Natural Herbal Beauty

Headaches (and to a lesser extent, migraines) are a widely experienced form of pain and the most common type of “referred pain.” This means that although a pain in the head can obviously result from a bang on the skull, the more usual cause of a headache is a problem elsewhere in the body. Muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, for example, or in the case of migraine, an (illogic response to food are frequently to blame. (more…)

Skin is the largest organ of the body, weighing nearly 9 lb (4 kg) on an average adult, and covering an area of over 2 sq yd (about 2 sq m). It is also the first line of defense in ally threat from outside, so it is hardly surprising that it is often the victim of aches and pains. This is especially so from accidents and injuries, but infection and illness can also cause painful inflammations from within the body that appear on or just below the skin’s surface. (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…)

Rheumatism is a very imprecise term used to describe various chronic muscular aches and pains. It can include fibrositis and lumbago and may be referred to as “myalgia”, which just means pain in the muscles. Arthritis simply means an inflammation of a joint, although as there are various types of arthritis requiring rather different treatment it is important to be sure of the exact diagnosis.

Osteoarthritis is generally due to “wear and tear” — youthful injuries to joints that have never fully healed or obesity putting excessive strain on the weight-bearing joints.Typically in osteoarthritis the protective cartilage surrounding the bones of a joint becomes damaged and wears away, causing the bones to rub together and become deformed. Joints often creak, become stiff and painful, while movement is often limited. (more…)

MIRACLE SOAP: This recipe is great for dry skin. It lathers up wonderfully. I call it my miracle soap because I use it to wash my hair with too and it is great for the skin. This soap does not get hard fast, so don’t feel that you have failed if it does not harden quickly. The temperature is important for this recipe and so are the measurements and weights. You might fail if either is incorrect. Make sure you have an accurate scale to weigh your ingredients. If you don’t have one, you need to add one to your equipment list. This recipe makes about 7 pounds of soap.

Ingredients needed are:

10-3/4 ounces of lye crystals

4 cups cold water

27 ounces of coconut oil (more…)

SWOLLEN GLANDS:Put 5 leaves of ivy in 1 cup of boiling water and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

INFLAMED OR INFECTED TONSILS: Place a large handful of sage in 1 pint of water. Simmer for 15 minutes or until sage is soft. Dip a flannel cloth in the liquid and place the sage leaves in the flannel before wrapping around the throat. Dip another cloth in the liquid, wrap this, too, around the throat. Keep replacing the outer cloth to keep the first poultice warm. Give a strong infusion of sage tea to drink during treatment. Swellings and inflammation should subside within hours.

SORE THROAT GARGLE: Place 2 tablespoons of chopped blackcurrant leaves in 1 cup of water. Simmer for 15 minutes. Strain and cool. Use as a gargle to relieve sore throat. (more…)

Salves need a preservative because they are often used for cuts and wounds and as such need to be free from bacteria. A good preservative to use is tincture of benzoin, which you can purchase from your local drugstore. It is inexpensive and is necessary for the preparation of your salves. Choose stainless steel, glass, or earthenware when you are looking for bowls or containers in which to mix or store your herbal preparations. The containers you use to store the mixtures should be airtight and sterile.

It is helpful to know what the basic ingredients of a salve are. The ingredients used to make the salves are: the herbs you plan to use, an oil, beeswax, and the preservative. The best kind of oil to use is olive or sesame. Do not use the drying oils, such as soybean and linseed. (more…)

This poetry brings the wise king close to us in sensitivity and appreciation, for it is an experience now to go into a vinery in flower, when the first trusses of grapes are forming, for the unique and exquisite fragrance.

Ahab, that hard and ruthless king, had a single-minded wish to own Naboth’s vineyard, to turn it into a herb garden, and the resulting conflict of interests led first to cynical crime and then to tragedy foretold to Ahab, ironically, in his projected place of peace, the herb garden, where the prophet found him. (more…)