Using Herbs To Control Skin Outbreaks

31. May 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: Health, Herbalism, Mommy Care, Remedies · Tags: , ,

Today’s guest post will help you learn to use herbs to control skin outbreaks – Just love that acne mask recipe! Enjoy!

Chamomile Flowers for Healthy Skin

For millennia, women and men have been using herbs to support the heath of their skin. As modern people become more and more wary of synthetic skin products, they’ve rediscovered some of the herbs that used to keep their ancestors skin fresh, blemishless and healthy. See wrinklecreams.com for more information.

The Good and Bad News About Oily Skin 

Skin outbreaks can happen to anyone, but they seem to be the bane of people with oily complexions, or at least young people with oily complexions. For people with oily skin have skin that holds in moisture, so they tend to have fewer wrinkles as they age.

Since oil does have the benefit of keeping the skin lubricated, nothing should be taken that shuts down oil production all together. Some herbs can stop the overproduction of oil that leads to skin outbreaks like acne. Some of these herbs include basil, eucalyptus, lemon grass, yarrow and the fruit and leaves of strawberries.

Cleaning Away Excess Oil 

A person with oily skin should wash their face at least twice a day with a neutral cleanser. Cotton pads dampened with witch hazel will also help wipe away excess oil. They can also steam their face once a week to unclog the pores and further get rid of excess oil. Alcohol should be used sparingly, as it dries out the skin so much that the skin reacts by producing even more oil than it did before.

One facial steam for oily complexions uses a mix of herbs: 

1 rounded teaspoon each of chamomile flowers, lemon grass leaves, lavender flowers and rosemary leaves. Simmer water, add the herbs, remove from the heat and steep for five minutes. A mask for an oily complexion can be this one:

1 tbs. witch hazel

1 tsp. bentonite clay

1 strawberry, mashed

2 drops each of lemon and cypress essential oils

Mix the ingredients and apply to the face. Leave on for about five to 10 minutes, then rinse.

A mask for acne can be: 

1 tsp. bentonite clay

1 tsp. ground strawberry leaves

1 drop chamomile, sage or rosemary essential oil

1 drop of tea tree essential oil

Water

Mix these ingredients into a paste with the water. Apply to the face in a thin layer and take care to avoid the eyes. Leave on for as long as it’s comfortable, then rinse.

Herbs and their essential oils can make a great difference when it comes to skin care and they’re much less expensive to buy than the batteries of skin care products found on the drugstore shelves!

How to Boost Your Immune System Naturally

07. February 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: Cold and Flu, Health, Herbalism, Remedies · Tags: , , , , ,

If you’ve been wondering how to go about boosting your immune system as naturally as possible, it’s time to take a closer look at herbs. We’re all concerned about the misuse of antibiotics and what that could mean during a real crisis, and it doesn’t look like any new antibiotics will be coming to our rescue any time soon. According to Bill Bryson, author of A Short History of Nearly Everything, “Although a few antibiotics have been toughened up a bit, the pharmaceutical industry hasn’t given us an entirely new antibiotic since the 1970′s.”  But we’re not about getting fearful around here. No, we’re not. We’re about taking charge, gathering some simple knowledge, and going forth with self reliance. With a little help from our botanical friends.

First stop on the herbal train is – you guessed it – echinacea. This is not only the easiest to get in commerce, it’s one of the safest. You can take echinacea tincture for months on end without side effects, and it won’t wear out on you. Echinacea assists the body in building up its own defenses. In other words, it’s like a drill sergeant. He doesn’t fight for them – he teaches them to fight for themselves.

The next herb we’ll look at is balsam root. Similar to echinacea in the way it works, balsam root is an especially good choice for those of us who tend to be immuno-deficient. You know, someone who seems to catch everything that comes around. If you’re one of those and you often feel cold and clammy, balsam root is your herb. It’s got a way of warming you up while it stimulates the immune system. A good combination, if you ask me!

For either of these herbs, I’d recommend going with a tincture. You’ll get a lot more out of the plants that way. If you can’t find tincture, tea is your next best bet. While you may be missing some constituents, as long as the tea is fresh, you’ll still be reaping many benefits. And while we’re talking tea, getting bulk herb is often better quality and much cheaper than getting tea bags.

Don’t forget to eat healthy foods to boost that immune system, either. Yes, dark green leafy veggies are ideal. Don’t feel like munching on a pound of raw kale? Green smoothies make it much easier to get plenty of vegetables in your diet.

Taking these ideas into consideration, you can make it through the rest of the winter “grunge” season with fewer concerns. And fewer antibiotics. For more ideas on how to boost your immune system naturally, as well as helpful info on fighting colds and flu with herbs, subscribe to this blog or check out my ebook Herbs Gone Wild!

