It’s a stain remover, hair conditioner, fertilizer, face mask, and much more. However, most people know this substance as a beverage: beer. In 2011, the United States consumed a total 6.3 billion gallons of beer. We may like to drink our beer, but as it turns out, Europeans have discovered a new way to use this popular alcoholic beverage. In many countries, such as Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, there has been a growing number of beer spas. People have begun soaking in beer baths, which supposedly offer a variety of health benefits.
Beer baths are made by mixing water with active beer yeast, the flower of a hop plant, and various dried herbs. The mixture is then heated to around 93 degrees Fahrenheit, and individuals typically soak in the bath for about an hour.
What exactly does bathing in beer do? Proponents of beer baths claim that the warm beer mixture can open pores, exfoliate, pull out toxins, stimulate circulation, and improve overall skin health. It is also believed that beer baths can alleviate symptoms associated with skin problems like psoriasis.
Very little research is available supporting the benefits of bathing in beer. However, articles have been published examining the dietary benefits of consuming alcoholic beverages like beer. An article published in the American Journal Medical Sciences mentions that physicians should account for the benefits of moderate consumption of wine and beer, and it states that beer contains more protein and vitamin B than wine. In hops and beer, scientists have discovered the presence of Xanthohumol, a phenolic compound. Phenolic compounds are believed to counter the risk of cancer and function as antioxidants which prevent radical compounds from causing damage in our bodies. The presence of phenols in beer hints at its potential positive contribution to an individual’s health.
You may be tempted to try this new spa treatment, but with the average cost around $50 a bath, it is not cheap. With minimal research available on the effects of beer baths, there isn’t experimental evidence to support the health claims being made by proponents of the treatment. If you want to try this at home to see how it may benefit you, the Dr. Oz Show recommends the cheaper alternative of adding two cups of beer to a regular bath.
Feature Image Source: Quinn Dombrowski
