Bath and Body Gift Ideas and Recipes

It’s that time of year again, when we all start brainstorming for ideas for gifts. I know I rarely have enough to buy gifts for everyone, so I have to make a lot of gifts. Besides, a homemade gift is always a nice touch, even if it is in addition to a store-bought gift. And there are plenty of nice, easy gifts you can make to spread the joy of caring for your body naturally to those you care about. I will share here a few of my favorites for gift-giving times, many of which I will be giving myself this year. And of course, don’t forget the ‘simple’ things like lotions and massage/body oils scented specifically for the person with essential oils they like, making a nice big batch of your favorite tea blend (mine is mint/chamomile) to put in a pretty jar, and so on. All of these recipes are wonderful to make just for yourself, as well!

And remember, presentation is almost as important as the gift itself... if it’s in a jar, add some nice lace or piece of cloth under the ‘o’ ring, over the lid itself. Use nice ribbons. If it’s in a bag, get those nice little inexpensive ‘wedding happy’ bags from the Wal-Mart craft section. Colored cellophane adds a lovely touch without being any more expensive than plain clear, usually. Be creative!


Cherry-Almond Hair Shine Mist

2 cups warm water
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon cherry extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix well and put into a spray bottle. Smells lovely, and works especially well on light hair (lemon is a natural hair lightener). May want to keep refrigerated when not in use.


Apple-Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

This rinse smells heavenly and is wonderful for your hair, especially weak, dry and/or damaged hair.

16 oz container (I used an old witchazel plastic bottle)
4 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
5 drops Lavender essential oil
5 drops Rose essential oil
5 drops Sandalwood essential oil
3 drops Rosemary essential oil

Combine all ingredients in container and top off with water. Cap bottle and shake thoroughly to mix.

You may wish to include a tag with the following information:

Apply liberally after normal washing routine, let sit for about 3-5 minutes, then rinse.

The key to not getting a 'slimy' or 'sticky' feeling to your hair (it looks perfectly clean, but feels odd to the touch) is to use water as cool as you can take to rinse with, and rinse it WELL.


Bath Bombs

1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 cup citric or ascorbic acid
1/8 cup Epson salt
1/2 cup olive oil
10 to 20 drops essential oil

Add up to 1/2 cup olive oil, mixing well, until the mixture is the consistency of pastry dough. Add a 10 to 20 drops essential oil of choice. Form into balls approximately the size of golf balls, and store in cellophane wrapper. Store in a separate container for each scent you make.

Bath Cookies

2 cups finely ground sea salt
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoon light oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
2 eggs
25 drops of fragrance oil of your choice

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients well. Roll dough into balls of about 1 teaspoon and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake the cookies for about 7 minutes until they are lightly golden (do not over bake).

Allow cookies to cool completely before wrapping in cellophane.

To use: Drop 1 or 2 cookies into a warm bath and allow to dissolve. DO NOT crumble or smash, as this will just make crumbs in your bath. Let them dissolve slowly on their own.



Candycane Bath Salts Jar

These make lovely Christmas gifts! (You can, of course, reduce the amounts here to make less.)

16 cups Epsom Salts, divided in half
6 cups sea salt or Kosher salt, divided in half
1/2 teaspoon glycerin, divided in half
12 to 15 drops peppermint essential oil
12 to 15 drops red food color

Put 8 cups Epsom Salts into large bowl. Add and combine 3 cups sea salt. Mix in 1/4 teaspoon glycerin and 6 to 8 drops essential oil.

In second large bowl, put remaining Epsom Salts, and sea salt. Stir well. Add remaining glycerin, 6 to 8 drops essential oil, and food color. Stir until color is approximately even.

It is best to use clear jars for this, such as canning jars. Hold the containers at an angle, and alternate layering in white and colored salts.

This recipe makes 12 12-ounce gift jars, plus a bit extra.


Easy Bath Bags

Muslin
Ribbon
(in place of muslin and ribbons, you can also use the chiffon wedding gift bags from Wal-Mart, or home-fill teabags)
Dried herbs
Finely ground oatmeal

Cut a 6" diameter circle from muslin, place the herbs in the center and add
the oatmeal as a skin softener. Gather the muslin into a bundle and tie with
ribbon. Add the bag to the running water as you draw your bath.


Fizzing Bath Salts

These are wonderful to add a little fizz to your own bath, or to give away as gifts in pretty containers!

