I’m slowly trying to wean myself off of harmful, synthetic perfumes but the process has been a little bumpy. For instance last week, in need of a little Monday morning pickup, I decided to de-stress with lavender-chamomile essential oil lotion. I blended a spoonful into my arms and hands and headed out the door.

It was only as I boarded the bus to campus that I realized I may have overdone it. My attempt at aromatherapy didn’t soothe the passenger on my left; actually it seemed to revolt her. As she held her nose and gave me angry glares, I realized that lavender may not have the same soothing effect on others as it does on me. At that moment any earlier relaxation I felt evaporated just like the fumes of lavender radiating from my skin.

Photo by Jaako/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaako/ 

So what to do? If I had thought ahead or known earlier, I might have diluted my lotion with a carrier oil, like jojoba, applied some rubbing alcohol or packed unscented lotion to mitigate the essential oil’s heavy perfume. I also would have waited for the scent to sink in at least 10 minutes before leaving my house. As it was, I sat out the interminable bus ride, ran into the bathroom before class and ferociously scrubbed my forearms so that I wouldn’t have to worry about disturbing my classmates as well.

Photo by The Owlchemist/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenaliu/ 

Shifting our communities to more sustainable, thoughtful living is all about experimentation. We’re trying to find out what works, what doesn’t work and what we can compromise on in order to ensure a healthy future. Until I can afford the pretty, light smelling crème perfumes and eau de colognes that are being created by natural perfumers and aromatherapists, I guess I’ll just have to rely on my own methods and hope that others will be more tolerant.

If you’re having troubles, like me, switching from eau de parfum to au natural, check out some of these resources. 

• Learn which 20 synthetic perfume ingredients to avoid.

• Find out how to use essential oils and how to make your own herbal fragrances: 
How to Create Floral Waters and Colognes by Janice Cox
Fragrances of Life by Theresa Loe
Herbal Body Fragrances by Theresa Loe
Restorative Perfume by Edwin T. Morris 

• Check out these natural, beauty brands. (A lot of companies offer trial sizes so you can test out a scent before investing your hard-earned money):
Aubrey Organics
Aveda
Ayala Moriel Parfums
CB I Hate Perfume
Rochelle Boleyn 

Have you had any embarrassing or disastrous moments in your transition to herbal living? Leave me a comment and share your story with others!

Marguerite Dunne is a city girl and traveler. Visit her website at www.herbs-on-hudson.com or listen to her radio show, The Urban Herbalist, on www.wtbq.com. Marguerite was also the third place winner in The Herb Companion's essay contest, "Looking Forward to Herbs."

When the herb spirit is alive, roots mature, vines unfold and souls blossom, reaching out with a fragrance of subtle energy. The herb spirit increases with each herb gardening task: planting, tilling, pruning, gathering, infusing, decocting, tincturing, compounding, dyeing and the wistful sundown delight of simply watching the garden grow.

For a millennium, the herb spirit has grown as gatherers have bundled, blended and applied precious herbs. Father Time's laws have never ordered Mother Nature's gardens and so her gardens have continued to grow. Every herbalist carries this intense energy of the vine, which reaches and pushes upward. And when each garden wall is scaled, the vine simply develops, adjusts and flourishes.

Photo by angavallen/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angavallen/

How did our holistic health garden grow? Expo East, an extended vine of the herb spirit, is an annual event in Boston where health food companies can display their wares for the benefit of  storeowners  So in September, several hundred health food industry vendors carried their boxes and set up their displays. Meanwhile, curious independent store owners and chain-store buyers busily sampled new flavors, dabbed crèmes, collected cute samples and carried out stacks of scientific reports. The “old-timers” wanted to show off their newest merchandise while the “newcomers “ proceeded with caution, ever vigilant for the show’s discount specials. The “old, old-timers” mused pensively about the olden days (the late 1960s) when we still sold bunches of wild-crafted herbs from the backs of battered station wagons and traded addresses for where to get authentic brown rice and good local clover honey. I miss the days when our herb-talk was a secret code among friends, who took the time to put their hands in the dirt, do some digging and do some thinking too.

Lo and behold, I found some wonderful, recycled hippies who've kept the faith and turned our evergreen idealism into the kind of small town companies we admire.  Bob MacLeod and SteveByckiewicz  (“two vegetarians”) started Kiss My Face about 25 years ago. I like their products because they feel great and they don't leave any sticky residue from overly processed extracts. Their product line started with a big bar of olive oil soap, but many face moisturizers, shaving creams, shimmers and cosmetics later, they’ve got a charming website (www.kissmyface.com) and the goodwill of customers in 19 countries.

Photo by Timothy Valentine/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/el_ramon/

I chatted with their VP of kissing and telling, Lewis Goldstein, whose “business card” is a coconut-pineapple SPF 15 lip balm. Who says corporate can’t be fun? We wound our way around the conventional business max topics: the roller coaster economy, quick-fix supplements wrapped up in chocolate and educating the next generation. But what made me smile the most was Lewis describing his mother's experimentations with natural remedies.  Growing up, he knew that there were herbal health alternatives for conventional medical and cosmetic trades.  We reminisced about making soups and brewing teas.  We talked about teaching children the right food choices and the early encounters Lewis’s mother had when questioning doctors.  It’s nice to know that there are still good folks out there and that the herb spirit is very much alive.

Now it’s late fall and my herb drying rack is loaded with peppermint, lemon balm, oregano and catnip. I’ve already made my last batches of this healing salve with my freshly picked comfrey and calendula, maybe I’ll run some over to Bob, Steve and Lewis.

Photo by tristrambrelstaff/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tristrambrelstaff/

Marguerite’s Comfrey Salve
Makes twenty, 1-ounce jars

This salve is great for cuts, scrapes, bruises and soothing irritated skin.

