Home Made Herbal Toiletries

The summer months can leave your hair looking dull and lifeless. Put the life back into your hair with this tonic.

After the summer holiday sun, salty sea water and chlorinated swimming pool water, hair can be left dull and damaged. Rosemary makes an excellent herbal hair tonic, restoring body and shine. For extra moisture, add infused olive oil to your herbal hair rinse.

You will need
15g Dried Rosemary
Juice of a Lemon
500ml Hot Water
Olive oil infused with Rosemary.

Method:
1. Make an infusion of rosemary by pouring 500ml of hot water onto 15g of the dried herb.
2. Leave to infuse for 15-20 minutes before straining.
3. Add the juice of a lemon to the liquid, to retian summer highlights.
4. Use the infusion to rinse the hair after shampooing and conditioning.
5. If the scalp is very dry, apply olive oil infused with rosemary.
6. Massage into the scalp and leave for 30 minutes before shampooing out.

Rosemary oil is a great natural treatment that provides gloss and body to hair that is dull and lifeless.

Strawberries are naturally astringent, toning tired winter skin. The Oats provide a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin. Before applying your facial scrub, cleans skin thoroughly, then gently pat dry with a soft towel.

Ingredients:
30g Ground Oats
4-5 Large Organic Strawberries
8ml Single Cream or Natural Yoghurt

Making Your Facial Scrub
1. Mash the Strawberries in a bowl with a fork.
2. Grind the oats in an electric blender. Add the cream or yoghurt to the strawberries.
3 Stir to make a stiff paste and use immediately
4. Gently apply a thick layer over the face, avoiding the eyes.
5. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing with tepid water, and pat dry with a soft towel.

This facial scrub is free from artificial ingredients and is perfect for sensative skin.

Cool your body after a hot and sweaty day in the sun with a revitalising peppermint bath. The natural refreshing aroma of peppermint and lavender will cool your skin on a hot sunny day. Add the fizzing bath bomb to running water for a refreshing body soak, ideal for perking yourself up for a night out after a day on the beach.

You will need
80g Bicarbonate of Soda
1tsp Citric Acid
4 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil
1 tbsp Lavender Flowers
1 Tbsp Mint Leaves

Method
1. Mix together the bicarbonate of soda and citric acid
2. Add the peppermint oil and the fresh herbs. Blend well.
3. Press the mixture into moulds - an egg cup would be ideal.
4. Add the bomb too running bath water.

CAUTION: Peppermints aroma can be overpowering. Use it in low dilution to prevent skin irratation. Avoid using Peppermint during pregnancy.

Peppermints highly aromatic oils refresh your mind, body and spirit, but it can also refresh tired feet too. Pamper your feet by refreshing them in a bowl of cool water containing 2-3 drops of peppermint oil.

Make this cooling aromatic lotion to soothe sun damaged skin. Combat the drying effects of the sun, sea and sand with this lotion, which contains a richly moisturising cocoa butter base and healing essential oils. Lavender, chamomile and peppermint take the heat out of sunburn, reducing inflammation and reducing the risk of peeling. Apply the lotion after a tepid bath containing lavender oil, as it is better absorbed by damp skin.

You will need
30g Cocoa Butter
2tsp Lanolin
100ml Wheatgerm oil
100ml Water
1tsp Borax
10 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
10 Drops Chamomile Essential Oil
5 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Method
1. Place the cocoa butter, lanolin and wheatgerm oil in a heatproof basin. Place over a pan of water and heat until the mixture melts.
2. Dissolve the borax in 100ml of water. Slowly add the water mixture, stirring vigorously.
3. Allow to cool before adding the essential oils. Stir and decant into glass jars.

Enjoy your evening drinks on the balcony or an outdoor BBQ or picnic without being constantly pestered by unwanted insect guests.  Hang colorful ribbons impregnated with aromatic essential opils in doorways and windows for an attractively fragrant insect repellant.  Mosquitoes in exotic countries carry infectious diseases, so pack protective esssential oils as part of your basic holiday travel kit.

For extra bodily protection, add a couple of drops of lavender to your bath water and to body massage oil.

You will need
Lengths of Ribbon
Citronella Essential Oil
Lavender Essential Oil
Lemongrass Essential Oil

Method
1. Choose attractive ribbon and cut into 1 or 2 metre lengths
2. Using a dropper, add 2-3 drops of essential oil to each ribbon, using either citronella or a mixture of insect repelling oils.
3, Hang the ribbons on balconies, in doorways, or in windows around your home.
4. Refresh the ribbons with extra drops of oil each evening.

Citrus essential oils make otent insect repellents.

Capture the sensual floral fragrance of English Rose to create a flower water for daily beauty use. The fleting beauty of summer roses can be fixed in alcohol to create a heavenly flower water.  Used daily as a toner to smooth out wrinkles and clear blemishes, its great for rejuvenating mature complextions.  The exquisite scent of rose is both uplifting and feminine.

You will need
1 cup of fresh rose petals
1/3 vodka, at least 60% proof.