1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid or ascorbic acid
1/4 cup cornstarch
Essential oil in desired fragrance
Food coloring

Add together and mix well all dry ingredients. Add the oil and mix until smooth. Color with a single drop at a time until you get the color you want.
Sprinkle the bath salts over hot bathwater just before you enter the tub.


Layered Bath Salts Jar

1-cup of baking soda
1-cup sea salts
1 cup Epsom salts
About 10 drops essential oils
And a few drops of food coloring

To get the food coloring evenly distributed, put the baking soda, sea salts, essential oils, and food coloring into a blender.

Then layer this mixture with the Epsom salts-- this looks just lovely because the Epsom salts are crystal-like and the other salts are colored and powdery.


Milkbath

1 cup full-fat powdered milk
2 tablespoons almond meal
2 tablespoons barley or oat flour
A few drops of rose (or other) essential oil

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, then store the bath mix in a glass jar at room temperature.

To use: add two tablespoons to a tub of water.


Sugar Scrub

4 parts brown sugar
4 parts white sugar
1 part some sea salt if you want it extra scrubby
2 parts honey
olive oil to desired consistency
essential oils as desired

Mix ingredients well to desired consistency. Keep in fridge to prevent spoiling.


Rose Cologne

(this can be used for any other herb or flower; simply substitute desired ‘plant matter’ (lavender flowers, sandalwood chips/shavings, etc.) for the rose petals)

2 C. distilled water
1/2 C. vodka
10 drops rose essential oil
1 C. fresh rose petals

Measure water and vodka into a clean mason jar. Add rose petals, making sure they get completely wet. Add the rose oil and mix well.
Cover and leave in a cool, dark place for at least one week for the oils to evenly distribute. Strain mixture and pour into a decorative container, such as a perfume bottle.





You can find many of the herbs and essential oils mentioned in this article here:

Mountain Rose Herbs
A leading organic supplier since 1987
of bulk organic herbs and spices, essential oils and herbal teas.
Wonderful herbs at fabulous prices... well worth a look!




A few books with wonderful gift ideas, for body care and more!

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy for golddragonherbal.blogspot.com/

If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at nirantae@aol.com.

At golddragonherbal.blogspot.com/, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by golddragonherbal.blogspot.com/ and how it is used.

Log Files
Like many other Web sites, golddragonherbal.blogspot.com/ makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.

Cookies and Web Beacons
golddragonherbal.blogspot.com/ does use cookies to store information about visitors preferences, record user-specific information on which pages the user access or visit, customize Web page content based on visitors browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser.

DoubleClick DART Cookie
.:: Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on golddragonherbal.blogspot.com/.
.:: Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to users based on their visit to golddragonherbal.blogspot.com/ and other sites on the Internet.
.:: Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL - http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html

Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include ....
Google Adsense
Amazon


These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the advertisements and links that appear on golddragonherbal.blogspot.com/ send directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies ( such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons ) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and / or to personalize the advertising content that you see.

golddragonherbal.blogspot.com/ has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.

You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. golddragonherbal.blogspot.com/'s privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites.

If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites.

Healing Teas

Teas are always a wonderful way of taking care of one’s self; this is especially true in the cold and dreary months of the winter. I have spent many a happy winter evening curled up by the fire with a book and a cup of tea. But there is so much more than that simple soothing that teas are good for.

Sleeplessness: One of the best uses for a good cup of tea is to help with sleeplessness. Obviously, ‘real’ tea wouldn’t help with this, because it contains caffeine, but there are many herbal blends that are ideal for this.

My personal favorite blend for this is Chamomile and Peppermint; in this case, a bit more Chamomile than Peppermint. Just put the two herbs (about a teaspoon of each) into a mug of hot water, let steep for about 5 minutes, strain, and add honey to taste.

My other favorite for sleeplessness, although not strictly a tea, is milk warmed up to not-quite-boiling, then add about two tablespoons of honey (or to taste).

Some other herbs used for this are Lemon Balm, Valerian, Passionflower, Rooibos Tea, Linden Flowers, Dandelion, Skullcap, Mullein, Tarragon, Anise, and Poppy.


Colds/Flu: Teas are age-old remedies for colds and flu-like symptoms, because they are soothing as well as delivering what you need to help kick them, and medicinal value.

The Chamomile-Peppermint blend is quite good for this as well, in equal portions (also quite good if vomiting is involved, as both have anti-nausea properties).

