Herbs Can Make You Beautiful. Yes They Really Can. (Hints and Tips in General)

Member Name: cindy1

Product:	Hints and Tips in General
Date:	01/04/01 (2328 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Will make you beautiful.

Disadvantages: No disadvantages what so ever

UPDATE.
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I've added a new section on Herbal Tranquillizers, please note these recipes are aimed at people who suffer from stress, not depression. If you are depressed see your doctor immediately, and he will suggest the appropriate medication.

As the title suggested Herbs can make you beautiful. Did you know that Herbs can be used to make almost any beauty treatment? They can also be used to cure many common ailments as well. However this opinion is based on beauty treatments using herbs. All recipes are simple and easy to make, and of course they we make you beautiful.

I've always been fascinated with herbs, and when I moved into my present house, I took part of the garden to grow my herbs. It's completely sealed off from the rest of the garden; I made large raised areas, with compartments for different types of herbs.

In addition, I have many housed in containers. I don't grow any indoors, as I find mine grow better outdoors. As the title suggests I use my herbs to make beauty products, this has been a hobby of mine for about two years, and I assure you all recipes have been tested on me. I'm going to start by giving you some general information on herbs, for example growing, picking, storing and of course my secret concoctions.

Herb History.
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The Anglo-Saxon word for herb was weod, which we have corrupted to weed, you should remember that many of the plants we tear out of our gardens and throw away today, were originally used as herbs. Ground elder for example was first introduced into Britain in the Middle Ages as a cure for gout but it spread so quickly that it was nick-named Jack-jump-about, and now this plant has worn out it's welcome in most gardens. As a herbalist think of nettles, cleavers, chickweed, clover, coltsfoot, daisies, dandelions, ground elder, ivy, horsetail, thistles and yarrow a
s wild herbs not weeds.

What herbs should I grow?
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Its best to grow a selections of the most popular herbs, which include Camomile, Chives, Comfrey, Dill, Hyssop, Lovage, Marjoram, Mint, Parsley, Rocket, Rosemary, Rue, Sage, Sandalwood, Sorrel, Thyme and Wormwood. This is just a small but popular selection; you should also have some of the weeds mentions in herb history.
If you decide to grow Mint, remember to place it in a container, as the root go wild, and strangle to rest of the plants.

How do I harvest my herbs?
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Herb gathering is a meticulous art; herbs should be picks at exactly the right moment when their various qualities are at their peak. For most herbs, this is usually during late spring and summer, and in the morning. Leaves should be picked young, just before the flowers open, when the leaf shoots contain concentrated medicinal powers.

Flowers are very fragile, so you should gather them the moment they open, before they have a chance to pollinate.
Seeds should be dried out in the sun, however keep a watch on them as the wind may blow them away.
Barks and roots are best gathered in spring and autumn when the roots are thick and bursting with sap.

Drying herbs.
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As soon as you've picked, your herbs take them indoors as soon as possible, and tie them in small bunches. Herbs should always be dried out in the driest, airiest and darkest place you can find. Your airing cupboard should provide the ideal environment. You can dry them in the microwave but I don't like this method, although it's perfectly acceptable for drying barks and roots.
You herbs are dried out when the leaves and stalks feel crisp to touch.

Storing your herbs.
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You should store you
r dried herbs in dark jars, if you haven't got any dark jars, put a stick around them. You must store your herbs in a dark dampless place; nothing ruins your efforts more, than exposing them to sunlight and damp. Heat and light extract all the goodness.
Remember to label and date your jars, dried herbs normally keep for a year, and roots and barks two years.

Herbal Beauty Recipes.
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I'm going to start with the face. The following recipe is for a deep cleansing steam.

Oily Skins.

Herbs needed.
Comfrey.
Fennel.
Geranium Leaves.
Horsetail.
Lavender.
Nettles.
Sage.
Peppermint.

Try to use all the herbs listed; use up to two tablespoons of each for your facial steam.
Dry, Sensitive Skin.

Herbs Needed.

Borage.
Houseleek.
Sorrel.
Parsley.
Salad Burnet.
Ladys Mantle.

Once again try to use all the herbs listed.

How to prepare you steam.

