The last few weeks it seems everyone has been hit with the horrible late-winter cold from hell: wheezing cough, runny nose and an aching body. After giving up on cough drops and sinus meds, I emailed my aunt, who is the director of Healing Hands Wellness Group. She insisted I try this simple DIY detox bath, and man was it effective:
1. Run a hot bath. It opens pores and prepares body for cleansing.
2. Add three pints of hydrogen peroxide (3%). This oxygenates the body and helps purge toxins. It’s also antibacterial and antiviral.
3. Add two ounces of ground ginger, a natural anti-inflammatory that increases blood circulation and helps promote the elimination of toxins through sweat.
4. Soak for about 30 minutes.
5. Drink lots of water; You need to replenish what’s being pulled out of your system.
Within 5 minutes of soaking in the tub, my body felt like it had turned into a faucet. Sweat started pouring down my face and out of every pore. Afterward, I drank two large glasses of water and crawled into bed. I slept like a baby that night, and to my surprise, woke up feeling more energetic and less achy than the day before. Miraculous! I only need that one soak to feel vastly better, but my aunt suggests repeating the bath for up to three days if symptons persist. –Hannah
Disclaimer: We are not doctors, nor do we claim to be. This recipe is not intended to serve as a diagnosis or prescription. If you are pregnant or have any concerns about saftey, please consult your physician first.
Filed Under: detox bath, DIY spa recipe, health hands wellness group waseca, natural cold remedies
Hello lovelies! I'm Elizabeth Dehn, a beauty writer + lifestyle editor who's equally fanatical about lip gloss as juice cleansing. I live in Minneapolis with Mr. Bets and our white lab, Molly Thomas . . . 
Not all doctors know their stuff. That’s a fact proven over and over again. Natural remedies are always best. There is always a price your body pays when using prescription and OTC drugs. So I personally go the natural route. However, you also have to research, listen to the experts which a lot are doctors who specialize in natural medicine. You can also use common sense. For example, after reading this post my first thoughts are that that is too much peroxide to add in water and them sit in it. I believe peroxide is antiseptic. But I don’t think is a good idea to sit my toushie in it.. I wouldn’t wanna burn delicate skin. This is just common sense. Now ginger, which is an amazing food that can do great things to your body. Have u ever eaten ginger or drank the tea? It burns in your mouth and also as you drink it you feel that little burn in your esophagus. Much like eating peppercorns and hot peppers but lower intensity. Now using my COMMON SENSE, why would I want to sit in water filled with ginger? If it make the skin in my mouth burn. What will it do to the very delicate skin of my privates??? Yeah No! I don’t thing so! One thing is to use natural medicine to cure and another to foolishly hurt your body with ‘natural ingredients’ I’m sure no person in their right mind would add Tabasco to they bath and sit in it for 30min. Ginger and peroxide is just as foolish. Sorry to sound negative but this is just common sense! And I agree with many here. You skin CANNOT DRINK WATER!!! The only way it absorbs is through a medium such as oils. But not water! People
Please!!
I highly doubt 2 ounces of ginger diluted in a tub full of water is going to burn anything.
besides it’s ground ginger…in powder form.
If you are concerned about the peroxide you could use honey which has some of the same properties. But it would have to be real honey and that can be hard to find, not to mention expensive. Plus you would run a much higher risk of yeast infections etc using the honey.
The ginger in the water would not be near enough to burn you. The peroxide would not hurt you either. I know of a few girls who use peroxide to successfully treat BV . Just let that sink in….where the peroxide goes…and they come out of it fine, not burned and BV free.
Yes I believe you should use common sense but I also believe you can be too scared of things. I kept having this problem and all the meds the doctors gave me just made it worse. Finally an older lady who uses natural remedies told me do something different. It was weird, it seemed nuts and it also seemed like it could hurt. She assured me it would not. I tried it and it worked first time. So keep an open mind. Most natural remedies have been used for centuries in some form or another. Humans usually don’t continue to do things that hurt or harm us or don’t work.
