Lifestyle Choices

ELDER (Sambucus nigra)

Flowers, leaves, stems and roots of the elder can all be used medicinally. For cosmetics, though, the flowers are usually used. They are gently astringent and they soothe and soften the skin. Make a tea or wash by pouring 1 litre (4 cups) boiling water over 500 ml (2 cups) flowers. Stand, steep, cool and strain. Keep what you don’t use at once in the refrigerator. The leaves make an excellent tea — take equal quantities of water and leaves and boil them up together for 5 minutes, then cool and strain — which can be used to soothe sunburned skin, or give relief from mosquito bites. Diluted, it can be used in the bath and to bleach freckles. Add flowers to night creams and steep in sweet oil for massage.

EUCALYPTUS (Eucalyptus globulus)

The leaves of the gum tree make a good bath additive and, if you can find it, the leaves of the lemon scented gum tree are especially beautiful. Add it to creams, oils and vinegars for a wonderful lemon fragrance. An oil made by steeping the leaves in either maize or almond oil makes a soothing rub for aching muscles. A steam for opening and cleansing pores can also be made by pouring a litre (4 cups) boiling water over a bowl packed with leaves. Use a towel tent and inhale — it clears the nose and sinuses too.

DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale)

Dandelions are filled with nourishment, good for skin, liver and urinary systems, and therefore excellent for keeping the skin clear. Make a tea of leaves and flowers — 125 ml (1/2 cup) herb to 750 ml (3 cups) boiling water — and use as a wash for skin itch, eczema and red skin. Use as a wash for the face as well to invigorate the skin. Steep leaves and flowers in oil and use as a bath or body oil.

FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare)

An infusion of fennel leaves (125 ml (¹/2 cup) herb to 500 ml (2 cups) boiling water) makes an excellent eye bath and is said to have a strengthening effect on the eyes. Fennel tea is a deep cleanser, externally and internally (60 ml (¹/4 cup) herb to 250 ml (1 cup) boiling water), and is also a diuretic, excellent for those who wish to lose weight.

GARLIC (Allium sativum)

Garlic is one of nature’s wonder herbs. A natural antibiotic, it is a cure for many ailments. For stimulating hair growth infuse 4-6 cloves of garlic, lightly crushed, in 1 litre (4 cups) vinegar and rub into the scalp daily. Use the freshly squeezed juice to dab onto acne or pimples. The only problem is its smell — chew a sprig or two of parsley to get rid of garlic breath.

GERANIUM (Pelargonium graveolens)

Scented geraniums (not the common red geranium) are soothing and useful in cosmetics, particularly where an astringent is needed. They make wonderful facial steams, and in the bath I find scented geraniums pure pleasure. Use geranium tea — 250 ml (1 cup) herb to 1 litre (4 cups) boiling water — as a face wash, for rinsing the hair or to soothe sunburn. Put a bunch of the leaves next to your bed and bruise them with your fingers from time to time — they’ll help you unwind!

GINGER (Zingiber officinale)

The fresh rhizome or root of ginger, available at most supermarkets, is a wonderful mouthwash. Take a few thinly shaved

HELIOTROPE (Heliotropium peruvianum)

Heliotrope is a favourite fragrant flower in the garden. Its flowers made into a brew — 500 ml (2 cups) flowers to 1 litre (4 cups) boiling water — are a wonderfully invigorating wash and can be added to the bathwater too. Steep the flowers in sunflower oil and use their oil as a bath or massage oil to soothe aching muscles.

HOLLYHOCK (Althaea rosea)

Use hollyhock flowers as a rinse for white hair to remove the yellowish tinge. Warm flowers in hot water and apply to the face as a soothing emollient compress for dry flaky skin. Fill a bath bag or add flowers to the bath to treat dry skin.

HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera species)

Gloriously fragrant honeysuckle flowers added to an oil, eg sweet oil or almond oil, make a beautiful massage or body oil. A tea made from flowers and leaves — 500 ml (2 cups) herb to 1 litre (4 cups) boiling water — makes an excellent hair rinse and a wash for delicate skin. If used frequently it helps to smooth out wrinkles.

IRIS (Iris versicolor)

The exquisite flowers of the iris can be made into a tea — 4 flowers to 500 ml (2 cups) boiling water — which can be used as a cleansing wash for acne and pimples. It cleans and tones the skin and, if used daily, will keep the skin oil and spot free. Use this same brew as a rinse for oily hair. Infuse iris flowers in sweet oil and use as a massage oil for aching legs and cramps.

IVY (Hedera helix)

A leaf soaked overnight in salt and vinegar and applied to a corn (a fresh leaf bound in place each night) will soften and remove the corn. Use an ivy and geranium leaf mixture in the bath. Boil up 500 ml (2 cups) ivy leaves in 1 litre (4 cups) water for 5 minutes and apply as a sunburn soother.

JASMINE (jasmines officinale)

The beautiful highly fragrant jasmine, infused in white vinegar, makes a glorious bath vinegar, which, dabbed onto aching feet, will also soothe and smooth. Made into an oil (use almond or sweet oil), jasmine makes a perfect massage oil and soothing body oil. I make a huge quantity in spring and use it as a bath oil all through winter. Flowers made into a tea are said to be aphrodisiac!

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