How You Can Use Your Kitchen to Develop an All Natural Skin Care Regimen
Today when we want to try out a skin care merchandise , we immediately think of which one will I buy. It was not that long ago when the only option available was to build your own skin care treatments. Of course there are many excellent commercial skin care products who have thousands of adoring customers. If you wanted something different, something more holistic or even organic, there are businesses who produce these items as well. What if you wanted to go an even more all natural route and create your own skin care regimen at home?
Well, obviously, to do that you would positive need to manufacture all the skin care products yourself. A typical skin care regimen consists of first exfoliating your skin, followed by a nice cleanser. Next, applying a toner helps really condition and clean the skin. Lastly, a workable moisturizer helps leave the skin smooth and silky. So, knowing that, all one needs to do is find recipes for each of these steps in the process. Note: If you prefer an organic option, build sure all the produce in the following recipes is organic.
Home Made Lemon Exfoliator:
Take one lemon and cut in half and juice it. Save the lemon halves to rub on your elbows, knees and bottoms of your heels (anywhere you have thick skin). Combine the lemon juice with 1/2 to 2/3 cups of granulated sugar. Take this mixture and rub it all over your body while standing in the tub or shower. Once you have completely rubbed the paste all over your skin (take care on your face and avoid using it near your eyes), rinse your body.
Home Made Facial Cleanser:
Take 1 cup of roll oats or oatmeal and add it to a blender. Process it for a few seconds to soften the flakes. Do not process it to a powder. In a bowl, add the processed oats and 1 tablespoon of granulated salt or sugar. To this mixture, add 1/4 cup of farina. To use it, splash your face with lukewarm water. With your wet fingers, take the mixture from the bowl and rub it on your skin. Take care not to stretch the skin and remember to be gentle. Rinse with splashes of lukewarm water. Do not use every day.
Home Made Apple Toner:
This is a very simple toner recipe. Take 1 apple. You can want to experiment with different varieties till you find the one that suits you best. Start with perhaps a green apple, like a Granny Smith. Remove the core and skin of the apple. Place the apple, chopped into quarters, into a blender with 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey. Puree the mixture. Gently spread the mixture all over your face and let it rest for 12 to 15 mins. Rinse it off with lukewarm water and gently pat your skin dry.
Home Made Moisturizing Cream:
Take a ripe avocado and slice it in two lengthwise. Remove the pit and discard. Take only half the avocado and place in a glass bowl. To that, add 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of wheat germ oil. Mix this well. Apply it to your skin and let it set for 15 to 20 mins. Rinse it off with lukewarm water.
Forget the pharmacy, you may construct your own skin care regimen with house hold items you can already have in your kitchen. If you have problems with your skin such as sensitivity or allergic reactions, build sure to test the recipes using a small area first before applying to the rest of your skin. If you truly have a serious skin condition you may absolutely need to consult with your local or online dermatologist for advice and treatment.
Make Your Own Bath Salts
Learn which salts are the best to use when creating your own bath salts. Plus a recipe to generate your own orange eucalyptus bath salts.
When creating your own bath salts and scrubs, we recommend using only dead sea salts or epsom salts. Dead Sea Salts contain a considerably smaller proportion of sodium chloride than other salts. Sodium chloride, which makes up 80% of regular sea salts, and most of solar salt, kosher salt, and rock salt, do not offer therapeutic benefits and may also be harmful to people with high blood pressure and edema.
On the other hand, the balance of magnesium, potassium and calcium chlorides, and a comparatively high concentration of bromides in Dead Sea Salts are what generate them beneficial. And recent studies show that bromides are a healing variable for psoriasis.
Epsom salts are also made up of magnesium sulfate. This ingredient is what pulls soreness from muscles, generating them grand for combating stress and relieving muscle aches. The magnesium also aids in the removal of acids through the skin. Now, heres a recipe so you might contruct your own!
