CHAPTER FIVE

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Natural Solutions: Health, Beauty and the Home

FOR ANYONE LEADING A self-sufficient life, understanding which plants heal and which plants soothe and cleanse is almost as important as knowing whether or not they are edible. The practice of using plants to feed, cure, pamper and generally assist human beings in almost every sphere of their daily lives is probably as old as the human race itself. And with increasing global concern about environmental degradation and leading healthier lives, people today are keen to learn more about the tremendous benefits of natural products. This chapter explores some of the self-sufficient and natural alternatives to products that are used routinely in most modern homes: household cleaners, health, hygiene and beauty products along with soothers for minor complaints. Using a little herb lore and some elementary botany and chemistry, you can create a range of natural products, from shampoos and hand creams to deodorants, face packs and bath bombs. You don’t need any experience or specialist equipment to make the products described, just a little resourcefulness and an open mind. Most of the ingredients discussed in the pages that follow are natural and many can be grown or purchased from a health shop, or they may already be in your kitchen cupboard.

NATURAL CLEANING PRODUCTS

The majority of modern households contain an astounding array of cleaning products, from disinfectant, washing-up liquid, furniture polish, floor, oven, glass and drain cleaners to air freshener, lime-scale remover, carpet cleaner and fabric softener. The list goes on. Many of these items are expensive and sometimes harmful to humans and the environment. But you can trash the lot and replace them with just five natural products that you may already have at home: white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), cream of tartar, some lemons and a bottle of cheap olive oil. That’s it. They will clean the entire house from top to bottom, leaving it sparkling and smelling great.

Although all five are natural substances, always test an inconspicuous area first to make certain they won’t discolour, scratch or damage any of your surfaces. Don’t worry about the smell of vinegar – as long as you only use white vinegar, not malt (which would make your house smell like a chippy), the smell will disappear when the vinegar dries.

Most of the cleaning products mentioned in this section contain bicarbonate of soda, which is also a natural skin exfoliator. So rather than stuffing your hands into sweaty old rubber gloves, use bare hands but moisturize them afterwards (see page 141). Bicarbonate of soda is an amazing product: it’s so safe that you can clean your teeth with it; but pour it down the sink and it will clean the drains!

Kitchen cleaners

White vinegar is a natural general-purpose cleaner that disinfects and deodorizes. Clean your work surfaces using equal quantities of white vinegar and water and a squeeze of lemon, which has natural antibacterial qualities and a fresh, pleasant smell – simply wipe on and then wipe off. For tougher surfaces, such as the hob, the oven and the microwave, add baking soda to your cleaning mixture – apply and agitate with a cleaning cloth until all the stains have been removed, rinse the cloth and wipe clean.

For really stubborn stains and meat pans, cut a lemon in half, sprinkle baking soda over one half and use it as a scouring pad until all the stains have been removed, then rinse clean. Baking soda is the self-sufficient, greener alternative to commercial abrasive cleaner and can be used wherever you would normally use a commercial abrasive powder or cream. Combine it with lemon to cut through almost any grease and grime. This combination also makes a wonderfully effective washing-up liquid: add a teaspoon of baking soda and the juice of half a lemon to hot water and wash the dishes as normal. If you must use a commercial washing-up liquid, make sure it is eco-friendly and use half the usual amount in the sink with just a splash of white vinegar, which will make the washing-up liquid go further and the dishes easier to clean. To shine the sink, put a little cream of tartar, a natural bleaching agent, on a cloth and wipe it around the bowl and drainer. For an alternative to the standard washing powder for clothes, mix equal quantities of eco-friendly laundry powder and bicarbonate of soda, adding a splash of white vinegar in the final rinse as a softener.

Bathroom cleaners

For the general daily wipe around, use a trigger-spray bottle filled with a solution of white vinegar, lemon and water (three-quarters water to one-quarter vinegar, plus a squeeze of lemon). To clean the bath, shower and tiles (where body oils, fats, shampoos and gels accumulate) create a paste with two parts bicarbonate of soda to one part vinegar or lemon. Put a little of the paste on a sponge or cleaning cloth and wipe the area clean, making certain to rinse completely afterwards to avoid any smears. For the toilet, use equal quantities of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar, which will have a powerful cleaning, disinfecting and deodorizing effect, together with a bleaching action, leaving the bowl squeaky clean. Use the mixture on a damp cloth or sponge, wipe around the toilet, then rinse the cloth thoroughly and wipe the bowl clean. For cleaning mirrors and any glass, use half water to half white vinegar in a recycled spray bottle. Spray on and wipe clean. For a smear-free finish, dry with a piece of crumpled newspaper.

