Roses in the Bath

 

Rose petals add an element of softness to the skin when used in bath mixtures.  Either in Bath Bags or in salves, vinegar and other mediums, the softening as well as mildly astringent qualitiesalso reducing puffiness, edema and has a slight tightening effect (which means it reduced wrinkles!) The oil is most effective for moisturizing and hydrating the skin while having a general stimulant and antiseptic action which is good for all skin types, but especially so for dry, mature and irritated skin. It is used to repair broken capillaries, inflammation, as well as skin redness.

Today I thought it would be fun to share a few recipes using roses that are just for the bath.  But if you do not want to make your own and like roses in your bath items, the Backyard Patch makes two popular rose products.  My fun and simple Bath Tub Tea that is a combation of many herbs including rose petals and my rose petal infused Rose Hair Rinse which uses rose petals in vinegar and water to soften hair and help remove product build up from shampoo, conditioners and treatments.

 Here are recipes to try on your own:

Bath Bag

2 t. each

lemon verbena

 peppermint

 dried roses

 hibiscus

nettle

rosehips (for color)

Place the herbs in a cotton draw string bag or wrap up in a cotton wash cloth.  To use steep the bag in 2 cups water warm water for 15 minutes are pour into bath water.

Rose Vinegar Bath

A toner and fresher that brings skin back to normal pH after cleaning; this product is very good for your skin, especially if it is oily.  Apply after washing with a cotton ball or soft cloth.

1 cup apple cider vinegar

5 T. rose petals

4 T. sage leaves

3 T. raspberry leaves

2 T. rosemary

¾ cup rosewater (reserved)

Heat the vinegar and pour over the herbs.  Place the mixture in a quart jar and cap it.  (Do not use a metal lid).  Shake daily for 10 days.  Strain.  Add rosewater to vinegar.  Store, covered, in jars with nonmetallic lids.

(This recipe was by Linda Gannon, the Magick Garden  McFarland, WI – excerpted from Herbal Treasures by Phyllis Shaudys, 1990)

Basic Baby Powder

8 oz. arrowroot or cornstarch or a blend of both

4 oz. baking soda

1 Tbls. Ground Cloves

1 Tbls. slippery elm

1 Tbls. rose petals

1 Tbls. Lavender

Blend ingredients in a glass or ceramic bowl.  Store in a large glass jar, covered, for two weeks, allowing scents to blend.  Shake jar well every other day.  You can boost the scent with 10 to 15 drops of rose absolute or rose geranium essntial oil.

Dust on body as a perfume or a way to stay dry in warm summer months.

Rose Bath Oil

Rose Petals (about 1/2 to 1 cup)
2 oz grapeseed oil
5 drops jasmine oil
5 drops ylang-ylang oil

Place rose petals in a glass jar and cover with the oils. Shake and allow to infuse overnight. I liked it best when it infused about 3 days. 

Add 1/4 oz. of the oil to your bath or sprkile over the tips of your fingers and work into your skin when wet fromt he shower.

Bathing with Herbs - Gel Soap

This recipe is a great way to use your harvest of fresh herbs this time of year.  Check out the alternatives for others herbs to try.

Chamomile Gel Soap

6 cups water

1 ½ cups ground chamomile

2 cups grated castile soap

½ cup borax

Heat water and chamomile until boiling.  Simmer for ½ hour and steep until cool.  Strain out the chamomile.  Meanwhile, shred with a fine grater, castile or other pure mild soap.  Reheat 3 cups of cooled chamomile tea to a boil.  Add soap and ½ cup borax.  Stir and boil for 2 minutes, then cool.  Pour into pretty container and keep covered.

Alternatives:  Use whole leaves of the following herbs and strain out once steeped and cooled instead of chamomile.  Lemon grass for oily skin, peppermint for astringent soap, lavender for washing lingerie.  If you like scent, you can add about ¼ ounce of essential oil, but avoid bergamot or pennyroyal as they irritate sensitive skin.

Check out the many Bath items of the Backyard Patch. 

Caring for your hands while Gardening

Working in the garden, gloved or not, is hard on the hands.  I have red hair and fair skin, in addition to sunscreen of the highest SPF I always where a hat and gloves, but still my hands get that rough flaky texture from the drying effects of dirt and sun.  Before and after I work outside I use a nice rich lotion on my hands.  This is one of the recipes I have made for several years.  It includes lavender which is a natural insect repellant and a darker oil which gives it some sun screening ability (about SPF 6.)

In addition to keeping my skin soft I like to protect my nails.  I don’t keep them very long, but anything short of a nubbin will still collect dirt when you garden, so to protect the nails from breaking and cracking while making them easier to clean after a day of gardening or potting, I scratch a bar of soap getting the soap under my nails so the dirt cannot get there.

Lavender Hand Cream

3 tablespoons grated beeswax

½ cup dark sesame oil

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 teaspoon honey

2 tablespoons spring water

2 to 3 drops lavender essential oil

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a heat-resistant container or double boiler.  Gently heat (do not boil) the mixture in a microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring often, until wax and oils melt completely.  Pour the mixture into a container or jar and allow it to cool.  After it has cooled completely, give it a final stir before capping.  To use, massage the cream into clean hands.

Always make this in small batches as it has no preservatives and you do not want it to go bad before you use it.  I think a 6 to 12 month shelf life is about all you can hope for.