Orange-Eucalyptus Bath Salts
Winter colds dont leave you with much to be desired. Lift your spirits, ease muscle aches, and help clear nasal passages with this bath salt blend.
Ingredients:
1 Cup Fine Sea Salt1/2 tsp Liquid Glycerin1/2 Cup Epsom Salts8 drops eucalyptus essential oil8 drops sweet orange essential oil
Instructions:
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. To make use of , simply add 4 to 6 Tablespoons of salts to a hot tub. Keep unused salts sealed in an airtight container.
Sugar Sweet Beauty
In the self-care and beauty industry, the latest craze is to add sugar in skin care products. If you search the internet you will find everything from sugar body scrubs to sugar hair removers. The prices might range from $8.00 to $35.00 for each item. Hows that for a merchandise in which the main ingredient might cost you a no more that $3.00 for a 5 pound bag!
To enjoy all of the benefits of a sugar based item without shelling out the big bucks, try these recipes:
Orange Cream Sugar Body Scrub
This recipe is grand to remove dead skin and give your skin a healthy glow. The sugar contains glycolic acid and the cream is a source for lactic acid. Avoid irritated or broken skin areas.
Ingredients: cup sugar, 2 TBSP cream or whole milk, 5 drops orange oil, and 1 cup olive, jojoba, or almond oil
Mix sugar, oil and cream together. Add orange oil after main ingredients are completely mixed.
Apply to your body by starting at the feet and working your way up. Massage in a circular motion and leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then shower it off. This recipe is enough to generate one full body treatment.
Lemon Head Sugar Body Scrub
This recipe is both cleansing and detoxifying. Lemon is very detoxifying to the body and will also help brighten the skin.
Ingredients: cup sugar, 10 drops lemon oil, or a lemon freshly squeezed, and 1 cup olive, jojoba, or almond oil
Mix all ingredients together. Apply to your body by starting at the feet and working your way up. Massage in a circular motion, then shower it off. This recipe is enough to build one full body treatment.
Facial Cleanser
Ingredients:
white or brown sugar, your most acclaimed facial cleanser, witch hazel, and water
Using your most admired daily facial soap, an user friendly, inexpensive facial scrub could be made by adding sugar. Simply add a teaspoon of either white sugar or brown sugar and massage it gently on your facial skin. Rinse with cool water and spritz your face with a witch hazel and water mixture.
Sugar is a natural and inexpensive way to add alpha-hydroxy acids in your skincare script. It produces glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, which is included in many skincare item lines. Todays pricey beauty products that incorporate sugar or alpha hydroxy acid, might be created inexpensively right at your kitchen table. You might acquired skill all of the benefits without the inflated price.
ROSEMARY FLOWER CANDIES (Rosemarinus Officinalis)
When a herb or plant has the designation officinalis it means it has been recognized to have medicinal qualities. Rosemarinus, so called because of marine connections (colour of sea - grows by sea eg Mediterranean) is possibly the best example of a herb that we generally grow that has extensive folklore and many attributed medicinal values.
It was beloved by the Romans, who bought it to the UK from Turkey, they believed this valuable herb could preserve dead bodies from corruption and it was generally strewn or grown in graveyards and around tombs. It was well known to the Tudors as a stimulant to the system. In The Garden of Health (1579) William Langham writes:
“Carry the flowers about thee to construct thee merry and glad and well beloved of all men…hang the flowers on thy bed and place Rosemary in the bath to make thee lusty, lively, joyful, strong and young. To comfort the heart steep Rosemary flowers in rose water and drink it”.
Gerard agrees in his 1636 Herbal:
“The flowers of Rosemary, made up into lozenges with sugar and eaten generate the heart merry, quicken the spirits and build them more lively”. He also notes that Rosemary water acts as a breath freshener.
Rosemary has long been recognized as a valuable heart and liver tonic and its utilize might help to reduce high blood pressure. It has been used in the treatment of nervous complaints, digestive disorders and menstrual pains.