• 20 comfrey leaves
• 10 calendula flower heads
• 2 cups olive oil
• ½ cup grape seed oil
• 1 cup lanolin
• ¼ cup of beeswax
• Lavender oil

1. Slow-boil all ingredients in a crockpot for about 4 hours. Periodically, wipe the water off the lid.

2. Strain through cheesecloth into a spouted measuring cup and pour quickly into individual 1-ounce jars.

3. As soon as the liquid salve is poured, add 10 drops of the lavender oil to each jar. The lavender oil is added at the end so it won't evaporate if boiled.    

Sarah Powell, an herbalist, medical anthropologist and proprietor of the natural bath & body business, Lilith’s Apothecary. Find her shop at www.lilithsapothecary.etsy.com and her blog at www.lilithsapothecary.wordpress.com for more natural body care tips and recipes. 

If it is one thing we can all agree on, it is that having clear, glowing skin is the most important factor to your appearance. Clear skin boosts one’s self-esteem, self-confidence, and certainly makes us all feel good! Our skin is also a great reflection of what is going on internally, especially if we are experiencing an imbalance of some kind. A healthful life usually results in healthy skin.  However, normal hormonal changes, dietary problems, and toxic drugs or chemicals can certainly take their toll. 

This is the first in a series of posts devoted to caring for one’s skin naturally, and here we start with caring for the skin from the inside out.  Skin estheticians will acknowledge that healthy skin is directly related to proper skin care, which includes good nutrition. Skin is nourished by the bloodstream, which gains nutrients from the gastro-intestinal tract. In conversation, Mary Friehofner, a Philadelphia esthetician and acne specialist, told me about a persistent denial in the medical community of any special correlation between sugar and acne. As someone who has suffered with acne herself, Mary said, “I know that I could almost feel and fuzzy or prickly feeling in my chin and jaw area (where I used to break out with acne) almost immediately after eating very sugary foods. Now western medicine has documented a release of hormones by the liver associated with intake of sugar and these hormones in some people initiate acne.”

So yes, yet again, the message is that “you are what you eat," or at least you are certainly affected by it! Herbalists have for centuries treated skin conditions with liver supportive and detoxifying herbs, as the liver is the responsible organ for processing fats, sugars, hormones, and chemicals we ingest, even if herbalists didn’t traditionally have the ‘science’ to back it up. There was plenty empirical evidence to suggest that supporting the liver can help correct many conditions, including eczema, psoriasis and acne. Skin conditions that result from hormonal imbalances, a common cause of acne, may require further hormone regulators in an herbal compound, but thankfully, we have many such allies to help with problem skin.  We will delve further into the treatment of skin imbalances with herbs in later posts in this series.

Nourishment on the inside should be the first step in treating the outside appearance. We often see topical products on the market promising clear, even skin tone, regenerative powers, or other chemicals and even toxic ingredients to cause skin ‘plumping’ to make the skin appear healthier and younger. It’s true that there are ingredients added to skin care products that can help prevent the development of fine lines and wrinkles and certainly there are others that may cause some regenerative ability, but flawless skin starts with what you put into your body.

The skin is an incredibly complex organ –your body’s largest—and contains several layers: the epidermal, dermal, and subcutaneous, all of which have functions that keep our skin fed by the bloodstream and enervated by our nervous system, protected from the outside, acting as a barrier to protect our vital internal organs from the outside. It is a somewhat permeable barrier, however, and what we put on the skin’s surface may or may not penetrate to our bloodstream below. This is why some chemicals, such as propylene glycol, that facilitate absorption of harmful compounds are so problematic and should be avoided. Our skin performs vital functions that include maintaining the body’s temperature, protecting us from biological invaders and physical, chemical, thermal, and electrical damage. It regulates moisture, excretes toxins via sweat, secretes sebum—our natural ‘moisturizer’ –which lubricates skin and keeps it from drying out. It metabolizes and stores fat and also converts ultraviolet rays into vitamin D, which enhances calcium absorption (Tourles, 1999).

One of the first steps we can take towards achieving beautiful skin includes making sure we ingest the most vital vitamins and minerals for healthy skin. Vitamin A (beta-carotene) is a fat-soluble antioxidant that is essential for growth and maintenance of skin tissue and proper functioning of mucous membranes. Vitamin A also speeds healing of acne and boosts the body’s immunity. B-complex vitamins are water-soluble and should be taken as a ‘complex’ rather than in isolated parts. This is what some call the ‘anti-stress’ vitamin that helps prevent acne and premature aging. It promotes healthy circulation and metabolism, and is also essential for wound-healing. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that helps produce collagen in connective tissue, strengthens capillary walls, speeds healing, and helps protect against environmental stress. Vitamin D is a fat soluble nutrient that when combined with vitamin A, helps treat acne. It is gaining much recognition as a more important vitamin than we have realized in recent years, and recommended doses are currently being evaluated by regulatory bodies. Vitamin D, not even really a vitamin, may be more beneficial in much larger doses than we are accustomed to. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that oxygenates tissues, protects tissues, speeds healing of chronic skin conditions, and may decrease scarring. Mineral iodine aids in healing skin infections, increases oxygen consumption and metabolic rate in the skin; silicon aids in collagen formation, keeps skin taut, and strengthens skin tissues. Sulfur helps keep skin clear and smooth, while zinc promotes cell growth, boosts immunity, and helps treat acne along with vitamins A & B (Tourles, 1999). 

Fat is an essential component to your skin’s health and beauty. Without at least a thin layer of fat providing padding to support your skin’s structure, it can’t be beautiful! For years, we have been told by mainstream dieticians and advisors that fat is “bad” and should be avoided, and now it appears the health gurus are changing their minds! Mother Earth News published a great article outlining this debate, one subscribed to by the Weston Price Foundation for nearly a century.  Soy-based beverages are made with unfermented soy milk, which has its own controversy surrounding it, as indeed  its high content of phytic acids may block the uptake of vital minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc.  In line with more whole foods, local movements, I prefer sourcing locally produced raw or minimally processed milk and certainly drink whole milk and full fat cream as much as I desire.

