Lifestyle Choices

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy a luxurious warm bath, as a relaxing end to a long day or as a refreshing early start before a day’s work. The simplest, most inexpensive and pleasurable way of using herbs, whether to soften or invigorate and tone the skin, or to relax, soothe and scent the body, is by adding them to the bathwater.

There are various ways of doing this. Try tying a bunch of herbs in a square of muslin or net, or in the foot of an old stocking, and suspending it under the hot water tap. Rub the bag briskly over your body like a sponge, and then lie back and relax in the herb-scented water.

Another method is to make a strong infusion of whatever herb you prefer. Pour over enough boiling water to cover a big bowl of fresh herbs, well pressed down. Stand for 15 minutes, strain and pour the liquid into the bathwater.

Herbs suitable for using in the bath are: the mints, lemon verbena, lemon balm (melissa), lavender, sage, rosemary, elder flowers and leaves, soapwort leaves, flowers, roots and stems, calendula, scented geranium, bergamot, lemon peel, orange blossom, jasmine flowers, comfrey and southernwood.

BATH VINEGARS

These are an easy way of making a bath fragrant and softening the water, leaving your skin soft and fresh. Used in winter in the harsher Transvaal climate, bath vinegars will keep your skin from drying and flaking. All you need is a little time to get the vinegars smelling rich and fragrant.

I use a 5-litre bottle of white vinegar and fill it with a favourite herb. (Remove a cup or two and fill another, smaller bottle to keep in the bathroom cupboard.) Steep the herb in the vinegar. Stand in the sun for about 3 weeks, replacing the herbs with fresh ones every 5 or 6 days. Strain through muslin and re-bottle, placing a sprig of fresh herb in each bottle for identification. Use a dash or two in the bath, for rinsing the hair, or for dabbing onto tired, aching feet.

Any fragrant herb will do, eg lavender, rosemary, scented geranium, lemon verbena, red rose petals, or orange blossom. Try combining herbs and flowers. A lovely spring bath vinegar can be made using jasmine flowers with mint, or orange blossom and lemon verbena. You will derive much pleasure from experimenting. Bath vinegars also make lovely gifts.

Apple Cider Vinegar Invigorator

1 bottle apple cider vinegar

1 piece fresh root ginger, about 4 cm long

2-4 sprigs rosemary

2-6 sprigs sage

Press the herbs into the vinegar. Stand in the sun for 3 weeks. Change the herbs once each week. Strain and re-bottle. Use a little in the bath, or to soothe tired muscles, dabbing on with cotton-wool.

HERBAL BATH OILS

Although there is a huge variety of commercial bath Oils, I find it far more rewarding and satisfying to make my own out of pure, natural ingredients. Most oils merely float on the surface of the water, but you can buy a soluble bath oil, unscented and uncoloured, from chemists which dissolves in the water and is absorbed by the skin. Almond oil, maize oil, sunflower oil, sweet oil, or avocado oil are also suitable.

Herbal bath oils are all made in the same way. Choose a favourite herb, eg rosemary, and push several sprigs or leaves into a bottle of oil. Stand out of direct sunlight for 3 weeks. Replace the herb each week with fresh sprigs. Then strain and add a few drops of essential oil (if you have used rosemary, then add rosemary essential oil as a fragrance). If you like you can add a little wheatgerm oil which has the added advantage of nourishing the skin and preserving the oil. Use sparingly in the bath.

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