Herbal Oils 

Plant ingredients can be extracted by oils. You can use one herb or combine herbs in the same oil. By using different herbal combinations, you can make strong medicinal oils (for external use only) or sweet-scented massage and bath oils. Once you have made the oils, they can be made into salves or ointments.

There are lots of carrier or base oils to choose from. My favorite for medicinal purposes is olive oil. For bath, massage, or cosmetic oils, I prefer to use apricot kernel oil, almond oil, or grapeseed oil because these are light and easily absorbed by the skin. Grapeseed is the lightest of the three. Also, none of these have a strong scent to overpower the herbs. For cooking oils, I use corn, canola, or olive oil. My favorite for taste and health is cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil.

You can use fresh or dried herbs. Fresh herbs should be placed in a shaded, warm place for several hours or overnight, after picking. This allows most of the moisture to evaporate. If you don't do this, the oil will look milky, allow mold to grow, and could even sour. St. John's wort flowers, rosemary, comfrey, calendula, and chickweed are good herbs to make medicinal oils and salves from.

Use the flowers from St. John's wort with the cold infusion method. These flowers should not sit overnight; put them in oil as soon as you pick them, and when you strain the oil, do so through cheesecloth.

Make rosemary oil and salve from oils infused by the hot method. First, strip the leaves from the stems, and let them sit overnight to dry a little.

Standard portions for infused oils are 2 to 3 ounces of dry herb to 2 cups oil, but if you wish to use my simple method: fill a glass pot with the chosen herb or herb blend, and cover it with oil plus 1 more inch. Then choose which method you are going to use: hot or cold.

COLD METHOD:

1. Let the herb you want to infuse sit overnight, so it will lose water.

2. Fill a jar with as much herb as you want to infuse to 3" from the top.

3. Fill the jar with oil enough to cover the herb, plus

2". Because herb exposed to air will mold, make sure all the herb is covered.

4. Let sit in the sun or in a greenhouse for six to eight weeks.

5. Strain into a clean, airtight, dark jar. Label, date, and store in a cool, dark place. Don't be surprised if the oil doesn't smell like the plant. It most often doesn't. For a stronger oil, repeat the process. Double oleate oils are twice as strong, and triple oleate, three times as strong, etc.



HOT METHOD:

1. Let the herb you want to infuse sit overnight, so it will lose water. 

2. Fill a pot with as much herb as you want to infuse. Use a non-reactive pot. Glass is my first choice. You also can use stainless steel, enamel, or cast iron. Do not use aluminum or copper.

3. Cover the herb with oil and add two more inches of oil.

4. A double boiler is convenient, but if you don't have one, put the pot in a bigger pot that has water in it. The oil should heat slowly over low heat for three hours. Do not overheat because too intense heat will destroy the volatile oils you are trying to collect. You can do this in a crockpot on the lowest setting also.

5. Strain into a clean, airtight jar, and store in a cool, dark place.

Facial Steams 

These provide thorough deep cleansing. The heat produces perspiration, which eliminates toxins and stimulates circulation. The steam softens the skin and opens the pores, which helps the skin absorb the beneficial properties of the herbs. Recommendations: for normal skin, once a week-for oily skin, 2 or 3 times a week-for dry skin, once every 2 weeks.

HERBS TO USE:

The following herbs are for soothing and gentle cleansing: applemint, chamomile, chervil, lavender, lemon balm, rose petals, spearmint, and thyme.

For improved circulation: rosemary and nettles. 

For healing: comfrey root and leaves, and fennel.

For oily skin: calendula, horsetail, lupine seed, sage, and yarrow. 

For dry skin: borage, houseleek, lady's mantle, marsh mallow roots, parsley, burnet, sorrel, sweet violet.

For mature skin: dandelion, elder flowers, lemon verbena, red clover, tansy.

TO PREPARE:

Use 2 handfuls of fresh herb or 3 TBS dry. Tie back hair; remove make-up. Pour 6 cups boiling water over herbs. Stir with a chopstick. Hold your face 12" from the solution, making a tent over your head with a towel. Close your eyes. Takes 10 to 15 minutes. 

Rinse with warm water, then cold, then with witch hazel. A diluted vinegar or infusion of peppermint, elderflower, sage, or yarrow dabbed on with cotton will tighten the pores. Avoid sudden changes in temperature for an hour.

HERB MIXTURES FOR STEAM FACIALS

The herbs in these blends release their healing properties in the steam, cleansing pores of debris, impurities and oil. All the herbs are used dried, except watercress, which is always used fresh.

FOR NORMAL SKIN

2 tsp. lemon-balm leaves

2 tsp. rose petals

2 tsp. lavender blossoms

2 tsp. linden flowers

FOR DRY, SENSITIVE SKIN

2 tsp. chamomile flowers

2 tsp. fennel seeds

2 tsp. rose petals

2 tsp. arnica flowers, calendula flowers, or comfrey leaves

FOR BLEMISHED SKIN

2 tsp. thyme leaves

4 tsp. fresh watercress

2 tsp. arnica flowers

2 tsp. nettle leaves, peppermint leaves or yarrow blossoms

Eat yourself beautiful 

Top 10 Superfoods for clear skin & luscious hair

The secret to a bright complexion? Strong luxurious hair? Strong healthy nails? Sure, we can all try to achieve this with our makeup and hair products, but nothing looks and feels as good as having bright skin radiate from the inside, and your hair healthy all year round, all from just incorporating into your diet, these 10 superfoods.

