Oats & Flowers Bath Soak Recipe

This Oats & Flowers Bath Soak Recipe is great for itchy or dry skin.  It gently soothes with a calming floral aroma.

Oats & Flowers Bath Soak Ingredients

• 2 cups of oats – ground
• 1 cup of dried lavender – ground
• 1 cup of dried calendula – ground
• 1 cup of dried chamomile – ground

Oats & Flowers Bath Soak Instructions

Combine the four dried ingredients together in jar.  Add about a cup to bath.

Oats & Flowers Bath Soak Research

OATS – RESEARCH

• Colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) has been used for centuries as a topical treatment for various skin conditions and was used in a blind study on twenty-nine female subjects with mild to moderate itching on their dry lower legs. The oatmeal significantly improved skin dryness, texture, and itch intensity.  From:  Michelle Garay, M. S., Judith Nebus, M. B. A., & Menas Kizoulis, B. A. (2015). Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 14(1), 43-48.
• Active colloidal oatmeal moisturizer showed effectiveness in this randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study.   From:  Kalaaji, A. N., & Wallo, W. (2014). A randomized controlled clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of an active moisturizing lotion with colloidal oatmeal skin protectant versus its vehicle for the relief of xerosis. Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD, 13(10), 1265-1268.
• This overview of oatmeal (Avena sativa) shows research for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can be useful in topically treating pruritus, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and viral and fungal infections. From:  Pazyar, N., Yaghoobi, R., Kazerouni, A., & Feily, A. (2012). Oatmeal in dermatology: a brief review. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, 78(2), 142.
• Based on in vitro and animal studies, avenanthramides from oats were a potent skin anti-itch and anti-inflammatory. From:  Sur, R., Nigam, A., Grote, D., Liebel, F., & Southall, M. D. (2008). Avenanthramides, polyphenols from oats, exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-itch activity. Archives of dermatological research, 300(10), 569.

CALENDULA – RESEARCH

• Calendula improved skin elasticity, tightness, and hydration.  From:  Akhtar, N., Zaman, S. U., Khan, B. A., Amir, M. N., & Ebrahimzadeh, M. A. (2011). Calendula extract: effects on mechanical parameters of human skin. Acta Pol. Pharm, 68(5), 693-701.
• Phenolic acids, flavonoids, sterols, terpenoids, and triterpenes are all compounds contained in C. officianalis with antioxidant and free radical reducing capabilities. From:  Alnuqaydan, A. M., Lenehan, C. E., Hughes, R. R., & Sanderson, B. J. (2015). Extracts from Calendula officinalis offer in vitro protection against H2O2 induced oxidative stress cell killing of human skin cells. Phytotherapy Research, 29(1), 120-124.
• In folk medicine, calendula has been used for topical wound healing and inflammation.  From:  Arora, D., Rani, A., & Sharma, A. (2013). A review on phytochemistry and ethnopharmacological aspects of genus Calendula. Pharmacognosy reviews, 7(14), 179.
• Topical application of C. officinalis can provide protection from oxidative stress and photo damage, healing damaged skin, and improved anti-aging.  From:  Bernatoniene, J., Masteikova, R., Davalgiene, J., Peciura, R., Gauryliene, R., Bernatoniene, R., … & Muselik, J. (2011). Topical application of Calendula officinalis (L.): Formulation and evaluation of hydrophilic cream with antioxidant activity. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 5(6), 868-877.
• Flavonoids are antimicrobial and antioxidant, to help the skin fight infection. From:  Butnariu, M., & Coradini, C. Z. (2012). Evaluation of biologically active compounds from Calendula officinalis flowers using spectrophotometry. Chemistry Central Journal, 6(1), 1.
• The author indicated the constituents acting as antioxidants in marigold are its carotenoids and flavonoids.  From:  Ćetković, G. S., Djilas, S. M., Čanadanović-Brunet, J. M., & Tumbas, V. T. (2004). Antioxidant properties of marigold extracts. Food Research International, 37(7), 643-650.
• Wound healing was accelerated among patients with venous leg ulcers who used an ointment with C. officinalis.  From:  Duran, V., Matic, M., Jovanovć, M., Mimica, N., Gajinov, Z., Poljacki, M., & Boza, P. (2004). Results of the clinical examination of an ointment with marigold (Calendula officinalis) extract in the treatment of venous leg ulcers. International journal of tissue reactions, 27(3), 101-106.
• The author(s) conducted a study demonstrating the potential for C. officinalis against skin UV irradiation induced oxidative stress.  From:  Fonseca, Y. M., Catini, C. D., Vicentini, F. T., Nomizo, A., Gerlach, R. F., & Fonseca, M. J. V. (2010). Protective effect of Calendula officinalis extract against UVB-induced oxidative stress in skin: Evaluation of reduced glutathione levels and matrix metalloproteinase secretion. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 127(3), 596-601.
• The study demonstrated improved wound healing in rats with a blend of Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wart) and Calendula arvensis.  From:  Lavagna, S. M., Secci, D., Chimenti, P., Bonsignore, L., Ottaviani, A., & Bizzarri, B. (2001). Efficacy of Hypericum and Calendula oils in the epithelial reconstruction of surgical wounds in childbirth with caesarean section. Il Farmaco, 56(5), 451-453.
• Women receiving radiation therapy for breast cancer showed improved healing of acute dermatitis with the use of 20% fresh marigold in petroleum jelly compared to trolamine.  From:  Pommier, P., Gomez, F., Sunyach, M. P., D’hombres, A., Carrie, C., & Montbarbon, X. (2004). Phase III randomized trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 22(8), 1447-1453.
• The plant demonstrated anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity.  From:  Preethi, K. C., & Kuttan, R. (2009). Wound healing activity of flower extract of Calendula offlcinalis. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology, 20(1), 73-80.
• A combination of Cassia tora, Calendula officinalis, and Momordica charantia was antibacterial in treating psoriasis.  From:  Roopashree, T. S., Dang, R., Rani, R. S., & Narendra, C. (2008). Antibacterial activity of antipsoriatic herbs: Cassia tora, Momordica charantia and Calendula officinalis. International Journal of Applied research in Natural products, 1(3), 20-28.
• Creams with rosemary and marigold reduced irritation contact dermatitis.  From:  Fuchs, S. M., Schliemann-Willers, S., Fischer, T. W., & Elsner, P. (2005). Protective effects of different marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) and rosemary cream preparations against sodium-lauryl-sulfate-induced irritant contact dermatitis. Skin pharmacology and physiology, 18(4), 195-200.
• Calendula and its faradiol constituent demonstrated topical anti-inflammatory activity.  From:  Della Loggia, R., Tubaro, A., Sosa, S., Becker, H., & Isaac, O. (1994). The role of triterpenoids in the topical anti-inflammatory activity of Calendula officinalis flowers. Planta medica, 60(06), 516-520.
• A supplement of beta carotene was protective against UV skin damage in humans.  From:  Heinrich, U., Gärtner, C., Wiebusch, M., Eichler, O., Sies, H., Tronnier, H., & Stahl, W. (2003). Supplementation with β-carotene or a similar amount of mixed carotenoids protects humans from UV-induced erythema. The Journal of nutrition, 133(1), 98-101.
• A randomized comparative trial of 60 infants showed that a treatment with aloe vera and calendula was safe and effective in treating diaper rash.  From:  Panahi Y, Sharif MR, Sharif A, et al. A randomized comparative trial on the therapeutic efficacy of topical aloe vera and Calendula officinalis on diaper dermatitis in children. ScientificWorldJournal. 2012;2012:810234.

