Natural Herbal Beauty

Once or twice a week a scrub or a mask makes an extra-deep cleansing and refining treatment. If your skin is sensitive do not use the scrub, nor should you steam your face, but do cleanse with your usual method very thoroughly. (more…)

Cleansing lotions are useful if you do not like to use water on your skin. They are applied and removed with damp cotton wool. A toner must be used afterwards to remove any oily residue. (more…)

• 1 quart (1 l) olive oil
• ³/4 ounce (21 g) echinacea, seeds or root, ground fine
• 1 ounce (25 g) cryptolepsis root, ground fine
• 1¹/2 ounces (43 g) juniper, ground fine
• 
• 1 ounce (25 g) oak bark or krameria or wild geranium, ground fine
• 1 ounce (25 g) acacia leaf
• ¹/2 ounce (14 g) wormwood, powdered
• ¹/2 ounce (14 g) usnea, powdered
• 4 ounces (113 g) beeswax
• ¹/4 teaspoon (1 ml) vitamin E
• ¹/4 teaspoon (1 ml) eucalyptus essential oil

1. Make an oil infusion by combining all the herbs with olive oil
2. Add the herbal oil infusion back to the pot used to make the infusion and reheat it slowly on the stovetop.
3. Measure out the beeswax and add to the pot. A good estimate is 2 ounces (57 g) of wax to every pint (475 ml) of infused oil (so for this formula, about 4 ounces [113 g] ). Many people like the beeswax grated, but I just break it up into small pieces. Heat until beeswax is melted.
4. Remove pan from stove. Let mixture cool until just before it starts to harden, then add vitamin E oil and eucalyptus essential oil, and stir well.
5. While mixture is still liquid, pour into salve containers and label. Note: Make sure your containers are made to withstand hot liquids before using them.

Oils are exceptionally good for the health and healing of the skin.

• 1 quart (1 I) olive oil
• 1 ounce (25 g) usnea
• 
• 1 ounce (25 g) acacia
• 1 ounce (25 g) echinacea root or seed
• 1 ounce (25 g) garlic
• 1 ounce (25 g) sage

1. Add the oil to a heavy pot. Use glass or stainless steel, not aluminum or cast iron.
2. Grind all the herbs as fine as possible.
3. Add the herbs to the oil.
4. Heat the mixture overnight in the oven with the setting on low (150° to 200°F [66° to 93°C] ), or heat covered on low in a Crock-Pot for 7 days.
5. Remove the pot from the oven and let the mixture cool. Press the oily herb mixture through a cloth to extract the oil.
6. Store the oil in a sealed glass container out of the sun. It does not need to be refrigerated.

We have a society of sun-worshipers, the glorious golden tan is a We have become a society of sun-symbol of freedom, status and leisure which we all want, sometimes at any cost. But the price we pay for it is often high in terms of I prematurely aging skin and sagging contours. Ultra-violet rays stimulate certain cells in the skin to distribute a pigment called melanin; the same deadly light rays cause changes in the cells of the dermis, leading to rapid aging sagging and wrinkled skin, and in cases of prolonged extreme exposure, to skin cancer.

Tanning is nothing more than a defense mechanism. The melanin that turns the skin brown is the only way the skin has of offering a protective layer to guard itself and the deeper layers of the body from ultra-violet damage. Certainly the damage done to skin cells and to the connective tissues is a great deal worse if the skin is allowed to burn. But even if the skin suffers no burning the damaging changes from exposure to sunlight still occur and so does premature aging. The damage may not show up immediately, until wrinkles appear several years later. To preserve youthful, healthy-looking skin, tan little (go for the pale golden look on your body instead of the baked skin a la St Tropez), and avoid the sun on your face altogether by using a good moisturizer complete with sunscreen, plus a high protection sunscreen that blocks all the ultraviolet rays. Use a lower protection product for your body and let it gently brown. Increase your exposure to the sun gradually, starting with 20 minutes a day (never between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.) and stepping it up by 10 or 15 minutes each day until you build up a good protective tan.