If your water is hard and you have a build-up of lime-scale on your taps or shower-head, soak some toilet paper in vinegar and place it on the affected area overnight – in the morning it will come off far more easily. To remove mould, mix half a cup of bicarbonate of soda with half a cup of vinegar or lemon and wipe over the affected area. If it doesn’t disappear immediately, allow it to soak for a while or coat it two or three more times before rinsing off and wiping clean.

For a natural air freshener for the bathroom, or indeed anywhere in the home, use a spray bottle filled with water and a couple of drops each of the essential oils of lavender, rosemary and lemon. Finally, a small, shallow dish of bicarbonate of soda placed behind the loo will absorb, rather than simply mask, any unpleasant smells.

Metal cleaners

For a good brass cleaner, mix the juice of one lemon with cream of tartar or bicarbonate of soda: mix in enough of either of the dry ingredients to make a paste, then dab on and wipe away with a clean cloth. The length of time you leave the product in contact with the brass will depend on how tarnished the brass is.

A really good copper cleaner comes right out of the kitchen cupboard: simply mix a teaspoon of flour and one and a half teaspoons of salt with a mug of vinegar. Spray or wipe on liberally, leave for half an hour and wipe clean.

To clean silver, fill a washing-up bowl with hand-hot water then add a teaspoon each of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar, half a teaspoon of salt and a piece of aluminium foil. Immerse the silver and wash it with a soft sponge (always test a small section first). To clean aluminium, use cream of tartar mixed with water into a soft paste – wipe on and then wipe off.

General-purpose cleaners

For an everyday, general-purpose cleaner – on windowsills, doors around handles, table tops, anywhere you’d normally run a cloth – mix a small mug of white vinegar with a slug of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. To make a furniture polish, mix equal portions of olive oil and lemon juice. This also works well for any wood, including a hardwood floor. The mixture is best sprayed on using a recycled squeezy bottle –spray on, then wipe off.

Bicarbonate of soda will absorb most nasty smells from the carpet (including vomit, cigarettes, pet pongs and curry); for a spillage, remove as much as possible and then use half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in a mug of warm water to dab away at the affected area. For a general carpet deodorizer, sprinkle dry bicarbonate of soda across the floor and vacuum up. To clean windows and mirrors, see page 138.

HOMEMADE BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Self-sufficiency doesn’t mean that you can never take pride in your personal appearance or wear make-up again or that you have to wash your hair in dirty washing-up water and rinse it off in ice-cold water. What it does mean is that you have more options available to you because you’re not restricted to what is on offer in the shops. You can experiment with all the natural products growing wild in the garden or tame on the windowsill. If you don’t have access to a garden or lack the confidence to take the plunge, then all the ingredients mentioned here can be bought in a supermarket or health shop. But try to have a go at mixing your own: whatever their function, the most satisfying and effective way of obtaining natural products is to grow and prepare them in your own home. Shop-bought products are nowhere near as fresh, clean and natural as those you make yourself. So start small. Pick one thing you think might work for you, give it a try, then build from there.

Note: the products described here are pure and natural but always test a little on your skin first to make sure you will not have an allergic reaction. Rub a tiny amount on your wrist and monitor it for 24 hours. If there is no reaction it is safe to proceed.

Skin care

Skin is the largest organ in the human body and plays a critical role in, among many other things, protecting against infection and disease, helping to control temperature and eliminating waste. It is therefore a vital organ and, like any other part of the body, requires care and attention. Apart from drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy diet, one of the most important things you can do to help protect and nourish your skin is to cleanse and moisturize it regularly. Whether you work in the open air or spend all day in an air-conditioned office, developing your own skin care routine will help to keep your skin healthy, toned and soft to the touch.

Hand creams

For a basic but very pleasant elderflower hand cream, melt lard (rendered-down pig fat) in a saucepan and add some flower heads from a blooming elder (don’t use the stalks) – the lard should look full of flowers but not be crammed with them. Use only the freshest white flowers as those with a yellow tinge that are slightly past their best can have an unpleasant ‘tom-cat’ odour that, although untraceable in the finished product, will be evident during the cooking stage! Keep the lard on a very low heat, melted and warm, not bubbling, for about an hour, then strain it through a fine mesh sieve or a piece of muslin. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil before bottling.

