Mel loves creating and making her own herbals, cleaning products, air fresheners, bath, beauty, and body products.

Relaxing Herbal Baths Can Help Soothe and Alleviate Tension

Let's face it; life is hectic! There just never seems to be quite enough hours in the day to get our list of to-dos finished. The ever-increasing busy demands of today's society can take their toll on our mind, body, and spirit. The challenge to keep up can lead to tension headaches, strained and sore muscles, and sometimes even trouble falling asleep.

If you suffer, as most of us do, with the ailments and side effects of living life in high demand, perhaps a relaxing, herbal bath is just what you need. Herbal baths are deeply relaxing and calming. They can take the edge off of your day, relieving your muscles of strain and tension, quiet your mind, and encourage deep, restful sleep.

In the past, herbal baths were more commonly used than they are today. The value and benefits of a good, relaxing soak to calm our bodies and minds has been set aside and is now, oftentimes, replaced with a quick hop into the shower. While a good hot shower is certainly efficient and can be quite relaxing as well, there is nothing quite as soothing and nurturing as a long soak in a hot bath.

Common Relaxing Herbs Used for Bathing

Herbs commonly used for relaxing baths include:

• Lavender
• Chamomile
• Feverfew
• Lemon Balm
• Comfrey Leaf
• Calendula
• Rose Petals

Although roses and calendula aren't particularly considered herbs, they are often used in soothing baths and also in facial and body care. They may help to soothe and soften the skin, adding to that calming, pampered feel that we all know and appreciate so much.

How to Use Herbs in Your Bath

Adding beneficial herbs to your bath couldn't be easier! The easy-to-follow steps below will have you on your way to a much needed soothing and relaxing retreat right in your own home!

1. Select and choose your herbs. Ideally, you will want approximately 1–3 tablespoons per herb. Feel free to adjust amounts to your specific personal needs and preference.
2. Place your herbs in the center a piece of cheesecloth or a clean washcloth and tie securely. (Rubber bands or ponytail ties work wonderfully).
3. Choose your preferred and ideal water temperature. Start to fill your tub.
4. Toss in your tied bundle of relaxing herbs as your tub fills with water. The longer you allow the herbs to "steep" the better.
5. Climb in and enjoy your herbal bath!

Keep in mind, although you do not want your bathing water to be too hot (for safety reasons), you do, ideally, want it comfortably hot. Especially if you intend to soak for 20–30 minutes. If your herbal water starts to cool during your bath, feel free to add more water during your bath to extend your stay. Squeezing your herb bundle periodically during your bath will help to replenish the potency of the herbal water.

Don't Forget the Little Extras!

And finally, now that you know what things to use and how to use them, adding a few little extras to your herbal bath "me time" routine can make the whole herbal bathing experience even better. Try adding soft music, candlelight, incense, a favorite book, a glass of your favorite wine and some peace and quiet (if possible) to enhance your relaxation experience even further.

If you cannot make this an everyday enjoyment, try once a week at first. Experiment! Slowing down, being present, and really relishing this experience, however infrequent, is sure to add some perhaps much-needed quality to your life experience.

Source

Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2020 Melissa Meadow

Comments

Melissa Meadow (author) from United States on March 04, 2020:

Thank you, Den!

Den from United Kingdom on March 04, 2020:

Nice ideas. I will be trying this.

Melissa Meadow (author) from United States on March 03, 2020:

Thank you, Tori!

I've had wonderful results from this and it's very versatile, too. I love trying different herb combinations in my baths. It feels good to be able to do something so simple yet beneficial!

Best wishes to you and if you do give this a try, I hope you have terrific results.

Thanks so much for reading and commenting!

Melissa Meadow (author) from United States on March 03, 2020:

Thank you so much, Thelma, for stopping by to read and for commenting! I appreciate it.

It really is simple and the benefits have been wonderful for me. I am able to relax easier, I carry less tension throughout my day to day activities and I sleep more soundly.

If you give this a try, I hope it works just as wonderful for you as well!

Blessings!

Tori Leumas on March 03, 2020:

This is an amazing article! I often have trouble with relaxing due to some hard emotional things in my past. A nice, warm, relaxing bath seems like the perfect thing for me.

Thelma Alberts from Germany on March 03, 2020:

Wow! This is so easy to make. I love lavender bath and I just buy it in the drugstore. Thank you very much for sharing.

Mel loves creating and making her own herbals, cleaning products, air fresheners, bath, beauty, and body products.

Winter Skin Woes

If you're like me, this time of year can really take a toll on your skin. The air is drier during the colder months, so your skin may become thirsty and dehydrated. This can quickly lead to irritation. Your skin may start to itch and burn, become red and angry. You may develop uncomfortable patches of rough and bumpy skin areas throughout your body that look and feel unpleasant and inflamed. This can be terribly annoying, and the itch and irritation can drive you crazy, especially at night when you're trying to sleep, and clothing is rubbing against your irritated skin.

I've battled this problem for my entire life. I have dry, sensitive skin that hates any sort of situation that it deems to be neglectful or harsh, or any type of extreme circumstances such as cold weather. At the first sign of crisp, cool air, my skin becomes a desert almost instantaneously. It gets angry quickly, and misery soon ensues.