My other favorite tea for colds contains Coltsfoot, Mullein, Hyssop, Rosehips, Mint, Anise, and Fenugreek; you will have to play around to find the right proportions for you. You should always sweeten a cold tea with honey, as it has healing properties of its own.

Some other herbs that are good for these sorts of symptoms are Anise, Cayenne, Calendula, Chamomile, Echinacea, Elderberry, Eucalyptus, Feverfew, Ginger, Green Tea, Honeysuckle, Horehound, Lavender, Lemon, Licorice, Marjoram, Poppy, Radish, Red Clover, Red Raspberry, Rosemary, Sage, Slippery Elm Bark, St, John’s Wort, Tarragon, Thyme, Watercress, Willow and Yarrow.

Borage, Calendula, Cayenne, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Radish, and Tansy are good fever reducers.

Cayenne, Echinacea, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Garlic, Goldenseal, Hyssop, Licorice, Sage, Savory (Summer) are all particularly good for a sore throat.


Menstruation: That ever-unpleasant thing that nearly all women have to deal with on a monthly basis. Teas and herbs can do quite a lot to help us through those unpleasant times.

For cramps, Chamomile, Corn Silk, Feverfew, Honeysuckle flowers, Melissa, Mint, Motherwort, Raspberry Leaf, St. John's Wort, and Tarragon are effective.

To help regulate, Agrimony, Cinnamon, Evening Primrose, Lemon Balm, Morinda, St. John's Wort, Thyme, and Uva Ursi are all helpful.

And of course, the big one... PMS. Alfalfa, Damiana, Licorice, Red Raspberry, Uva Ursi, Evening Primrose, Peppermint, Skullcap and Valerian are all helpful with this.


Headaches: Teas can be quite effective in helping to battle headaches from a variety of causes.

One recommended blend consists of Lemon Balm, Feverfew, Peppermint, Rosemary, and Cinnamon, in proportions fit to your tastes.

Basil, Catnip, Chamomile, Evening Primrose, Feverfew, Lavender, Marjoram, Oregano, Peppermint, Poppy, Rhubarb Root, Rosemary, Scented Geranium, Thyme, Valerian, and Wood Betony are good for general headaches.

For migraines, Bay Leaves, Chamomile, Feverfew, Ginger, Lavender, Tansy, Valerian, and Willow are all particularly helpful.






***The following herbs should never be taken by pregnant women, or women who are trying to become pregnant, because they can cause spontaneous abortion or miscarriage.***
Hyssop
Angelica
Elecampane
Juniper
Sage








Mountain Rose Herbs
A leading organic supplier since 1987
of bulk organic herbs and spices, essential oils and herbal teas.
Wonderful herbs at fabulous prices... well worth a look!

Book Review - The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

This book, written by Valerie Ann Worwood, is truly a 'complete' guide to almost anything you'd want to know about essential oils and aromatherapy. As someone who works with such things on a pretty much daily basis, this book is my cornerstone of information. Any time I need information on usage or recommended oils, this is the first place I look, as it has everything, from Essential Oil First Aid, to Cooking with Essential Oils; and, of course, your basics, such as perfumery and massage.

It is written in a very clear, concise way that is both easy to use and to understand. It is written as a series of entries/articles, each about a very specific topic. Each of them are about a third of a page or less, yet still very informative and thorough, covering all the basics you need to know, and much beyond-the-basics information as well. This is one of the reasons that it manages to be so concise; each article is completely independent of the next, grouped together by a general subject into chapters.

The index is probably one of the best features of this book; it is very complete and thorough, as is most of the book, and you can use the book for many years without having to look anywhere but the index to find the information you need.

Another aspect that is highly useful is the charts in the appendices. They are quite informative, and can help clear up confusion about ‘which oil is which’, since there may be multiple names for a single oil.

In addition to what this book obviously has - in-depth information on essential oils and other aspects of aromatherapy - it also has to its advantage a vast amount of ‘other’ wholistic information, such as dietary suggestions and environmental recommendations.

One of the few downsides to this book, for those of us in the US, is it was written in the UK, and they use different terminology for many things, so finding the information you need can be tricky at times.

All in all, this book is definitely a must-have for anyone interested in essential oils or aromatherapy.

