Natural Herbal Beauty

Milk cleansers are much gentler on your skin than soaps. Making your own herbal cleansing milks is simple. To keep them fresh for more than

1 week, freeze the strained herbal milks in ice cube trays, and pop out a cube to thaw as needed.

For Dry to Normal Skin:

2 tablespoons calendula flowers

1 tablespoon chamomile flowers

1 tablespoon rose petals (more…)

You’ll need:

2 tablespoons nettle

2 tablespoons red clover blossoms

2 tablespoons lavender flowers

2 tablespoons linden flowers

10 drops lavender essential oil

12-inch square piece of muslin or cotton handkerchief

Stress increases the production of internal toxins and hinders the body’s detoxification processes. Purification, healing and rejuvenation are more easily accomplished when the body and mind are relaxed. Herbs are wonderful allies not only for detoxification, but also for soothing and calming the body, mind, and spirit. This fragrant bath combines the purifying properties of nettle and red clover blossoms with the relaxing properties of lavender and linden blossoms. (more…)

EASY HERBAL SOAP: Place 2 tablespoons finely chopped lemon verbena or lavender into 2 tablespoons warmed glycerin. Place in a warm area for several days. Strain and finely grate 12 tablespoons of unscented soap or soap flakes and melt in top of a double boiler. Remove from heat and add the scented glycerin to the melted soap. Add 1 tablespoon of honey. Mix well. Pour into greased molds. Allow to set until the soap is cool and hardened.

Now that we’ve taken the steps needed to care for our skin properly, here are some recipes that will take care of special problems and needs. (more…)

COUGH SYRUP: Put 1 tablespoon elecampane, 3 tablespoons boneset, 1 tablespoon coltsfoot, 1 tablespoon Irish Moss and 1 tablespoon of lobelia in a pint of water. Boil down to half the liquid. Strain well and add 1 pint of honey. Refrigerate and take by the tablespoon as needed for cough.

COUGH SYRUP: Put 1 tablespoon each of boneset, Irish moss, white yarrow, slippery elm bark, thyme, peppermint, horehound and lemon balm in 1 quart of boiling water. Steep for 30 minutes. Strain well and add 1 quart of honey. Drink several cups of this liquid a day for coughs.

CURRENT COUGH SYRUP: Simmer 3 teaspoons of black currents in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. Strain and add 2 tablespoons of honey. Use as needed for coughs. (more…)

BRONCHITIS TREATMENT: Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes. Some people are more prone to infection here then others. The infection is often preceded by a common cold, flu, or can be caused by a streptococcus organism. The predisposing factors may be chilling, fatigue, or even malnutrition. Many times the predisposition can be attributed to allergies or inhalation of chemical agents such as fumes or dust particles.

Treatment of chronic bronchitis should be supervised by your family physician. He or she will find the reason that you suffer from chronic bronchitis and treat you accordingly. Your treatment may require a change in living habits. Smokers have to stop smoking. You may even have to change your sleeping habits. Never sleep in an extremely cold room and be sure to cover your mouth during very cold weather when outdoors. Bed rest is advised along with plenty of fluids and a light diet. Broths, fruit juices, and again, I stress plenty of water. (more…)

ANISEED SLEEPER: Use 1 teaspoon of aniseed for each cup of water. Brew for about 20 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Induces sleep and aids in indigestion.

INSOMNIA: Eating an apple before bedtime seems to help put you to sleep.

INSOMNIA TREATMENT: Add 1 teaspoon pennyroyal herb to 1 cup boiling water. Let steep 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Drink warm before bed. Caution: Not to be used by pregnant women. (more…)

ALOE VERA LAXATIVE: To sterilize the water, boil it and then cool it. Peel the aloe vera. Put the green peelings and the water in a closed jar. (The juice is not the part used for a laxative, it’s the sap between the skin and the pulp.) Place in the refrigerator and drink 1 cup twice a week to regulate bowels. The strength is determined by the amount of aloe vera placed in the water. Start with several leaves, and add until desired strength is reached. (more…)

Our pets give us unconditional love and loyalty and we should pay just as much attention to their diet and care as we do our own. Animals respond to the use of herbs better than humans do. Almost any herbal treatment that is fit for human use can be used for your pets. Reduce the dosage to adjust for the difference in size (your pets are usually smaller than you are) and give the herbs in capsule form. Capsules may take a little longer to work, but keep the treatment going until your pet shows improvement. (more…)