Whether we are talking about the fat on our bodies, or the fat we ingest, we’ve been ‘trained’ to think of all of it as bad, but without fats, we can’t have well-lubricated, glowing skin with the roundness and shape we associate with beauty.  Saturated fatty acids are solid at room temperature and include animal fats, coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter.  Monounsaturated fatty acids are liquid at room temperature, including oils of olive, avocado, cashew, salmon, and halibut. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are also liquid at room temperature but have a different molecular structure; they include oils of walnut, flax, safflower, sunflower, and corn.  Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are vitamin-like substances that have a protective effect on the body. Your body cannot manufacture them, but you must obtain them from the food you eat. As little as 2 to 3 teaspoons per day will provide you with the EFAs you need. Omega-3 fatty acids are the super stars we hear so much about, and truly, with their potent anti-inflammatory abilities and superior healing qualities, these are an essential addition to our diets. Cold-water fish such as bluefish, salmon, mackerel, and tuna, as well as freshly ground flax, walnuts, and brazil nuts are all good sources. Omega 3’s provide wound-healing, arthritis relief and relief of other inflammatory conditions, healing for eczema and psoriasis, and assistance in balancing sebum production. We need them! Of course some fats are bad, but the only fats that I consider bad are the hydrogenated oils that dominate our processed food supply. Avoid those processed and ‘fast’ foods as much as possible, and you’ll be avoiding so-called ‘bad fats’ too.

Now that you have this information, what can you do with it?  While a multi-vitamin is often touted as a good idea in theory, it is much better to get your nutrients from natural sources, preferably whole foods, herbal infusions, and if necessary, bio-available liquid extracts. Most pill-shaped supplements are hardly bio-available at all, and most people don’t take the multi- vitamin with the necessary fat  that would provide absorption of many fat-soluble vitamins in the first place. Do your best to consume whole, unprocessed sources, of which there are myriad; many on-line sources identify superior sources of all the nutrients outlined above. Super-food supplements like spirulina, blue-green algae, dulse flakes, and bee pollen are a great addition to juices and smoothies. Nutrient rich herbal tonics—intended for regular, long-term use—are an even more wonderful choice for bio-available nourishment.

Remember that your skin basically shows what it takes in. The more refined sugars, ‘bad’ hydrogenated fats, caffeine, alcohol, pharmaceutical or narcotic drugs you ingest, the worse your skin will look. It goes the same for lack of sleep! When you don’t get your ‘beauty rest’, your skin will show it first with break-outs, bags under the eyes, or tired, dull skin tone. Check out the recipes below for boosting your body’s nutrition and contributing to healthy, vitalized skin. A regular smoothie, a multi-grain omega-rich muffin, fresh local plain yoghurt sprinkled with ground golden flax, or a bowl of pre-soaked, cooked oatmeal sprinkled with fresh, raw almonds or walnuts and plump goji or blueberries are all ways to boost your nutritional intake alongside your daily herbal infusion. Try the recipes below to begin to move towards creating healthy skin from the inside out:

Skin Food Smoothie

• 1 banana
• 1 cup strawberries or other berries, frozen or fresh
• 2 cups milk
• 2 teaspoons blackstrap molasses, rich in iron
• 2 teaspoons golden flax seeds, freshly ground
• 10 raw almonds, preferably blanched and skin removed
• 10 raw walnuts
• ¼ cup cooked oatmeal, pre-soaked,
• 2 teaspoons honey, preferably raw and locally sourced
• ¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 to 3 ice cubes (if not using frozen fruit)

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth for 30 to 60 seconds. 

2. Drink throughout the morning or drink half in the morning and half for a snack later on. Makes approximately two  1½ cup (375 ml) servings.

*Inspired by Stephanie Tourles’ Skin-So-Smoothie (Tourles, 1999)
 
Fantastic Skin Herbal Tonic 

You can try this yummy infusion using tablespoons to measure each herb, but it’s even better to measure in ounces, store in a covered container and use for medicinal infusions consistently, over time. True medicinal-strength infusions use a lot of dried herb combined with a long steeping time to achieve optimum extraction of vitamins and minerals. 

• 1 tablespoon nettle leaf
• 1 tablespoon oatstraw
• 1 tablespoon alfalfa
• 1 tablespoon dandelion leaf
• 1 tablespoon red raspberry leaf
• 1 tablespoon rose petals
• ½ tablespoon rosehips
• ¼ tablespoon cinnamon chips, not the powder (or substitute 1 part spearmint)

1. Measure 5 to 6 tablespoons of the mix into a glass, heat-proof mason jar or similar container with a tight-fitting lid. 

2. Pour boiling water over the herbs and steep 4 -8 hrs or overnight.

3. Strain herbs and drink infusion either throughout the day or in 1 cup amounts. An infusion will last 3 days when kept refrigerated.

Herbal Sources:  Mountain Rose Herbs or Pacific Botanicals. For more on making herbal infusions, pop on by my blog at http://lilithsapothecary.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/herbal-infusions-part-ii.

References: Tourles, Stephanie (1999). Naturally Healthy Skin: Tips and Techniques for a Lifetime of Radiant Skin. MA:  Publishing .

Although we all love the summertime feeling of freedom and warmth, we don’t always love what it does to our hair and skin. During the summer, we have to take extra care of ourselves to look our best. The chlorine and sun dry out our skin and our hair and sometimes it seems that we sweat all day long. A few of these recipes may prevent the summer from limiting our natural beauty.

