How to Take a Bath with Japanese Green Tea

Have you seen different bathing and shower products that are marketed to have green tea extracts?

Marketing this as one of the healthiest drinks in the world packed with skincare essentials would mean that it could boost skin benefits topically as well. The therapeutic effect of Japanese green tea is felt not just by drinking it but by bathing in it as well.

Although widely consumed as a beverage, there are studies showing that bath therapy using Japanese green tea extract produces catechins, which are not just good for the internal body organs with a wide range of pharmacological effects, including anticarcinogenic activity and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, but they are also considered antibacterial and antioxidant, which could be used as a treatment for certain skin diseases, such as dermatitis.

In Japan, a folk remedy for rashes includes applying green tea leaves directly to the affected area. Tea leaves are natural antioxidants for the body. The antioxidants and caffeine will help rejuvenate your skin, reduce itchiness, and clear redness.

The antioxidants contained in Japanese green tea have anti-aging benefits. Japanese green teas such as gyokuro and matcha are grown in the shade and contain more chlorophyll than other green teas, which makes them an even greater detoxifier. L-Theanine, a rare amino acid found in Japanese green tea, promotes a state of relaxation.

Green tea is also said to tighten pores, nourish, and give you an incredible glow. Japanese green tea leaves contain antioxidants such as tannins, which are astringent compounds that shrink skin's pores and reduce moisture loss, resulting in a smoother texture and bounce. Japanese green tea's antioxidants, which contain antibacterial compounds, also make it a natural deodorizer since Japanese green tea is also good at suppressing bad odor, which is the smell of bacteria growing on the body. Thus, the Japanese green tea leaves are usually mixed with a facial wash to scrub all over the face as a home-made scrub.

For the body, the Japanese green tea leaves are mixed with the body wash for a more vigorous scrubbing to remove dead skin and revitalize the body to leave fresh and smooth skin. Containing properties that help with inflammation, people afflicted with sunburns just need to soak some cooled tea leaves and apply them to the burnt area.

Some would also do the same to their fresh wound to manage the damage. The tannins found in tea leaves help stop bleeding by coagulating the blood. The tannins are helpful in the treatment of minor skin infections, superficial cuts, allergies, and insect bites. These are just some of the benefits of Japanese green tea leaves for our skin; thus, it is no wonder Japanese green tea has become a trending and popular ingredient for skincare and bathing products these days. So, make your own Japanese green tea bath at home and let your skin drink its beautifying antioxidants.

How to use green tea as a Bath Salt

Since the detoxication benefits of bathing in green tea are well known, here is your step-by-step do-it-yourself guide to having a detox bath in Japanese green tea to soothe aches, relax the nervous system, and release toxins from the body.

First, fill the bathtub with hot water at a temperature and quantity that you prefer. You may add some bath salts like Epsom or aromatic essential oils like lavender or peppermint, and squeeze some citrus fruits that also contain natural oils, like orange, to moisturize your skin.

You could also add the peeled orange skin for a more aromatic detox bath. Add a cup of baking soda and the green tea leaves or tea bags, whichever is available to you. You must make sure to have a warm bath to fully extract the tea leaves.

Once everything is prepared, simply soak yourself in the tub and relax for 20 minutes or so. The important part is to make sure that prior to doing this detox, you drink plenty of fluids since a detox bath can make you dehydrated as it removes all the toxins from your body.

You could also store your detox Japanese green tea bath mixture so that it would no longer be bothersome for you to prepare it every time you want to relax in the tub.

Simply mix all the essential oils that you want, the extracts from squeezed juices, the Epsom salt, and the Japanese green tea leaves in a jar, put it in the fridge after stirring all the ingredients well, and enjoy it whenever you feel the need to refresh! This mixture makes a wonderful gift as well.

How to use green tea to make Bath Bombs

You could also make Japanese green tea bath bombs. You will simply need to mix the crushed Japanese green tea leaves and baking soda in a bowl with a ratio of 2 tablespoons, or more depending on your preference, of green tea leaves per half cup of baking soda with a whisk, then add a few drops of essential oils for preference, then the citric acid from your natural citrus fruits, and the melted coconut wax. If the mixture begins to fizz or foam, slow down.

Scoop a small amount and squeeze to test the consistency and see if it will stick together and hold its shape. If it is dry, add more coconut wax until you achieve the right consistency. Put it in a bath bomb mold or any mold of your preference. Some would even add arrowroot powder, Epsom salt, and witch hazel. Pack the mixture very tightly into the molds, and pack the two halves together. Set it aside uncovered for at least overnight in a cool, dry place to form its shape. To create a pretty marbled, swirly look, create a slightly darker color mixture than the first one by using more Japanese green tea leaves.

Then, alternate scoops of these mixtures as you pack the ingredients tightly into your bath bomb molds or muffin tin, and stir very slightly with a chopstick or straw partway through to create the marbled effect. Simply drop the bomb in the tub of refreshing warm water and enjoy your relaxing bath.

Through clinical study, the recommended method for bath therapy treatment using green tea extracts is 700 milliliters of green tea extract solution with 150 liters of filtered tap water at least three times per week, soaking oneself for 30 minutes with a water temperature of 37°C.

If you are bothered to have your children drink a cup of Japanese green tea due to its caffeine content, the benefits of the Japanese green tea could still be implored by bathing your children using its extract.