Sun Burn Relief Spray

Aloe Vera Gel is one of the very best ingredients for burns; it offers immediate relief, shortens recovery times, and hydrates the skin. It can be used alone, but is even more powerful when combined with medicinal calendula, cooling peppermint, and anti-oxidant rich vitamin E oil.

Ingredients:
2 ounces aloe vera gel
1 ounce calendula
2 1/2 ounces distilled water
5 drops chamomile essential oil
2-5 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops vitamin E oil

Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add calendula, remove from heat. Allow to steep for 20 minutes before straining out flower petals to be discarded. Allow the hydrosol to cool.

Mix 2 ounces of the hydrosol with the remaining ingredients and pour into a 4 oz spray bottle, and mist onto the skin as often as desired.  Store in refrigerator to increase the cooling effect.

Orange Spice Cologne

An exotic, sensual blend suitable for either sex.To me it's vaguely reminiscent of a good tea store in the fall.


Ingredients:
1 cinnamon stick
25 whole cardamom pods
15 organic cloves
1 vanilla bean, cut into small pieces
the zest of one fresh orange
8 oz Vodka

Crush spices in a mortar and pestle (do not blend in coffee grinder as that is too fine a grate). Combine with vanilla bean pieces, orange peel zest, and vodka in a glass mason jar. Cap tightly and shake once or more per day. After 2-6 weeks, strain the spices and pour the infused liquid into a glass bottle with a mister top. Simply add more spices if you desire a stronger cologne.

Spa Quality Facial Cleanser & Facial Mask

Most exfoliating scrubs use harsh abrasives that can tear the skin, making great little pockets for bacteria to settle in. That's how a well scrubbed face can still get pimples.



Ingredients:
1 tablespoon oatmeal
1 tablespoon almonds
2 teaspoons dried lavender flowers
1 teaspoon french green clay
1/4 teaspoon matcha tea
5 drops lavender essential oil

Grind oats, almonds, and flowers in a clean coffee grinder until finely powdered. Sift through a mesh screen to remove larger pieces. Run the larger pieces through the coffee grinder a second time. Add clay, matcha, and essential oil to the powder and mix thoroughly. Store in a glass jar.

To use, mix a small amount with water, milk, cream, yogurt or hydrosol until a smooth paste forms. Apply to slightly damp skin and gently massage with fingertips, avoiding the sensitive areas around the eyes and lips.  When finished, rinse off with cool water.

To use as a mask, simply apply a light layer on the face, making sure to avoid the delicate skin area around the eyes and mouth. Leave on for 10 minutes or until the mask feels taught and dry, then rinse off with cool water. For dry or sensitive skin types, leave on for 5 minutes or less.

Herbal Sore Throat Spray

It certainly doesn't taste the same as your standard cepacol, but it packs a powerful punch that will get rid of your sore throat ASAP.

Ingredients:
1 oz organic echinacea tincture
 1 oz organic goldenseal
 1 oz osha root tincture
 2 tbsp raw local honey
 ½ oz organic Peppermint Hydrosol (optional)

Combine all ingredients into a glass spray bottle and shake vigorously. Spray 3 pumps into sore throat every hour or as needed. Store spray in the refrigerator for an added cooling affect on the inflamed issue.

Customizable Herbal Castile Shampoo

Create a shampoo that is just for you, customized to your needs and wants without harmful chemicals, SLS, or other allergen triggers.

Ingredients:            
1/2 cup distilled water
1/2 tsp. olive or jojoba oil
1/2 cup pure liquid castile soap 
1 tsp. xanthan gum
10-40 drops of essential or therapeutic oil
dried herbs (optional)

If using herbs, bring the water to a boil, then remove from heat.   Put the loose herbs into a tea strainer and steep in the boiled water for 20 to 40 minutes.  Discard the herbs. Allow the herbal water to cool to room temperature. You need 1/2 cup liquid herbal water to add to the shampoo, so expect to add more in the beginning as it will evaporate or be lost to the herb dregs.

Place the (herbal or unaltered) water and oils (if using oils your combined total must be no more than 40 drops)in a blender and turn it on. With the motor running, add in the xanthan gum and mix until thickened, about 5 seconds.

Turn off the motor and add the castile soap. Replace the cover and quickly pulse 3-4 times to thoroughly emulsify. Don’t overdo it or you will have a gigantic sudsy mess.