Blueberries

Now even more great reasons to enjoy blueberries! This little fruit softens dry skin, boosts your brain, and may even prevent cancer. The antioxidants within these berries also help protect you against premature ageing, so add half a cup to your diet a day.

Spinach

This leafy green vegetable is rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Spinach is loaded with lutein, which keeps your eyes healthy and sparkling. Spinach is also a good source of vitamins B, C, and E, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Trade your lettuce for spinach, or saute spinach for a quick, healthy side.

Dark Chocolate

No-one will judge you if you keep a secret stash of chocolate in your purse, car, desk… (or all of the above). In fact, it is recommend you do — Especially if you’re willing to share. Dark chocolate helps skin stay hydrated and protects the skin from sun damage, and contrary to popular belief, chocolate does not cause acne. Before you make a mad dash to the shops to stock up, however, keep in mind that the best kind of chocolate has a high flavonol content and should be at least 60 percent cacao.

Wild Salmon

Wild salmon (not farm raised) is one of the best food sources for omega-3 fatty acids, which helps keep your skin supple and moisturized. Salmon also has selenium, a mineral that protects the skin from sun exposure. The vitamin D in salmon keeps your bones and teeth strong and healthy, too. You won’t have a problem adding salmon to your diet since there are hundreds of ways to enjoy this beauty superfood. Try it grilled, baked, in your pasta, with a salad, in sushi, or just with a side of asparagus.

Yoghurt

One cup of low-fat yogurt has more calcium than a cup of fat-free milk, which is great for your posture, nails, and teeth. Mix it with fruit or granola for a healthy breakfast or that essential midafternoon snack.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the best source of the anti-aging antioxidant lycopene. Surprisingly, lycopene in tomatoes is more easily absorbed by your body when it is cooked or processed, so make sure to stock up on canned tomato sauce, tomato juice, and ketchup – Beware of the added salt/sugar though.

Kiwi Fruit

His small, brown, fuzzy fruit is loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants, which keep skin firm, help prevent wrinkles, and are great for healthy bones and teeth. The antioxidants in kiwis also protect you from cancer and heart disease.

Walnuts

You don’t need to eat cupfuls of walnuts to enjoy their many benefits: smoother skin, healthy hair, brighter eyes, and strong bones. Get your daily dose of nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E by eating a handful by themselves or throwing some in your salad, pasta, or dessert.

Oysters

I am still unsure about whether oysters are aphrodisiac or not? But they are a good source of zinc, which aids in skin cell renewal and repair. Zinc also keeps your nails, hair, and eyes healthy. Who needs an aphrodisiac when you look and feel beautiful?

Avocado

Avocados are a great source of antioxidant carotenoids like alpha carotene, beta carotene, beta cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin and lutein. These free radical quenching compounds provide significant protection for your skin from the environmental damage that leads to fine lines, wrinkles and other visible signs of ageing. Packed with Vitamin C & E, Omega Acids and is also high in Oleic Acid content. This monounsaturated fatty acid maintains moisture in the epidermal layer of your skin, helping to make it soft and hydrated.

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Hope you enjoyed reading, and I hope you have learnt something new, and if so – enjoy eating yourself beautiful!

FIVE WAYS TO ELIMINATE CELLULITE

1. Increase circulation – Poor circulation increases your risk for developing cellulite by not providing adequate blood flow to mobilize the fat stores. There are a number of ways that we can increase circulation. First is to move. Exercise gets your heart pumping which gets your blood flowing. Moving often and regularly is a key in fighting off cellulite. Another key factor is to try to avoid tight-fitting clothing or underclothing, especially around the midsection. Tight clothes, pants and underpants that restrict are also restricting blood flow making you more prone to cellulite.

2. Mobilize Lymphatic Fluid – Lymph build-up makes cellulite appear worse by creating a “clog” not allowing the toxins and unneeded nutrients from being excreted as waste. This allows unwanted particles to build-up in fatty tissue. Exercise and massage are effective at moving lymphatic fluid as dry brushing the skin to circulate the lymphatic fluid which has no central pump.

3. Dietary Changes – Cellulite is a result of the increase in size of adipocytes caused by an increase in fat forming foods as well as toxic build-up. While there are numerous dietary changes that can and should be made, the main goal would be to convert your body from a sugar-burning, fat storing state to a fat-burning phase. This can be done through the reduction of sugary, overly processed foods and carbohydrates and an increase in healthy fats (6).

4. Detoxification – Our adipocytes are storage molecules, mostly storing fatty acids but also toxins. Toxic build-up is a harmful position for your body to be in and when the liver is in overdrive, the toxins back up and your body places them in fat cells to be stored until they can be dealt with. A good, wholesome total body detoxification program can be beneficial in the shrinkage of adipocytes and fatty tissue via the removal of toxic substances (4).

5. Increase Collagen – Collagen is the main protein found in structural connective tissue. A great way to reduce the occurence of cellulite is to consume more collagen which increase the strength of the connective tissue. The stronger the connective tissue the more resistance it can put on the fat cells preventing them from pushing up creating the cellulite appearance (7).

While there is no magic wand, cream, wrap or paste for getting rid of cellulite, there are plenty of natural healthy methods to reduce the appearance and occurrence of cellulite. These remedies deal with the fat cells themselves. To beat cellulite you have to get to the root of the issue and that is what is happening hormonally in the body via what you put in your body and how you treat it.