Table of Contents:
Introduction - The Fragrant Pharmacy
Chapter 1 - Medicines Out of the Earth
Chapter 2 - Your Basic Care Kit
Chapter 3 - Your Basic Travel Kit
Chapter 4 - Occupational Oils for the Working Man and Woman
Chapter 5 - Assertive Oils for Sports, Dance, and Workouts
Chapter 6 - The Fragrant Way to Beauty
Chapter 7 - The Body Beautiful
Chapter 8 - Essential Care for Your Hair
Chapter 9 - The Gentle Touch for Babies and Children
Chapter 10 - A Woman’s Natural Choice
Chapter 11 - The Natural Choice for Men
Chapter 12 - Essential Help in the Maturing Years
Chapter 13 - Fragrant Care for Your Home
Chapter 14 - The Stillroom
Chapter 15 - Sweet-Scented Celebrations
Chapter 16 - Cooking With Essential Oils
Chapter 17 - Natural Health for Domestic Animals
Chapter 18 - Gardens for the Future

Appendix 1 - The Essential Oil Charts

Appendix 2 - Aromassage

Appendix 3 - Addresses and Bibliography

Index









Buy it now on Amazon.com!

The Wonderful Properties of Peppermint

Mints of all kinds have long been recognized as highly useful and versatile herbs, the most popular of course being Peppermint and Spearmint. This makes the mints a very good choice for any herb garden or cabinet.

Perhaps the use that mints, especially Peppermint, are best known for, is help against stomach complaints. Peppermint is nearly unrivaled when it comes to all manner of stomach problems, especially nausea. A mug of mint tea, or cool water with a single drop of Peppermint essential oil can do wonders to sooth a nauseous stomach. This goes likewise for similar complaints, such as indigestion, motion sickness, heartburn, and sour stomach. This may even include food poisoning, as there is evidence it can inhibit Salmonella bacteria. It is also extremely useful for women suffering from morning sickness.

The other major use that the mints are known for is for stress and tension, including the headaches that result from it. Again, both tea and essential oil are useful; at least one study found that Peppermint oil, applied directly to the forehead and temples, was as effective against a headache as two 500-mg Tylenol tablets, and is also very useful against stress. You can even make a cooling compress of the leaves and apply to the forehead or neck to further sooth a headache or calm the nerves.

The mints are also very uplifting in a general sense, and so tend to be very helpful for all manner of mood-related problems, such as depression and some varieties of insomnia. In fact, it is often recommended for insomnia - my own personal choice is in a tea in combination with Chamomile. Its uplifting and soothing qualities also bring much help against every woman's bane - PMS.

Colds, flu, chest congestion, and asthma are all also helped by this herb. Inhalation, external application, and internal methods are all helpful for these.

Other things it may be helpful for: bronchitis, colic, exhaustion, fever, flatulence, insect and pest repellent, muscle and joint pain, scabies, sinusitis, sore and tired feet, toothaches, and vertigo.






Mountain Rose Herbs
A leading organic supplier since 1987
of bulk organic herbs and spices, essential oils and herbal teas.
Wonderful herbs, like Peppermint, at fabulous prices... well worth a look!



Buy these related books now on Amazon.com!

Preserving Your Fresh Herbs

Most of us know that it is far better to use herbs that are freshly picked whenever possible; there is no better way to get the full flavor and impact that they can offer. However, this is all too rarely a possibility. Thus, we must find the most effective ways of preserving our lovely fresh herbs, for use when they are no longer available. Not every method will necessarily be completely appropriate for every herb; Parsley, for instance, loses much of its crisp flavor when dried. Play around with various preserving methods, and find the ones that work best for you and for the particular herb you are preserving.


Drying- This is perhaps the most universally used method of preserving herbs. Nearly any herb can be effectively dried (though some may require different methods of drying), and dried herbs can be used for nearly any herbal application. This method works best for such herbs as sage, savory, rosemary, thyme, mint, lavender and oregano. Keep in mind, however, that the longer the drying process takes, the more flavor your herbs will lose. Some of the more popular ways of drying herbs are to lay them out on a drying rack; tie them upside down in bundles; placed in a paper bag, which you need to 'toss' the contents of periodically; in a dehydrator; in an oven on the very lowest setting or in the microwave (in one minute bursts until dry; the oven and microwave are the most effective methods if you live in a very damp or humid environment).

Herbs preserved by drying will last up to around a year; once their scent is gone, so is the majority of their flavor. Be sure to keep in airtight containers, preferably of dark glass or opaque material.