Pour into a labeled bottle and store for up to a month without refrigeration.

Dried Herb Master List
If you see an herb listed multiple times, it is considered a balancer and can be used to treat the PH balance, therefore making it useful all around. Pick and choose as you will.

Normal hair: basil, calendula, chamomile, horsetail, lavender, linden flowers, nettle, parsley, rosemary, sage

Dry hair and scalp: calendula, chamomile, elder flowers, horsetail, lavender, marshmallow root, nettle, parsley, sage

Oily hair and scalp: bay leaf, calendula, chamomile, horsetail, lemon balm, lavender, lemon peel, lemongrass, nettle, peppermint, rosemary, thyme, witch hazel bark (not the liquid astringent), yarrow leaf and flower

Scalp conditions (dandruff, sensitive skin, inflammation, itchiness, dermatitis): burdock root, calendula, chamomile, eucalyptus, horsetail, lavender, marshmallow root, nettle, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, sage, thyme

Hair loss/thinning: basil, nettle, rosemary, sage

Golden highlights: calendula, chamomile, hops flowers, sunflower petals

Dark highlights: black tea, black walnut hulls (crushed or chopped), comfrey root, nettle, rosemary, sage

Red highlights: calendula, hibiscus flowers, red clover flowers, rose hips, red Rose petals

Essential Oils for Hair Care:
Before choosing an essential oil, be sure to test it for an allergic reaction before using on direct contact with your skin as it is a concentrate.

Normal hair: carrot seed, cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, cypress, geranium, juniper, lavender, lemon, orange, rosemary, sage, sandalwood, thyme, ylang ylang

Dry hair: carrot seed, cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, geranium, jasmine, lavender, orange, rosemary, sandalwood, ylang ylang

Oily Hair: basil, bergamot, cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, cypress, eucalyptus, geranium, juniper, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, orange, peppermint, rosemary, sage, tea tree, thyme, ylang ylang

Scalp conditions (dandruff, sensitive skin, itchiness, inflammation, dermatitis): cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, cypress, lavender, lemon, marjoram, orange, patchouli, rose, rosemary, sage, thyme, tea tree, ylang ylang

Hair loss/thinning: basil, cypress, lavender, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, sage, thyme, ylang ylang

Egg Shell Calcium

Thank you Butter Nutrition for your recipe for egg shell calcium. I use a very similar recipe for additives for my dog chow, however they like crunchy bits and I do not. I am also squeamish about taking the powder, so I buy gel tabs from health stores and viola! If taken with food, no upset belly. Also, please understand that you will get a different quality of calcium from free range or organic eggs than cheapy discount eggs. Also always wash eggs before saving.

Ingredients:
A few dozen used egg shells (kept in fridge or freezer to maintain freshness)


Cook dry, thawed egg shells at 300 degrees for about 20-25 minutes to dry them out. Let cool for 30-60 minutes. Blend in a coffee grinder or high speed blender (like Vita-mix) until you get a very fine powdered consistency (very important!)

To Use:
Consume about 1/8-1/4* tsp with a little water or juice 1-3x per day or as needed to meet your individual health needs. 1 tsp eggshell calcium equals about 800 mg calcium.

Store cold.

Essential Pomade

My guys go through this and hair gel like water. I'm talking everyday. To buy the really good stuff that's not full of drying agents and chemical crud is expensive. So... make your own tailored to your taste.

Ingredients:
1 ounce beeswax
1.5 ounces shea butter
2 ounces jojoba 
1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon essential oil*

Melt beeswax in a double boiler over low heat. When the beeswax is melted, add in shea butter. When the mixture is melted, add jojoba and stir until just melted. Pour mixture into a container and allow to cool slightly, then add essential oil

To Use
Rub a small amount between your fingertips until there are no lumps, then work through hair and style.

*Notes on essential oils..
-Lime essential oils smells amazing, and is helpful for balancing oily hair (in a more concentrated form it may also lighten hair)
-Peppermint and rosemary essential oils stimulate hair growth and add shine. Great for normal hair
-Lemon balm, basil, thyme, patchouli, tea tree, yarrow and lemongrass have astringent properties which are beneficial for oily hair
-Chamomile, lavender, sandalwood and rosemary are helpful for dry hair.
-Tea tree, eucalyptus, patchouli and myrrh are helpful for dandruff