For something more sophisticated, though arguably a little less self-sufficient, put some beeswax or cocoa butter into a water bath. To make a water bath, half-fill a baking or roasting tray with water, put another heat-resistant bowl into that and place the tray on the hob to heat. When the wax or butter starts to melt, put another bowl alongside it into the bath. Add to it two teaspoons of honey, two teaspoons of almond oil and the oil from two aloe vera leaves (the leaves are very fleshy: simply cut them and squeeze to release the oil or sap). Mix. Then whisk the contents of the second bowl little by little into the butter or wax. Bottle the mixture while still warm and liquid.

Face and body creams

Face and body creams tend to be lighter and less robust than hand creams and are designed for different types of skin. They moisturize and enrich, replacing essential vitamins and minerals that are lost in the rough and tumble of everyday life. But no two skin types are alike, so it is important to understand your own skin and to develop a working knowledge of what each ingredient has to offer before you decide what to add to your homemade creams. Below is a list of natural ingredients (mainly oils) that can be added to the homemade creams – you can mix and match until you find a combination that works well on your skin. For example, for a dry skin, you might try a combination of ginger, a little honey and some lanolin in your cream and see how your skin feels after use.

• Almond oil for sensitive skin.

• Aloe vera for dry skin.

• Apricot kernel oil for older skin.

• Avocado oil for hydration and nourishment.

• Banana, mashed, for a wrinkle inhibitor.

• Benzoin oil for sanitization.

• Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) for deep cleansing.

• Camomile oil for all skin types but particularly good for dry and hyper-sensitive skin.

• Cocoa butter for a protective, water-resistant barrier.

• Coconut oil for moisturizing and softening.

• Geranium flowers for dry, flaky skin.

• Ginger oil for dry skin.

• Grape-seed oil for greasy skin.

• Honey for antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

• Lanolin ointment for hydrating and soothing.

• Lavender oil for sensitive and normal skin.

• Light sesame oil for moisturizing.

• Mint leaves for zinging skin back to life.

• Myrrh oil for moisturizing.

• Peanut oil for softening all skin types.

• Rose petals or water for dry skin.

• Sandalwood oil for moisturizing normal skin.

• Sesame oil for a natural sunscreen.

• Strawberry juice for slowing down the skin’s production of oil.

• Sweet almond oil for omega-3, which helps with the relief of allergies.

• Vitamin E oil for a good antioxidant.

• Wheatgerm oil, full of vitamins and minerals, excellent for a range of conditions, including skin that has been damaged by the sun.

• Witch hazel for acne and eczema.

• Yoghurt for bringing moisture to the surface of the skin, hydrating from the inside out.

All creams begin with a base, either beeswax, cocoa butter or shea butter. Melt your base in a water bath (see page 141). In a separate bowl, also in the water bath (so that they reach roughly the same temperatures), start adding your ingredient. For example, for a day cream, perhaps start with a couple of tablespoons of avocado oil to hydrate and nourish, a couple more of grape-seed oil to moisturize without leaving a greasy finish. If it’s sunny, add a teaspoon of sesame oil as a sunscreen and perhaps a couple of fresh mint leaves to invigorate. Allow the oils and mint to infuse in the same bowl for half an hour. Then remove the mint leaves and add the remaining oil to the base little by little, whisking all the time. Bottle while warm.

Scent your creams using essential oils or flowers, leaves or petals: camomile oil is good for everything from dry skin to sensitive skin; geranium flowers and rose water or petals are great for dry skin; lavender and sandalwood are ideal for normal skin types. The idea is to mix and match, bringing in different ingredients to your cream base that you feel will work for you. As a rule of thumb, add essential oils at 5 drops per 100ml/3.5fl oz jar, general oils at 1.5 to 2 per cent of the finished product and 1.5 to 2 teaspoons of juices and honey. As you work through different formulations, keep a record of what you’ve mixed and how each product works on your skin. Bear in mind that ingredients will have different effects depending on the time of year, the climate, and various other conditions: skin generally becomes oilier in summer and dry and flaky in winter; hormones also affect the skin.

Dry skin

For dry skin, try a combination of two tablespoons light sesame oil, one tablespoon apricot kernel oil and a couple of drops of vitamin E oil or ginger oil (for the latter, grate some fresh ginger and squeeze out the oil) – you only need a small amount, about an eighth of a teaspoon, added to your cream base.

