Natural Herbal Beauty

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a wonderful wash for problem skins as it helps to combat oiliness. Dilute 60 ml (¹/4 cup) vinegar to 750 ml (3 cups) tepid water and use as a wash, or drink a little every day: 1-2 teaspoons in a glass of tepid water. This, incidentally, is a wonderful cooling revitalizer in the heat of summer, particularly after vigorous exercise. It can also be used as a compress, held over bad spots or dabbed onto the affected area. Dilute to the strength most acceptable to your needs. Many people find it too strong to apply neat.

Blackhead Remover (more…)

 

Soapwort

Soothing and healing, a strong brew can be made from soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) by boiling up a potful of roots, stems, flowers and le wes with enough water to cover. Boil for 10 m nutes, stand, cool and strain. It can be used as a face wash, a hair wash and hair conditioner, and can also be dabbed onto eczema.

Tomato and Lemon Oily Skin Cleanser (more…)

 

Before starting your herbal treatments, always do a patch test. Dab a little of your preparation on the pulse point of your wrist or in the crook of your elbow.

Leave it unwashed for 12 hours to see whether you have an allergic reaction to it. Always be sure of the identification of the herbs you are using and if ever you are in doubt, consult your doctor or skin specialist. Many people are allergic to a wide range of ingredients and I urge you to tread with care and always test your blends and mixtures, lotions and salves before using them. (more…)

DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale)

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.

ELDER(Sambucus nigra)

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…)

ALMOND (Prunus communis, P. amygdalus, P. dulcis)

Shelled almonds, ground into a meal and mixed with a herb infusion such as rosemary or sage, make an excellent mild bleaching face pack. They have a deep cleansing and toning effect.

Almond oil is non-drying and has superb emollient or softening properties; it also combines well with creams and, in lotions, with other ingredients. Can be used as a deep cleansing oil. (more…)

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…)

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…)

Chilblains

Reddish-blue swellings that itch and burn, usually on the hands and feet, are the result of extreme cold and poor circulation. Mix the white of an egg and a tablespoon of flour with glycerin and honey, work it into a paste, and spread it over the affected part (do not rub). Leave it in place, covered by a cloth or bandage, for 24 hours, and keep it warm. Vitamin Erich foods, such as seeds, nuts, whole- grains, green leafy vegetables, and wheatgerm, and the herb echinacea can also aid recovery.

For burning and itching skin, try the homeopathic treatment rhus tox cream twice daily, agaricus every three hours, or carbo veg if chilblains feel worse in a warm bed (6c three times daily for two weeks). For cracked skin: tamus ointment and petroleum 6c three times daily for two weeks. (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…)

Black Pepper

Piper nigrum

Origins

One of the most expensive spices in the world, black pepper has been cultivated for the last 2000 years in southern and south-east India and the Indonesian islands. Today, it is grown in Indonesia, Malaysia and also in Madagascar. Only a small amount of the pepper produced is used to yield essential oil — the main distillation centres being in Europe and the US. (more…)