Natural Herbal Beauty

Herbal Formula for DETOXIFICATION

After over-indulgence of alcohol, incorrect eating, smoking, or in times of anger, stress and anxiety, the following herbs will help rid the body ofharmful toxins.

Include the following in the diet: celery, parsley, sage, salad burnet, fennel, thyme, rosemary, watercress, radishes, beetroot, melons (particularly watermelon), sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and apple cider vinegar. (more…)

COUGHS

Include the following in the diet: apricots, asparagus, green beans, beetroot and beetroot tops, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, dandelion greens, lettuce, mustard, oranges, lemons, naartjies, grapefruit, parsley, peaches, pawpaw, peas, pecan nuts, watercress, spinach and garlic.

Make a standard brew tea using either Lemon balm, Sage, Elderflowers, Honeysuckle, Verbascum (mullein), Thyme, Comfrey or Peppermint, and drink throughout the day. (more…)

COLDS

Include the following in the diet: Vitamin C (500-1 000 mg daily), carrots, dandelion greens, spinach, oranges, grapefruit, guavas, horseradish (freshly grated root on bread), onions, chives, green peppers, elder flowers, cabbage, elderberries, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, turnips and watercress.

Make a standard brew tea of any of these herbs: Wilde als, Thyme, Sage, Lemon balm (melissa), Bergamot, Violet (good for a blocked nose), Verbascum, Elder, Lucerne, Winter savory, Borage, Peppermint or Yarrow. Use as a gargle and drink at frequent intervals until the symptoms ease. (more…)

BITES AND STINGS

Stings should be treated immediately. In the case of a bee sting, remove the sting straightaway.

Banana

Apply the inside of the skin to the painful area.

Castor oil plant

Rub castor oil onto ticks and tickbites.

Vinegar

Effective for soothing wasp stings. Dab on repeatedly. (more…)

Arthritis

Include the following in the diet: oats, vitamin B, celery, comfrey, parsley, mustard, nettles, feverfew. Avoid red meat, alcohol and starchy foods. Replace refined flours with oats, mealiemeal and popcorn.

Comfrey

Make a tea (60 ml chopped leaves to 250 ml boiling water). Stand, steep, then drink when cool enough to tolerate. Sweeten with honey and a little apple cider vinegar. Drink daily. (more…)

Bergamot

Make a standard brew tea and drink morning and evening to soothe muscular aches and pains.

Catnip

Make a standard brew tea, adding 60 ml Sage and an extra 250 ml boiling water, and drink morning and evening to give relief. (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…)

Sunburn is a common South African complaint throughout the long hot summer and one which we should take pains to avoid, for it has an ageing and drying effect on the skin.

Sun Protection Oil

This protecting oil should be applied before going out into the sun. The sesame oil blots out the harmful ultra-violet rays.

25 m1(2 tbsp) sesame oil

25 nil (2 tbsp) lanolin

75m1(6 tbsp) dandelion tea or elderflower tea (more…)

250 ml (1 cup) nettles, yarrow or rosemary 500 ml (2 cups) boiling water

Pour boiling water over the herbs. Stand and allow to steep for 20 minutes, then strain. Pour the tea into an enamel saucepan and shave into it 1 cup of a good, pure soap (I use a baby soap or goatmilk soap). Heat the mixture, stirring constantly until the soap is melted. (more…)