If you’re having trouble staying clean because of your many hours spent having outdoor adventures, try the Rose Hip Mask:

This facial treatment of pureed rose hips and plain yogurt will leave your skin soft and smooth. Dried rose hips are available in many grocery and health-food stores. Simply soak them in some warm water for 15 to 20 minutes to rehydrate them and then follow the recipe as written.

• 10 fresh rose hips from unsprayed shrubs
• Water
• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt

1. Remove the stalk and blossom ends of the rose hips. Rinse the hips, place them in a small saucepan, and cover them with water. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain, then pour the rose hips into a blender or food processor and puree. Let it cool, then mix with the yogurt.

2. Spread the mask on your face and neck. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and pat your skin dry. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for as long as 2 weeks.

Photo by Carmen Sotuela/ Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carmensotuela/

When the weather gets hot and humid, stay cool by smoothing on some Cooling Peppermint Body Powder:

The fresh, clean scent of peppermint is an instant energizer. Mixing the essential oil into cornstarch makes a refreshing body powder.

• ½ teaspoon peppermint oil
• 1 cup cornstarch

1. Place the peppermint oil and cornstarch in a plastic zip-close bag or a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake the container well to combine the ingredients. Store the scented powder in a clean container with a lid. A large saltshaker makes a good dispenser.

2. Shake the powder on clean, dry skin or apply it with a powder puff.

Humidity can really get your hair on the fritz; keep it in place with Summer Braid Gel:

The small, shiny brown seeds are the source of linseed oil. When soaked in water, they form a gel that gives hair extra body and lift.

• 3 tablespoons flaxseed
• 1 cup water

1. Mix the flaxseed and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Off heat, let the mixture stand for 15 minutes. Strain out the seeds and allow the jellylike liquid to cool completely. Pour the gel into a clean container and cap it. The mixture will continue to thicken if left uncovered.

2. Apply a small amount to wet or dry hair as you would any other styling gel.

How do you keep yourself clean and gorgeous during the summer heat? Leave me comments and let me know!

When the weather gets warm, my socks and shoes come off. I like my feet to feel free and therefore spend most of my time barefoot during the summer months. But the constant wear from my lack of shoes leaves my tootsies dry and callused.

If you go barefoot like me and your feet need some TLC, or if you just want your feet to look great in some strappy sandals, try this five-step natural pedicure.

Step One: Soak and Relax

Light some candles and unwind by soaking your feet in a bath of warm water for 10 minutes. Add 1 cup of baking soda and ½ cup of borax to soften calluses to remove rough skin more easily. For a fresh scent, also add a few drops of an essential oil, such as lavender or peppermint.

Step Two: Deep Cleanse

After soaking, soap up your feet and thoroughly scrub them with a natural bristle foot brush. To make a revitalizing foot soap, combine 4 ounces of unscented liquid body soap with 10 drops each of rosemary essential oil, lavender essential oil and peppermint essential oil in a plastic bottle.

Photo By Diva Bex/Courtesy Flickr
www.flickr.com/photos/bexshots/

Step Three: Smooth Your Feet

Finish the foot bath with an exfoliating scrub. Try this Peppermint Foot Scrub.

• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon almond oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil

1. Combine the ingredients and add enough warm water to make a thick paste. Massage your feet with the scrub, paying special attention to rough, callused areas.

2. Rinse well with warm, soapy water.

Step Four: Moisturize for Soft Feet

Pat your feet dry and slather them with a rich moisturizing cream. Massage a small amount of the cream into cuticles and nails or use this cuticle and nail butter. Gently push back cuticles with the blunt end of an orangewood stick; don’t cut cuticles, they help protect the nails and keep bacteria out.

Step Five: Trim, Shape and Buff

Trim toenails straight across. Prevent ingrown toenails by not cutting nails too short and rounding the corners of the nails. File toenails with an emery board in one direction, following the natural shape of your toenails. Finish by buffing nails with a nail buffer. 

This easy (and inexpensive!) do-it-yourself pedicure will leave feet soft and refreshed.

Do you have any tips for keeping feet from getting dry and callused during the summer? What are your natural foot care remedies? Tell me about them in the comment section.

Marguerite Dunne is a city girl and traveler. Visit her website at www.herbs-on-hudson.com or listen to her radio show, The Urban Herbalist, on www.wtbq.com. Marguerite was also the third place winner in The Herb Companion's essay contest, "Looking Forward to Herbs."

It's officially summertime. The fish are jumping, the catnip is high, the birds and the bees are busy gathering, the plants are busy growing and some herbalists are busy brewing up herbal recipes for skincare lotions and creams. But what about taking care of your skin from the inside?

In The Practicing Herbalist, master herbalist Margi Flint does an outstanding job of explaining Chinese Facial Analysis, illustrating how the laugh lines around your mouth and the lines across your forehead are reflections of a backed-up colon. Other lines are also connected to toxic body sites.

Here are a couple of my favorite herbs that work from the inside to help your skin shine on the outside. 

• Burdock (Arctium lappa). My favorite blood cleanser, with an affinity for the epidermis. So good, it helps with psoriasis and poison ivy. 

• Red clover (Trifolium pratense). An antibacterial agent. It’s been effective with many skin disorders including athlete’s foot.  It also helps with cough, colds and burns. 

• Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). A safe and effective laxative; also useful for clearing impurities out of the blood.

• Boldo (Peumus boldus). A gentle remedy for the liver, gallbladder and digestion.  
          
Helping to clean the digestive system and liver will assist clearing the body of toxins so that epidermis eruptions, pimples, and rashes don’t have a chance collecting and dispersing on the skin.    

During the summertime, the living is easy; but what is the only unfortunate part about summer? Bug bites. Apparently, I have sweet-tasting blood that mosquitoes love to dive into, causing tons of bug bites all summer long. Repelling insects is a crucial strategy during the summer, especially to gardeners. Fortunately, there are great herbal bug repellent and itch-relief remedies that can easily be made at home. Be careful! First, try allergy tests to see how your skin reacts to some of these strong herbs.

