Suncare Blend
Simply add 14 drops lavender and 1 drop peppermint to 4 to 8 ounces
water. Place in an atomizer, shake well and apply to skin as needed to
soothe and refresh it after a long day in the sun.
After Shave
1 C Vodka (A high proof works best)
2 tsp. Dried yarrow
1 Tbls Dried lavender flowers
1 Tbls. Dried sage leaves
1 dried Bay Leaf
1 Tbls Honey (This will help if the user has dry skin)
Mix ingredients together, and pour into a clean jar with a tight fitting
lid. Place in a cool, dark place for two weeks. At the end of two weeks
strain of the liquid and discard any solids that have formed. Pour the
liquid into a clean container. You may add EOs or herbs and allow the
solution to sit longer to create a stronger scent.
Soothing Tooth Powder
1 Tbs. arrowroot powder
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
You can add a little bit of peppermint oil if you like to give it flavor.
Simply mix the ingredients together and dip a damp tooth brush into this
powder and brush. Ahhh, it is a nice feeling.
Toothpaste
1 tsp Dried Irish moss
1 cup of water
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking soda
1-2 Drops chlorophyll
2 Drops of peppermint oil or anise
Soak the moss in water 15 min and then bring it to a slow boil in small
pot and simmer for 15-19 minutes. The moss may or may not completely
dissolve. Strain gel through cheesecloth into a small container. Mix
salt and soda and add to the gel. After that is well mixed add the chlorophyll and oil. Mix again.
Eucalyptus Salve/Chest Rub
30 dr EO Of Eucalyptus
40 dr EO Of Camphor
15 dr EO Of Wintergreen
1 oz Olive Oil
1/2 t Beeswax
Melt the beeswax in the olive oil. Remove from heat and add the essential oils. Stir, pour into salve container and label. Eucalyptus salve is used to relieve respiratory congestion.
Cornmeal Hand Scrub
Mix 1/4 cup corn meal with 3 Tbsp. milk. Heat over low heat until a paste forms.
Add 1 drop almond oil. Let cool. Spread on hands, leave on for about 10 minutes. Give your hands a good scrub, with the mixture, which will remove all dead and dried skin cells.
Rinse well. Hands will feel nice and soft.
AFTERSHAVE
2 cups rubbing alcohol
1 tbsp glycerin
1 tbsp dried lavender
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp ground cloves
Stir ingredients together in a bowl. Transfer to a jar, cover, and
refrigerate for 3-4 days. Shake occasionally to mix ingredients. After 3-4
days, strain liquid out. Keep refrigerated, will keep for 1-2 months. Yield 2
cups.
Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly is easy to make and it is an ingredient of many other products. Naturalists may substitute a natural oil, such as grapeseed oil or sweet almond oil, for the baby or mineral oil to create an "un-petroleum" jelly.
1 ounce (weight) beeswax
1/2 cup baby or mineral oil
Melt the beeswax in a microwave or a double boiler. Stir in the mineral oil. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir until cool.
Ivy Cellulite Cream
Herbs: RD Home Handbooks by Lesley Bremness
Some doctors and scientists dispute the concept of cellulite; many people look at their skin and think otherwise. Whatever the outcome of this argument, the fatty "orange peel" deposits on the thighs and buttocks can benefit from extra attention. Massage into areas of cellulite.
2 tsp beeswax
1 tsp emulsifying wax
3 tsp almond oil
1 tsp avocado oil
4 TBS double strength ivy decoction
8 drops each essential oils of oregano, fennel, rosemary
1. Melt the waxes in a double broiler. Warm the oils and then stir them in well.
2. Beat in the ivy decoction and allow the mixture to cool before stirring in each of the essential oils.
3. Spoon into jars and label.
Herbal Foot Soak
2 ounces mixed fresh herbs-peppermint, rosemary, chamomile
4 cups boiling water
1 tablespoon borax
1 tablespoon Epsom salts
Roughly chop the herbs. Put in a bowl, pour in boiling water. Let stand 1 hour; strain. Place the "tea" water into a tub or bowl large enough to hold both feet and another 6-7 cups of warm water. Stir in borax and Epsom salts.
Soak feet 15 to 20 minutes. Add hot water if needed to keep the temperature as warm as desired. Afterwards use a good lotion and place cotton socks on your feet for the evening!
