Starting at the beginning, not because I intend to continue in order, but simply because it is quite an easy and flexible recipe.
It calls for a long list of aromatic herbs and advises to combine to your individual tastes. Here are all the recommended herbal additions:
Laurel, Thyme, Rosemary, Wild Thyme, Sweet Marjoram, Bastard Marjoram, Lavender, Southwood, Wormwood, Sage, Pennyroyal, Sweet Basil, Balm, Wild Mint, Hyssop, Clove-July-flowers, Anise, Fennel.
The bold ones are the ones I included. My reasoning for my picks of herbs is that I had all of these things already.
After boiling these ingredients together the liquid is to be strained off and ‘some’ brandy added. Upon doing this a green tinted (presumably getting a lot of it’s tint from the rosemary which produces lots of green coloring when boiled separately) quite lovely smelling liquid was produced. The brandy although added once the heat was removed didn’t smell very much through the scent of the herbs.
The recipe does not indicate whether one should dilute the herbal mixture into ones bath water or if enough mixture should be made to bathe in it undiluted. I chose to dilute mine by half with warm water.
At first the aromatic bath felt like any other water (but smelled much better) but after a few minutes my finger tips started tingling, not in any painful way but a very distinct sensation, after removing my hand the sensation slowly subsided.
As the recipe promotes this as good for strengthening the limbs I can assume this would make a less sensitive extremity feel a bit more alive and energized. It also promotes that it removes the pains proceeding from cold and promotes perspiration, on the perspiration front certainly dunking oneself into a hot bath would do that anyway no matter what additives used. Concerning other benefits and side effects, my hand upon removing from the bath was very smooth and felt quite moisturized. Unfortunately after about 30 minutes the skin felt began to feel dry and stiff and needed lotion.
As the recipe promotes this as good for strengthening the limbs I can assume this would make a less sensitive extremity feel a bit more alive and energized. It also promotes that it removes the pains proceeding from cold and promotes perspiration, on the perspiration front certainly dunking oneself into a hot bath would do that anyway no matter what additives used. Concerning other benefits and side effects, my hand upon removing from the bath was very smooth and felt quite moisturized. Unfortunately after about 30 minutes the skin felt began to feel dry and stiff and needed lotion.