Photo by James Jordan/Courtesy Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesjordan/

Next, try these two skin oil formulas:

Antiseptic Insect Repellent Skin Oil

• 1/2 cup almond, walnut or grapeseed oil
• 6 drops oregano, thyme or tea tree oil
• 4 drops each of up to four insect repellent oils (click here for a list of oils)

1. Add oil to a small clean bottle, preferably dark glass. Drop in the essential oils of your choice and shake well.

2. Label and keep in a dark, cool place.

Insect Repellent Neat's-foot Oil

• 1/2 teaspoon each orange, eucalyptus and citronella essential oils
• 7.5-ounce bottle neat’s-foot oil (available in sporting goods stores)

1. Add the essential oils to the neat’s-foot oil bottle and shake well.

2. Apply to boots as directed on bottle.

You can also try these two vinegar formulas. Use them separate or mixed together:

Herbal Insect Repellent Vinegar

You can pour vinegars into spray bottles for easy application.

• 2 cups fresh insect-repellent herbs (click here for a list of herbs)
• 2 cups apple cider vinegar

1. Crush herbs with a mortar and pestle. Place herbs in a glass quart jar and cover with vinegar. Use a plastic lid to seal the jar (vinegar corrodes metal).

2. Shake every day for 3 to 7 days. Filter vinegar within a week and use within the year.

Jewelweed Vinegar

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) grows in the wild, wet places in the eastern United States. The juice of the plant is a traditional remedy for all sorts of skin ailments. To use it, simply crush the leaves and stems and rub the juice on itchy spots. To preserve and keep it handy, make this vinegar.

• 1 cup fresh crushed jewelweed
• 2 cups apple cider vinegar

1. Place jewelweed in glass quart jar. Cover with vinegar and seal with a plastic lid. You can leave the herb in for up to four weeks. Pour vinegar through a cheesecloth-lined strainer.

2. We add insect-repellent and antiseptic essential oils to the vinegar, 10 drops to a one-pint sprayer. Vinegars are good for about a year.

Finally, you could also try this formula for a foot powder:

Gardener's Foot Powder

• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 10 drops each lavender and tea tree oils

1. Put cornstarch and baking soda in a jar; add essential oils and stir.

Constantly in search of the best natural face wash, I’ve recently stumbled upon a company with endless natural beauty treatment choices: derma e. The company combines vitamins, antioxidants and botanicals to create eco-friendly beauty treatments, such as its new formula Very Clear Cleansing Scrub ($13.95).

This exfoliant is a new product to join the Very Clear Skin collection, which includes the Very Clear Problem Skin Cleanser, Cleansing Scrub, Problem Skin Moisturizer and Spot Blemish Treatment. The formula combines tea tree, willow bark, rosewood, lavender, aloe and chamomile to treat blemish-prone skin.

The exfoliant, designed to remove dead skin cells in order to stimulate new cell growth for clearer skin, is gentle, relaxing and seems to work very well with my skin. My acne has stayed under control as of late and I truly believe it has something to do with this 4-ounce tube. Its major ingredient, tea tree oil, is amazing because it’s natural and powerful as a disinfectant; it most commonly treats a wide variety of skin ailments such as acne, rashes or sun burns.

(News & Tips: Swine Flu Prevention and Hand Washing Tips)

However, it is an herb that you either hate or love, in my opinion, because the smell of tea tree oil is very strong—and the derma e formula is no exception. I’m not a fan of the tea tree oil smell and have found other formulas that my olfactory system enjoy a lot more. If you absolutely can not stand its scent, you may not enjoy its powerful aroma lingering on your face.

(Ode to Tea Tree Oil)

Still, even if you’re not a fan of its smell you may want to learn to just deal with it because recent studies have shown tea tree oil to be a very powerful, natural antibacterial agent. A study in 2000 showed that tea tree oil is 5 percent more effective than commercial medication when treating scabies mite in an in vitro situation. More recently, a new study may soon prove that a tea tree oil wash can prevent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. According to Reuters Health, the study is expected to be complete in 2010 and looks promising for tea tree oil based on previous studies.

So what do you herbies think? The price is reasonable and the results are positive. Will you be trying the Very Clear Cleansing Scrub anytime soon?

Even though I’m buried with work today, I have now circled over to the Marketing Department three times, ostensibly to visit my friend Taylor. My meandering is really a visitation to see and smell Taylor’s hand balm. I drift over and cadge a little, rub it on my hands, come back to my office and just sit and smell them while I’m doing my other work. I can’t get enough of it!

The source of this fabulousness is Gardener’s All Natural Hand Balm with Shea Butter by SunFeather Natural Soap Company ($9), a delectable combination of olive oil and shea butter scented with lavender, lemon and ginger essential oils. It feels great on my sunburned hands (another story, precisely how my hands got sunburned), but most of all it smells like the essence of clean. The company says say it is made with lavender, lemon and ginger, but I know there has to be a secret ingredient in there somewhere. It smells like it is infused with pure summer in it!

www.sunfeather.com 

It isn’t a particularly girly scent; in fact, the aroma resembles that of some soap from Herban Cowboy that I discovered a few years back. But with the wonderful olive oil/shea butter combination, it makes for a product I know I will use again and again (as soon as I get my own. Relax, Taylor, your balm is safe from me). I will have the softest hands in the building.

If it were cologne, I’d wear it everywhere.

After a long winter season, I’m ready to get rid of my thick body lotion for something lighter and more fragrant. While walking down the body care isle at my local natural foods store, I saw Pangea Organics hand and body lotions. After trying a tiny drop of the lotions I was sold.

With the simple desire of making things better, Pangea Organics produces organic beauty products. The Boulder, Colorado-based company says it selects only the highest quality ingredients for their product without compromising the planet. None of its products contain artificial colors or fragrances, parabens, GMOs, petrochemicals or other harmful components.

