a relaxing, calming treatment for your body and mind. Come share your favorite bath thoughts. Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:41:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 The Spirit of Water http://bathrx.com/blog/the-spirit-of-water-2/ http://bathrx.com/blog/the-spirit-of-water-2/#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:41:33 +0000 http://bathrx.com/blog/?p=174 The Spirit of Water

Carolyn L. Bessette, M.D.

“You are water and the wisdom of water you know. So just allow yourself to flow, and then the wonder grows…” –Masaru Emoto

Our bodies are 90% water. In traditional western medicine the primary focus for the treatment of disease is the physical body. Addressing the physical symptoms of illness is the mainstay for the practice of medicine today but we must not forget the underlying spiritual/emotional aspects. Health is wholeness. I would like to bring to your attention the physical as well as spiritual attributes of water. It has the power to heal.

It is well-known that most of the illness that modern people suffer is stress-related. It is ironic that as economic growth improves the quality of life diminishes. Dr. Hirukawa, a Japanese cultural researcher, stated “In American society, there is something that requires people to be in a manic state all of the time. People have to fight and win without a break.” This cultural norm contributes significantly to the deteriorated state of health in America.

Learning to turn inward and form a peaceful inner environment can help restore a sense of balance and harmony to one’s life. The sanctuary of the bathtub can provide the vehicle for this type of peaceful meditation. Water is inexpensive, readily available, and flows freely from any faucet.

Many religions imply symbolic meaning to water. In Christianity, baptismal water is used to symbolize the washing away of sin. In Jewish beliefs, water is a symbol of purity. In Hinduism, it is a symbol of fertility. In Taoism, water is regarded as a symbol of humility because it always seeks the lowest point.

The flow of water has much to teach us. Life is a process of ebb and flow, not an event. Because the vast majority of our bodies are composed of water, we are connected to water in deeply significant ways. I invite you to rediscover this connection you have with water. By soaking in water, you will be able to return to who you really are. “You have just forgotten for a while that you are water. As you let the water flow gently through your mind and your body, it will heal you at your core.” (Emoto)

Bath therapies, utilizing the spiritual powers of water, can be a revolutionary tool to improve your health, physically and spiritually. Different bath additives including various salts, essential oils, sodium or calcium bicarbonate, and vitamins can enhance the benefits from soaking in the water alone.

I have benefited greatly from my fair share of evening soaks and have restored my own sense of balance and inner peace through bath therapy. My hope is that others can benefit from these simple techniques and find relief from physical pain or mental stress with the healing power of the therapeutic bath.

Dr. Carolyn Bessette is founder of BathRx, Inc. She can be reached at bathrx.com.

]]> http://bathrx.com/blog/the-spirit-of-water-2/feed/ 0 The Spirit of Water http://bathrx.com/blog/the-spirit-of-water/ http://bathrx.com/blog/the-spirit-of-water/#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:41:09 +0000 http://bathrx.com/blog/?p=190 The Spirit of Water

Carolyn L. Bessette, M.D.

“You are water and the wisdom of water you know. So just allow yourself to flow, and then the wonder grows…” –Masaru Emoto

Our bodies are 90% water. In traditional western medicine the primary focus for the treatment of disease is the physical body. Addressing the physical symptoms of illness is the mainstay for the practice of medicine today but we must not forget the underlying spiritual/emotional aspects. Health is wholeness. I would like to bring to your attention the physical as well as spiritual attributes of water. It has the power to heal.

It is well-known that most of the illness that modern people suffer is stress-related. It is ironic that as economic growth improves the quality of life diminishes. Dr. Hirukawa, a Japanese cultural researcher, stated “In American society, there is something that requires people to be in a manic state all of the time. People have to fight and win without a break.” This cultural norm contributes significantly to the deteriorated state of health in America.

Learning to turn inward and form a peaceful inner environment can help restore a sense of balance and harmony to one’s life. The sanctuary of the bathtub can provide the vehicle for this type of peaceful meditation. Water is inexpensive, readily available, and flows freely from any faucet.