Dry damaged skin

Working as a soothing skin balm, dandelions are nature’s repair kit for chapped skin and eczema. Simply collect enough dandelion heads to fill a 225g/8oz jam jar. Leave them to dry overnight before packing the jar. Cover the heads with olive or hemp oil, and set the jar somewhere warm and sunny for two weeks to infuse, giving it a little shake occasionally. After the two weeks of infusion, in a small pan melt together 40g/1½oz bee’s wax and 40g/1½oz of coconut oil and remove from the heat. Cool slightly. Straining out the dandelion heads as you go, add the infused dandelion oil to the mix, stir well and decant into nice jars while still warm.

Greasy skin

For oily skin, add to your cream base two tablespoons of sweet almond oil, a quarter of a teaspoon of apricot kernel oil, a whole teaspoon of fresh strawberry juice, and maybe a few drops of Benzoin oil.

Cleansers, toners, face scrubs and face packs

Gentle, herby cleanser: Add a couple of fennel leaves, some thyme leaves and a squeeze of lemon to a mug of boiling water. Use warm but not hot. Apply with a cotton pad. No need to rinse off.

Face mask for dry skin: Mix honey and a couple of drops of camomile oil and apply to face. Leave for 5 minutes. Tone and moisturize after washing off.

Face mask for greasy skin: Combine natural yoghurt and honey with mashed strawberries. Apply to the face and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off.

Face mask for tired skin: Purée one cucumber, sieve and mix with about a teaspoon of honey so that you have a thick paste. Apply to the face and leave on for 15 minutes. Wash and moisturize.

Face mask to help rebuild the skin’s natural collagen: Blend together an avocado and a carrot. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Add an egg white and three tablespoons each of honey and double (heavy) cream. Beat together until smooth. The natural oils, vitamins and minerals in the carrot and avocado will tone the skin, the cream will add protein and the beaten egg white will act as a natural instant facelift. For an instant facelift on its own, beat two egg whites together, apply and leave for 10 minutes. Wash thoroughly after use.

Face mask to inhibit wrinkles: Mash together a banana and a spoon of honey and work the mixture directly into the skin. Leave for 15 minutes, then wash and tone with your favourite toner.

Stimulating face mask for all skin types: Blitz a marigold flower, a camomile flower, a carrot and some porridge oats in a blender. Add a teaspoon of almond oil. Apply to the face and neck and gently work into the pores. Leave for 10 minutes. Rinse.

Face scrub for dry skin: Oats are fantastic for dry skin. Wet your face, take a handful of oats and rub them gently into the skin. Tone and moisturize after washing off.

Face and body scrub: Mix milk and sugar together to form a sloppy paste, and rub into the skin so it tingles. Wash thoroughly after use.

Toner to ping your face awake: Scrunch some fresh mint leaves in a bowl of ice water and splash on to your face.

Fantastic general toner: Mash an avocado and fork it over with the oil from three aloe vera leaves (simply cut the leaves and squeeze out the oil). Apply using a cotton wool pad then wash off.

Shaving soap: For a smooth close shave, mix together 100ml/3½fl oz/ scant ½ cup light olive or hemp oil, 50ml/2fl oz/3 tbsp honey, 50ml/2fl oz/3 tbsp liquid glycerin soap and a little tea tree or sandalwood oil. Transfer to a recycled pump-action dispenser for easy use.

Hair care

The treatments that follow have been used to wash and condition hair for generations but were replaced by commercial products in the second half of the 20th century. But now they’re very much back in favour, as the grandchildren, nieces and nephews of those who renounced the natural products are keen to return to the original treatments.

Homemade hair products are surprisingly easy to make and will enrich and enliven your hair with natural oils, herbs, minerals and vitamins. All shampoos, homemade or otherwise, clean the scalp first and then target the hair. If you have been using commercial hair products with chemical additives for a long time, you may find there is an adjustment period when you switch to natural ingredients, during which time your scalp rids itself of impurities. (The hair has a tendency to go limp after the first couple of washes using the natural product as the impurities are expelled from the scalp – but this soon changes and with continued use your hair should be in better condition than before!) One of those impurities is likely to be a chemical called sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), the foaming agent used in commercial shampoos. SLS is generally regarded as a substance to be avoided as a result of its alleged toxicity. The absence of SLS in homemade shampoos means that they won’t foam. But this does not mean that they won’t work – the SLS in commercial products adds virtually nothing but visual effect.