Rosemary is a symbol of constancy in love because it remains fresh and fragrant when cut, longer most other evergreens. For this reason it was fairly often used for solemn occasions such as weddings or funerals - “Be it for my bridal or my burial”.
As in Shakespeares Hamlet, Rosemary is for remembrance and in the language of flowers the gift of Rosemary means “Never will your memory fade”. Ancient myth has it that Where Rosemary flourishes - the woman rules. Rosemary is sometimes used in psychic work as an aid to concentration, memory and mental steadyness. Under the pillow or over the bed its delicious aroma is said to prevent nightmares.
One word of warning though - excessive make use of of Rosemary taken internally might cause fatal poisoning, but that is no reason not sample the delicious and invigorating herbal tea or eat a few of the flowers.
Like the raw flowers, Rosemary sugar candies are a tiny taste explosion and quite delicious. Preserving them in sugar helps to extend the amount of measure you may knowledge this uplifting Epicurean event. First of all find a plant with flowers. It fairly often flowers twice a year so this should not be too difficult. You might either pick the whole flower from the plant, or set up some arrangement that catches them as they fall naturally.
In a warm place, such as a sunlit windowsill above a radiator, drop the flowers onto dried (even warmed) white sugar. Make sure the receptacle is open enough that moisture may evaporate from the flowers into the sugar and then into the atmosphere. Also make sure that no moisture gets to this mixture at any point as the sugar will clump and the flowers will beginning to rot, spoiling the taste. Shake the mixture now and then to aid the process.
When thoroughly dry, seal the sugar/flower mixture into a moisture-proof receptacle and every now and then - treat yourself !
Turn Your Bathroom Into A Spa For Stress Relief
Water is very therapeutic and healing as well as cleansing. In our fast paced world, we have become accustomed to getting pulsating showers with strong spicy soaps to wake us up and get us going in our hectic, busy lives. But times are changing. Now we want to relax and be soothed when were at home; and when it comes to the bathroom, we want to be pampered like were at an expensive spa.
Most of us can not install large steam showers and Japanese soaking tubs, but it is possible to turn your bathroom into an inviting oasis without a lot of expense and in the process, relieve some, even all of your stress. Relaxing in a warm scented bath also induces alpha brain waves, which enhance concentration and are more likely to trigger intuition than the rapid beta waves we knowledge throughout our normal day. Researchers agree that intuitive thoughts come suddenly and usually when were relaxing.
Color can be used to create or enhance a mood. Painting the bathroom a nice soothing color might promote relaxation. Perhaps a gentle blue, pastel green or even pale lilac.
Find aromatherapy candles to match your color scheme. Not only will the soft glow contruct you feel relaxed, the scent will be calming and therapeutic as well. To build your own candles, add essential oils into melted beeswax and pour into a glass container. Place in the wick and let it harden.
Plush area rugs provide a touch of softness for your feet and enhances color and texture to your bathroom.
Plants and/or flowers provide a calming effect and a nice decorative touch. Use live plants if your bathroom gets a lot of sunshine, otherwise, the silk version works just fine.
Extra large fluffy towels are a must for that pampered spa feeling. Create scented towels by adding 3 to 6 drops of your most beloved essential oil to a hankerchief and toss it in the dryer with your towels.
Purchase a spa robe - your body will thank you every time you slip on an excess soft and fluffy spa robe made from Egyptian cotton.
The temperature of your bath or shower can affect your energy level. A cool shower is very energizing, a warm bath (set at body temperature) relaxes, and a hot bath will help you snooze at night.
Sip a cool glass of mineral water or a warm cup of herbal tea as you care for your body. Remember to use plastic cups in the bathroom.
Move a portable CD player into the bathroom and listen to relaxing music, nature sounds or soft classical if you enjoy it. If you do not have anything soothing to play, check your local library.