My favorite lotion is Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom. The fragrant lavender soothes and alleviates tension while the cardamom acts as an antiseptic and cleanser. Some lotions leave an oily residue or don’t moisturize enough, but the Pyreneese Lavender with Cardamom moisturizes without that oily feeling. The hand and body lotion is perfect for spring and summer or moist climates as it is light lotion.

Have you tried the Pangea Organics line? Which one is your favorite? Let’s chat about it, drop me a comment or email me at snelson@ogdenpubs.com.

With my wedding coming up in less than three months, I’ve got to keep my skin moisturized, healthy and glowing. For that, I need to find the right herbs for the job.

Aloe seems to be the go-to medicinal herb for most skincare solutions. But there are many other herbs that heal skin, such as:

• Chamomile: This is used in most facial-care products and is useful in calming an irritated complexion and treating acne.
• Comfrey: This healing herb contains allantoin, a protein that speeds up cell renewal.
• Rose: This works as a gentle cleanser that has refining and softening powers.
• Witch hazel: This skin astringent contains alcohol but heals and soothes skin.

John Masters Organics has recently re-launched its line of organic skincare products. Their beauty line offers natural healing products such as the Green Tea & Rose Hydrating Face Serum, the Moroccan Clay Purifying Mask and the Rose Foaming Face Wash. But their skincare collection also offers something I have personally been on the lookout for awhile: a toning mist.

The Rose & Aloe Hydrating Toning Mist ($20) is a beauty product certified by the National Organic Program. I’ve kept this product on a shelf near my keys so that as I leave for work, I quickly mist my face with one to two sprays. I instantly feel awake, toned and ready to start the day.

The ingredients work together to create a natural toning mist combination: the essential oil of rose soothes skin by increasing blood circulation; oat kernel improves defense against pollution; white tea protects against oil-causing bacteria; aloe vera promotes healing; and aspen bark protects against harmful bacteria. 

The glass bottle is a little too heavy to tote around in my purse for a daily refresher, but so far my “front-door-solution” has worked out great.

I’ll be on the lookout for more herbal skincare treatments to keep skin fresh and healthy. But what about you? Have you ever used this beauty product? If not, what have you used and why do you or don’t you like it? And what are your favorite herbs for skincare? Drop me a comment!

Not too long ago I discovered The Healing Seed, a new company that offers virgin organic hempseed oil body care products.

It’s bad reputation aside, hemp is actually a nutritional powerhouse. It is jam packed with Omega 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty oils, is high in fiber, is a good source of protein, contains all essential amino acids, and is rich in vitamins and minerals. Hempseed oil is one of the healthiest oils—healthier than flaxseed oil—because it contains a better balance of linoleic and linolenic fatty acids, according to our August 2009 story Make Way for Hemp Products. Linoleic and linolenic fatty acids are very low hazards according to the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Database.

www.thehealingseed.com

The company promises that these unique and eco-friendly ingredients will create manageable hair and a healthy shine. Their color-safe shampoo and conditioner products stand out with infusions of sweet orange essential oils. Echinacea, licorice root, ylang ylang, jasmine blossom and ginseng extract also give hair a natural boost.

Personally, I’m not a fan of having my hair smell like fruit. But if this idea sounds appetizing to you, then you must give The Healing Seed’s hair collection a try—their products are free of parabens, artificial fragrances and artificial colors. Lather up in the shower with a dime to nickel size dollop of shampoo and conditioner for a healthy wash.

 Other spanking new products from The Healing Seed include a spring lavender hand cream, a fresh jasmine body wash and an English daisy face cleanser.

What do you think of using hemp seed oil in your daily beauty routine? Do you use it and have you noticed any change in your health? What about The Healing Seed? Are you a fan? Drop me a comment and discuss this product!

Q: What are the recipes for “Soothing Glosses and Lip Balms?”
via e-mail, from Kathy

A: Great question. As winter is the driest season, your lips are not alone in the quest for nourishment.

Here are a couple of my favorite recipes taken from Janice Cox’s January 2009 article, Body and Soul: Soothing Glosses and Balms.

From Body and Soul: Soothing Glosses and Balms.

Aloe Vera Lip Gloss
Makes ½ ounce 

This light lip gloss will protect, shine and moisturize your lips. Aloe vera gel’s high moisture content is very soothing. If you have an aloe plant, simply split one of the leaves lengthwise and squeeze out some of the clear gel.    

• 1 teaspoon fresh aloe vera gel

• ½ teaspoon coconut oil
• ⅛ teaspoon vitamin E oil

1. Mix together aloe and oils; stir well.

2. Pour into a small, clean container.

Red Cover Lip Gel
Makes 1.2 ounce

Here’s an old folk remedy for dry, chapped lips. You can find red clover blossoms at your natural food store, or possibly in your own garden. Its flowers yield a sweet, honey-like substance that has anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties.

• ½ tablespoon dried red clover flowers OR 1 tablespoon fresh flowers

• ¼ cup water

• ¼ teaspoon clover honey
• ⅛ teaspoon vitamin E oil

• ⅛ teaspoon cornstarch

1. In a small pan, bring clover, water and honey to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes.

2. Remove from heat, then strain liquid. Return liquid to pan and stir in oil and cornstarch, mixing well.

3. Heat mixture until it forms a clear gel (about 1 to 2 minutes).

4. Cool gel completely, stirring occasionally. Spoon into a clean container.

Click here for more lip gloss blends from Body & Soul: Soothing Lip Glosses & Balms.

www.organixhair.com

I was intrigued with Organix’s Revitalizing Pomegranate Green Tea Shampoo and Conditioner from the moment I opened the shampoo bottle to catch a whiff – these products smell amazing. They emit a very powerful, fruity and delicious fragrance and, at the super reasonable price of only $6.99 for each 13-ounce bottle, I found myself wanting to know more about Organix.