Cigarettes, too, damage the skin. Dermatological tests show that smokers’ skins appear 10 to 20 years older than those of non smokers. This is believed to be because each cigarette you smoke depletes your system of 25 milligrams of Vitamin C which is necessary for the health and strength of our tissues. (more…)

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…)

Making soap from scratch is a complicated and time-consuming business, and for most people, whose lives are full and busy, far too involved and difficult — even dangerous if you are not an expert, as an alkaline can burn the skin as badly as acid.( So leave soap-making to the experts and rather choose a plain soap which suits your skin and grate it. You can then add herbs, oatmeal, honey etc, using these recipes as a guide. They are quick and easy to make and have been tested and proved suitable for most skin types. Experiment on your own (always test with care) for you will get infinite satisfaction and pleasure out of making your own beauty preparations. (more…)

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…)

 

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…)

BORAGE(Borago officinalis)

Borage tea, 60 ml (¹/4 cup) herb to 250 ml (1 cup) boiling water, can be used as a wash for sores, scratches and spots. Taken internally, it is a wonderful cleanser and helps the body produce its own cortisone. It can be used as an eyewash and as a compress - dip cotton-wool into the tea and apply to the temples for stress and tension headaches. (more…)

Classic migraine is much more than just a bad headache. It is a severe and often disabling pain in the head—usually on one side only—accompanied by sometimes alarming symptoms such as altered perception, a feeling that the skull is in the grip of a tightening vise, pins and needles or numbness, nausea and vomiting, and an inability to do anything. Symptoms can come and go and last for hours— sometimes even days. No two people usually experience the same symptoms, and one person can experience different symptoms on different occasions. (more…)

This is an extremely painful, blistering rash that normally occurs around one half of the midriff (although the neck, face, and sometimes the eyes can be affected) as a result of inflammation of nerve roots. Shingles is caused by the same herpes zoster virus that provokes chickenpox, and is often the result of a weakened immune system coinciding with a period of emotional stress. It is most common in older people. (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…)

No matter how healthy their lifestyles sooner or later most people have some experience of muscular aches and pains: it could be a pulled muscle or ligament due to accidental injury, the wear and tear of osteoarthritis or even that new ill of the 20th century, repetitive strain injury. Or it could be a less localised problem — a systemic disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis or, more commonly, a nagging backache which seems to have no obvious cause. (more…)

Circulatory problems and chilblains

Poor heart function can contribute to numerous circulation problems which may include severe pain in the legs while walking (intermittent claudication) and Buerger’s disease (common among heavy smokers); this can eventually lead to gangrene and necessitate amputation.

Among more minor circulation problems are chilblains, which are generally associated not with failing hearts but with cold, as the body responds to falling temperatures by constricting blood supply to the peripheries in order to keep vital organs and deep tissues warm.

Wearing adequate clothing on cold days is the easiest way to avoid occasional chilblains, while habitual sufferers can improve their circulation with stimulating herbs like ginger, cinnamon, horseradish and chili.

Recent research suggests that ginkgo can improve the peripheral blood circulation, although it is more traditionally regarded as stimulating the blood supply to the brain. (more…)

The characteristic pimples and blackheads of acne are all too familiar to teenagers. Inflamed sebaceous glands — at their most active during puberty — are at the heart of the problem. The concentration of sebaceous glands varies over the body, so acne patches tend to be localized on the face, back and chest, although larger sebaceous cysts are more likely to occur on the scalp and genitals.

The conventional herbal approach is to cut down on the foods which might encourage sebaceous gland activity.This means reducing intake of refined carbohydrates (typically sugar and white flour), fried foods and animal fats. Sweets and chocolates also tend to aggravate the condition — as does excessive intake of alcohol and sweet, sugary drinks. Herbalists generally also recommend the internal use of alternatives as well as immune-strengthening herbs — like echinacea — if there is extensive infection. (more…)

Eczema Home Healing Remedies

Eczema and dermatitis (which simply means inflammation of the skin) are both terms used to describe non-contagious inflammatory skin conditions. The skin is usually red and itching with a rash, or there may be spots which can resemble small blisters which “weep” — ooze clear fluid to form a crust “Dry eczema” involves a thickening and drying of the skin and is often characterized by dry, flaky patches.

Allergies — to chemicals, metals or certain foods — are a common cause and in children milk intolerance (especially among those who have not been breast- fed) is often the culprit. Since human milk is an excellent source of gamma-linolenic acid, the illness has more recently been regarded as a failure in GLA metabolism. Persuading children to drink soya milk instead is not always easy, although it can often improve the condition. Food allergy also has aspects of addiction and dependence and children can literally be hooked on milk so, when the food is withdrawn, they can become irritable and unpleasant — much to their parents’ despair. (more…)

SOFTEN BOILS: Apply linseed oil to the boil to soften and aid in healing.

BOILS: To bring a boil to a head, place a small piece of fatty bacon over the boil and bandage it. Leave on overnight. Should be ready to remove the head by the next morning.

BOILS: Take a handful of crushed parsley and wrap in cheesecloth. Apply to the boil and wrap a hot cloth around the area. Repeat, covering the area with the hot cloth for about 15 minutes.

BOILS: Soak a piece of bread in lemon juice and apply to the boil. Cover with a loose bandage and try to leave on overnight. (more…)