For a spa facial, combine 3 tablespoons of honey, 1/3 cup oats and 2 teaspoons of Peppermint tea. To soothe achy muscles combine Epson salts with a few drops of essential oil and add to your bath water. Eucalyptus or Rosemary essential oils would be sizeably workable choices.
Make sure you have plenty of soft washcloths, scented soaps and face masks on hand. Many spas offer samples of items that you may take home for utilize in your personal escape.
As you might see, you do not have to go to a spa to grab the benefits of water and beauty therapies. Set aside an a little measure and give yourself a beauty treatment at home every chance you get. Its not selfish. When you take care of yourself and feel grand, you are more able to give of yourself to others. So pamper yourself fairly often with no guilt!
Aromatherapy for Stress Relief at Work
Most many people work a 40 hour week so we might estimate that we typically spend about 2,000 hours at work each year. And many many people work even more than this. Yet we fairly often do not take the time to ensure that our job setting is a pleasant place to be. Our jobs are often very stressful and stress is a known trigger for many common ailments and diseases. Many studies have been done on the relationship between job stress and a variety of ailments. Mood and sleep disturbances, upset stomach, headaches and disturbed relationships with family and friends are examples of stress related problems that are quick to develop.
Before you consider stress reduction, start by identifying the particular stresses in your work and the effect they have on you. What, specifically, is it about your work situation that makes you feel anxious, angry, frustrated, burned out, depressed, etc? Do you have a difficult boss or co-worker? Do you have too much work and not enough instant to do it? When you come up with your list of stressors, address them one at a instant.
Managing stress is a slow and measured process that should take place over measure and not all at once. Take stock of the situation and build a note of the things that are causing you the most concern. Look at things that you may do, or inquire of for support that will ease the situation, no matter how small. Set some achievable goals towards removing the problem. Think back to some similar situations you have overcome and apply these lessons.
A common reaction to a stressful situation is to try to escape, at least temporarily, by grasping a coffee break or a quick smoke. But this only adds to the toxins in your body and does not attempt to deal with the underlying causes. A more workable response is to confront the tasks that cause you stress. Develop healthy habits one day at a time. Take a short stroll in the morning, eat regularly, take instant over your meals, and keep in touch with your mind and body.
It may be very beneficial to change your own outlook and actions rather than trying to change others who you believe are the cause of your stress. No matter what the causes of your tension and stress are, there are many strategies you might make use of to help protect you against the ill effects of stress. We elaborate on a different strategy to relieve stress each month in this newsletter.
Implementing aromatherapy into your life might go a long way in easing your stress as well as the stress levels of others around you. One of the main attributes of pure essential oils is their ability to relieve stress with immediate positive benefits. Because of the emotional elements which are at play in stress-related conditions, the choice of essential oils depends largely on the causes of the problem and the temperment of each individual and how they respond under pressure. Only make use of oils that appeal to you. If you do not like the scent, it will not have the desired effect.
There are many ways to bring aromatherapy into the workplace. Diffusers heat essential oils and allows their molecules to be released into the atmosphere. Inhaling different essential oils can alter your mood, stimulate creativity, help concentration and rid an area of airborne viruses and bacteria. Scenting your office with Lavender essential oil is said to reduce computer errors at least 25%.
If you have to work in an air conditioned or stuffy building, using essential oils in a diffuser or spritzing a spritzer may really clear the air. Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint and Rosemary are all excellent for a quick pick me up. Try Chamomile, Lavender, Orange or Sandalwood oil. All are thought to help combat stress and tension. Here are a few more ideas to get you started.
If you cant utilize a diffuser at work, simply put a drop of essential oil on a tissue and keep with you to sniff whenever you absolutely need to.
Put a few drops of your most acclaimed essential oil on the cardboard tube inside a roll of toilet paper to fragrance the bathroom at work.
Let scent be your calling card. Simply add your most beloved essential oils to cotton balls and place your business cards and the cotton balls in a box with a lid. Keep tightly closed for at least 1 week.
