The Healing Art of Bhutanese Hot Stone Baths

Hot stone baths, or "dotsho," are a centuries-old Bhutanese tradition believed to ease ailments from arthritis to fatigue and rejuvenate the body and mind.

River stones are heated over an open fire until glowing, then carefully lowered into a wooden tub filled with water infused with wild-harvested Khempa (artemisia) leaves. The stones release minerals into the water as they cool, and the heat gradually warms the bath to a deeply relaxing temperature.

Traditionally enjoyed at the end of a long day of farm work, the dotsho is now offered at farmhouses and retreats across the country as a genuine, unhurried wellness ritual — best experienced slowly, with tea and conversation to follow.