The following recipes were collected by Kirsten Anderberg over a 30 year period. She makes no medicinal
claims about these recipes and cautions people to make sure you know what herbs and plants you are dealing
with before using them.
Calendula Body Scrub 1/2 c. oats, 1/2 c. rice (brown), 1/4 c. comfrey dried, 1/4 c. oregano dried, 1/8 c. anise seed, 1/2 c. calendula, 1 1/2 c. clay, 1/4 c. myrrh, 1 drop tea tree oil,
1 drop lavender oil.. Grind and sift all ingred except oils until powdery, then add oils and stir well. Store in a jar. To use - add a small amount of water to a t. or so of scrub.
Bath & Shower Gel This gel, produced by the mucilage in Irish amoss, is very invigorating. It
also softens the skin. Rub handfuls of the gel over the body before rinsing
your skin in the bath or shower.
2-1/2 pints fresh Irish moss 3 pints water 4 tablespoons orange flower or elderflower water A few drops green or other color food coloring (optional)
Variation: Instead of fresh Irish moss, use 2 ounces of dried seaweed. Soak it in water to soften it before boiling.
Wash the Irish moss or seaweed in plenty of fresh water to rid it of sand and small stones. Put the prepared seaweed into a large pan with the water, bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Rub the mixture through a food mill or strainer, stir in the flower water and add the food
coloring, if desired. When cold, pour into jars or wide-necked bottles.
Dig up, then cut up and dry your own comfrey root! Learn more about how to use comfrey for skin care by clicking here.
Make Your Own Facials, Bath Salts, Lip Gloss, and Aloe Gel!
You can make your own spa ingredients, using kitchen ingredients. Homemade cosmetics, the old-fashioned kind your granny used to make, are fresher and healthier for your skin, than products with chemicals in them to expand their shelf lives. For instance, you can have a fabulous facial by combining in a bowl:
1 egg yolk * 2 T. egg white * 1 T. honey * 1 t. rose water
Beat together and then apply to the face and neck. Leave on for about 10-15 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. You will be amazed how refreshed you feel. After the facial, you can spritz your face with a toner made from:
1/2 c. distilled witchhazel * 1/2 c. rose or lavendar water * 3/4 t. vegtable glycerin. Shake your toner before each use, and spray or pat on your face when it is feeling dry.
(Read More...)
I highly recommend Mountain Rose Herbs (click on the banner below)...they sell high quality, fresh, organic herbs, perfect for your homemade cosmetics...
Soft Hand and Feet Scrub 1 oz ground Almonds 1 beaten egg 1/4 oz. ground Comfrey root 1 tbls. honey
Mix all the ingredients together. Coat your hands well with the mess and have someone assist you in putting on rubber gloves. This is best if used before bed and mix left on till morning. Works for dry feet as well.
Skin Softening Herbal Wash Bags
3 T. ground oatmeal, 3 T. ground raw sunflower seeds, 1 scant T. buttermilk or milk powder, 1 T. dried lavender. Can substitute ground almonds for oatmeal or in addition...also can sub chamomile for lavender, or can put in 3 parts ground soap to get bubbles or scent. Mix ingredients, store in airtight waterproof container, until use. This is enough for one 3x5 muslin bag. To use, fill bag, wet thoroughly, and use like little bar of soap...exfoliates, cleans, tones...
Skin Softening Herbal Wash Bags 3 T. ground oatmeal, 3 T. ground raw sunflower seeds, 1 scant T. buttermilk or milk powder, 1 T. dried lavender. Can substitute ground almonds for oatmeal or in addition...also can sub chamomile for lavender, or can put in 3 parts ground soap to get bubbles or scent. Mix ingredients, store in airtight waterproof container, until use. This is enough for one 3x5 muslin bag. To use, fill bag, wet thoroughly, and use like little bar of soap...exfoliates, cleans, tones...
Baby Washbags Use these washbags as a gentle soapfree cleanser for baby. Muslin bags, lavender bud powder, camomile powder, colloid oatmeal fine, cornstarch, a few drops jojoba or other oil...combine all the ingred in a blender and mix thoroughly. Pour small amount into the muslin bag. When bathing baby, soften bag in warm water then gently squeeze over baby and lightly rub with bag.
Natural Sunburn Care by Kirsten Anderberg
As a fair-skinned, red-headed kid growing up in Los Angeles and Baja,
sunburn was a regular part of my childhood. Chemical sprays were not
effective and mainstream America was ignorant of aloe's properties. Once
back in L.A., after a week in San Felipe, I had bright red burning skin
and a sun blister on my eye which made it hard to close. A family friend
suggested I smear pickle juice on my skin and hold a pickle on the
blister. Desperate, I did it. Immediately, my skin stopped stinging and
the blister went down. I stank but I was no longer hurting.
I later found out that vinegar is a home remedy for sunburn. People soak
paper bags in vinegar and apply them onto burned skin to soothe. There
are many folk remedies for sunburn that work quite well. Cold yogurt is
silky on tender skin and is nutritious too. Cold fizzy mineral water
helps relieve the pain. A cool bath with a handful of baking soda in it
can help stop the stinging. The insides of cool cucumber skins rubbed on
the skin feels good too. For severe burns, make a paste of slippery elm
bark or baking soda, mixed with water, and spread onto burned area. And
there is also aloe vera. Slit the leaf open and use gel.
To prevent peeling once sunburned, one folk remedy is to mix equal
amounts of tomatoes and buttermilk. Mash and cover burn. Another peeling
preventer is to mix 1/4 cup witch hazel extract, 3/4 cup rosewater, and 1
t. vegetable glycerin. Put this in a spray bottle and spray skin all over
to moisturize and restore oils. This is good for dry skin whether burned
or not. Just spray during the day, and dry skin goes away!
DISCLAIMER: Do not eat or drink tea from any plant you have not fully studied and identified properly. Please consult with your local alternative herbal care specialist before using herbs you are not familiar with.
Kirsten Anderberg. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint/publish, please contact Kirsten at kirstena@resist.ca.
Kirsten Anderberg. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint/publish, please contact Kirsten at kirstena@resist.ca.