Mix 5 drops of Lavender essential oil (or your most acclaimed oil) into about a
teaspoon of Jojoba or Almond oil. Dab on a cloth and wipe the surfaces of your desk
and top of the computer. When the heat of the computer warms the oil there is a
pleasant fresh fragrance wafting through the air.
There is help for your stress! Aromatherapy has been proven to be excellent for stress relief as well as increasing productivity and efficiency levels. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination. For more ideas and data , check out our web site that is over 100 pages large and growing.
Aromatherapy to Overcome Your Financial Fears
For many many people , the menacing and overpowering awareness of their financial state is enough to keep them awake at night. And its no wonder, since we spend so much of our daily lives doing mental accounting of our finances, paying bills, and watching our paperwork pile up. This financial anxiety may be paralyzing for some, keeping them in an endless poverty consciousness cycle that actually prevents them from attracting the abundance they so desire.
If you suffer from these self-sabotaging fears, its measure to learn how to release their hold on you. And you may be surprised to learn that the remedy is really no different than treating a physical ailment.
When you are sick, you take herbs and nurture yourself in order to regain your health. Apply this principle to your emotional state and use action to relieve your symptoms. Include a simple ritual and a customized aromatherapy blend to your daily routine and you will soon find yourself free of cost from the financial fears that we are holding you back.
Start by taking the following actions to welcome prosperity into your life:
–Clear the Clutter–
Are you apprehensive about your accounting, allowing it to pile up and clutter your life? Consider the negative communication that sends about your abilities to manage your finances. Eliminating clutter is a major principle in Feng Shui. When you clear it, you also eliminate the emotional clutter as well. Do a major de-cluttering this week. Make it a point to organize your papers, file your receipts, etc. Then, build sure to maintain your new sense of order.
–Change Your Perspective on the Situation–
We are almost always reluctant to address our finances because we are afraid of what we will find. Will we find more debt? Will we discover we have less funds than we need? Change your perspective today by doing an inventory of your life. Make a list of all your goods: possessions, relationships, success stories, health, etc. See how much you have on hand instead of how much you lack. And remember, no matter how bad it gets, there is always a explicit way out.
–Aromatic Blend to Transcend Your Financial Fears–
This blend will boost your confidence, willpower, and courage. In a 10-ml bottle, add the following essential oils and fill with an organic vegetable oil:
5 drops Bay leaves Essential Oil
5 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
4 drops Cinnamon Essential Oil
Anoint the solar plexus, lower back. Pour a few drops into the palm of your hands and breathe it in deeply. Use it in the morning, when feeling scared or anxious about a financial situation.
Aromatherapy at Home: Beating the Cold Bug
It seems that nearly many people I understand has been either fighting or recovering from a cold or flu these last few weeks. And many of my clients have been asking how essential oils can help them prevent or heal their illnesses. There are a few things you might do to prevent yourself from catching a bad cold:
Diffuse eucalyptus essential oil at home to clean and purify the air.
Take a “winter bath” once or twice a week with the following aromatherapy blend to boost your immune system and keep you healthy during the chilly winter!
In a 10-ml bottle, pour the essential oils first and then add
an organic vegetable oil to fill:
15 drops of Ravensara
8 drops of Rosemary
6 drops of Thyme officinalis
Using Aromatherapy Recipes
Organic aromatherapy recipes have been used for centuries and its usage is very diverse and spread all over the world. Hundreds of recipes have been found and perfected over thousands of years. Aromatherapy makes make use of of essential oils to combat everyday maladies in our lives such as stress, depression, indigestion, menopause, nausea, immune deficiencies, fatigue and numerous others. The following aromatherapy recipes are for your aromatic knowledge.