I've tried dozens of store-bought lotions, creams, and salves over the years, some good, some not so good. One day as I was slathering on a popular name brand body lotion as a part of my daily morning routine, a thought occurred to me . . . I should make a cream of my own! And so, after doing some experimenting with different ingredients and after a few trial and error attempts, I made a salve that soothes and calms my angry, irritated skin amazingly well.

I fell in love with it because it works beautifully, it's made with my own two hands in my very own kitchen, and I know each and every ingredient that goes inside. If you've experienced similar skin ailments as I have mentioned here and have an interest in possibly making your own soothing skin salve, you've come to the right place. Now, let's get started!

Ingredients

• 2 cups of almond oil
• 2 Tbsp. dried lavender flowers
• 2 Tbsp. dried chamomile flowers
• 2 Tbsp. dried calendula flowers
• 2 Tbsp. dried comfrey leaf
• 2 Tbsp. dried plantain leaf
• 1 tsp. dried rosemary leaf
• 1 tsp. echinacea root
• Approx. 1/4 cup of beeswax pastilles or grated beeswax
• 1/2–1 tsp. of vitamin E oil (used as a preservative)
• Large canning jar with airtight lid (Mason or Ball)
• Cheesecloth or a fine-wire handheld strainer
• Double boiler
• Small storage tins or clean glass jars for storing/keeping salve (Approx. 8–10 containers, depending on size) *It's always best to have more than you think you'll need on hand. It's better to have too many than not have enough*

Instructions

1. To begin, you will need to infuse the herbs into the almond oil. To do this, combine all herbs and almond oil (as well as the vitamin E oil) into a large canning jar and seal with an airtight lid. Allow to sit for 4–6 weeks, shaking daily. *Speedier method*: heat herbs and almond oil together over very low heat in a double broiler for approximately 2–4 hours or until the oil is very green to greenish-yellow in color. Make sure the temperature is very, very low!
2. Once herbs are infused into the oil, strain well either by pouring through the cheesecloth (make sure to squeeze out all remaining oil from the herbs) or by straining the oil mixture through a handheld fine wire kitchen strainer.
3. Discard the herbs.
4. Heat the well-strained infused oil in a double boiler with the beeswax until melted and mix well.
5. Pour immediately into small storage tins or clean glass jars. Allow to cool. Cover tightly. Congratulations, it's that easy! Your soothing skin salve is now complete.

How to Use Your Salve and Other Helpful Information

Dip fingertips into the salve and apply to needed areas. Rub into skin thoroughly. Use generously daily and as needed on legs, arms, hands, feet, back, stomach, chest, elbows, heels, knees, and even on your face. If you have irritated, chapped, windburned, or sunburned skin, this salve works wonderfully. I've had great success using this salve on my dry, cracked heels, too. My feet just love this stuff.

This salve can be used for a wide array of skin ailments and problems and can be used over almost all are of the body. Avoid getting into the eyes and do not apply to gaping or oozing wounds, surgical site areas, etc., just as a precaution.

Many ingredients used in this salve are said to be anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and also have antibiotic properties. This would certainly explain why it's so soothing, helpful, and calming to the skin.

This salve keeps almost indefinitely unless it's exposed to poor conditions such as excessive amounts of heat, water, debris, etc. Washing hands thoroughly before use and keeping salve free of contaminates/debris will greatly help to extend the shelf life. Store in a cool, dry area, tightly covered and away from direct sunlight for best results.

This recipe is very versatile. If there are ingredients that I've listed here that you do not like, by all means, omit them. If there are ingredients that you'd rather use that I did not include, feel free to experiment until your heart's content. This, of course, is just one way of many, but the sky is the limit here.

As with anything you use on your body, if you are allergic to or think that you may be allergic to any of these ingredients or ingredients like these, please do not use and exercise extreme caution. Discontinue use and consult a physician if irritation occurs or if you have a concern as to how something may affect you. Please use sensibly and with discretion.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: Where did you get your tins for your salve? They are beautiful and I’d love to know where you get them.

Answer: I get my tins, along with many other supplies, at Mountain Rose Herbs online.

© 2018 Melissa Meadow

Comments

Umesh Chandra Bhatt from Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India on February 27, 2019:

Interesting formulation.

Melissa Meadow (author) from United States on December 26, 2018:

You're very welcome, Tim.

I'm always trying to think of ways to make my own body care products and I love to experiment with different remedies. The natural way is awesome, isn't it?

Thanks so much for stopping by. I do hope you have great success with this salve if you do decide to give it a try.

Warm holiday wishes to you!

Melissa

Tim Truzy from U.S.A. on December 25, 2018:

Thanks, Melisa. This looks like worth the try.

I'm always looking at new ways to address itches and pains in a natural way.

Happy holidays to you.

sincerely,

Tim

Mel loves creating and making her own herbals, cleaning products, air fresheners, bath, beauty, and body products.

Why Make Your Own Deodorant?

There are many reasons why you may want to make your own home and beauty products.