LAVENDER – RESEARCH

• Patients had reduced inflammation level, ulcer size, healing time, and pain from recurrent aphthous ulcerations.  From:  Altaei, D. T. (2012). Topical lavender oil for the treatment of recurrent aphthous ulceration. American journal of dentistry, 25(1), 39-43.
• This study suggested using lavender essential oil instead of Povidone-iodine topically for episiotomy wound care. From:  Vakilian, K., Atarha, M., Bekhradi, R., & Chaman, R. (2011). Healing advantages of lavender essential oil during episiotomy recovery: a clinical trial. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 17(1), 50-53.

CHAMOMILE – RESEARCH

• The author discussed the anti-inflammatory proazulenes: chamazulene and matricin that occur in chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and  yarrow (Achillea millefolium), along with a few other Asteraceae species.  From:  Ramadan, M., Goeters, S., Watzer, B., Krause, E., Lohmann, K., Bauer, R., … & Imming, P. (2006). Chamazulene carboxylic acid and matricin: a natural profen and its natural prodrug, identified through similarity to synthetic drug substances. Journal of natural products, 69(7), 1041-1045.
• German chamomile can be recommended to relieve itching and inflammation and heal peristomal skin lesions. From:  Charousaei, F., Dabirian, A., & Mojab, F. (2011). Using chamomile solution or a 1% topical hydrocortisone ointment in the management of peristomal skin lesions in colostomy patients: results of a controlled clinical study. Ostomy-Wound Management, 57(5), 28.
• The use of plants to treat skin conditions was reviewed. Plants identified included Calendula officinalis, Chamomilla recutita, Glycyrrhiza, Hamamelis virginiana, man, Melissa officinalis, and Plantago major.  Conditions included acne, dermatitis, herpes simplex, and psoriasis.  From:  Brown, D. J., & Dattner, A. M. (1998). Phytotherapeutic approaches to common dermatologic conditions. Archives of dermatology, 134(11), 1401-1404.
• The study concluded that chamomile in comparison to corticosteroids promotes faster wound healing process.  From:  Martins, M. D., Marques, M. M., Bussadori, S. K., Martins, M. A. T., Pavesi, V. C. S., Mesquita‐Ferrari, R. A., & Fernandes, K. P. S. (2009). Comparative analysis between Chamomilla recutita and corticosteroids on wound healing. An in vitro and in vivo study. Phytotherapy Research, 23(2), 274-278.
• A cream containing Matriciaria recutita flower extracts was effective in atopic dermatitis in a double blind study.  From:  Patzelt-Wenczler, R., & Ponce-Pöschl, E. (2000). Proof of efficacy of Kamillosan (R) cream in atopic eczema. European journal of medical research, 5(4), 171-175.
• Chamomile along with conventional antihistamines could be used to treat severe itching (pruritus). From:  Kobayashi, Y., Takahashi, R., & Ogino, F. (2005). Antipruritic effect of the single oral administration of German chamomile flower extract and its combined effect with antiallergic agents in ddY mice. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 101(1), 308-312.

By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, RA (ARC), NAHA and AIA Professional Member, LMT

4/11/18

This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use. These statements are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. The information at this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Consult a Doctor before using herbs and essential oils if you have medical conditions, are taking medications, or have questions.