Protecting your Skin from Moisture Loss with Herbal Essential Oils

The low humidity in winter air depletes the moisture in your skin. This leaves the uppermost skin cells without enough moisture to keep them healthy. The result is itching, peeling and scaling of dead skin.  I find walking outside on a winter windy day can really zap the moisture from my legs and face.  There are several ways to combat this.

First I suggest increasing the humidity in the air of your home. Simmering spices on the stove adds moisture and freshens a room with delightful aromatherapy scents.

Use a glycerin or olive oil based soap, they have fewer chemicals and are less drying.

Next, remove dead skin cells by exfoliating with a textured soap or a salt scrub. Make your own sugar scrub with my favorite recipe. Your skin will feel great and be soft and supple!

Exfoliating Sugar Scrub Recipe:
Combine ¼ to ½ cup sugar and 2 Tbls. almond oil with 10 to 30 drops lavender essential oil for stress relief and 10 to 30 drops lemongrass oil for invigorating the mind and/or 10 to 30 drops of grapefruit oil an uplifting and refreshing scent which is also slightly astringent. Shake to mix.

Directions:
After bathing while skin is still wet and you are still in the tub or shower, use one tablespoon to gently massage skin. Avoid sensitive areas, like your face. Rinse well. Pat dry and lock in moisture with your favorite body lotion. Lavender lotion will effectively heal and moisturize dry winter skin.

If you would like to try a Sugar Scrub, the Backyard Patch makes one along with a number of other bath items for keeping away dry skin like an assortment of Milk Baths .  To see these and any other of our more than 250 different items, see us at http://www.backyardpatch.com/

Rosacea & Women's Health and Fitness Day!

Tomorrow is Women’s Health and Fitness day.  I always feel that is a good reminder that Women have different health issues than men do and we should take care of ourselves accordingly. And you should ask yourself What can you do to begin your own personal fitness program? Diet? Exercise? A regular daily walk? Riding your bicycle?  Taking up Yoga?  Today is a good day to begin!  I ride my bike home from the office about 10 miles almost everyday.  I love being outdoors.  Right now to help me focus on my surroundings – not just on getting home.  I am on a counting squirrels campaign.  (Since September 1 35 gray, 7 red, 4 ground.)

There is a great book on women’s health and herb healing by Rosemary Gladstar entitled Herbal Healing for Women that I think is worth looking at if you are interested in Herb-related treatments.

So, like many people with fair skin and red hair suffer from Rosacea.  Rosacea is a fairly common skin condition that is characterized by redness or flushing of the cheeks, chin, nose and forehead.  I have taken medication, used antibiotic creams and ointments, but found that nothing worked long term, so I started using herbal remedies and have had some success.  I thought in a quest for women’s health (although this is not a woman only disease since former President Clinton suffers) I would share some of those remedies.

Homemade Rosacea “Cure”

Rosacea has no cure. Even its causes are not clearly understood. Instead, it is a condition of symptoms. Rosacea sufferers experience a reddening of the face and neck and may have pimple-like bumps. The condition can be treated. The only rosacea "cure" is to reduce and manage flare-ups.

Basic Care Routine

Wash your face with lukewarm water instead of hot water as heat will bring more blood to the surface and worsen the condition. Wash with a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. People with rosacea should not use defoliating scrubs or strong, astringent cleansers. Skin care products with aloe vera and/or vitamin E have been helpful in some cases.

Do not use clay masks for cleansing. Instead, try a homemade mask with an olive oil base mixed with calming, chamomile tea and a little oatmeal, which has anti-inflammatory properties. After washing your face, always pat it dry with a soft towel. Wash three or more times daily, depending on how oily your skin is.

Some cases of rosacea have shown improvement from washing with pine tar soap. Some recommend smoothing on a lather, letting it dry, then leaving it on throughout the night. Wash it off in the morning and follow through by applying a bag balm to your face and leaving it on for about 10 minutes.

Try mixing mineral water with apple cider vinegar for a homemade facial toner. Spray this onto the face directly and pat it dry.

Nutrition to Help

Change your diet as part of your homemade treatment. Drink apple juice, preferably brands lower in sugar and preservatives. Eat more berries. The antioxidants in blueberries, blackberries and strawberries are good for skin. Get plenty of Omega-3 fatty acid oil. Eat more leafy and green vegetables.

Drink fenugreek tea. This has been known to be especially helpful with skin disorders, most especially acne. If you cannot find the tea, buy fenugreek and steep it in boiling water to make your own tea.

Avoid chocolate, alcohol, and fatty, fried foods and spicy foods. Tomatoes, too, can trigger rosacea flare-ups and should be avoided. Now not all of these cause flairs for all people.  Alcohol and tomato sauce will do it for me.  You may be different.  Pay attention to the foods that irritate you and reduce the intake.

Lavender Skin Treatment

Lavender's antibacterial astringent and anti-inflammatory properties make it an effective treatment for Rosacea.

Things You'll Need:

• 3 drops pure lavender essential oil
• 1 tablespoon grape seed oil
• Cotton balls

Blend the lavender essential oil with the grape seed oil in a small bowl.
Cleanse and rinse your face. Gently pat your face dry with a towel. Be sure not to irritate our skin.
Apply a bit of the mixture to a small area on your face to determine whether you are allergic. Lavender contains geraniol, which may be an irritant for rosacea in some people. If you experience any redness at the test spot, don't use the mixture.
Dip your cotton ball into the lavender oil blend. Massage it gently into your skin. Avoid any contact with your eyes, nostrils and lips. Repeat until you have applied it to your entire face. Pat off any excess oil and let the rest to soak in.
Make these steps a part of your daily facial routine.