Try an Herb Tuesday- Skullcap

Skullcap, botanically known as Scutellaria lateriflora, is known as a "calming" herb, one that is good for any stressful situation, but especially for those that are grief related. Historically, Skullcap has been used to calm the mind, to stop the cycle of circular thoughts, and to ease emotional stress and tension, especially when dealing with the pain of break ups or loss. It encourages mental clarity and brings a renewed focus to thoughts, as well as actions.  

It is usually made into a tincture or a tea, and has a somewhat bitter taste. Skullcap is known to stimulate digestion, and even to trigger feelings of hunger. Since the gastro-intestinal tract tends to become sluggish when we are stressed, the use of skullcap can help to return our system to health. It is said to relax tight muscles and to relieve headaches. It can be used when needed, or it can be taken daily, as a preventative treatment. When taken daily, it not only restores the body and the mind, but it works as a strengthener to prepare the body to better respond to future stresses. This herb is one that was likely in every medicine cabinet, and would do well in yours! 

Make It Yourself Monday - Honey Mayo Face Mask

Here we go, the first Monday of the new year and the first "make it yourself" recipe of the new year!

This one is for a sweet facial. You should have most of these ingredients in your kitchen, although you may have to purchase the essential oils if you do not regularly use them. This is a make and use recipe and should not be stored.

Ingredients;

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/8 cup pure clover honey

4 1/2 TBS. powdered milk (leave it in powdered state)

2 drops rosemary essential oil (EO)

1 drop lavender essential oil (EO)

Warm the honey, then blend into the mayonnaise and add the powdered milk. Once this is well blended, and not too hot, add the essential oils and mix well. Apply to your face and neck and allow to sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with tepid water and pat skin dry.

This is a really a nice, moisturizing mask, for any type of skin. However, if your skin is generally oily, you will want to limit this type of a face mask to no more than 1x a week. Not sure? Try it! If you live in a humid area and/or have extra oily skin, at worst, you may need to follow with your usual toner, but your skin will still enjoy the treat and, either way, your skin will look and feel smooth and soft.

Please note that Rosemary should NOT be used by epileptics. For most people, however, rosemary is a great essential oil. It is considered to be a non-toxic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing oil, and has a long list of benefits. In this application, its most noticeable attributes have to due with its effects on skin, especially skin with acne, eczema, scabies or dermatitis. Rosemary also enhances circulation and helps displace fluid retention. Just the aroma of the EO is said to fight off mental fatigue and reduce or eliminate headaches and migraine pain.

Lavender is the number one non-toxic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing essential oil and, as such, is a basic for everyones' medicine cabinet. It is one of the few EO's that can be used undiluted on the skin, and it has many properties, covering a wide variety of ailments. In this application, it is very toning to the skin and works well for all skin types. Lavender has anti-inflammatory properties, which make it perfect for skin care treatments. It also, specifically, helps with oily skin and acne, as well as skin problems such as burns, rashes (good for diaper rash too), sunburns, psoriasis and insect bites. The inhalation of lavender EO is known to have a soothing, calming, and relaxing effect on the nerves, the mind, and, in turn, one's mood. It is also an effective treatment for headache and migraines, and it promotes restful sleep.

*Remember that you must use therapeutic-grade EO's to reap the benefits, but together, these essential oils will give your skin a great treatment, along with protection, while the aromatherapy aspects will serve to calm and relax you as it rids you of the days stress and headache.

WRAP YOUR MIND AND BODY AROUND THIS

After you have scrubbed your body the next step in your at home spa treatment is the body wrap. It is important to treat yourself, to maximize your relaxation, maximize the revitalizing and rejuvenating aspects of this therapy. So go all out for yourself. If your bath area is large, you may want to take a lounge chair and space heater into it. Or you can utilize the tub by simply adding a bath or real pillow, and the heater of course. Some wraps are best done in the bath to keep clean up at a minimum, but you can always go all out by transforming your bedroom into a spa for a few hours. Draw the curtains, dim the lights, light some aromatic candles, preferably some lavender essential oil ones, and maybe some chamomile too. Then bring in a space heater, some large bath towels and all the items you will need for your treatment. Don't forget to uplug the phone either! Prepare your mind so that you can get the most out of this time, you deserve it!