First things first! Always remember that essential oils are very potent and volatile liquids that may be very harmful if used carelessly. CAUTION: Never apply undiluted oil on the skin without make use of of carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, hazelnut oil, sunflower oil or grape seed oil. Massage is perhaps the most popular way to use essential oils. It combines the healing art of aromatherapy with the healing art of touch. Self-massage is just as efficient as being massaged by another human and lack of a partner is no excuse for not trying these relaxing recipes. As a general rule, always utilize ten drops of total essential oils per mixture, and keep it around five for maximum effectiveness.
You can always concoct your own innovative recipe using many essential oils that available in the sell . You do not really positive need a branded expensive aromatherapy product or go to an expensive aromatherapy spa and some wholesale aromatherapy vendors could be too expensive. Here are a few quick, time and elegant natural aromatherapy recipes that might be formulated at your home:
Beat the depression with 3 revitalizing drops of orange essential oil and 2 drops of zesty ginger.
Drive out insomnia with easeful drops of Roman chamomile, clary sage and bergamot oils.
Reduce menstrual cramps with pacifying drops of peppermint, cypress and lavender oils.
Soothe stress with calming drops of Roman chamomile, lavender and vetiver oils.
Enhance memory with stimulating drops of peppermint and lemon oils.
Boost your immune system with protecting drops of eucalyptus, pine and peppermint oils.
Fight acne with toning lavender and antiseptic tea tree oil.
Ease a grieving heart with oils of warm rose and sandalwood.
Disinfect the kitchen sink with the citrus smell of lemon, lime and grapefruit oils.
Apart from these most common recipes, you can also prepare hundreds of them by using correct amounts of essential oils.
All-Purpose Face and Neck Massage: 3 drops violet oil + 2 drops rose oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil. Add vitamin E for more richness.
Anti-Tension Massage: 2 drops petit grain oil + 2 drops lavender oil + 2 drops sandalwood oil: in 20 ml carrier oil. Apply on the neck, shoulders, and temples.
Backache Massage: 2 drop eucalyptus oil + 2 drops lavender oil + 1 drop lemon oil: in 20 ml carrier oil. Focus on areas of tension with fingertips.
Bedtime Massage: 3 drop sandalwood oil + 2 drops chamomile oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil.
Calming Back Massage: 4 drop ylang ylang oil + 3 drops jasmine oil + 2 drops geranium oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil.
Circulation Improvement Massage: 6 drop lavender oil + 4 drops rosemary oil + 2 drops vetiver oil: in 4 oz. of sesame oil.
Face and Neck Massage: 2 drop galbanum oil + 3 drops neroli oil: 20 ml carrier oil.
Hand Massage: 5 drops lime oil + 5 drops thyme oil + 5 drops eucalyptus oil + 5 drops cajuput oil: in 4 tablespoons carrier oil.
Leg Massage: 2 drops cypress oil + 2 drop lime oil + 1 drop lemon oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Massage on calves, using gentle pressure on varicose veins.
Mature Skin Massage: 2 drop myrrh oil + 2 drops lavender oil + 2 drops neroli oil: 20 ml wheat germ oil.
Pain-Relieving Massage: 3 drop pine oil + 3 drop eucalyptus oil + 3 drops frankincense oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Apply on sore joints.
Relaxing Full-Body Massage: 3 drop neroli oil + 2 d jasmine oil: in 20 ml of carrier oil.
Relaxing Massage: 2 drops geranium oil + 2 drops rose oil + 2 drops lavender oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Face and scalp massage.
Sensual Body Massage: 2 drops patchouli oil + 3 drops geranium oil + 3 drops rose oil: 20 ml carrier oil.
Stimulating Body Rub: 1 drops peppermint oil + 1 drops myrrh oil + 2 drops lavender oil: 20 ml carrier oil. This is an excellent winter rub.
Summer Stimulating Massage: 2 drop lemongrass oil + 3 drops orange oil + 1 drop rosemary oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Good for back and shoulder massages.
Uplifting Massage: 2 drop bergamot oil + 2 drops orange oil +2 drops petit grain oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Good early-morning body rubs.