Cleanse and wash your face as normal leaving the skin moist. Put your selected herbs in a non-metal basin and pour over two litres of boiling water. Stir the herbs well with a wooden spoon. Tie your hair back. Now hold your face at least 20cm away from the water and trap the steam with a towel over your head. Keep your eyes closed and let the steam do the work for 10 minutes.

When you've finished close the pores with cold water, and stay indoors for a couple of hours, also if you have any blackheads or whiteheads now is the time to squeeze them.
Note people with sensitive skin should keep their faces 45cm from the water.
Don't use this method if you have thread veins or asthma.

Tomato Face Mask For Oily Skin.
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Immerse two tomatoes briefly in hot water until their skins crack. Peel off the skin, quarter them, scoop out the seeds, and put all the fles
h in a mortar. Add a tablespoon of peppermint leaves and half a tablespoon of dried yeast grains. Do not use fresh yeast! Pound this all altogether to a paste. Stir in a teaspoon of lemon juice and spread thickly on the face and neck, making sure you keep the mixture away from your eyes.

Eye Wash For Tired Eyes.
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You can use any of the following herbs.

Borage.
Cotton Lavender.
Hyssop.
Rose Water.

Fill a saucepan with a litre of water, drop in 1oz of dried herbs, simmer for twenty minutes. Strain the decoction at least three times through a coffee filter, this ensures that all the floaty bits are gone.
Please note this is just a pick me up, if you have eye problem see your doctor.

Herbal Eye Pads.
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These are really simple to do.

Put a thinly sliced chilled cucumber on your eyes.
Or a thinly sliced potato scrubbed and peeled.
Alternatively, a grated raw apple, spread on a piece of gauze, place the gauze side down on the eyelids.
Teabags.

An Eyelash Conditioner.
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This treatment conditions and thickens the eyelashes. Brush your lashes nightly with a clean mascara brush dipped in almond or caster oil. This really works, I use this recipe every day, and my eyelashes are really long and thick.

Crows Feet.
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Stir enough double cream into an egg white to make the mixture spreadable. Leave on crow's feet for at least an hour or all night if possible, wash off throughly when finsihed.

Natural Tooth Cleaners.
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If you end your meal with peanuts or cheese, it is said to be an effective way of cleaning the teeth with natural foods. Both leave the mouth in a non-acidic condition, which is
less likely to help corrosion.

Also fresh sage leaves can be used, pick a leaf and rub it over the teeth, discard it when it gets soggy and use a new one. Three or four will polish your teeth and leave your breath smelling sweet.

Stimulating Herbal Bath.
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You will need a cupful of lavender, lemon thyme, marjoram, peppermint and rosemary.

Simmer the herbs in 2 litres of water for fifteen minutes. Strain and pour into your bath water.

Removing Nicotine From Fingers.
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Nicotine on fingers can be removed over a period of time with persistent applications of raw potato juice or lemon juice, or by rubbing the stain vigorously with the inside of any citrus peel. If you want to be radical you can use equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and witchhazel, you can also use sorrel juice, which works well, but is gentler.

Herbal Tranquillizers.
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In my experience as an amateur herbalist, I have found that Vervain is the best herb for relieving prolonged mental strees, which presents itself in the form of severe headaches, and tension in the neck and shoulders. The best way to combat this type of stress is to take a Vervain bath, heres how.

Take 200g of dried vervain leaves and add them to 2 litres of cold water. Put on the stove, and bring to the boil, then remove from the stove. Then leave to brew for about fifteen minutes. Strain the mixture through a nylon seive into your warm bath water.
Now slip into the bath water, making sure your whole body is immersed.
It may be helpful, to place a rolled up towel behind your head.

I use this method a lot, and it really works wonders, I find it especially good after a stressful day. When I emerge from my herbal bath, I feel like a new woman; all my stress and tension, seems to melt away. Its as though
my stress has disappeared down the plughole with the water.

The End.

I know more recipes, but I could go on forever, if you need information on spots, chilblain's, douches, stretch marks, acne, hand care, feet care, hair care, eczema and mild tranqualizers, please don't hesitate to contact me, and I will try to find you a recipe.

I know this opinion is long, but I wanted to give you some of my beauty secrets, hopefully they will be of help.

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