Natural Herbal Beauty

Herb and Oatmeal Soap

This soap is the only one I make from caustic soda. So many of the students who attend my cosmetic workshops at the Herbal Centre ask for this recipe that I couldn’t possibly leave it out. They seem to enjoy the satisfaction of making their own soap in the old-fashioned way.

NB: Do not make this soap while children are around. I find it safer to use the caustic soda outside so that the fumes are dissipated. Do not lean over the bowl and inhale, and make sure that you wear long sleeves and rubber gloves as the caustic soda burns. Should a drop fall on your skin, wash it off immediately with cold water. (more…)

Throat problems are often an indication of infection, so prompt action early on can help prevent it developing more seriously.

Sore Throat

A sore throat (pharyngitis) is inflammation of the pharynx, the area at the back of the mouth. The term is also used to cover inflammation of the adenoids, tonsils (tonsillitis), and the voice box or larynx (laryngitis). Laryngitis is characterized by hoarseness and loss of voice. If the soreness is not obviously caused by shouting too loudly, it may be a sign of infection. (more…)

This rich avocado mask can be used weekly as a treat to nourish dry skin. Mix up a large batch and apply it to your arms and legs if they tend to be dry and flaky.

• 1 tablespoon ripe avocado
• 1 teaspoon yogurt
• 1 teaspoon Gentle Cleansing Grains
• 3 drops sandalwood or lavender essential oil (more…)
   

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…)

Hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum

Description: A tall, sturdy plant with narrow leaves longer at the base and arranged in opposite pairs. The flowers form in dull pink clusters in late summer and early autumn.

Parts used: aerial parts, collected when flowering; roots collected in autumn

Actions: anti-scorbutic, bile stimulant, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative, purgative and emetic in high doses, possible immune stimulant (more…)

Description: a vigorous, hardy perennial with round, lobed leaves and purple, five-petalled flowers, appearing throughout the summer and autumn. The plant will grow to 120 cm.

Parts used: aerial parts collected during flowering Actions: anti-bacterial, anti-tussive, demulcent, possible immune stimulant, mild laxative

Common mallow with its lobed leaves and bright purple flowers is a not unattractive common garden “weed” and hedgerow plant: it will, however, self-seed enthusiastically, so needs treating with caution in the garden.The botanical name derives from both the Latin malva and the Greek malake, which mean “soft” — a reference to its medical properties rather than to any particular softness of its leaves. (more…)

Description: common plantain (P major) is characterised by its rat tail-like flower spikes and basal rosette of fleshy, rounded or ovate leaves. It grows to around 15 cm high and is commonly found in gardens and pavement cracks. Ribwort plantain (Planceolata) is taller, up to 75 cm, with more pointed, lance-shaped leaves with three to five prominent ribs. Its flowers are dark rust with clear white feathery stamens and appear from late spring to early autumn.

Part used: leaves (more…)

Yellow dock Rumex crispus

Description: a biennial growing to around I 50 cm in height with a robust tap root and long-stalked ovate leaves up to 50 cm in length.The flowers are purple and thistle-like, appearing from early summer to mid- autumn and followed by hooked fruits.

Part used: root

Actions: alterative, bitter tonic, bile stimulant, laxative

Yellow dock is generally found growing in wild, grassy places, waste land and along the road side.The plant is able to concentrate iron from the soil in its roots thus making a valuable iron tonic in anaemia: in the past herbalists sprinkled iron filings around their yellow dock plants to produce iron-enriched specimens. (more…)

Today most people believe that colds, flu and coughs are caused by bacteria and viruses. In other ages mysterious “venoms” were to blame, while the Chinese describe colds in terms of attack by external evils — wind, cold, damp, dryness, heat and fire. Whatever the cause there are always some people who will “catch anything going”, while others seem to go for years without the slightest hint of a sneeze. Perhaps John Harrison in his book Love Your Disease has a point:

The common cold is not a disease, so much as an institution. It is employed skilfully and effectively by those who don’t want to be particularly ill but want a period of incapacity. Having achieved that incapacity they can change whatever’s troubling them…in this way the common cold or any minor respiratory complaint is used to rebalance the psyche and the internal organs. (more…)