No your skin does not drink water but the heat from the water will open up your pores and absorb what ever is in the steam. I’m sure that is what this bath is intended to do.
DO NOT TRY THIS BATH! I am a 23 year woman with mildly sensitive skin and I just completed this bath….my skin is burning like crazy! I feel like I just laid in the sun for about 3 hours too long. I am actually afraid that something is terribly wrong and I’m considering going to the hospital (mind you I am a bit of a hypochondriac). But something does feel off. I got this recipe off Pinterest and did not even read the comments first before trying, if I had, I surely wouldn’t have tried it. I feel stupid almost for not doing better research! Now I have to deal with this feeling until it goes away. Cross your fringers for me that it goes away quickly :/
Whoops I mean 23 year old woman* and I mean fingers* not fringers obviously! I was so distraught I was misspelling things! lol
Tried this last night and used fresh ground ginger. It smelled incredible. The instructions did not mention if the ginger was dried or fresh. I drank lots of water afterwards and woke up in the wee hours of the morning with a doozie of a migrane headache.It had me down for the count until the middle of the afternoon. If this stuff burns your skin, might I suggest that you rinse off with a quick shower afterwards. I am glad it worked for some of you, as for me, I am never going to try this one again!
2 oz of powdered ginger by weight or by volume?
I’ve never used ginger in a bath, but I have done epsom salts and peroxide and never had a problem. I usually do dry skin brushing first. I always shower afterward, to rinse the peroxide off my skin.
I have been reading on the benefits of ginger baths. First time I have come across a detox bath recipe with HP. I personally will skip the HP in my bath but will stick with just using ginger :-)
If you’d like a nice relaxing bath to help with cold symptoms, I highly recommend a good hot bath with Epsom salts and essential oils of eucalyptus and lavender. Eucalyptus IS anti-viral, antimicrobial and anti-bacterial. It’s excellent for soothing sinuses and coughs (one of the main ingredients in Vicks VapoRub). The magnesium in the Epsom salts DOES absorb through the skin. It’s both relaxing (along with the lavender oil) and good for you as a mineral supplement that most people need.
The ginger seems fine to me, but the peroxide? have you ever accidentally gotten peroxide on your skin and it temporarily bleaches it????
Just tried the ginger-peroxide bath… Used 2 pints HP and 1oz ground ginger, my skin is tingling & burning. If I had put the full amount of all the ingredients not sure what I would be feeling. Never did really sweat, and it took the full 30 minutes for the tingling to start. As soon as I could i took a shower to get the ginger etc off skin. Have been out of the water for 30 minutes now and my legs are still burning/tingling. Concerned of what I’d feel like if I’d used the full amount of HP & ginger.
Won’t be doing it again…
I have used this bath many times, I have never experienced any burning of skin or anything of that matter. I only used one pint of HP as that’s all I usually have on hand, and a few tablespoons of grated ginger. I make sure the water is as hot as I can stand it, and I sweat & my skin gets very rosy & my head pounds from all of the sweating. I rinse off in a cold shower & drink close to a half gallon of water when I’m done. I feel very weak & lightheaded until I replace the lost liquids, then rest or sleep, & I feel amazing.
DO NOT TRY I AS WELL HAD EXTREAM BURNING THROUGHOUT NY ENTIRE BODY EVEN AFTER A COOL SHOWER ! SOMETHINGS NOT RIGHT
I did this a few hours ago and used the amounts listed. I had no issues with anything.
I have never used HP in my bath, but I have used ginger…. Although I didnt use 2 oz. it’s never burned my skin. Also… The comment about Ebsom salts and essential oils is true. Just did this tonight and feel great.
3 pints is too much. Also if your skin is dry it will effect you more. Start out with one pint
first time .
Dont use hp, especially in such a large amount. The skin doesn’t “drink” water but it does absorb it – Hence why you have pores, for secretion and absorption. I believe too much of the peroxide could make you ill and basically poison you. There are both good and bad bacteria in/on the body. Using the peroxide could kill too much good bacteria along with dry out your skin and not to mention the steam made from the hot water will have you inhaling the peroxide in vaporous form. A hot bath will help you detox even with out peroxide. For a little boost add some lemon juice or coconut oil. I dont see the harm in a small amount of ginger because Ginger is an edible substance, but peroxide on the othet hand is not. If you wont eat it, you probably shouldnt submerge and soak in it.