How to Use Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) for Soft, Shiny Hair

19. January 2012 · 3 comments · Categories: Health, Herbalism, Herbs and Their Uses, No 'Poo · Tags: , , ,

I’m a sucker for a good hair rinse, and lately I’ve been experimenting with how to use horsetail -or shavegrasss – (Equisetum arvense) for softer, shinier hair. Horsetail is full of silica, which gives your hair a lustrous, flax-like sheen and softness, not to mention strength. In fact, silica has such a penchant for strengthening that many chicken feed mixtures include a form of silica so the chickens lay eggs with stronger shells. So if you have weak hair, hair loss, or split ends, horsetail is for you. Its antifungal properties make it fantastic for many scalp issues, as well.

So, how the heck do you  use it? If you’re purchasing it commercially, go with the organic stuff. Horsetail likes to grow near water on wet sand, and if the herb is harvested near contaminated water, it’s not something you want to be using. I recently purchased a batch from Frontier Co-op, and I’m quite pleased with it. Prepare a decoction by boiling a tablespoon of the herb in a cup of water for 15 – 20 minutes. (A simple tea-like infusion isn’t enough for it.)  Allow it to cool, then strain it.  When you’re done washing your hair, pour the decoction over your head and allow it to stay on up to 15 minutes before rinsing it back out. Try this once or twice a week, and see how horsetail works for giving you strong and shiny hair.

Avoiding Cold and Flu in Time for Back to School!

19. August 2011 · 3 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , , ,

Want to avoid cold and flu in time for the back-to-school season? Following is a special excerpt from my new eBook “Herbs Gone Wild! Ancient Remedies Turned Loose” (now only 99¢!) in which I share a few immunostimulants, herbs that help build up the immune system.  It’s the perfect time to start so the cold and flu season doesn’t catch you or your kids unprepared.

Immunostimulants

Whether you’re building up your kids’ constitution to avoid catching viruses at school, or you’re sick and tired of getting sick and tired from your coworkers’ colds, having a good immunostimulant or two as part of your herbal medicine chest is a fantastic idea. These herbs will help you to beef up your defenses so it’s tougher for those viruses to set up camp.

I can’t go without mentioning echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia or purpurea) right from the get-go. Echinacea can be taken before your kids even head back to school — say about a week or two before, 5 or 10 drops a day in some water for prevention — and can be continued right through the school year, if you so choose. I’ve heard talk about taking a break from echinacea so your body won’t “get used to” the herb. Not necessary. I’ve also heard grumblings that taking echinacea doesn’t allow your body to build up its own defenses. Simply not true. It’s quite the opposite, in fact. Echinacea helps your body build up its own defenses, which is what makes this herb such a powerhouse.

If you didn’t remember to start up that echinacea before cold and flu season has begun, you can still grab some as soon as you feel those first signs of illness. Other potential herbs at this point would be: balsa wood (Ochroma pyramidale), arbor vitae (Thuja spp.), marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), or even arnica (Arnica spp.) These are all great immunostimulants.  Even if life is getting particularly stressful and you’ve been wearing yourself thin, making you the perfect target for a virus, it’s good to have these herbal friends at hand. Take them when you’re burning the candle at both ends so you don’t find yourself stuck in bed later.

For more great herbal remedies to keep your family naturally healthy, be sure to check out my eBook “Herbs Gone Wild!” currently only 99¢ on Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

Herbs Gone Wild! Ancient Remedies Turned Loose by Diane Kidman – eBook Now Available!

15. August 2011 · 3 comments · Categories: Books, Herbalism, News · Tags: , , , ,

In case you haven’t yet heard the latest buzz, I’ve released a new eBook called “Herbs Gone Wild! Ancient Remedies Turned Loose” which you can find on bot Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you’ve enjoyed reading my herbal remedies on dkMommy Spot, you’ll definitely want to pick up a copy while it’s at the introductory price of only 99¢! Heck, send copies to friends and family too. (Really, I don’t mind.)

Herbs Gone Wild! features natural home remedies for everything from cold and flu viruses to depression, eczema, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Simple instructions, easy dosages for teas and tinctures, and even witty banter and entertaining anecdotes.

The eBook even includes a handy list called the Herbal Medicine Chest, which gives you quick reference to over 70 herbs, including dosages and more.

I’d be thrilled to hear from you at themommyspot (at) gmail (dot) com once you’ve read the book. If you have remedies of your own that you like, let me know. I may just share them in a future eBook!

To purchase your own copy of “Herbs Gone Wild! Ancient Remedies Turned Loose” while it’s still only 99¢, visit Amazon or Barnes & Noble today!

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