• Perhaps you do not like commercially produced beauty products and wish to find a safer alternative. It may be that you've never made your own beauty care products at home before and you're looking to get started with a product recipe that's easy for first-timers. If this is the case, great! This recipe will work perfectly for you!
• Maybe you like the idea of being more kind to the environment and producing less waste.
• Lastly, you may simply feel a certain level of satisfaction from making your own products. This hobby can be very rewarding in its own right, and this easy, at-home recipe is sure to suit you quite well. Besides, when you make your own products, you know each and every ingredient that is going into the products that you make. What could be better?

These are all fantastic and great reasons for making your own products, without a doubt. There is nothing quite like the gratification of making something from scratch with your own two hands with simple ingredients that you're likely to already have on-hand. With this in mind, let's get started!

Supplies List

• 4 Tbsp. Coconut Oil
• 4 Tbsp. Arrowroot Starch
• 1 Tbsp. Baking Soda
• 1 Tbsp. Cornstarch
• 10 drops in total of any essential oils of your choice. (I used 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil, 5 drops of Lavender Oil, and 2 drops of Sweet Orange Oil.) Note that this step is completely optional.
• Small clean container with lid (Approx. 4-6 ounce in size)
• Bowl for mixing ingredients
• Spoon or whisk

Instructions

1. Add the arrowroot starch, cornstarch, and baking soda into your mixing bowl. Blend well with whisk or spoon until thoroughly combined.
2. Whisk or stir coconut oil into your dry ingredients. Blend well and until smooth. Coconut oil may need to be melted prior to being mixed into the dry ingredients. This is totally normal and will not change the effectiveness of finished product. A quick pop into the microwave or into a small saucepan on low heat until melted will do the trick.
3. Add in any/all essential oils. Blend well. This step is optional. If you wish not to use essential oils, or if you want your homemade deodorant to be unscented, omit this step.
4. Pour mixture into clean container and secure lid. Congratulations, it's that easy! Your homemade deodorant is ready to use!

How to Use Your Homemade Deodorant and Other Helpful Information

To use: Swirl fingertips (using approximately a dime to nickel size amount under each arm) into the deodorant and massage the product into the underarm area covering entire area thoroughly. Apply 1-2 times daily or as needed.

Please Note: Once your homemade deodorant is ready for use, it may take 30 minutes to an hour or so for the deodorant to solidify. The temperature of your environment will determine how fast or slow this process will be or may take. If after an hour or so goes by and the deodorant mixture is still thin, feel free to place the covered container of deodorant in the refrigerator until the mixture "sets" or thickens. You can do this at any time for the entire life of the deodorant if the product becomes runny or too thin and can be repeated as many times as needed. Refrigeration will not affect the performance of the product. Also, if the deodorant happens to be runny and thin, no worries, this will have no negative effect on the performance of the product whatsoever. It is absolutely still effective and use-able.

Ideally, the deodorant should have a creamy yet slightly stiff consistency and should melt soon after contact with the skin. This makes for easier application to and for blending well into the skin.

This homemade deodorant will have a shelf life of around a month, give or take. This is just a general guideline. Washing your hands before applying and keeping the container clean and free of debris will also prolong the self-life. Also, keeping and storing the homemade deodorant in the refrigerator between uses will extend the shelf life as well.

Coconut oil works well as a natural moisturizer and is said to have antibacterial properties so using it as a main component for homemade deodorant is sensible and logical.

Arrowroot starch and corn starch acts as thickening agents for the deodorant mixture. Without them, the mixture would be thin and perhaps a bit messier to apply. Also, the starches help to absorb wetness aiding in keeping you drier.

Baking soda absorbs and neutralizes odors making it a wonderful component to your deodorant.

Essential oils are a great and natural way to add fragrance to your homemade products, but they are by no means necessary to this recipe. If you prefer your homemade deodorant to be unscented or if you have sensitivities to scented oils or scents whatsoever, by all means, skip the addition of the essential oils. Omitting the essential oils in this recipe will not affect the performance of the deodorant itself. The key components are the coconut oil, arrowroot powder, cornstarch, and baking soda. Essential oils are a nice addition but are not mandatory.

If you have extremely sensitive skin, baking soda may be irritating to some. If you experience irritation, try making this recipe using a reduced amount of baking soda. Also, avoid applying just after shaving as this may help reduce the likelihood of irritation. Sometimes it takes the skin some time to adjust to sudden changes especially if you've never used homemade products on the skin previously but please, use sensible discretion and discontinue use if irritation ensues or continues whatsoever. Everyone is different, and products work differently on everyone.

Feel free to adjust this recipe to your specific likes and needs as it is quite versatile.

There are endless possibilities with this recipe; the sky is the limit! You can really get creative here so use your imagination and experiment until your heart's content!

What's Your Opinion?

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2018 Melissa Meadow

Comments

Melissa Meadow (author) from United States on August 25, 2019:

Thank you, Linda. If you do try it, I hope you like it. Thanks for stopping by!

Linda Bryen from United Kingdom on August 13, 2019:

Great recipe, I might give it a try. Thank you, Mel.