Herbal Steam Bath

6 tablespoons dried mint
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon dried majoram
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 litres (about 8 cups) boiling water.

Place the herbs and lemon juice in a heatproof bowl, pour boiling water over and stir well.
lean over the bowl and cover your head and bowl with a towel for about 5 minutes. With the pores now opened due to the steam, cleanse your face as normal. Once a week is recommended.

After-sun Body Mask

1 Banana
15mls glycerine
5 tablespoons of ground almonds.

Mix all ingredients together adding water if too stiff. Apply to the sunburnt areas and leave for 15-20 minutes. Gently remove and apply a mils body lotion.

Natural Cuticle Cream

2 tsp of lecithin powder
2 tbls of lanolin

Mix the two together in an airtight container and use when required.

Homemade Soap Facts

How many people know what soap really is? Several of the cleansing bars that you buy at the store, for example, are detergents-and not soaps at all. They are called syndet bars, or synthetic detergent bars. They are made from synthesized chemicals and are usually much harsher than soap. Detergents contain petroleum distillates rather than oil. On the other hand, true soap is made from natural oils (such as olive, coconut and palm) and is a gentle cleansing product more appropriate for use on skin than is detergent.

Soaps, unlike detergents, are made by combining sodium hydroxide or lye, oils and water in a process known as "Saponification". Some people may question the use of lye in handcrafted soap. The fact is that all soap is made with lye. What needs to be made clear is that once the process of saponification is complete, the lye and oil molecules have combined and chemically changed into soap and glycerin. There is no lye present in the finished bars of soap.

The oils in our soaps are put there for a specific purpose. The coconut oil creates a wonderful lather. The olive oil is used for a high quality, long lasting bar. Canola and Palm oil carry nutrients to the skin, and the safflower oil make a creamy bar.

Glycerin is a skin soothing emollient that adds to the goodness of handmade soap. In commercial soaps the glycerin is removed for sale to the cosmetic industry to sell separately, sometimes at a higher price than the soap itself! Glycerin is important to skin care because it is a humectant. Humectants draw moisture from the air, which in turn moisturize your skin. A whole 1/5 of a bar of our soap is glycerin.

Most soaps have artificial ingredients to scent or color. Some handcrafted soap is scented with fragrance oils. These are synthetic chemicals that are mixed together to imitate a particular scent. They have contributed in many cases to chemical sensitivity in some people. They also have no aromatherapy benefits. The scents in our soaps should come only from essential oils, which are steamed or pressed from plants. Essential oils are the fragrance emitting components of plants and are at the heart of aromatherapy. Not only do they smell good; they have many beneficial effects on the body, mind and spirit.

The coloring in our soap should come from nature as well. The petals of Lavender and Rose can be used. Earth Pigments can also be used, which are simply finely ground rocks. This makes the colors rich and earthy, rather than artificial looking.

About the Author

Yvonne Takhtalian, C.N.H.P, H.I. spent the past 10 years developing and improving Vita-Myr Natural Products helping thousands like you heal gum disease and gingivitis. She just released a new line of 100% Natural Vita-Myr Soaps to compliment her Vita-Myr Mouthwash & Toothpaste. Find out more about effective natural relief of gum disease at http://www.vitamyr.com/ or email questions/comments to Yvonne at mailto:vitamyr@mindspring.com Copyright © 2004 Vita-Myr® International Inc All rights reserved. Natural Products For Healthy Living ®

Almond and Glycerine Hand Cream

4 drops of lemon oil
1/2 cop of almond oil
6 tbs glycerine
2 1/2 tsp beeswax granules
2 oz cocoa butter

Melt the beeswax, cocoa butter and almond oil in a double boiler. When all melted, stir in the glycerine, then add the lemon essential oil. Pour into an airtight jar and allow to cool. Massage into your hands twice a day.

Shower Soaps

Citrus Shower Soap

100 gm (4oz) plain soap
600 ml (2½ cups) still mineral water
75 ml (5 tbs) glycerine
1 tsp grapefruit oil
1tsp orange oil

Peppermint Shower Soap

100 gm (4oz) plain soap
600 ml (2½ cups) still mineral water
75 ml (5 tbs) glycerine
6 drops of peppermint oil

Putting it together

Grate the soap into the top section of a double boiler and add water. Heat together until soap is melted. Add the glycerine, remove from heat and stir thoroughly. when the mixed has cooled somewhat, add the essential oils and stir. Bottle and apply when in the shower.