Despite its four beauty awards from WWD Beauty Biz, Self Magazine, All You Magazine and Lifetime, I haven’t noticed any phenomenal change in my hair after testing it for over a month. I have, however, enjoyed its enticing smell. The formula is a blend of antioxidant-rich pomegranate and green tea extracts and is targeted towards dry and brittle hair. The use of tea in a hair care treatment is something I’ve read before (Body & Soul: Wake Up Skin and Hair with Refreshing Tea), so I was excited to see this herbal option on the market.

What’s green about this product? Aside from its name, Organix products contain organic active ingredients; sulfate-free formulas; its bottles are manufactured from recycled post-consumer resin; and its compostable labels are printed with eco-friendly inks. However, its use of methylochloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone concerned me. According to the Environmental Working Group, methylochloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone are preservatives that pose as moderate hazards and are linked as immune skin toxicants.

For its reasonable price, however, I would like to look into their other tantalizing scents: Coconut Milk, Mandarin Olive Oil, Tea Tree Mint, Shea Butter, Vanilla Silk, White Tea Grapeseed, Mocha Espresso, Cucumber Yogurt, Lavender Soymilk, Grapefruit Mango Butter and Passionfruit Guava. 

What about you, fellow herbies? What do you think about Organix products? Green enough? Herbal enough? How do you like these hair care reviews? I have one more left and then I’m moving on to bigger and better things.

www.jurlique.com

When I stepped out of the shower after using Jurlique’s hair care products I felt like I had stepped out of a high-end hair salon. My hair felt light, oil-free and amazing. After every use I couldn’t stop reaching for the ends of my hair and pulling it across my cheek for one more sniff.

The scent I love most of all is the peppermint and tea tree aroma from Jurlique’s Arnica Mint Shampoo ($22). Jurlique’s Lavender Conditioner ($22), which is designed to relax your mind and soothe your hair and scalp, paled in comparison to the company’s Arnica Mint Shampoo. Jurlique also offers Chamomile and Sandalwood shampoo and conditioner products. After using a quarter-size dollop of the shampoo to lather my hair I was in fragrance heaven. Also, the bottles are decorated with chic illustrations of the herb ingredients added to each product, which make them cute products to keep on display in your bathroom for guests to see and grow envious of.

The company uses sustainable ingredients and holds itself in high standards when growing, developing and sourcing Jurlique ingredients in its own farms and, when impossible, carefully sourcing from biodynamic or organic farms.

Its one downfall is that Jurlique’s Arnica Mint Shampoo is produced with sodium lauroyl sarcosinate—a cleanser that removes surface oil, dirt and bacteria without stripping or drying sensitive skin, but still may not be the safest ingredient choice, according to the Environmental Working Group. This cleanser enhances the penetration of irritation to the skin but is safer when used in rinse-off products, according to CosmeticsInfo.org.

So what do you think? Have you fallen in love with Jurlique’s body care products as much as me? If not, what hair fragrance is your favorite?

www.verikira.com

Verikira Naturals is a Vegan Cosmetics Organization certified-company that pledges never to use synthetic fragrances, animal byproducts and unnecessary chemicals. What more could you ask for in a beauty brand? Oh yea – it donates 10 percent of its Pink Grapefruit Collection proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation all year long.

Pink grapefruit is a scent that you either love or hate. If you’re a fan, then you will love the faint citrus scent from this collection.

The pink grapefruit shampoo is sulfate and paraben free and is also made with pro-vitamin B5, which improves the moisture-retention capacity and stimulates skin regeneration. It took over a quarter-size dollop of shampoo to get my hair to feel lathered enough, but it was well worth it.

The pink grapefruit conditioner is 88 percent organic and made with these ingredients: Brassica Campestris, Aleurites Fordi Oil, Green Tea, Roobios, MSM, Vitamin B and Activated Charcoal. This conditioner lowers the pH balance of hair, increasing the elasticity of the hair.

This collection is available in two sizes—11.16 fluid ounces and 2-ounce travel size. The larger shampoo is $28 and the larger conditioner is $32. The travel sizes are $10 each. The travel pack trio, which includes the travel-sized shampoo, conditioner and lotion, is $32.

These products are a little pricey and I’m still not sure whether I would spring the green for these eco-friendly products. What about you? Have you tried Verikira Naturals? What did you love about their products? What hair care product out there are you willing to spend the big bucks on?

It might just be that my hair was recently cut, but my hair feels a lot healthier than it did a month ago. When I curl my hair the ends curl completely under. It’s great to not have split ends!

Most of all I’ve been enjoying the different scents during my hair care excursions. This week my hair smells like a mixture of rosemary, lavender and peppermint.

John Masters Organics creates aromatherapy beauty treatments that use certified organic essential oils whenever possible and avoid artificial colors, fragrances and fillers.

I used John Masters Organics’ lavender rosemary shampoo for normal hair. Because my hair is so thick I had to use a little more than a nickel size of the shampoo in order to get my hair nice and lathered, but I didn’t mind—this shampoo is so fragrant! Lavender normalizes scalp conditions and slows hair loss while rosemary stimulates hair growth and adds volume and shine. Next, I used the same amount ofJohn Masters Organics' rosemary & peppermint detangler. The added peppermint reduces scalp irritation and treats oily scalps.

For $16 each, I say these products are worth the extra buck. Other herbal products are available: evening primrose for dry hair, zinc & sage shampoo and conditioner, honey and hibiscus hair reconstructing shampoo, and an herbal cider hair rinse. Let me know which of these products you’ve tried or would like to try. What’s your favorite herb to use on your hair and why? What is it about a warm shower during the winter that makes you feel at ease?

