How Taking a Bath Could Improve Your Health

might be all the rage these days, but don't sleep on taking a bath that's hot: According to experts and research, a long, hot soak in the tub can have plenty of health benefits too.“The mind and body are intrinsically linked, constantly exchanging information, and responding to one another as we move through the world,” says Sarah St John, energy healer and founder of . “Our emotions affect our bodies, and our bodies affect our emotions.

One way to face and release those negative energies from our bodies is with healing ritual baths.”Here’s why a long, hot soak may be just what the doctor ordered.Irregular fluctuations in —the daily biological changes that affect our body and brain and tell us when it’s time to wake up and when to sleep —often occur in people suffering from depression and anxiety.

Changes in these rhythms also mean changes in core body temperature. Bathing, as well as being a relaxing ritual in itself, is a great way to raise body temperature and in turn kick start the body’s circadian rhythm to get it back on a more regular footing.A , conducted by the University of Freiburg, found this to be the case when they assessed 45 people with diagnosed depression. “Floating in the bath can also replicate the feeling of being in the womb, making you feel safe and comforted,” says St John.

If you’re constantly feeling in a , your cortisol levels are likely to be elevated. As well as causing disruptions to your sleep patterns, too much cortisol can negatively affect everything from skin and digestion to a dysgulated nervous system. “Most of us feel so relieved after emerging from a nice, long bath, because it naturally lowers our cortisol levels,” adds St John. “Cortisol is the so-called stress hormone, so when.