You can make up anything you like with the basic recipe, just change the essential oil but keep the other ingredients the same.

Banana Face Mask

½ a banana
2 tsp of thickened cream
1 tsp of fresh honey

Mash the banana thoroughly and stir in the honey and cream. Apply to your face, lay down and relax for about 10 minutes. Wash clean with warm water. Great for dry skin.

Lavender Bath Soap

300g grated plain soap
300ml of boiling rosewater
10 drops of lavender essential oil
3 drops of purple or pink food colouring

In a basin, place grated soap and poor in the boiling rosewater, stirring until soap has melted. Add the lavender oil and food colouring (if colour is wanted). Roll out between food wrap and cut into squares, oblongs or fancy shapes (using cookie cutters).

Orange and Glycerine Bath OIl

50mls (10 teaspoons) glycerine
1 cup of water
5mls of rose geranium oil
5mls of orange oil
2.5mls of patchouli oil

Mix well together. Shake container when ready to use. Add 1 tablespoon to your bath.

Lavender Foot Bath

2 cups of lavender flowers and leaves
300mls of boiling water

Simmer the lavender and water together in a pan for 10 minutes. Allow to cool, then strain through a coffee filter or cheesecloth. Add half the lavender mix to a bowl of warm water and soak your feet for 15 minutes.

AromaTherapy

Aromatherapy is quickly gaining in popularity because it is a quick, inexpensive, and safe alternative to treating common medical ailments. The medical ailments that aromatherapy has been noted in treating is both physical and mental. Aromatherapy is successful in treating these conditions because it activates the olfactory sense in the brain, and it can be applied on the skin.

In order to create your own aromatherapy recipes, you only need a couple of things. The first and most important thing that is required in aromatherapy recipes is an essential oil. Essential oils come in a variety of scents. Some of these scents are standard, such as “rose”, and some of these scents are considered magical, such as “fast luck”. The type of essential oil that you purchase will depend on your background and the results that you are wishing to achieve.

Once you have established what kind of essential oil that you will be requiring, you should establish how you want the aromatherapy administered. You can choose to administer the aromatherapy with direct application, incense, candles, and more. If you wish to administer the aromatherapy in any way but direct application, you will need the appropriate materials to do so.

If you wish to administer the aromatherapy with incense, you must decide whether you want to use stick or cone incense. You can also select from a variety of sizes ranging from mini to incense sticks up to 19 inches long. Once you have determined whether you want sticks or cones, and what size, you must purchase the unscented incense version of your preference. You must also purchase blending oil. You should then take a small container, mix at least 1/3 blending oil to 2/3 essential oil and/or fragrance. You then should allow the incense to sit for at least 24 hours, and dry for approximately 48 hours after removing it from the mixture. As a special note, the more blending oil you add to the incense, the less smoky the incense will be.

If you wish to administer the aromatherapy through candles, you must decide the type and size. You must also decide if you are going to make the candles yourself, or simply soak a candle in the essential oil of your choice. If you choose to soak the candle, you must ensure that you leave the wick exposed. You may then take a sewing needle, and place various holes throughout the candle to ensure that the essential oil gets in the core. Place the candle in a container of the essential oil and allow it to soak for at least 24 hours. You may then remove the candle, and allow it to dry for 12 hours. If you wish to make your own candle, simply mix the essential oil in the mixture that is used to compose the candle.

Rosewater Eye Gel

2 tablespoons of corn flour
Small amount of rose water

Mix the cornflour and a small amount of rosewater into a smooth paste. Heat in a pan adding more rosewater as required. Put mixture into a small container and allow to cool.

Apply around eyelids and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off with with lukewarm water. Great for smoothing out wrinkles.

Rose Hip Eye Bath

I Tablespoon of crushed, dried rosehips
90ml of (or 6 tablespoons) of boiling water.

Infuse the rosehips in the boiling water for about an hour then strain through a very fine sieve. Soak two cotton pads in the mixture and squeeze out excess water. Lay down with your eyes covered with the pads for 30 minutes or so.

Excellent for eliminating bags under the eyes after a late night :)