Freezing- Like drying, freezing herbs is highly effective both in the number of herbs that can be stored this way, and in the number of applications available for the frozen herbs; and has an advantage over drying in that most herbs will not lose their potency when stored this way. This method works best for such herbs as basil, cilantro, dill, parsley and tarragon. Most sources recommend lightly blanching the herbs, dipping them in ice water, and then laying on a cookie sheet to freeze. Another alternative is to roll them up in a paper towel and place in a ziploc bag, removing as much air as possible, and placing the whole bag in the freezer.

One rather novel approach to freezing herbs is to finely chop or blend them with a bit of water, and place them in an ice cube tray (make sure to add enough water to make a 'solid' cube once it freezes). This provides several advantages; one, the herbs themselves are not 'exposed' in the freezer, and thus will not suffer 'freezer burn'; and two, you can use cubes of various sizes, to provide yourself with custom-sized 'doses', without having to disturb any more than you need. Keep in mind, however, that some recipes will not take kindly to the extra water of this method; however, if chopped instead of blended, you can thaw, drain, and allow them to dry off before using them.

Herbs frozen quickly and kept in the freezer will last up to two years; perhaps more, in the ice-cube method.

Oil or Vinegar Infusions/Salts/Sugars- These methods are a bit limited in their application after preserving, but they can be highly effective where they can be used.

To infuse vinegar or an oil with your herbs, place them in an airtight container and cover completely with either oil or vinegar. Some sources claim it helps to gently heat the oil first. Allow them to sit at room temperature for a very minimum of two weeks, and shake them up every day or two. You can either strain when they have achieved the strength of infusion you want (this can take anywhere from 2-3 weeks for vinegar, or as much as 6 months for an oil), or you can simply leave the herbs in them. Olive oil infused with Rosemary is perhaps the most popular such infusion. Keep in the refrigerator to be on the safe side. You can also make a sort of infusion by adding finely chopped herbs to room-temperature butter, about 1 part herb to 4 parts butter. You may want to add in ¼ part lemon juice, as well. Store in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container (or formed in molds or into logs and then well-wrapped).

To make herb salt or herb sugar, partially dry the herbs you wish to use (until they have 'released' their own water; this is a very obvious point if you use the microwave to dry them). Then, layer the leaves (or flowers) with enough of either sugar or salt to cover them. Store in an airtight container for a minimum of two weeks before using.







Buy these helpful related books now on Amazon.com!

Daily Face Care

For many people, the face is a problematic area, and very sensitive. It isn't difficult, luckily, to care for your face in such a way that it will give you a minimum of trouble.

You should clean the face each night before bed. Be sure you remove all makeup. Never use a commercial cleansing bar on your face if at all possible. Most of them are too harsh and will make your skin produce more oil. Many also have additives in them which can block your pores or cause irritation. Natural soaps and cleansing gels are usually gentle enough for use on the face; and there are many gentle products with this specific use in mind. Some people may benefit from using a gentle exfoliant periodically, but be careful not to overdo it on the face, as that skin can become irritated easily. Also, never use hot water on the face, and never rub harshly when drying it.

Unless you have dry skin, an astringent toner is quite useful after washing the face. It helps to close the pores and decrease the amount of oil secreted. Many products are available for this as well; if your budget is extremely tight, a formula of 1 ounce witch hazel and 1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar with 3-5 drops of essential oil appropriate for your skin type will work in a pinch. Some of the best to choose from are Geranium, Palma Rosa, Rose and Lavender for normal skin; Juniper, Geranium, Lemon, and Rosemary for oily skin; or Chamomile, Palma Rosa, Carrot and Rose for acne-prone skin. You only need to apply this toner to the problem or oily parts of the face, usually the nose area and chin, and sometimes the cheeks and forehead.

Every skin type can benefit from a moisturizer of one type or another. This may seem counter-productive; the important thing, though, is the type of moisturizer. Your skin produces both 'good' and 'bad' types of oil. The 'good' oils protect the skin from damage, while the 'bad' oils clog pores and cause problems. They key to a good moisturizer is finding one that will give your skin the level of protection it needs without increasing the problems it may have. This means a very light oil, like Hazelnut, Grapeseed, and Apricot Kernel, are good for oily skin; whereas thicker oils like Avocado, Olive and Wheatgerm are better for dry skin. Some oils, like Almond, Jojoba, and Evening Primrose, are close enough to your skin's 'good oils' that they are good for just about any skin type.

