Your new favourite herbal book! Why will The Boreal Herbal be your favourite? It’s packed full of so much easy, useable information! I just love thumbing through it and looking at all the colour photographs of the plants and the things you can do with them. If you’re just starting out in using herbs then […]
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Drying your own Comfrey Leaves
Drying herbs for later use is an age old practice. At the most basic all you have to do is gather the plants and hang them up somewhere to dry. Perhaps you’ve seen pictures of old apothecaries or museums where they show plants hanging in bunches from the ceiling. Perhaps you’ve dried some plants yourself. […]
Continue readingHerbal Facial – Moisturizing – part 7 of 7
This is where you want to provide moisture and protection to your skin after drawing stuff out of it. Be sure to apply it gently. You’ve given yourself an all natural facial so please make sure your moisturizer is also without toxins. Some people like to use oils such as coconut, jojoba, and others. For […]
Continue readingHerbal Facial – Toning – part 6 of 7
This is where we sooth the skin and encourage the pores to start closing. Cold water can do the trick, but I prefer to use hydrosols for this process. They have much to offer the skin and most of them smell wonderful. Hydrosols are also known as herbal distillates, floral waters, herbal waters, hydrosols, and […]
Continue readingHerbal Facial – Extraction – part 5 of 7
This is where the cosmetic clays are really useful! Most people, in my experience, are used to using these clays for “drawing out toxins”, and indeed they do have a drawing action. However, they are also rich in minerals that can be a benefit to the skin. My favourite clays are French Green Clay and […]
Continue readingHerbal Facial – Steaming – part 4 of 7
Steaming is done to open the pores so toxins can come out and nutrients can go in. Probably the easiest way to do this step is to steam the way some of us were taught to do for a common cold. Get a large bowl, some hot water, and a towel. Put your face over […]
Continue readingHerbal Facial – Exfoliation – part 3 of 7
This step is to remove dead skin cells. Exfoliation helps the skin look softer and smoother, as it reveals the healthier younger cells that are beneath. It is the beginning of stimulating circulation in the skin. It also means that later steps in the facial will have greater benefits, since your skin will be better […]
Continue readingHerbal Facial – Cleansing – part 2 of 7
The first step is the cleanser. Cleansers should be very gentle and are used to remove dirt and makeup from the skin. Oils It may seem weird, but oils can make very good cleansers. This is why soap can clean oils off of skin, because it’s made from oils or fats. Oil can help clean […]
Continue readingHow to make your own herbal tincture – Part 2
Some time ago I told you how you could make a Fresh herb tincture and what some of the thoughts, including pros and cons, are behind using this type of tincture. However, there is another way that tinctures can be made which has it’s own advantages and disadvantages. This type of tincture is a […]
Continue readingMaking tea
For the majority of people that I meet, making tea involves boiling water in a kettle then pouring the contents over a teabag in a cup. It’s fast, it’s simple, and you get a… cup of tea. For me it’s hard to go back to that after growing up with good tea. I grew up […]
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