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Hi'iaka's Healing Herb Garden : Column Index : 2006 : May
Coming Soon...
Pamper Your Largest Organ With These Recipes
After our long, wet winter, many of you might be hoping and planning to renew your tans. I know that my skin has turned lily-white! But too much sun can damage our skin, which is the largest organ we own. Here in Hawai`i, many things besides the sun can harm our skin: bugs that bite us, lava that we hike over, and tools in the kitchen and garden that can cut us. I always say that "a day in the garden without blood is like a day not in the garden" because I often poke myself with a tool, thorn or branch or get scratched by a kitty enjoying the garden alongside me.
It's important to take care of your scratches and bites quickly because of the existence of staph (staphyloccocus bacteria) in tropical climates. As soon as possible, wash your wound with mild soap and water, then apply either an herbal remedy or an antibiotic cream. Keep a bandage on it until it's nearly healed. Always remember that if your injury is large, if it doesn't stop bleeding quickly, or if there is unusual pain, please visit your doctor as soon as possible because you might need stitches or even an antibiotic. So be careful!
This month I will offer several recipes for skin care that you can do at home, based on the book, Rosemary's Gladstar's Family Herbal (Storey Books, 2001). Guys! This is not just "girlie" stuff-your skin can benefit from good care too.
Rosemary Gladstar's Five-Step Skin Care Program
You should be able to find all ingredients listed here at your natural foods store. If you follow these steps once a month, you'll be cleansing, nourishing, and pampering your skin back to better health and appearance.
Step One: Miracle Grains
When you wash your skin with the following soap replacement, it will gently massage and stimulate your skin.
Grind the oats, almonds, lavender and roses in a clean coffee grinder. Then combine all ingredients:
2 cups white clay
1 cup ground oats
1/4 cup ground almonds
2 TB ground lavender
2 TB ground roses
Mix 1-2 teaspoons of the grains with water, then stir it into a paste and massage it onto your face. Rinse with warm water.
Step Two: Herbal Facial Steam
Facial steams work wonders for deep pore cleansing. First, bring 2-3 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Toss in the herbs below and simmer for 2 minutes. Amounts are approximate.
1/4 cup comfrey leaf
1/4 cup calendula flowers
2 TB chamomile (for dry skin) or raspberry leaf (for oily skin)
1/4 cup roses (for dry skin) or 2 TB sage (for oily skin)
2 TB lavender (for dry skin) or 2 TB rosemary (for oily skin)
After simmering, place the pot on a heatproof surface where you can sit with your face over it. Lean over the steaming pot and drape a towel over your head and the pot. It will get very hot, so you can regulate the temperature by raising or lowering you head. Steam for 5 to 8 minutes.
Step Three: Facial
Facials are fabulous for stimulating circulation, cleaning pores, and toning and firming your skin. Rosemary suggests using cosmetic clay mixed with enough water to make a paste. Apply the clay and leave it on until it dries, then rinse with warm water.
For dry skin, use white cosmetic-grade clay, which is very gentle. For more nourishment, mix in a bit of yogurt or avocado, or both.
For oily skin, use green, red or yellow clay, which are high in minerals and good for blemishes.
Step Four: Tonic Astringents
After your facial, apply an astringent (also called a toner) to tone and close your pores.
Rose water for dry skin: Pick 1 cup of fresh rosebuds and mix them with 1 cup witch hazel extract, vodka or gin and 1/3 cup distilled water in a clean glass jar. Cover it and let it sit in a warm, shady area for 2 to 3 weeks. Strain and rebottle it for future use.
The Queen of Hungary's water for oily skin: The Gypsies use this as a hair rinse, mouthwash, headache remedy, aftershave, footbath and many other uses. Place these ingredients in a clean quart jar:
1/4 cup lemon balm
1/4 cup chamomile
1/4 cup roses
2 TB calendula
2 TB comfrey leaf
1 TB lemon peel
1 TB rosemary
1 TB sage
Apple cider vinegar to cover
2/3 to 1 cup rose water or witch hazel extract
Optional: 1-2 drops lavender or rose essential oil
Cover it and let it sit in a warm, shady area for 2 to 3 weeks. Strain and rebottle it for future use.
Step Five: Massage and Cream
The final step is a pleasurable facial massage that uses Rosemary's Perfect Cream.
Combine in a glass measuring cup, and then set aside:
2/3 cup distilled water or rose water
1/3 cup aloe vera gel
1-2 drops essential oil
Vitamins A and E, as desired (available in bottles at drugstores)
Combine these ingredients in a double boiler over low heat, just until they melt:
3/4 cup apricot, almond, or grapeseed oil
1/3 cup coconut oil or cocoa butter
1/4 tsp. lanolin
1/2-1 ounce beeswax
Pour the hot oily mixture into a blender and let it cool to near room temperature (but not too cool). Then fire up your blender to its highest speed. Pour the water mixture into the moving blender in a slow drizzle. When most of the watery mixture is in the blender, listen to the motor and watch the cream. When your blender coughs and chokes and the cream looks thick and white, turn the blender off. The cream will thicken as it sets, so quickly pour it out into small containers and then store it in a cool place.
Spread a little cream on your palms and gently circle the outer edges of your face, always stroking upward and outward. Follow the contours of your face, using your fingers to trace the structure. Use motions that are gentle, circular and sweeping.