A great alternative is 1 Cup of Lavendar Epsom Salt, 1/2 cup baking soda, 3-4 tablespoons of ground ginger, and an essential oil of your choice. I tried this bath for the first time —
A- MAZEBALLS! I sweat a lot and felt great! Absolutely no buring or discomfort. I too drank a lot of water before and after the bath…slept like a baby.
Love this, Laura!
I don’t know about the HP. I have been doing the detox baths with Epson salts, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, a bit of ginger and coconut oil. I feel amazing afterwards and no burning. I use 1 to 2 cups of each and just a couple tbsp. of ground ginger. The coconut does wonders for my skin. If you have a spare razor laying around, I suggest rubbing the coconut oil on your legs, shaving and then rinsing…my legs have never been so smooth and I’ve never gotten that close of a shave. it will clog your razor pretty bad though.
I believe that if you are having issues with the bath (I will not try it because I rarely have access to a bath and want a more relaxing experience than a detox) and other people aren’t, then more than likely you are allergic to one or more of the ingredients… or you have dry cracked skin that becomes inflamed by the irritants in the water. Remember, you will not always be able to tell if your epidermis is cracked, the damage is microscopic… but it’s safe to say that if you have dry skin, it’s cracked. To test, put bath-and-bodyworks lotion in any strong scent on your forearms (these lotions have alcohol in them to make the scents evaporate for smelling). If any part of your arm is even slightly irritated (no matter how tiny the spot) then you have damaged epidermal cells and NOTHING you add to your bathwater is going to feel good except a nice oil.
Chances are you will never try this bath again, but if you are allergic to either ingredient, you should know so that in the future you steer clear of them. HP is used frequently for cuts and abrasions for it’s anti-septic qualities… if it’s bubbling, there is something there to be killed. If I were allergic to it, I certainly would want to know. Ginger is highly “prescribed” by ob-gyn doctors and midwives for it’s effects on settling the gastro-intestinal tracts (aka: it eases morning sickness). Many women with stomachs so messed up in their pregnancies are told to keep genuine ginger-snaps in their bed-side table (genuine meaning real ginger). If you are allergic to ginger, you could be in serious trouble following that prescription if you have no clue you’re allergic.
My humble advice is that if you have any question about it, see your local allergist to make an appointment to identify any unknown allergies.
Strange for you all I tried this and I had no burning issue, maybe a slight tingle around the vag and I used way, way more ginger, like entire container, :shrug: felt much better even a day later, I did use baking soda instead of HP cuz I’m cheap but seriously can’t wait to try this again! Literally going to CVs to get more supplies
I know Ginger has a lot of healing properties, so I wouldn’t mind trying it in a bath. I read some I the comments above and was shocked at how ill informed people are. H2O2 is a natural substance. Good bacteria in your body are aerobic which means they thrive in oxygen rich environments. Some even produce H2O2 inside your body! Most bad bacterial are anaerobic and will die in an environment like this. Therefore H2O2 when used correctly will NOT harm you. It will help. By the way, I just took a 50 gallon bath with 4 pints of H2O2… There was NO burning sensation.
Followed directions exactly. No burning issues. Have severe sinus infection. Started to sweat after 10 minutes. Did cause a migraine. Not surprised. Drank lots of water went to bed. Feel thousand times better this morning.
When hydrogen peroxide is added to water it loses the extra oxygen molecule and becomes water (from h2o2 to h2o) any fx are from the ginger. Try mixing a little ginger with water, put it on your wrist and leave it for 30 min. If itburns dont do the bath, if not, bathe away. Your kidneys liver and spleen filter toxins from your body, and ground ginger is way to big to be absorbed theough the skin. Any sweating is most likely from a hot bath and ginger on the skin
Can you put tea tree oil in a bath? That is the only one I have.