Many religions imply symbolic meaning to water. In Christianity, baptismal water is used to symbolize the washing away of sin. In Jewish beliefs, water is a symbol of purity. In Hinduism, it is a symbol of fertility. In Taoism, water is regarded as a symbol of humility because it always seeks the lowest point.

The flow of water has much to teach us. Life is a process of ebb and flow, not an event. Because the vast majority of our bodies are composed of water, we are connected to water in deeply significant ways. I invite you to rediscover this connection you have with water. By soaking in water, you will be able to return to who you really are. “You have just forgotten for a while that you are water. As you let the water flow gently through your mind and your body, it will heal you at your core.” (Emoto)

Bath therapies, utilizing the spiritual powers of water, can be a revolutionary tool to improve your health, physically and spiritually. Different bath additives including various salts, essential oils, sodium or calcium bicarbonate, and vitamins can enhance the benefits from soaking in the water alone.

I have benefited greatly from my fair share of evening soaks and have restored my own sense of balance and inner peace through bath therapy. My hope is that others can benefit from these simple techniques and find relief from physical pain or mental stress with the healing power of the therapeutic bath.

Dr. Carolyn Bessette is founder of BathRx, Inc. She can be reached at bathrx.com.

]]> http://bathrx.com/blog/the-spirit-of-water/feed/ 0 The Healing Power of Water http://bathrx.com/blog/the-healing-power-of-water/ http://bathrx.com/blog/the-healing-power-of-water/#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:38:42 +0000 http://bathrx.com/blog/?p=50

Next Agenda Item: Schedule Time for Self

by Carolyn Bessette, M.D.

 

Our schedules are squeezed every which way by the demands of work, family, community and social obligations, housework and more. We know how far we can push our spouses, children, bosses and friends when a sudden emergency pops up and we need a little extra time to save the day. What we as women seldom seem to recognize is how far we can push ourselves—and when it’s time to stop pushing and insist on some down time so we can relax and revive.

When you have no time for yourself, your stress levels just keep rising. You are more likely to develop the physical manifestations of stress—headaches, insomnia, racing heartbeat, irritability, anxiety, depression, digestive disruptions, stomach ulcers. You may burn out at work. At home you may begin to feel resentment and anger, or a loss of identity. Suddenly you are no longer your interesting self but a servant to people and causes outside you. Your attitude about your schedule can also have an impact. If everything must be perfect, and you must do it all yourself, and you’re so tightly scheduled that the least challenge causes everything to spin out of control, then your perspective is contributing to your stress experience.

Fortunately, you can change your stress level with a few fairly simple actions. First, decide that your “me time” is a priority for you. It cannot be disrupted by extra work projects, places family members suddenly need to go or anything else. Your “me time” can actually improve your health by reducing stress. We know this intuitively—40% of women surveyed in 2005 by the National Women’s Health Resource Center cited “reducing stress” and “more time to take care of myself” as the things that would most improve their health. They’re right—so what can we all do to enforce our “me time” and make the most of it?

My favorite “me time” is spent in the bath. It’s simple and fast, and a relaxing bath reboots your brain and body by letting stress drain away and letting calm and clarity take its place. Baths are a great time for reflection, and going into the bathroom and shutting the door sends a message to the family that for the next 15 minutes you are not to be disturbed. The warm water of the bath and the beneficial effect of bath additives combine to produce a real change in your mindset, which leaves you better able to return to your daily challenges.

But no matter how helpful and soothing baths are, they can’t help if you don’t take them. Get out your calendar and decide when your “me time” should be. Choose a time when your responsibilities are fewer and the likelihood of privacy is greater. Make it a time that you will reliably be home, so you can use the same time each week, because habit is a very important reinforcer of good behaviors. Let the people you live with know that you will be unavailable at your chosen time—and stick to it. Your break should be non-negotiable. You deserve it.

Dr. Carolyn Bessette is founder of BathRx, Inc. She can be reached at bathrx.com

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