Bath Salts have been the news a lot lately.
And I admit I was confused. Plus, a reader asked me, so I thought should bone up.
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest … I had just seen Snow White and the Huntsman and was reading reviews to see if others noticed the same things I did.
One of them compared Charlize Theron's evil queen Ravenna with Elizabeth Bathory, a 16th century Hungarian aristocrat infamous for torturing and killing up to 650 victims, rumor has it, many of them young girls, to preserve her own youthful beauty. Not surprisingly, she got the moniker, "Blood Countess". According to Historical Hussies:
The legend of bathing in blood originated 100 years after [Bathory's] death, but it is believed she rubbed the blood of victims over her body and face like lotion. When she was arrested she was found hovering over the body of a dead girl, frantically rubbing the girls' blood into her skin."
Whereas Ravenna was really only into eating bloody hearts (with some very nice clip-on talons I might add; why doesn't Kiss nails make those?); she preferred bathing in milk. At least it's supposed to be milk, although it looked more like liquefied soy paste. But it caused quite a stir, since it certainly worked for Charliz…er, Ravenna.
Back to the Bath Salts
Apparently bath salts are making people eat each other's faces off and emulate similar zombie-like behaviors. So charming. And alarming. But hold on, before you swear off your Epsom salts soak.
These bath salts are a drug. The Washington Post explains (under the headline Zombie Apocalypse, no less):
… bath salts are a form of synthetic cocaine that can produce paranoia and hallucinations — or a set of "amphetamine-like chemicals" that give you the strength of 16 men — or a constantly shifting, bewildering concatenation of chemicals ("our knowledge about their precise chemical composition and short- and long-term effects is limited," writes Nora Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse) …"
Props to her for using the word 'concatenation' (for my campaign to bring back the multisyllabic word) but … back to the Twilight Zone. New theory! Maybe Elizabeth Bathory somehow stumbled upon some combo of chemicals (mushrooms in the Hungarian forest?) that were the equivalent of these bath salts, which sparked her girl-eating spree!
OK, what have we learned?
- Blood does not confer youth – unless you eat a nutrient rich diet to fuel your own blood, which in turn feeds your skin cells so you look younger.
- Milk baths are good for you (ask Cleopatra!) because of the proteins and enzymes that exfoliate and soften. Pour a cup or two in your tub.
- Salt, sea salt, is great to bathe in since it stimulates circulation, helps relieve stiffness in joints, aids with arthritis and back pain, and soothes fatigued legs and feet, according to Saltworks.
Don't think baths are just for winter weather, either. Just 10 minutes in a cool summer bath can lower your internal core temperature by several degrees (you'll save on A/C), cheer you up, strengthen your immune system, and help keep skin softer (hot water is drying). Don't forget the milk or salt.
Plus, a hot bath can turn you into a zombie. Whereas cool baths perk you up!
Sheesh, I can't believe I have to explain this stuff.
More unique insights on beauty:
Vampire Face Lift
Secrets of Historical Beauties
Fashion Accessories to Keep You Cool!
10 Ways to Maximize Your Beauty Sleep
(P.S. Elizabeth Bathory's diaries & letters are still untranscibed in an archive! I'm so curious what they say, arent you?)