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Does this work for the flu? Did this bath once before when I was really sick. Had no burning, I felt awful when I got out of the bath but I took a long nap & drank lots of water and felt 100 times better when I woke up.
I’m a healthy 26 year old and I’ve tried this bath at least 4 times and I find it works wonders! I use about half the amount of HP or sometimes none at all because I don’t have access to it. After about 10 mins I start to sweat. Sometimes my skin feels tingly, but not in a bad way. I keep a big glass of water nearby to keep hydrated. I stay in for as long as I can stand (about half an hour). I rinse off with a shower, put on lots of warm clothes, drink more water and go to bed. I do wake up with a headache sometimes because I’m dehydrated, but it goes away when I drink more water. Every time I wake up feeling waaaay better!
Whenever I’m coming down with something, I try to take this bath, and load up on echinacea, and my colds never last more than 1-3 days and are very mild. All natural is the way to go!
@Dani – You are a true testament to this recipe! Thank you for weighing in. I agree – natural is the way to go!
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Hydrogen peroxide is, scientifically, H2O2 meaning there is a single extra oxygen molecule than in water. I don’t understand how this could possibly hurt you diluted into a bath tub full of water. You could drink it on an empty stomach and not have a problem, it will oxidize your body. Then again it’s in a small portion in a glass of water. Also, if you’re using less the 35% h2o2, it would make sense this would hurt you because of all the fillers (meaning heavy metals). HD with 35% h2o2 is considered “pure”. I tried this bath with no fear and the recommended ingredients and feel great. How’s that for common sense? ;)
Also if you plan on drinking it, do not eat before or after for about 30-40 minutes. And only use about 11 drops in an 8 oz glass. It will give you a Hell of a boost.
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Do NOT, I repeat do NOT soak in Hydrogen Peroxide. It does not have antiseptic properties, nor does it have antibacterial properties. It quite literally DISSOLVES AWAY YOUR SKIN. Not in a drastic way but it does this all the same. My mother for years poured Hydrogen Peroxide on our little cuts and booboos thinking it helped heal them. You may be asking how I know this effect of Hydrogen Peroxide; well dearies this past semester of college I took a Microbiology class and our professor told us this interesting little fact that is not known well. Now just to ensure you that she was not some crazy Jack-in-the-box professor, this was at a UNIVERSITY and she has a PHD in Microbiology. She knows her stuff and was absolutely brilliant. She’s even conducting her own research studies that were recognized by the university and more because of it’s prestige. I’m not one to comment on these pages normally, but this is actually false information that is DANGEROUS! Be good to your body people, it’s the only one you get! Don’t sit and soak in Hydrogen Peroxide…no matter how diluted it is!
I think when it comes to any form of remedy, may it be OTC, prescription, or natural… Everyone is going to have their own experience. Over the past few years I have had sinus infections of which doctors just kept throwing anti-biotics at. I finally turned to natural remedies to help resolve my issues, and I have not turned back since.
I have very sensitive skin, and am very fair. So if I were to get a rash, it would be extremely noticeable and unsightly. So I skipped out on the HP, because I was unsure. I am working with a natural healer, and I got a slap on the wrist for using Epsom salts. They are known to cause infections and have unnecessary additives that are toxic to your body.
What I have found that works for me is a combination of different things that fit my body chemistry. Just like every family has their own recipes for example. I use dead sea salt and the ginger recommended in the post we all have read. It is amazing. I just recommend rinsing off in the shower afterwards in case you are worried about residue from the ginger causing a reaction. However, it is not a lot of ginger that is going in. It works wonders.
You may get a headache from it if your body is detoxing, and it’s up to the user if they get the migraine of if they will try it again. I got a headache overnight from it the first time, but found that when I did it again, the headache was not there.
Everyone’s body is different. I’m not going to bash using HP, because I know it has some great qualities, as one poster has mentioned about it helping women with BV. We each discover and adapt to our own routines, but I think this was a beneficial post and it definitely has helped me with a few tweaks.
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