ROSE (Rosa species)

Perhaps the most loved of all flowers, rose petals, boiled up in water (enough to cover the petals) make a beautiful rose-water. Add equal quantities vodka or cane spirit if you want it to keep. Make rose-petal vinegar to use as a deodorant and use rose petals in sweet oil for baths, massages and rubs.

ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary is a herb with so many uses, you should always have a bush in your garden. It is a healing, astringent herb, very good for skin and hair. It can be made into a tea — 250 ml (1 cup) herb to 250-500 ml (1-2 cups) boiling water — and used as a hair rinse, facial wash, a gargle, scalp treatment or, adding a spoon of honey, to revive one after a hard day! Make rosemary oil, rosemary vinegar, or rosemary soap.

SAGE (Salvia officinalis)

Herbal Beauty

Make sage tea — 250 ml (1 cup) herb to 500 ml (2 cups) boiling water — to massage into the hair to cleanse and tone the scalp and darken the hair. The same brew will heal spots and blemishes if used as a wash, and in the bath it will stimulate blood circulation to the skin. Used as an underarm wash, it is a refreshing deodorant.

ST JOHN‘S WORT (Hypericum perforatum)

Infuse the bright yellow flowers of hypericum in sweet oil, or sunflower or maize oil. Use as a rub for tired and aching muscles. Make a tea, using 750 ml (3 cups) flowers to 500 ml (2 cups) boiling water, and add it to shampoo. It will give lustre to lifeless hair, particularly after a long illness.

SNAPDRAGON (Antirrhinum majus)

Steep snapdragon flowers in castor oil or almond oil, and use as a salve for bruises or haemorrhoids and as a rub for irritated skin. Use fresh flowers in bath bags to soothe chafed skin. Snapdragon tea, 60 ml (1/4 cup) flowers to 250 ml (1 cup) boiling water, is said to improve the sense of taste!

SOAPWORT (Saponaria officinalis)

Boil up a big pot of soapwort leaves, stems, roots and flowers, in just enough water to cover. Stand and steep for half an hour, then strain. Use this soapy brew to wash freshly shampooed hair; it will revitalise heat-damaged, permed, dyed or bleached hair. Use also as a wash or to dab onto eczema, skin rashes and heat rash. It is also good for nappy rash. Use as a weekly hair conditioner to restore lustre to the hair.

SOUTHERNWOOD (Artemisia abrotanum)

Boil up 500 ml (2 cups) southernwood leaves with 125 ml (1/2 cup) barley in 1 litre (4 cups) water for half an hour (simmer with the lid on). Strain and use as a wash for pimples and acne. Make a strong tea — 250 ml (1 cup) herb to 250 ml (1 cup) boiling water — and rub into the scalp (or beard) to stimulate growth.

SOW’S THISTLE (Sonchus oleraceus)

This common weed contains a milky juice that can be applied effectively to pimples. It dries them up and heals, removing the redness. A tea made of leaves, flowers and stems — 250 ml (1 cup) herb to 250 ml (1 cup) boiling water — is an excellent wash for spotty skins. Eat some young leaves in salads, too, to keep the skin clear.

STRAWBERRY (Fragaria vesca)

Strawberry leaves make an excellent astringent wash and, used in the bath, are particularly good for oily skins. Brew up 250 ml (1 cup) leaves in 750 ml (3 cups) boiling water, stand, steep and cool. Use ripe, mashed fruit as a face pack — it is astringent and tightening. Combine with oats or mealiemeal as a cleansing and invigorating face pack for oily skin and coarse pores.

SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus)

Ground sunflower seeds make an excellent nutritious face pack. Grind 500 ml (2 cups) seeds and mix with milk for dry skins and yoghurt for oily skins, to form a paste. Apply to a clean, damp face and allow it to dry (I find 20 minutes is about the time needed— relax and read a book). Wash off with warm water. Use sunflower petals in hair rinses for blonde hair.

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