To make a lovely scented moisturizer, just add a few drops of essential oil of your choice (I have already discussed a few geared for the specific skin types) to one - or a blend - of the oils appropriate for your skin type. You don't need to use very much; just enough to make a protective barrier for your skin. Apply it and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then blot off any excess - although those with very dry skin may find there isn't any excess to remove!






Buy these related items now on Amazon.com!



Offering a wide range of natural, handmade herbal and aromatherapy products
for health, beauty, and of course simple enjoyment!
Includes a line of oils and toners for both oily and dry skin!

A Short History of Medicine

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

"Doctor, I have an ear ache."



2000 B.C. - "Here, eat this root."

1000 B.C. - "That root is heathen, say this prayer."

1850 A.D. - "That prayer is superstition, drink this potion."

1940 A.D. - "That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill."

1985 A.D. - "That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic."

2004 A.D. - "That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root!"

Herbal Supplements Quick-Reference Guide

It seems that the use of herbal supplements is becoming more and more popular with every passing day. The range of issues you can effectively treat with them is very wide, and usually with a much lower impact on the rest of your body than chemical, manufactured treatments. Of course, as with any sort of medicine, you should consult with a qualified professional, but this article will serve as a quick-reference list for some of the most common herbal supplements, and what they are used for.


Black Cohosh - another very common herb, Black Cohosh is primarily used for menstrual-cycle issues, such and painful menstruation and estrogen replacement therapy at menopause, as it has an effect which is similar to estrogen.

Cayenne - not as widely known as an herbal supplement, but certainly widely used as a spice, Cayenne pepper has been reported to help with a variety of problems, most notably most digestive issues, and circulatory issues.

Chamomile - perhaps one of the most widely used of all herbal treatments, Chamomile is used primarily as a relaxing tea, to help with pain and fatigue and help lull the user into sleep. However, it is also anti-inflammatory, can help increase the rate of healing, and can help reduce swelling.

Cranberry - a fairly widely used remedy for bladder and urinary tract infections.

Echinacea - an incredibly widely-used supplement, most often taken to treat the common cold and the flu, and many symptoms associated with them, such as cough, sore throat, and fevers. However, it is also a good general immune-system booster.

Evening Primrose - fairly commonly used oil-supplement most often taken to treat arthritis, eczema, PMS, cardiovascular problems, and even hyperactivity in children.

Feverfew - an herbal supplement most often used as a pain-reliever, especially for migraine headaches and menstrual cramps. Also used for the treatment of colds, asthma, psoriasis and eczema, toothaches, and muscle pain.

Garlic - widely used as both spice and supplement, Garlic has a wide range of benefits. It is most often used for cardiovascular issues like high cholesterol and arteriosclerosis, but also as a powerful immune system booster, to reduce blood sugar levels, and to help relieve menstrual pain.

Ginger - a lesser-known as an herbal supplement, but highly useful; it is wonderful for combating nausea, especially morning sickness. It is also an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic, as well as reportedly being good to combat motion sickness(some studies say it even works better than Dramamine for this). Those taking it to combat morning sickness, however, should be cautious, as some sources list is as a possible abortifacient if taken in very large quantities.

Gingko Biloba - widely used and most commonly known as a supplement to improve memory. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and increases metabolism efficiency.

Ginseng - widely used as an anti-stress treatment, as well as a stamina and energy booster. It also has anti-inflammatory and possible aphrodisiac qualities.

Goldenseal - popular for its immune-system boosting and antiseptic qualities, this supplement is also often used to treat colds or flu. It can also be used to treat irregular menstruation, diarrhea and other digestive issues, and poor circulation. It is also popular for supposedly obscuring illegal drugs in urine tests, but this usage is questionable at best in its efficacy.

Grape Seed - a lesser-known supplement right now, but it is swiftly gaining popularity. It has been reported to help with a wide variety of skin conditions, arthritis, some allergies, and varicose veins; as well as having anti-inflammatory and potentially anticancer properties.

Green Tea - widely used, this herb is most useful to combat fatigue, lower cholesterol and generally improve cardiovascular health, and help in weight loss. It may also help prevent tooth and gum decay, and there is some evidence that it may help against certain forms of cancer.

Hawthorn - this supplement is useful in treating nearly any heart or cardiovascular ailment, as well as helping against insomnia, miscarriages, and to strengthen muscles.

Kava - also known as KavaKava. Most often used to treat anxiety, stress and nervous tension.