A word about water: if you can avoid using chlorinated tap water, so much the better, but don’t squander money on de-mineralized or de-ionized water. If you can’t avoid chlorinated water, then simply boil it before use.

Shampoos

The best place to look for a really lovely, simple shampoo is in the herb garden. Rosemary should be at the top of every hair-care wish list. It is all things to all hair: it encourages growth, helps to restore colour, even to greying hair, and can be used on normal, dry or oily hair. To make a shampoo, steep around five to seven rosemary leaves in a cup of boiling water (if you don’t have fresh rosemary, use a rosemary tea bag from a health shop). Add a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda along with two or three drops of glycerine, wash as normal, rinse well and condition. Two or three drops of essential oil can be added to the treatment – lavender, rosemary, mint or vanilla are particularly pleasant.

Normal hair

Aloe vera is a good alternative to rosemary for normal hair. Simply replace the rosemary leaves with one aloe vera leaf and follow the instructions for rosemary shampoo given above.

Dry hair

Wash with a very gentle shampoo made from camomile tea, using the fresh flowers if you have them (if not use two camomile tea bags). Steep in a mug and allow to cool thoroughly. Add a teaspoon of aloe vera oil (simply cut the leaves and squeeze out the oil or sap) or aloe vera gel, and a teaspoon of baby shampoo. Mix thoroughly and apply, washing only once before rinsing. You could follow this treatment with the olive oil conditioner on page 149.

Greasy hair

Stinging nettles are excellent for all scalp problems but are particularly good for oily scalps as they help to cleanse and clear them. Make an infusion with boiling water and the tops of four or five fresh stinging nettles. Steep for a few minutes and sieve. Add to the nettle water a quarter of a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and a couple of drops of tea-tree oil, which is a fabulous antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal agent that will help put some healthy oils back into your skin and hair. Mint and rosemary (either the leaves or the oil) are also good for oily hair, as are two or three drops of lemon or geranium essential oil, either added to the nettle water or as an alternative to it.

Conditioners

The best conditioner for dark to medium hair is a splash of cider vinegar in a cup, topped up with warm water (if your hair is bleached, add one or two drops of rosemary oil, or a couple of rosemary leaves). This will add vigour and shine like nothing else. For light to blond hair, use a squeeze of lemon juice in the same way.

For a light, general conditioner to nourish and enrich the hair, beat an egg either with an avocado or a banana. Apply directly on to the hair and leave for 15 minutes before rinsing. (This treatment is good for most hair types, apart from extremely greasy or extremely dry.)

Normal hair

Work some natural yoghurt directly into the hair, leave for a few minutes and rinse out.

Dry hair

In theory, an olive oil conditioner should be wonderful for dry hair but it can be slightly filmy and leave a residue. The best solution is to mix a splash of olive oil into your base conditioner, along with herbs that help to enrich dry hair, such as elderflower or rosemary for dry dark hair and marigolds for dry blond hair. Immerse the flowers in the oil (enough flowers so that the conditioner will become infused) and work into the hair. Two or three drops of lavender (see page 152) or sandalwood essential oil can be added to the mixture for really dry hair.

Greasy hair

The best conditioner for oily hair is half a lemon squeezed into a cup of warm water. Work into the hair then rinse out.

Natural hair colourants and highlighters

There are a number of natural teas that work very well as colourants and highlighters for the hair – they act on the pigments in the hair slowly and gently over a period of time. The more often you use the tea, the richer and deeper the result will be. Make the tea by adding whatever ingredient listed below is suitable for your type of hair to a mug of boiling water. Allow it to cool down completely. Wash and rinse your hair, apply the tea, then rinse.

To lighten fair hair, make a tea using camomile (in any form) or a chunk of rhubarb stalk. To darken hair, use cinnamon, sage or lavender (see page 152). To add daring red highlights to light or dark hair, use a tea made from hibiscus leaves.

Treatments for problem hair

To add volume, bounce and shine to dull or lifeless hair

The following four, separate, treatments all work well:

• Beat a raw egg with a teaspoon of olive oil, apply evenly, leave for a minute or so, then wash off.

• Mix equal proportions of beer (not lager) and shampoo. Wash hair as with a normal shampoo.

• Add a teaspoon of tea-tree oil to your shampoo.

• Squeeze half a lemon into a mug of hot water and use as a final rinse – care should be taken with colour-treated hair as lemon is acidic, and may have a slight lightening effect.

