Saga Ureshino Tea Bath in Kyushu, Japan

Green tea is known for its detoxifying properties, so no surprise that bathing in it may very well be beneficial. Green tea is a source of polyphenolic antioxidants, and these have been identified as helping to prevent skin cell damage. Some research indicates that green tea helps mitigate the effects of UV exposure, as well.

“Of all the antioxidants known to mankind, the components of green tea are the most potent. Antioxidants are those agents which can counteract the effects of oxidant radicals.” These are the words of Dr. H. Muktar PhD, of Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, Ohio, where research into the benefits of green tea has been ongoing. These studies have suggested that green tea has both anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties that may be useful in treating skin disorders. It has also been suggested that green tea may help slow down skin aging, though actual results of tests are mixed.

For those who need to know, the polyphenols in green tea are mainly of a type called catechins. For comparison, green tea has about 6 or 7 times the catechins of black tea.

In any case, these sorts of tests take years, even decades, before they are conclusive. Let’s look at what we know.

First, green tea is safe. Whatever happens, it’s not going to hurt you. Japanese and Chinese have been drinking it for centuries. The Japanese have been drinking it almost exclusively. Japanese also have remarkably smooth skin and one of the world’s longest lifespans.

While green tea creams and other products are available in Japan, they obviously are most used to drinking it. But, a vital part of Japanese life is the bath, the ofuro. The bath is seen as a place for relaxation, and even as a place to spend time with the family. On top of that, public baths regularly are known for the mineral content of their water, sometimes natural and sometimes with ingredients added. They deeply believe that bath waters can be very healthy. A moment’s thought and this would make sense. Hot water opens the skin pores, allowing toxins to come out, and minerals in the water to come in.

So, why not try bathing in it? People report various things after taking a green tea bath. At worst, they had a relaxing bath with a funny smell (more on ways to get around that later). At best, their skin condition improved noticeably.

First off, if you are at all squeamish about doing it yourself, if you want something that smells nice and familiar, or if you just can’t be bothered – there is a whole selection of green tea bath salts, soaps and oils available at very low prices. Head over to OpenTip.com and seach for “green tea” in their search bar. You’ll find everything you could want, and all of it fairly cheap, as they are a wholesale outlet.

That said, there’s no way to know how much real green tea you are getting in any of these products. If that’s a concern, it’s easy enough to make your own tea bath. The easist way is to dump green tea powder into your bath, just 2 teaspoons to start. See how that goes, and if you want to add more, try it a teaspoon at a time.

I’m not crazy about thise method because it’s a bit harder to clean the tub, and I’m worried that the powder may clog the drain. That hasn’t happened that I know of, but those are my reasons.

Better yet is to use a few tea bags added to very hot bath water. Or, actually make some strong Japanese green tea, and pour the hot tea into your bath. Obviously, do this before you get in! (Don’t want any burns.)

If you want to alter the smell, or add other things to your bath, a great idea is to take a small muslin bag or reusable teabag and mix your own bath essence. You can add anything you want. Below are just two examples*

• Two tablespoons green tea
• 4 Tablespoons chamomile
• The rest can be bath salts or another herb.

Or…

• Two tablespoons green tea
• A few drops of chamomile oil
• Some lavender flowers or oil
• Add dried orange or lemon peel

These are just ideas. You can play around with the mix until you find something that you really like. If you finds the smell of green tea too strong, you are simply using too much. Cut back a bit. If it still seems strong, add more scents such as those above.

One more thing. Don’t forget to actually drink green tea, as well! Between that and these baths, you will be gaining a world of health and beauty benefits. Enjoy!