First, let me emphasize that this article has nothing to do with Iraqi political parties, or "Baathists." One might argue that the article is about "Baptists," but not in the religious sense, unless you consider any immersion in living water a spiritual experience (as some do). The article has to do with the fine and mostly lost art of bathing, one of life's few truly healthy pleasures. Whether you take saunas or mineral baths, luxuriate in a tub of suds, or just duck into the shower for a couple minutes, there is always a benefit to bathing. But as with many things in life, there is a better way and a worse way.

Nothing beats a good bath to deep-cleanse and moisturize skin and improve one's disposition. This is especially true in winter, when skin tends to be dehydrated from cold air, indoor forced-air heating and not enough sunlight. Baths should be long and relaxing to thoroughly soak into the skin. Read a book. Listen to music (but keep electronic devices out of the water!). Use bubble-bath if you want, or take a plain, warm-water bath and cleanse with a very mild liquid soap or shampoo (never use bar soap on face or hair). Leave a window slightly opened so the warm, humid air is less apt to incubate mold or bacteria.

An important and often overlooked step in bathing is to take a quick shower immediately after. The reason is that bath water can get pretty grungy, a cesspool of used soap, dirt, bacteria and toxins. Thirty-seconds under the shower will send any bath residue clinging to your skin down the drain where it belongs, leaving you feeling radiant, energized, relaxed, and clean in body, mind and spirit.

If you have the nerve, try a cold shower after your bath. This will provided an experience somewhat like the Norwegians of old, who ended their saunas with a dive into an ice-cold lake (or a tepid swimming pool for you modern, upscale types). I'm sure there is a benefit to suddenly slamming your skin pores shut from cold-shock. It no doubt prevents bacteria from re-entering too quickly. Whatever the benefit or lack thereof, it's like a swim in an ice-cold mountain stream on a hot summer day. Your body tingles and feels energized and relaxed for an hour after. How can that not be good for you?

Hot showers may be substituted for baths and are also beneficial (at least one full bath a week is recommended). Showers have the added advantage that you don't need to take a shower immediately after. When not following a bath, showers should last at least ten minutes to steam and moisturize the skin. Be sure to breathe the moist air deeply into your lungs. If you have the nerve, end the shower with a blast of cold water.

Mineral baths that use salt, calcite and certain other substances, as well as saunas, steam baths and sweat lodges, supposedly contribute to health by drawing toxins out of the skin and body. They mostly do this by making you perspire, although the mineral soak can temporarily alter the osmolarity (water attracting and retaining ability) of the skin's surface. While these baths can be healthful and immensely relaxing, they are also dehydrating.

We advise the following with respect to saunas and mineral baths:

1. Avoid alcoholic beverages during prolonged "sweat" baths.
2. Drink a glass of warm water immediately after.
3. As with regular baths, shower immediately after to wash off perspiration and dehydrating mineral residue.

And finally, be aware that most tap water used in baths and showers, and all water in mineral baths, has a pH that is slightly to very alkaline. Human skin, on the other hand, has a slightly acidic pH. Bathing, therefore, tends to throw off your skin's natural pH balance, exposing it to increased bacterial attack (most bacteria prefer an alkaline environment). The best way to counteract this pH alteration is a quick misting with a pH-correct water spray such as Nature's Tears EyeMist or Nature's Mist All-Natural Skin Moisture. Misting also helps counteract the dehydrating effect of saunas and mineral baths.