TIPS

• Make sure that if you are not doing this right after you scrubbed, you remove all dirt, perfumes and lotions before beginning a wrap. A quick shower should accomplish this goal with ease.
• It is important to warm all your tools, towels, sheets, and ingredients prior to use. This will help to retain the heat during your treatment, which will help the treatment to work more efficiently.
• The sheet or cotton strips should be immersed in water that is approx. 180 degrees F or 82 degrees C.
• Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin, and avoid burns when wringing out the sheet or cotton strips.
• Select your relaxation spot and gather all of your needed items before you begin. Having everything at hand will speed the preparation phase and allow for a more streamlined and effective treatment.
• Using a space heater near the relaxation area will prolong the heat of the wrap.
• Sipping some hot herbal tea before you wrap will raise your body temperature and intensify the effects of the wrap.
• You can use a cheap shower curtain liner (they have them at the dollar stores) instead of buying a plastic sheet.
• Watch for bedding sales and buy yourself an all cotton (you can also use linen, but I prefer cotton) sheet to cut and use for treatment strips. You will need them to be about 3" wide. You can wash and reuse them many times, so one will be sufficient for quite a while.
• When you make pastes, make them the consistency of mayonnaise for optimal benefits.
• You are not finished with your treatment when the wrap is done. You need to cuddle up in a warm bath robe for another 20 minutes, and make sure that you do not attempt to do any physical activity immediately after the treatment.

*WRAP RECIPES*

*REMINERALIZING WRAP* 3 ounces fresh seaweed (Kelp) OR 8 ounces dried or powdered seaweed with enough water to make a paste plastic sheet or Mylar sheet blanket space heater Place your blanket at the bottom of your bath tub and then place the plastic or mylar sheet on top of it. Set the heater close by and turn it on. Undress. While sitting on the sheet, cover yourself with the fresh seaweed or the seaweed paste, whichever you are using, then wrap yourself in the plastic sheet and blanket. Relax like this for twenty minutes. After your twenty minutes are up, unwrap yourself slowly. Toss the blanket and sheet out of the tub and fill the tub with warm water. Relax in the tub water for ten minutes, then pat dry and moisturize. Kelp is the most popular type of seaweed used in cosmetics and for healing purposes. Seaweed wraps are an easy and fast way to replenish the body with nutrients and minerals that are lost on a daily basis such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, iodine, copper, amino acids, vitamins, protein and phosphorus. Since seawater has the same basic molecular formation as the human blood cell, nutrients from the seawater are able to easily filter through the skin pores and be absorbed directly into the blood stream.

*REJUVENATING WRAP*

1 cup fresh, chopped lemongrass OR 1/2 cup dried 3" piece of ginger root, grated or minced large pot of boiling water - spaghetti or lobster pot size 1 cotton sheet cut into 3" wide strips 1 plastic sheet 1 or 2 blankets Put the lemongrass and the ginger into a pot of water and bring it to a boil. Cover and let simmer for five minutes, then remove from heat and allow to sit for an additional five minutes. Take a strainer and scoop out as much of the plant material as you can, and throw it away. Place the strips in the infused hot water and allow to steep for five minutes. When the time is up, draw out the strips one at a time and wring out the excess water. Start at your legs and snugly wrap the strips around your body. After the legs, do the arms, then finish with your torso. Tuck strip ends into the strip in another spot to help make the fit snug and secure. After you have applied all the strips, wrap yourself in the plastic sheet then cover yourself with the blanket or blankets. Relax in bed or on a lounge chair for fifteen minutes, then remove the strips and shower in warm water, pat dry and moisturize. This wrap makes a great morning treatment, as the lemongrass has tonic, antiseptic and invigorating properties, while the ginger is cleansing and stimulating. Ginger has been found to rid the body of respiratory ailments, colds and flu type symptoms, while lemongrass is a known mood elevator and rejuvenator.

*RELAXATION WRAP*

1 cup fresh chamomile, chopped OR 1/2 cup dried 1 cup valerian root, grated OR 1/2 cup dried 1 cup lavender, crushed OR 1/2 cup dried 1 cotton sheet cut into 3" wide strips 1 large pot of boiling water (spaghetti or lobster pot) 1 plastic sheet 1 or 2 blankets Place all the herbs in the pot, fill with water and bring to a boil. Then cover and simmer for five minutes, remove from the heat and allow to stand for another five minutes, then remove as much of the solids as you can with a strainer, tossing them out and retaining the infused water. Put the sheet strips in the water and allow to steep for five minuets. Remove the strips one at a time and wring out the excess water before you begin to wrap them around your legs. Continue removing a strip at a time, and wrapping until you are completely wrapped. Do legs, then arms, then torso. Tuck the strip ends into the strip at another point so that it holds snugly. Once wrapped, lay on the plastic sheet and roll yourself up in it, then relax on your bed or in a lounge chair, and cover yourself with a blanket or two for ten minutes. When your time is up, remove the strips and simply hit the bed. Valerian has been used since Roman times as a mild sedative, sleep aide and reliever. Chamomile has calming and anti-spasmodic effects, while lavender has relaxing, soothing, and restorative properties. The use of all three of these combined makes this the perfect wrap to prepare you for bed after a long, stressful day. Do not shower for several hours after this wrap so that you can preserve and prolong the effects of the heat treatment.