If half a glass of chilled lager serves to soothe, imagine what a whole bathtub of the heady bubbly could do to destress! Indeed for years, beer was considered therapeutic for the digestive system, and apt anti-stress therapy to calm the mind and soothe the nerves when sipped in moderation. Increasingly, following its warm bubbly introduction into rehabilitation bathtubs, a beer bath is being considered regenerative for the skin and hair, with the potential to improve the body’s immune system.
Why is it becoming so popular?
History has it that women as far ago as in ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt used it to soften and smoothen their skin, with its most famous proponent in the ancient world being Cleopatra. Closer in time, beer spas are largely popular in parts of Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany, with many of them being found within the precincts of beer breweries that offer baths, facials and massages, among other beer therapies and some family fun together.
Joining the beer bandwagon are cosmetic companies that have started to include brewing yeast in their products, claiming it helps replenish the skin, mitigate acne outbursts and maintain a healthy pH balance. Beer spas, on their part, claim a heady list of benefits including improved circulation, the sweating out of toxins from the skin, the soaking in of Vitamin B, regeneration of the cuticles and, but naturally, overall relaxation.
How does it work?
Typically, beer spas tank up a warm bath with beer, active beer yeast, hops, dehydrated crushed and aromatic herbs, and mineral water. The optimal temperature for a beer bath is about 35-37 degrees, with spas usiing whirlpools to regulate the temperature of the bath. The most calming ingredient in a beer bath is hops, or humulus lupulus, a herb known for its sedative qualities. While most of the hop’s bitter acids, which contain the stress-busters, evaporate during the brewing process and seldom reach a chilled beer glass, much of them dissolve slowly in a beer bath allowing them to be absorbed by the skin.
The warm temperature of the bath is in itself beneficial for the vascular system, increasing the heart rate, promoting blood circulation, warming and relaxing muscles and bone joints, gently removing dead skin cells, and causing the skin pores to sweat, thereby flushing out anti-toxins from the body. Spas typically follow up beer baths with a 30-45 minute rest, wrapped in warm sheets to allow the skin soak in the detoxifying benefits of the bath.
Is it actually effective?
While the jury is still out on the therapeutic effects of a beer bath, the believers swear by the benefits, claiming that the hops help to exfoliate the skin, gently removing the dead upper layers. They also consider active beer yeast to be immensely healing, containing Vitamin B and saccharides that help to hold in moisture and rejuvenate the skin, apart from helping make it more elastic. They also believe the yeast helps slow down sebum production and destroy acne-causing bacteria, thereby helping in acne-related problems. The carbonated water used in beer baths typically infuses added minerals into the bath.
Is it good for everyone?
Since warm beer baths boost circulation and the heart rate, patients of high blood pressure, heart diseases, and varicose veins should consult their doctor before considering a soak.
DIY steps to do it at home
Considering the complexities involving the quantity of beer, beer yeast, hops and herbs, as also the regulated temperatures, it may not be among the best of ideas to try a beer soak in your bathtub at home, but there are are other ways to sample the cosmetic benefits of beer in your hair, as a foot bath, and as a face mask.
Beer Boost for limp hair
Pour beer into a glass and allow it to go flat. Shampoo and rinse your hair, work through again with the flat beer and rinse again with water. The Vitamin B and natural sugars in the beer are thought to add body and shine to limp hair.
Beer foot bath
Pour two mugs of beer into a warm or cold foot bath, depending on your preference, and use it to revive tired and aching feet.
Beer face mask
Make a face mask using 1 tbsp of beer, 1 tsp olive oil, 1 egg white, 1 tsp yogurt, 1 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp almond extract. Wet face with warm water, apply the mask and let it dry for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off again.
