Natural Herbal Beauty

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…)

Cleansing Principle #4: Purify with Breathing Exercises

Breathing is an involuntary act that primarily occurs beneath the level of your conscious awareness. By focusing your attention on your breath, you can dramatically affect your well-being. Special breathing exercises have been practiced in the Far East for centuries as a means of purification and renewal, and are used to heal the body, improve mental concentration, and enhance spiritual practices. The regular practice of calming breathing exercises has been proven in research studies to be an excellent method for relieving stress and anxiety. (more…)

You’ll need:

2 cups Epsom salts

1 cup baking soda

5 drops juniper essential oil

5 drops grapefruit essential oil 1 teaspoon witch hazel

Natural bristle body brush or loofah

Optional: 1-2 cups parsley tea (more…)

Basil: Sweet, spicy scent. Basil is a potent stimulant that increases circulation and eases muscle and joint aches and pains. It alleviates indigestion, and has antiseptic and expectorant properties and helps to treat congestion, coughs, and colds. Basil is excellent for relieving fatigue and nervous tension. Do not use during pregnancy.

Cypress: Spicy, balsamlike scent. The diuretic action of cypress helps to relieve water retention and cellulite. It also improves circulation and is helpful for arthritis. (more…)

Complete Breath

The complete breath fills the lower; middle, and upper portions of the lungs with oxygen. This exercise increases lung capacity, helps to restore elasticity to the lungs, and cleanses the blood.

Lie comfortably on your back. Breathe slowly and rhythmically, concentrating on inhaling and exhaling a continuous stream of air. Begin inhaling slowly, and fill the lower part of your lungs, gently expanding your abdomen. (more…)

Lymph bathes and purifies all of the tissues of the body and is responsible for carrying toxins out of the cells. The intricate network of lymph glands located throughout the body filters toxins from the lymph and is an integral part of the immune system. Because the lymphatic system has no pump, it relies on external help—such as exercise or massage—to help move it through the lymphatic channels. (more…)

Cellulite is a common condition that appears as lumpy fat on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and upper arms. While exercise and a cleansing diet are essential for eliminating cellulite, massage will greatly speed the process. Cellulite is an indication of stagnant lymphatic flow and impaired detoxification. The deep, strong strokes of cellulite massage help to release the accumulation of waste materials that manifest as cellulite. For best results, perform cellulite massage daily, or even twice daily. (more…)

Description: a robust, erect (up to 120 cm) perennial with thick, mucilaginous roots and large, ovate leaves.

The funnel-shaped flowers appear in clusters in summer and can be white to purple.

Parts used: root, collected in autumn, or leaves, collected during early flowering

Actions: astringent, demulcent, expectorant, tissue healer, cell proliferant

Although comfrey has been used for centuries as a wound healer and restorer of broken bones — its country name is “knitbone” and the botanical name is derived from the Greek sympho meaning to unite — it has had a more chequered history in recent years, veering from panacea to health hazard. (more…)

PSORIASIS: Psoriasis is genetically determined and consists of reddish lesions that have characteristic silvery scaling. The lesions may come and go but generally are chronic. There is a specific type of arthritis that is associated with psoriasis. Check with your physician for treatment if the condition is severe. For home treatment of the scaling and itching of psoriasis, split open an aloe vera leaf and rub on the area affected. The skin absorbs the gel rapidly, so apply plenty and apply often. This stops the itching, and if used regularly seems to help psoriasis. It’s also good to use for sunburn. You can purchase aloe gel juice by the gallon and you may want to use the juice as a daily lotion to help control psoriasis.

PSORIASIS: Try using oil of avocado rubbed sparingly on affected areas. It works for quite a few people. (more…)

Herbal remedies may be taken in capsule form as well as by teas or tinctures. Often, capsules are more convenient to take during the day while we are at work, or while away from home for an extended length of time. There are many reasons that you would want to take capsules instead of a tea or tincture. If the treatment you are seeking is long term, such as for high blood pressure, then you would definitely want to try the capsules.

You can purchase the empty gelatin capsules at your local health food store or druggist’s. There are many different sizes of capsules, but you probably would use the #00 capsules the most. (more…)