Nail Soak
Lemons have been used for hand and nail care for centuries.
Lemon Juice and the essential oil of Lemon whitens nails while stimulating healthy growth.
Try this Refreshing Soak
8 oz. spring water
1 Tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel
10 drops Lemon eo
Mix and soak fingertips for 10 minutes.
Herbal Foot Soak
2 ounces mixed fresh herbs-peppermint, rosemary, chamomile
4 cups boiling water
1 tablespoon borax
1 tablespoon Epsom salts
Roughly chop the herbs. Put in a bowl, pour in boiling water. Let stand 1 hour; strain. Place the "tea" water into a tub or bowl large enough to hold both feet and another 6-7 cups of warm water. Stir in borax and Epsom salts.
Soak feet 15 to 20 minutes. Add hot water if needed to keep the temperature as warm as desired. Afterwards use a good lotion and place cotton socks on your feet for the evening!
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
HEATING PAD SOCK
Use athletic socks or children's fancy socks. Fill sock with rice. Before using the rice, you can mix it in a plastic bag with a little cinnamon oil or menthol oil for soothing smells. Tie top of sock off with a rubber band and pretty ribbon.
If giving as a gift, attached the following on a gift tag:
This little pillow filled with rice
Is such a comforting device,
Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes on HIGH
And kiss those aches and pains good-bye.
Apply it to a troubled spot
The heat will ease the pain a lot.
Or warm those little toes, so cold.
You'll find this nice to have and to hold
Or freeze it for awhile,
And fix that boo-boo in style.
Instead of a compress made of ice,
Use this pillow filled with rice.
NECK COOLERS
Cut a rectangle of preferably tight weave, cotton material, 35 x 4 1/2 inches. Mark the material at both 7 and 9 1/2 inches from the short ends. You can taper the short ends to a curved point for about 6 1/2 inches, so you end up with something looking like a surfboard, these ends are used as ties.
Finish the raw edges from one 9 1/2-inch mark around the point, to the other 9 1/2-inch mark, either with a overlocked/serged rolled hem or with bias binding. Fold the rectangle's wrong sides together and sew along the long sides, between the 7 inch marks, using a small stitch and a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Turn right side out and sew a double row of small stitches across one end at the 7 inch mark. Place crystals (see NOTES) in and sew across the other end at the 7-inch mark, making sure there are no gaps.
NOTES: The crystals are "hydrogel" or polymer granules. They are also called "cool crystals," "magic crystals," etc. They are used in gardening soil for water retention. You can find them in any home and garden stores, such as Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.
Make sure you don't use more than 2 tablespoons per neck cooler or the gel will ooze out. Many people use only 1 1/2 teaspoons of crystals and are confident that this is the right amount to use.
NECK COOLERS
Polymer beads (at garden shops)
Tightly-woven cotton material
Cut a rectangle 35 x 4 1/2 inches. Mark the material at both 7 and 9 1/2 inches from the short ends. You can taper the short ends to a curved point for about 6 1/2 inches, so you end up with something looking like a surfboard, these ends are used as ties. Finish the raw edges from one 9 1/2-inch mark around the point, to the other 9 1/2-inch mark, either with an overlocked/serged rolled hem or with bias binding.
Fold the rectangle wrong sides together and sew along the long sides, between the 7-inch marks, using a small stitch and 1/4 inch seam allowance. Turn right side out and sew a double row of small stitches across one end at the 7-inch mark. Place 1 to 2 teaspoons polymer beads in and sew across other end at 7-inch mark, making sure there are no gaps.
SPICE OR HERBAL HOT PADS
4 cinnamon sticks
2 T. cloves
1 C. raw rice
Crush the cinnamon sticks and cloves. Mix with the uncooked rice. Place in a 7-inch square cloth bag. Sew up the open end. Use as a hot pad, the scent will come out when a hot dish is placed on the mat.
Herbs may be substituted for the cinnamon sticks and cloves (herbal tea works well).
To make the pad less floppy and easier to use, carefully sew seams across the pad, so you end up with a criss-cross or chessboard pattern.
NOTES: You can also use feed corn or lentils instead of rice, for an even more frugal gift. Cut back on the spices, and these make excellent heating pads. You can heat them up in the microwave and put them in your bed in the winter.