Black tea spilling out of a jar

7 Amazing Benefits of Tea Baths

Last updated: August 2nd, 2021

Is there anything better than a long soak in a steamy tub at the end of a hectic day? As it turns out, yes—you could take a tea bath! This form of therapy is all the rage among the celebrity set. However, because the practice is so affordable, just about anyone can indulge in it.

Tea baths do more than soothe tired nerves and muscles, although they’re splendid for this purpose. They can also remedy several ailments, from acne to the pain of chronic inflammatory conditions.

When you need to unwind, why not do so in a way that benefits your health? Here’s how!

How to infuse a bath with tea


When it comes to infusing your bath water with tea, you have two options—adding the tea directly, or using a bag of dried herbs. You can, of course, float fresh herbs atop your bubbles for a spa-like touch.

Adding tea directly to your bath To use this method, bring water to a boil and pour it over dried herbs contained in a metal strainer—for looseleaf—or a teabag. Let it steep for at least 20 minutes before straining it and adding the liquid directly to your tub.

Using dried herbs To use this method, you’ll need a cheesecloth bag. Add a dried herbal blend to the sack and lower it into your bath. You could sprinkle in the herbs directly, but this method might leave an unsightly mess in your tub—not good if you share with roommates or family. Plus, it feels weird, like submerging yourself in pond water.

7 health benefits of tea baths


If you’re looking for more details about why a tea bath will likely benefit you, here are seven specific reasons to say “aah” this evening.

They ease stress

Stress is a silent killer, and doctors implicate undue pressure in exacerbating a host of ailments. Stress causes your body to release the hormone cortisol, and too much of this substance in your bloodstream leads to symptoms like breaking out in hives and getting sick often. 

Relieving stress lowers the amount of cortisol circulating in your blood, and this decrease in hormone production can reduce inflammation naturally. Since inflammation is your body’s response to injury, calming the body eases symptoms of multiple ailments and enables the natural healing process to begin. 

Their heat aids with absorption

When you apply heat, this reduces muscle cramps and spasms that can lead to pain. It also enables your body to absorb the beneficial ingredients in your tea bath through your skin. Typically, 92 degrees Fahrenheit (or about 33 degrees Celsius) is the ideal temperature for pain management—something that’s achievable in a tub.

Think of your muscles as a line of defense. When they’re standing rigidly at attention, healing molecules can’t break the chain. When they relax, these substances can get to work. 

They detoxify the skin

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, serving as a barrier between you and the outside world. It can also absorb anything from toxic chemicals to healing herbs. 

Unfortunately, these toxins can build up over time, leaving you prone to acne and other skin ailments, but you can detoxify with a bath of bentonite clay, Epsom salts and your favorite essential oils. Bring lots of towels for this detox, as you’re going to slather yourself with the mud to make a full-body mask. Then, relax and visualize all that nastiness swirling down the drain when you rinse. 

They promote wound healing

Several herbs help promote the quicker healing of wounds. You should see a physician for deep punctures or slashes requiring stitches, but for minor cuts and abrasions, try infusing your bath with one of these herbs. Some may grow right in your backyard!

Yarrow This yellow-and-white flower, common along Pennsylvania roadsides, can speed up wound healing in rabbits, so it’s not a giant hop to assume it works for humans, too. 

Goldenrod If you have seasonal allergies, you might want to give this herb a pass. However, if you don’t, this yellow flower can ease inflammation and speed up the healing process. 

Coltsfoot This plant, which is similar to comfrey, helps knit damaged tissue together. 

They help the skin fight free radicals and sun damage

Nearly any tea, from green to black, contains antioxidants that fight free radicals in the skin. We may not be aware of it, but oxidative stress actually wages a constant war against the body. Throughout this process, oxygen splits into single atoms, leaving each unpaired electron feeling lonely. Then these electrons (or free radicals) seek out new mates, damaging your cellular DNA along the way.

Submerging yourself in a tub filled with teabags can help eradicate these free radicals from your skin’s surface, where they can cause wrinkles.

They can decrease the symptoms of psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes red and itchy scales to erupt on your skin. One study indicated that participants who took the Chinese herb indigo naturalis experienced a significant decrease in their symptoms, and they also showed lower levels of interleukin-17, a marker of inflammation pertaining to this disorder. You can find indigo naturalis online or in health food stores. 

They reduce inflammation in general

Finally, inflammation results from your immune system’s response to an invader. While this process serves a purpose—think of the way your knee swells up if you bump it, to protect it from further injury—it also leads to significant pain. Doctors implicate long-term inflammation with nearly every disease known to humanity. 

To reduce inflammation, try soaking in a bath infused with turmeric, black pepper and ashwagandha. The piperine in black pepper increases the bioavailability of the curcumin in turmeric significantly. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, meaning it helps your body resist and repair from the damaging effects of stress. It acts as a catalyst to spur overall healing and enhance other herbs. 

What are you waiting for?


Woman soaking in tub (black and white graphic)

You can boost your health and well-being significantly with tea baths. The process feels fantastic, so why are you still scrolling? Get soaking!

«RELATED READ» THE JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY: An ancient ritual with modern relevance»


image 1: Wikimedia Commons; image 2: Pixabay

  1. Hello! Just an fyi, while they both contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, comfrey and coltsfoot are different herbs, not the same herb, as is mentioned in the article. You can see they are discussed as separate herbs in the link under “helps knit damaged tissue.” Comfrey is also known as boneknit and is used in sitz and other baths to help with muscle tension. Not so much coltsfoot.

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