Natural Herbal Beauty

Cleansing Principle #4: Purify with Breathing Exercises

Breathing is an involuntary act that primarily occurs beneath the level of your conscious awareness. By focusing your attention on your breath, you can dramatically affect your well-being. Special breathing exercises have been practiced in the Far East for centuries as a means of purification and renewal, and are used to heal the body, improve mental concentration, and enhance spiritual practices. The regular practice of calming breathing exercises has been proven in research studies to be an excellent method for relieving stress and anxiety. (more…)

You’ll need:

2 cups Epsom salts

1 cup baking soda

5 drops juniper essential oil

5 drops grapefruit essential oil 1 teaspoon witch hazel

Natural bristle body brush or loofah

Optional: 1-2 cups parsley tea (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…)

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…)

PSORIASIS: Psoriasis is genetically determined and consists of reddish lesions that have characteristic silvery scaling. The lesions may come and go but generally are chronic. There is a specific type of arthritis that is associated with psoriasis. Check with your physician for treatment if the condition is severe. For home treatment of the scaling and itching of psoriasis, split open an aloe vera leaf and rub on the area affected. The skin absorbs the gel rapidly, so apply plenty and apply often. This stops the itching, and if used regularly seems to help psoriasis. It’s also good to use for sunburn. You can purchase aloe gel juice by the gallon and you may want to use the juice as a daily lotion to help control psoriasis.

PSORIASIS: Try using oil of avocado rubbed sparingly on affected areas. It works for quite a few people. (more…)

Of all the herbs, valerian is the champion sedative of historic fame. Recent findings have substantiated the old wisdom. Valerian not only relieves insomnia, it improves the quality of sleep, cuts down the number of times an insomniac awakens in the night, and doesn’t leave the user with a nervous headache in the morning. (Incidentally, if you have trouble falling asleep, don’t bothermaking notes.

You can even be a teetotaler and get the reputed benefits of red wine. Tea has about the same amount of catechins as red wine; catechins are antioxidants thatseem to help prevent the clogging of arteries by reducing the negative effects of LDL cholesterol.

If you must select between a manmade conglomeration of chemicals with some really nasty side effects or one of MotherNature’s nicely formulated remedies, the better way is obvious, isn’t it? (more…)

Plaster

If you think of grandmother’s famous mustard plaster, you’ll see why a plaster is a “sandwich.” Plasters are typically made with strong rubefacient materials that have the potential to redden andirritate the skin.

Prepare the herb parts as for either a steamed or pulpedpoultice, but place the warm mass of pulverized herbs between two layers of cloth before applying to the desired area. Depending on the herbs used, plasters can be left in place for an extended period of time, even overnight. (more…)

Capsicum, more familiarly known as cayenne pepper, potentiates all other herbs. This champion blood cleanser improves circulation, benefits the kidneys, lungs, spleen, pancreas, heart, and stomach. Cayenne has been used as a digestive aid and is one of the herbalist’s specifics against nausea. With its anti-inflammatory properties, it is helpful in rheumatism, arthritis, and migraines. Cayenne even quickly relieves common cold symptoms.

Externally, cayenne has been used to good effect in ointments and salves for centuries. As a rubefacient, it produces penetrating heat to bring relief to aching muscles and painful joints. (more…)

Angelica is credited with being a stimulant that has carminative (inducing expulsion of gas) and antispasmodic properties. Since ancient times, angelica tea has been given to rheumatics and those who suffer from cold hands and feet because it helps stimulate blood flow. As an antispasmodic, angelica fights PMS and menstrual cramps. Angelica is a time-honored expectorant (promoting expulsion) that fights bronchitis, loosens phlegm, and helps make seasonal allergies more bearable.

DESCRIPTION AND PARTS USED

Angelica atropurpurea is a biennial with purplish stems and large green-tinged white flowers that appear during its second year of growth. It flourishes in rich loamy soil and loves moist bottom- lands, where it can attain a height of five or six feet. The medicinal properties of this striking plant are most concentrated in the seeds and root, although the stalk and leaves are sometimes used. (more…)

Astragalus, pronounced ah-strag-ah-lus, enhances immune function, aids adrenal gland function, strengthens weak lungs, and is considered an excellent tonic tea that tones up the entire system. It increases metabolic function, promotes healing, and energizes tired glands. Because astragalus has diuretic properties, it is helpful in reducing edema, especially if the kidneys are involved. (more…)

Feverfew is extremely helpful against headaches, even migraines, and is of great benefit to those who suffer from arthritis. This herb relieves fever and stimulates weak appetite in a convalescent. It helps ease symptoms of the common cold by increasing the fluidity of mucus caught in the lungs and bronchial tubes. Although not as powerful as dong quai, feverfew stimulates uterine contractions, relieves cramps, and brings on menstrual flow.

DESCRIPTION AND PARTS USED

This hardy herb attains a height of two to three feet. The slender trunk of each stem branches out into several stems that bear alternating toothed leaves of a golden-green hue. The noted English herbalist Gerard described what he called “Featherfew” with these words: “It be tender, diversely tome and jagged, and nickt on the edges.” Feverfew flowers are small and similar to daisies in appearance, with yellow centers and white, rayed petals. (more…)

Mahuang is an effective decongestant and bronchodilator with marked anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also a good expectorant. As such, it is traditionally used as a treatment for asthma, bronchitis, allergies, sinusitis, and the common cold. Mahuang is also a mild diuretic and fever reducer that has proven very valuable against hypotension (low blood pressure). Of particular interest to many is this herb’s ability to suppress the appetite, stimulate metabolism, and bring about substantial weight loss. (more…)