Body Care the Natural Way
Herbal body care is important for everyone—while it seems that it is mostly women who concentrate on skin and hair care, men can certainly benefit just as much from these treatments. The best products, whether you are a man or a woman, are those designed for your specific complexion, skin and hair type. Natural skin care products are easy and fun to make in your kitchen and can be prepared with little cost and minimal fuss. Let ground herbs, teas, tinctures and essential oils become your magic ingredients.Consider the recipes in this chapter a start; when you are feeling creative, experiment with your own recipes. For more inspiration, read chapters 111 through 116 to learn how many of the same herbs that are used to make body care products also affect the emotions.
If preparing herbal cosmetics does not appeal to you, look in the cosmetics department of a natural food or department store for their natural body care lines. Since your skin and hair are naturally acid (pH 4.5 to 5.5), the products you put on them should stay close to the same range. You can test a product's pH with nitrazine paper, which is available from your local pharmacy. For directions on how to use this paper, see the label on the box it comes in. You can also increase the effectiveness of store-bought cosmetics by stirring in a few drops of an essential oil that appeals to you.
Warning: There is no such thing as a skin or hair care product—even an all-natural one—that is safe for every-one. People can be allergic or sensitive to seemingly harmless substances. Test any new product or ingredient by dabbing a little on the inside of your arm, especially if you tend to have allergies. If you experience a negative reaction such as a rash, swelling, or itching or watering eyes, you should stay clear of the substance.
In one of my classes, we were making cosmetics with glycerin, a natural ingredient sometimes made from coconut oil. Candace, who is allergic to coconut oil, put a drop of glycerin on her tongue. In a few seconds, her mouth swelled up so badly that she could barely speak. Fortunately, her breathing was not affected—a dangerous problem that happens with some allergic reactions. A similar experience happened in another class with a woman who is allergic to olive oil. Rosemary rubbed a salve on the back of her hand, not realizing that it contained olive oil. Her hand broke out in an itchy rash, and to heal it she had to use an herbal remedy for dermatitis—obviously, one that did not contain olive oil!
Beauty is not only skin deep; it also reflects your inner health. Hormonal fluctuations, a poor diet, lack of exercise and stress all adversely affect the health of your skin and hair. So do smoking, alcohol consumption and radical changes in weight. To maintain a radiant complexion and healthy hair, eat a balanced diet and get plenty of rest, relaxation and exercise. A combination of herbs and exercise helps ensure that your skin has a good blood supply that can provide a sufficient amount of nutrients. Scientific studies haven't proven that drinking water improves the health of skin and hair, but aestheticians (professional skin specialists) urge their clients to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to avoid skin dehydration.