Licorice - a popular herb that is gaining popularity as a health supplement, it is most often used to treat coughs and other throat complaints, and digestive issues.

Milk Thistle - often used to help protect the liver, and stimulate regeneration from liver damage.

St. John's Wort - a common supplement used to treat depression and anxiety. Also useful for upset stomach and insomnia.

Uva Ursi - also gaining popularity for help in treating bladder and urinary tract infections.

Valerian - very popular to help aid in sleeping; also useful to alleviate muscle spasms.







Buy these related items now on Amazon.com!



Mountain Rose Herbs
A leading organic supplier since 1987
of bulk organic herbs and spices, essential oils and herbal teas.
Wonderful herbs at fabulous prices... well worth a look!

Lavender: Nature's Heal-All

By nearly any estimation, Lavender is a plant with amazing and versatile uses. It has been popular for treating a wide array of problems for as long as such things have been recorded in its native Mediterranean/Western European areas. I would be very hard-pressed to include every conceivable use for this highly adaptable plant, but I will try to cover at least the most important.

Perhaps the most recognized use of Lavender is in help to pleasantly lull people to sleep. It has been used for this (as well as to aid relaxation and calmness) in hospitals in Britain for many years. In the Victorian era, it was not unusual to find those with the means to do so to have pillows stuffed with lavender flowers. Just a drop or two of Lavender essential oil on a pillow, or a few in a bath just before bed, can prove very helpful for those with issues calming enough to sleep. Its gentle calming properties also make it ideal for treating anxiety, panic attacks, and similar issues.

It is also highly effective for various kinds of pain, most notably almost any kind of headache. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that can be used ‘neat’ - applied directly to the skin without dilution. You can apply a drop to each temple to vastly improve a headache, or mix it in a 2 to 1 ratio with peppermint (peppermint being the lesser end of the ratio) and dilute it a bit in a carrier oil for a similar effect, applied again to the temples. This mixture is most effective for migraines. Lavender can also be diluted in a carrier oil, lotion, or balm, and rubbed on most sore areas, including strains, sprains, bruises, and various skin irritations. It can also be used neat on burns to reduce pain and help prevent blistering (from my personal experience, it will sting slightly when first applied to a fresh burn, but it won’t last long, and the burn will stop hurting much faster than any other method I have found.) It can also be effective for treating minor wounds, as it has antiseptic qualities and helps to speed healing.

Lavender essential oil is one of the few that is safe for (very limited) internal use; the herb, both fresh and dried, is as well. 1-4 drops on a sugar cube or a tablespoon of milk can be helpful for a number of things, including faintness, anxiety (particularly palpitations and the like), low appetite, dreary spirits, and flatulence. It is also helpful for a sore throat.

Because of Lavender’s antiviral and antiseptic qualities, in addition to its lovely fresh scent, one of my own favorite uses for it is as a room spray. You can either add a few drops to a spray bottle of water (which must be shaken well before each use) or simply get Lavender water. It makes your rooms smell better, and also helps in preventing the spread of illnesses, like colds and flu.


It can be used as an Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antiseptic, Diuretic, Insecticide, and Sedative. It can also be used for acne, allergies, anxiety, asthma, athlete's foot, bronchitis, bruises, burns, chicken pox, circulatory issues, colds, colic, cuts, dandruff, depression, dermatitis, earache, eczema, headache, hypertension, insect bites, insect repellent, insomnia, irritability, itching, labor pains, mental fatigue, migraine, muscular aches, oily skin, panic attacks, PMS symptoms, psoriasis, rheumatism, scars, sinusitis, sores, sprains, strains, stress, stretch marks, sunburn, tension, vertigo, whooping cough, and many more.

In perfumery, it can be used as either a Top or Middle note.

In all, if one were to have only one herb or essential oil at their disposal, Lavender would be my recommendation.






Buy it now on Amazon.com!

---

Mountain Rose Herbs
A leading organic supplier since 1987
of bulk organic herbs and spices, essential oils and herbal teas.
Wonderful herbs at fabulous prices... well worth a look!
Be sure to see their Bulk Lavender Flowers!

Greetings!

Greetings to you all out there on the 'net!

This blog will include information about Gold Dragon Herbal, a small business providing handcrafted herbal and aromatherapy products for your bath, body and home; as well as such articles and information we feel might be useful to our friends and customers.

I hope that we can help you, now and in the future!