Pamper Your Largest Organ With These Recipes
After our long, wet winter, many of you might be hoping and planning to renew your tans. I know that my skin has turned lily-white! But too much sun can damage our skin, which is the largest organ we own. Here in Hawai`i, many things besides the sun can harm our skin: bugs that bite us, lava that we hike over, and tools in the kitchen and garden that can cut us. I always say that "a day in the garden without blood is like a day not in the garden" because I often poke myself with a tool, thorn or branch or get scratched by a kitty enjoying the garden alongside me.
It's important to take care of your scratches and bites quickly because of the existence of staph (staphyloccocus bacteria) in tropical climates. As soon as possible, wash your wound with mild soap and water, then apply either an herbal remedy or an antibiotic cream. Keep a bandage on it until it's nearly healed. Always remember that if your injury is large, if it doesn't stop bleeding quickly, or if there is unusual pain, please visit your doctor as soon as possible because you might need stitches or even an antibiotic. So be careful!
This month I will offer several recipes for skin care that you can do at home, based on the book, Rosemary's Gladstar's Family Herbal (Storey Books, 2001). Guys! This is not just "girlie" stuff-your skin can benefit from good care too.
Rosemary Gladstar's Five-Step Skin Care Program
You should be able to find all ingredients listed here at your natural foods store. If you follow these steps once a month, you'll be cleansing, nourishing, and pampering your skin back to better health and appearance.
Step One: Miracle Grains
When you wash your skin with the following soap replacement, it will gently massage and stimulate your skin.
Grind the oats, almonds, lavender and roses in a clean coffee grinder. Then combine all ingredients:
2 cups white clay
1 cup ground oats
1/4 cup ground almonds
2 TB ground lavender
2 TB ground roses
Mix 1-2 teaspoons of the grains with water, then stir it into a paste and massage it onto your face. Rinse with warm water.
Step Two: Herbal Facial Steam
Facial steams work wonders for deep pore cleansing. First, bring 2-3 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Toss in the herbs below and simmer for 2 minutes. Amounts are approximate.
1/4 cup comfrey leaf
1/4 cup calendula flowers
2 TB chamomile (for dry skin) or raspberry leaf (for oily skin)
1/4 cup roses (for dry skin) or 2 TB sage (for oily skin)
2 TB lavender (for dry skin) or 2 TB rosemary (for oily skin)
After simmering, place the pot on a heatproof surface where you can sit with your face over it. Lean over the steaming pot and drape a towel over your head and the pot. It will get very hot, so you can regulate the temperature by raising or lowering you head. Steam for 5 to 8 minutes.
Step Three: Facial
Facials are fabulous for stimulating circulation, cleaning pores, and toning and firming your skin. Rosemary suggests using cosmetic clay mixed with enough water to make a paste. Apply the clay and leave it on until it dries, then rinse with warm water.
For dry skin, use white cosmetic-grade clay, which is very gentle. For more nourishment, mix in a bit of yogurt or avocado, or both.
For oily skin, use green, red or yellow clay, which are high in minerals and good for blemishes.
Step Four: Tonic Astringents
After your facial, apply an astringent (also called a toner) to tone and close your pores.
Rose water for dry skin: Pick 1 cup of fresh rosebuds and mix them with 1 cup witch hazel extract, vodka or gin and 1/3 cup distilled water in a clean glass jar. Cover it and let it sit in a warm, shady area for 2 to 3 weeks. Strain and rebottle it for future use.
The Queen of Hungary's water for oily skin: The Gypsies use this as a hair rinse, mouthwash, headache remedy, aftershave, footbath and many other uses. Place these ingredients in a clean quart jar:
1/4 cup lemon balm
1/4 cup chamomile
1/4 cup roses
2 TB calendula
2 TB comfrey leaf
1 TB lemon peel
1 TB rosemary
1 TB sage
Apple cider vinegar to cover
2/3 to 1 cup rose water or witch hazel extract
Optional: 1-2 drops lavender or rose essential oil
Cover it and let it sit in a warm, shady area for 2 to 3 weeks. Strain and rebottle it for future use.
Step Five: Massage and Cream
The final step is a pleasurable facial massage that uses Rosemary's Perfect Cream.
Combine in a glass measuring cup, and then set aside:
2/3 cup distilled water or rose water
1/3 cup aloe vera gel
1-2 drops essential oil
Vitamins A and E, as desired (available in bottles at drugstores)
Combine these ingredients in a double boiler over low heat, just until they melt:
3/4 cup apricot, almond, or grapeseed oil
1/3 cup coconut oil or cocoa butter
1/4 tsp. lanolin
1/2-1 ounce beeswax
Pour the hot oily mixture into a blender and let it cool to near room temperature (but not too cool). Then fire up your blender to its highest speed. Pour the water mixture into the moving blender in a slow drizzle. When most of the watery mixture is in the blender, listen to the motor and watch the cream. When your blender coughs and chokes and the cream looks thick and white, turn the blender off. The cream will thicken as it sets, so quickly pour it out into small containers and then store it in a cool place.
Spread a little cream on your palms and gently circle the outer edges of your face, always stroking upward and outward. Follow the contours of your face, using your fingers to trace the structure. Use motions that are gentle, circular and sweeping.
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