Natural Herbal Beauty

You’ll need:

2 tablespoons nettle

2 tablespoons red clover blossoms

2 tablespoons lavender flowers

2 tablespoons linden flowers

10 drops lavender essential oil

12-inch square piece of muslin or cotton handkerchief

Stress increases the production of internal toxins and hinders the body’s detoxification processes. Purification, healing and rejuvenation are more easily accomplished when the body and mind are relaxed. Herbs are wonderful allies not only for detoxification, but also for soothing and calming the body, mind, and spirit. This fragrant bath combines the purifying properties of nettle and red clover blossoms with the relaxing properties of lavender and linden blossoms. (more…)

Make time in your life each week to create your own at-home spa experience. Set aside at least 2 hours if you can, but even if you have only I hour, you can indulge in a variety of bodycare treatments that will refresh and renew your body, mind, and spirit.

Gather together everything you will need; your skin, hair, and bodycare products and a thick bathtowel and robe are essentials. Some nice extras include a bath pillow, candles, incense, and soothing music. (more…)

Basil: Sweet, spicy scent. Basil is a potent stimulant that increases circulation and eases muscle and joint aches and pains. It alleviates indigestion, and has antiseptic and expectorant properties and helps to treat congestion, coughs, and colds. Basil is excellent for relieving fatigue and nervous tension. Do not use during pregnancy.

Cypress: Spicy, balsamlike scent. The diuretic action of cypress helps to relieve water retention and cellulite. It also improves circulation and is helpful for arthritis. (more…)

You’ll need:

1/2 cup fine sea salt

1 tablespoon almond oil

5 drops grapefruit essential oil

Once a week, treat yourself to this all-over body cleansing scrub. Fine salt crystals exfoliate dry and dead skin cells, and almond oil moisturizes your skin, leaving it silky smooth. Grapefruit essential oil adds purifying properties as well as imparts a delightful uplifting fragrance. (more…)

Herbs have long been valued not only for their benefits when taken internally, but also for their healing and beautifying properties when used externally. For the following facial and bodycare recipes, choose herbs and essential oils according to your skin type.

Dry Skin

Herbs: Chamomile, comfrey, elder flower, rose Essential Oils: Chamomile, sandalwood, lavender (more…)

Complete Breath

The complete breath fills the lower; middle, and upper portions of the lungs with oxygen. This exercise increases lung capacity, helps to restore elasticity to the lungs, and cleanses the blood.

Lie comfortably on your back. Breathe slowly and rhythmically, concentrating on inhaling and exhaling a continuous stream of air. Begin inhaling slowly, and fill the lower part of your lungs, gently expanding your abdomen. (more…)

Breathing is one of the most important aspects of a cleansing and rejuvenation program. Deep breathing brings healing oxygen to every cell of the body, while eliminating gaseous metabolic wastes. Rhythmical deep breathing also directly affects the nervous system, engendering a relaxation response that has a positive effect on the entire body. Although breathing is primarily an involuntary process, it is largely within our conscious control. (more…)

Lymph bathes and purifies all of the tissues of the body and is responsible for carrying toxins out of the cells. The intricate network of lymph glands located throughout the body filters toxins from the lymph and is an integral part of the immune system. Because the lymphatic system has no pump, it relies on external help—such as exercise or massage—to help move it through the lymphatic channels. (more…)

Cellulite is a common condition that appears as lumpy fat on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and upper arms. While exercise and a cleansing diet are essential for eliminating cellulite, massage will greatly speed the process. Cellulite is an indication of stagnant lymphatic flow and impaired detoxification. The deep, strong strokes of cellulite massage help to release the accumulation of waste materials that manifest as cellulite. For best results, perform cellulite massage daily, or even twice daily. (more…)

It’s simple to create your own custom blends of aromatherapy massage oils. Essential oils not only add a delightful fragrance to a massage blend, but they also impart healing properties which are absorbed through the skin and into the tissues. (more…)