Body & Soul: Nature's Healing for Garden Hands

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Working all day in the garden can take a toll on hands. But with just a few ingredients and some easy steps, you can create creams and soaks to reinvigorate overworked hands.

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Hand Care Recipes:

• Gardener's Hand Cream
• Calendula Hand Cream
• Horsetail Nail Strengthener
• Molasses Nail Soak
• Jojoba Cuticle Cream
• Cocoa Cuticle Cream
• Natural Nail Polish

Green thumbs and rough, dry hands no longer need to be the result of a day spent working in the yard.

It’s possible to have both healthy, well-cared-for hands and a beautiful garden. It doesn’t take any extra time or fancy skin-care products — just a bit of common sense and a few kitchen and garden ingredients. It’s important to practice preventive maintenance, such as wearing gloves and using rich hand creams, along with some special treatments to keep your hands clean and moisture-rich.

Eating a proper diet is essential, as insufficient protein can make your nails brittle and your skin dull. Keeping your hands moisturized is important because the nail is extremely porous and gives off moisture 100 times faster than the skin. Massaging a rich cream or natural oil, such as sunflower oil, into your hands and nails will keep them soft and moist, a step that’s especially critical to prevent chapping after washing hands. Garden soil and constant washings rob your hands of precious moisture, and cream or oil will form a protective barrier that locks moisture into your skin. Keep a jar of your favorite hand cream next to all your sinks and outdoors next to the garden hose. Massaging your cuticles as you apply the cream will increase circulation and encourage new nail growth.

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