Varicose Vein Massage: 2 drops lime oil + 2 drops cedar wood oil: in 20 ml carrier oil. Rub lightly, using only fingertips.
Wrinkled or Puffy Face Massage: 2 drops rose oil + 1 drops violet oil + 1 drops geranium oil: 20 ml carrier oil. Rub lightly on face, using only fingertips.
Oils which are not preferable for home utilize include: cinnamon, clove, hyssop, and sage.
Oils which should not be used during pregnancy add : basil, clove, cinnamon, fennel, hyssop, juniper, marjoram, myrrh, peppermint, rosemary, sage, and white thyme.
Oils which are not recommended for steam facials add : bay, clary sage, ginger, juniper, pine, and tea tree.
Oils which are photosynthesizing add , but are not restricted to: lemon, bergamot, lime, and orange. Do not go out into the sun for at least two hours after applying these oils to your skin.
How to Make and Use Herb Preparations
Making your own herbal concoctions for medicinal purposes is really not that difficult. And since the
best herbal preparations are those made when the plants are fresh, the better off you are to grow
your own herbs and construct your own preparations.
But even the best plants can be ruined if you use the wrong kind of process in preparing your
remedies. Your choice depends on the parts of the plant to be used, the form in which the remedy
will be taken, and the desired result.
Remember that herbal remedies are not one-shot wonder cures. Their effectiveness is based largely
on a gradual cure.
The following ways of preparing your fresh herbs are those most fairly often used in herbal medicine.
Always utilize an enamel or non-metallic pot.
Infusion - this is a beverage made like tea, combining boiled water with the plants and steeping it to
extract the active ingredients. The normal amounts are about 1/2 to 1 ounce of the plant to one pint
of boiled water. You should let the mixture steep for five to ten minutes, covered, and strain the
infusion into a cup.
Cold Extract - preparing herbs with cold water preserves the most volatile ingredients, while
extracting only minor amounts of mineral salts and bitter principles. Add about double the amount of
plant material used for an infusion to cold water and let sit for about 8 to 12 hours, strain and drink.
Decoction - this method or preparation allows you to extract primarily the mineral salts and bitter
principles rather than vitamins and volatile ingredients. Boil about half an ounces of plant parts per
cup of water for up to 4 minutes. Steep the mixture with the cover on the pot for a few minutes.
Juice - chop and press fresh plant parts to build juice, then add a bit of water and press again. This
is excellent for taking vitamins and minerals from the plant. Drink the juice right away for the best
results.
Syrup - build a basic syrup to which you will add medicinal ingredients by boiling 3 pounds of raw,
brown sugar in a pint of water until it reaches the right consistency.
Powder - grind your dried plant parts until you have a powder. the powder could be taken with water,
milk, soup, or swallowed in gelatin capsules.
Ointment - quick method: combine well one part of your powdered remedy with four parts hot
petroleum jelly or lard. For purists: Add the decoction of the desired herb to olive oil and simmer
until the water has completely evaporated. Add beeswax as needed to get a firm consistency. A little
gum benzoin or a drop of tincture of benzoin per ounce of fat will help preserve the ointment.
Essence - dissolve 1 ounce of the herbs essential oil in a pint of alcohol; this method preserves the
volatile oils of many plants which are not water-soluble.
Poultice - to make a poultice, you just crush the medicinal parts of the plant to a pulpy mass and
heat. Mix with a hot, sticky substance such as moist flour or corn meal. Apply the pasty mixture
directly to the skin. Wrap a hot towel around and moisten the towel periodically. A poultice will
draw impurities from the body.
Herb Bath - herbal baths include the make use of of various herbal additives to enhance the natural healing
power of the water. They are baths to which plant decoctions or infusions have been added. There
are full and partial herbal baths. For a full bath some of the medicinal plant parts should be sewn into
a cloth bag and then boiled in a quart of water; the strained mixture is then added to the bath.
Sometimes you might put the bag right into the tub for a more thorough extraction of the herbal
properties.