Last Friday I was a bridesmaid for one of my best friends. So Friday morning found me doing inventory before leaving for the festivities:

Dress? Check                      

Shoes? Check                           

Wrap? Check

Minimal, yet comprehensive makeup supply? Check

Am I wearing a button-down shirt that won't ruin hair and makeup at the last minute when I change? Check

I was ready to leave for the reception site (where we would all primp together in the hours precluding the ceremony), wearing proper down-time pre-wedding yoga pants and flats, tossing a flat-iron in my tote with some mints. And then my phone rang. It was another bridesmaid, and she needed a favor.  

"Listen, you know that stuff you had at the bachelorette weekend?"

www.BodySenseShop.com

Ah-ha. A month previously, at the bachelorette weekend festivites, I packed a bottle of Brittanie's Thyme Organic Acne Treatment. Unsuprisingly, with a bevy of ladies who stretched their schedules to travel for the party (a combo of stress + airports + rich food + cocktails), we had some uninvited guests - pimples, that is. My bottle of Brittanie's Thyme was in high demand.

"Could you bring that organic stuff with you?" she continued.

The thing is, Brittanie's Thyme (a mixture of witch hazel and lavender and tea tree essential oils) is dependable. It dries trouble spots right out, and works quickly. And unlike pimple creams (which leave a white film), it can be used right before applying makeup so that it can continue to work. The scent is quite strong if you are unused to essential oils (like some of my friends), but by the end of the wedding experience several of my fellow bridesmaids were devotees.

Recently, I did something I've never done before. I used an entire tube of lip balm. I'd been absent mindedly reaching for it at my desk for months. Then one day, I went to roll up some fresh lip balm and ...screeech! Dry ground. Beached whale.

So what was the lip balm I loved so much I actually achieved the holy grail in lip balm usage - an empty tube? John Masters Organics Lip Calm, $6. It is a delightfully light, yet moisturing, mixture of olive oil, beeswax, avocado oil and shea butter. Plus, it smells great, with it's ylang ylang, vanilla and subtle citrus essential oils (tangerine and lime).

Bravo, John Masters Organics! Hats off to you.

My hair before I finally got it trimmed (and my manager's puppy Guiness).

A recent visit to Salon Di Marco in Lawrence, Kansas has made me rethink the way I take care of my hair. After a six month period of avoiding the hair salon (due partially to laziness and partially to lack of money) I finally scheduled a hair appointment at a hair salon close to my new home—and I had major split ends.

My new stylist analyzed my hair with a skeptical eye and asked me what I use to wash my hair. “Garnier Fructis” I replied.

Then, she scowled.

Evidently my money saving techniques were damaging my hair. The shampoo I was using, she said, might have been causing my hair to dry out and loose its shine. She recommended I use an organic shampoo with natural essential oils such as shampoo from John Masters Organics.

So begins my journey toward proper hair care. Please comment and let me know what products you think I should try out. Our first stop will be John Masters Organics, as I scavenge for shampoos I might want to use on my soon-to-be healthy hair.

For more articles on herbal hair care, check out these stories:
• Shimmer and Shine with Herbal Shampoos
• Hair Care Recipes
 

As much as I enjoy fall (I love layering peacoats, Steve Madden boots, Hue tights, chic cardigans and colorful pashminas.) I do not enjoy the cold weather that comes with it. Every morning I have a harder time getting out of bed than I did the day before. Wrapped tightly in my warm and cozy comforter I have zero motivation to step out of my queen-size bed and enter the realm of what I consider to be the “cold plague.”

Unfortunately I don’t have any sage advice on getting out of bed in the mornings, but I do have some tips on how to reward yourself for the days you mange to get up: Use herbs to create a warm, relaxing bath.

According to our 2006 article, Warming Winter Baths, lavender, sandalwood, rosemary and basil are a handful of herbs that will help create a therapeutic bath.

The Essential Oil Company offers organic essential oils to help you create your blends at reasonable prices. Try out some of these blends from our article Warming Winter Baths:

     • Stress-Relieving Aromatherapy Bath 
     • Energizing Aromatherapy Bath 
     • Restorative Bath Salts 
     • Winter's Night Bath Salts 
     • Muscle-Soothing Bath Salts
     • Peaceful Dreams Bath Salts 

Unfortunately, there’s not always time to mix your own herbal blend. For those days, try out some of my favorite bath products that don’t require a lot of time and energy:

	Earthwork’s "Sweet Lime Bath Truffles” ($30). Offered in packages of six, Earthwork's bath salts emit a very powerful scent that send you straight into a state of relaxation. The lime is especially enticing and the bath truffle, which is large, takes its time to dissolve. Save each truffle for a especially tiring day.
	Organics by Noah’s Naturals “Lavender Sea Salt Soak” ($16.99). After you pour a handful of these intoxicating bath salts into the bath, make sure you wait a good two minutes before stepping into the warm water—the salts are fairly sharp. But it's worth the wait. The lavender leaves the skin looking healthy and tension-free.

Here are some other products I want to try:

	Pangea Organics’ line of massage oils ($25). I first noticed this line of products while whopping at World Market. Pangea offers three oil blends: Italian White Sage & Geranium; Malagasy Ginger with Lemongrass; and Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom. The oils smell invigorating and each combination of herbs is designed to create a different type of enjoyment for your stressful woes.
	Aubrey Organics’ Camomile Calming Bath Soak ($7.98). This company is known for creating organic products at reasonable prices, keeping organics within reach for those who claim green products are too expensive. This camomile bath soak also uses almond and organic jojoba to soothe the body.

I think tonight I’m going to make a warm bath, light a few candles, turn up the volume to my Imogen Heap album and relax with the latest copy of The Herb Companion. What are you doing to fight the cold weather? What’s your favorite herb to use in a warm bath? And what’s your favorite piece of fall clothing (mine are ankle boots!)? Comment away!