Sat 8 Nov 2008
Fri 17 Oct 2008
Many people are allergic to soap. If that is your problem try making a strong brew of saponincontaining soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) which is both mild and at the same time cleansing.
This common garden plant, known as `Bouncing Bet’ or the pink creeping Australian phlox, is actually something of a pest in the garden as it spreads everywhere and once you have it, (more…)
Tue 14 Oct 2008
When your liver works well so does the rest of your body, for the liver is your body’s chemical centre. It is responsible for clearing excess hormones, getting rid of chemicals that could undermine the immune system, and cleansing the toxicity that builds up from too much alcohol, poor food and taking drugs of all kinds. The liver’s ability to deep-clean the system helps protect your whole body from premature ageing and degeneration.
The trouble is that the modern world is literally full of potentially dangerous chemicals. We take them in through the chemically fertilized and highly processed foods we eat, through the air we breathe and the water we drink. (more…)
Tue 7 Oct 2008
Consider first the lowly lemon, one of my favourite fruits. Its place in natural cosmetics is paramount. The lemon serves as a whitener, skin softener, cuticle softener and remover, nail cleaner, smell and stain remover, and skin toner, restoring the acid coating the skin needs.
Once you have used lemon juice in cooking, save the squeezed halves. Dig your nails into it and rub the pulp and skin all over your hands, or feet, paying particular attention to rough heels. You can use up every bit of its goodness. (more…)
Thu 2 Oct 2008
Dandelions are filled with nourishment, good for skin, liver and urinary systems, and therefore excellent for keeping the skin clear. Make a tea of leaves and flowers — 125 ml (1/2 cup) herb to 750 ml (3 cups) boiling water — and use as a wash for itchy skin, eczema and red skin. Use as a facial wash to invigorate the skin. Steep leaves and flowers in oil and use as a bath or body oil.
Flowers, leaves, stems and roots of the elder can all be used medicinally. For cosmetics, though, the flowers are usually used. They are gently astringent and they soothe and soften the skin. (more…)
Tue 30 Sep 2008
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. (more…)
Tue 30 Sep 2008
TANSY (Tanacetum vulgare)
Tansy is a cleanser — make a tea of 250 ml (1 cup) leaves to 750 ml (3 cups) boiling water, stand, steep for 20 minutes and strain. Dab onto pimples and use as a wash. Combine this herb with comfrey or chamomile flowers.
TEA (Thea sinensis)
A cooled, used teabag makes an effective poultice for soothing sunburn. Place a wet bag over the eyes to reduce puffiness or, use as a compress for headaches or over-tired eyes. (more…)
Sat 13 Sep 2008
Cancer—a disease in which 12 the cells of the body “rebel” and multiply out of control—is feared as much for the belief that it is always painful as for its erratic, unpredictable, and hard-to-treat nature. But the truth is I that most cancers do not cause pain —at least initially — which is why it is difficult to detect some forms in the early stages.
There are no precise statistics, but various estimates have suggested that, as few as half of all those with cancer feel pain. Some cancers—liver cancer is the best example—cause minimal pain even in the advanced stages. Cancer can, and does, give rise to pain, but the significant fact is that when the pain eventually makes itself felt, it is more usually the result of the cancerous growth pressing on a nerve or interfering with some other bodily function than the cancer itself giving pain. (more…)
Sat 26 Jul 2008
Description: a common deciduous shrub or small tree, often used in hedging, with deeply lobed obovate leaves and pink or white scented flowers in late spring. Dark red oval fruits form in early autumn and are usually eaten by birds.
Parts used: flowering tops, collected in spring, and berries, collected when ripe in autumn
Actions: antispasmodic, astringent, heart tonic and restorative, normalises blood pressure, peripheral vasodilator, sedative (more…)
Thu 24 Jul 2008
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.