Method
1. Collect the rose petals and lay then out on blotting paper in a single layer before using.
2. Place the petals in a large, glass screw top jar and add the vodka.
3. Put in a warm place to steep for 7 days.  Shake vigourously for 1 minute each day.  Strain liquid.
4. Decant the liquid into glass bottles.  Store in a cool place for up to a year.

Make your own sweet smelling herbal hand cream to soothe dry, chapped winter hands.  It's easy to take your hard working hands for granted.  Cold winter winds and harsh detergents take their toll on your hands.  Give them a daily moisture and herbal nourishment and they will remain smooth and supple all year round.  Wear gloves, especially for gardening and cycling.  If your hands become cracked, apply a generous amount of cream and cover with cotton cloth overnight.

You will need:
30g  Marshmallow Root
20ml Glycerine
150ml Water

Method:
1. Soak 30g of grated marshmallow root in 150 ml of cold water and leave overnight.
2. Strain and reserve the liquid, placing it in a basin over a pan of water.  Discard the marshmallow.
3. Gently simmer the liquid, stirring constantly until slightly thickened.  Allow it to cool before stirring in 20ml of Glycerine.  Pour into sterilised glass bottles.

Marshmallow root is rish in mucilaginous plant sugars that soothe inflamed tissue.  Harvest the root in autumn, dry for winter use.

Moisture and protect your lips from harsh drying winter winds that can leave lips cracked and chapped. This easy to prepare lip balm will seal moisture into your lips and the essential oils will combat cold sores with their antiiral properties.

You will need:
5g Beeswax
70g Cocoa Butter
2ml Wheatgerm Oil
5 Drops Myrrh Oil
3 Drops Grapefruit Oil

Method:
1. Melt the cocoa butter and beeswax in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring constantly.
2. Remove from the heat and stir in the wheatgerm oil.
3. Allow the mixture to cool slightly. Stir in the essential oils.
4. Before it has set, pour into small glass jars with screw top lids.

For smooth luscious winter lips, apply your lip balm daily.

Inhale therapeutic essential oils with a vapour rub to relieve winter colds and flu. Inhaling antiseptic, decongestant essential oils will releive the symtoms of respiratory infections. A blend of expectorant oils will fight secondary infections.

You will need:
2g Petroleum Jelly
Small screw cap jars
Essential oils (eg Eucalyptus, Ginger, Pine, Myrrh)

Method:
1. Place 2g of Petroleum jelly in aa heatproof basin over a pan of water. Bring to the boil.
2. Simmer until the jelly has melted then remove from the heat.
3. Add 10-15 drops of essential oils to suit your ailment. While warm, transfer to small sterilised glass bottles with screw top lids.
4. Apply to the throat, neck and chest.

For chesty coughs, choose Cedarwood and Ginger
For Sinusitis, choose Lemon of Eucalyptus.
For a night time vapour rub, choose Lavender, or Chamomile will aid sleep.
For daytime, substitute with Rosemary and Peppermint.

Applying the rub last thing at night will allow the decongestant vapours to be released which will help you breathe through the night.

Use herbal remedies to cure rheumatic discomfort or to help you relax after a long day battling the elements. Cold, damp misty days oftn trigger rheumatic aches and pains. Natural essential plant oils, such as Juniper, Ginger and Eucalyptus, can help relieve symtoms.

Warm spicy black papper and ginger oil work by dilating the blood vessels, promoting local circulation. This helps speed the removal of toxins from swollen joints. Chamomile and Lavender oils, give soothing pain relief and reduce swelling.

You will need:
Black Pepper Oil
Ginger Oil
Grapeseed Oil
Rosemary Oil
Lemon Oil

Method:
Blend 6 drops of Black Pepper oil with 5 drops of Ginger Oil and 20ml of Grapeseed oil
2. Massage aching joints, but note: never directly massage inflamed joints.

Circulation Boosting Bath
Add 3 drops each of Rosemary and Ginger oil and 2 drops of Lemon Oil to the running water.

Banish cold feet and chilblains with an aromatic massage to the feet and lower legs.  Cold winter days can result in numb feet.  Chilblains are sore and itchy, especially as you warm up, but they can be relieved with massage.  Choose warm, stimulating essential oils to boost circulation.

Geranium helps blood flow to the extremities, while Rosemary boosts blood pressure and Lemongrass is invigorating.  This deodorising blend also fights fungal infection.  

You will need:
Geranium Oil
Rosemary Oil
Lemongrass Oil
Jojoba Base Oil

Performing the Massage
1. Bathe the feet in a footbath and towel dry.  This will enhance the penetration of the essential oils.
2. Blend 5 drops of Geranium Oil with 2 drops each of Rosemary and Lemongrass and 35ml opf Jojoba Base oil.
3. Massage the feet with firm pressure, starting with stroking movements.  Follow this with circular rubbing before squeezing and gently massaging the toes.

Avoid ticklish sensations by maintaining a firm pressure when massaging.  Continue the massage to the legs if these feel cold.