For hair that looks greasy but is clean

Rub cornflour (cornstarch) into the hair and brush out – the cornflour will absorb the grease. Particularly good for hat-wearers!

For dandruff and itchy scalp

Make two infusions, one water-based, the other oil-based. For the oil infusion, mix two tablespoons of olive oil, one of palm oil, one of coconut oil and a few drops of tea-tree oil. Massage into the scalp and leave for 15 minutes. Wash out thoroughly with a water-based infusion made from stinging nettles, sage or thyme leaves.

To help restore natural colour to grey or greying hair

Infuse sage or rosemary leaves in hot water. Allow to cool. Apply as a final rinse after shampooing and conditioning.

To strip out build-up of hairspray, gel and other products

Apply bicarbonate of soda to the hair. Work in gently, then brush out.

To give hair a light feel (particularly good for coarse, wiry hair)

Dilute a tenth of a mug of cider vinegar in a mug of hot water and use as a rinse.

To remove strong odours

Apply tomato juice directly to the hair. Work in and then wash out.

General problem-solver

Lavender can be beneficial to all types of hair but not everybody likes the smell. If you don’t like the smell and are using a couple of drops of lavender oil in any of your treatments, you can mask it by adding a couple of sprigs of mint leaves or a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil.

Bath-time and personal hygiene

Everyone should be permitted the indulgence of unwinding and luxuriating in an end-of-the-day bath: the steam on your face; the sensation of soft water enveloping your body; the smell of essential oils and herbs; the sound of a bath-bomb fizzing; and perhaps even a glass of ice-cold white wine to hand. Blissful! Making bath products at home is easy and fun, and there’s a real sense of achievement in knowing that you have created the things that are making you feel so good. And homemade toiletries also make wonderful gifts.

Bath-time bouquet garni

For a simple but great bath-time treat that deep cleanses the skin and leaves it feeling soft and silky smooth, take a handful of whole oats (which are fantastic for dry or flaky skin) with a spoonful of dry milk powder, another of bicarbonate of soda and any dry herbs you can lay your hands on: sage, mint, rosemary, thyme, bay, a stick of cinnamon or a vanilla pod. Scrunch everything together and place in a piece of muslin or a stocking, then tie with a ribbon (or some bailer twine if you’re a smallholder!) and drop it straight into the bath.

Bath salts

Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) is the main ingredient in homemade bath salts. They have a neutral pH of 6–7, so their impact on your skin is slight but their effect on the water and your muscles is sublime. Half-fill a breakfast bowl with the salts, add a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda and a teaspoon of sea-salt crystals. Find an attractive recycled jar and fill it to the three-quarter mark (not to the top) with the salts. Then pour in a teaspoon of vegetable glycerine and four drops of your favourite essential oil, put the lid on and shake until all the salts are coated. Add to the bath, sit back and relax.

Bath oil

Select a natural oil, such as hazelnut, sesame, avocado or almond. You can also use baby oil or olive oil. If using olive oil, which is quite heavy, it should be mixed with a little of another oil, such as palm oil, to balance it out (add about 5ml – a teaspoon – of palm oil or your chosen oil to a 50ml/2fl oz mix of olive oil – in other words, about a tenth of the total treatment). Pour the mixture into a recycled bottle or jar and add your favourite essential oil: four drops of eucalyptus to invigorate or eight of lavender to rejuvenate or four each of sage, camomile and rose for a herby oil to pamper and soothe.

Fizz bath bombs

Fun to make and even more fun to use, bath bombs fizz and slowly dissolve a delicious fragrance and wholesome goodness into your bathwater. Although they are easy to make, there is one golden rule: make sure all your bowls and utensils are completely dry before using. If they are damp the chemical reaction will take place while you are mixing the ingredients, leaving you with little more than a damp squib when it comes to bath-time – not much fun!

To make bath bombs you will need five ingredients: three tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda, two tablespoons of citric acid, one tablespoon of cornflour (cornstarch), two teaspoons of almond oil and six drops of your favourite essential oil. Mix the soda, citric acid and cornflour in a dry bowl. In a separate cup, mix the oils, then pour them into the dry mixture and mix continuously for a minute. Pack the mixture into the compartments of an ice-cube tray – this is simply to shape them, they don’t need to be frozen. Leave for a couple of hours, or until firm, then turn them out into a bag. Store the bag in a large glass jar to keep dry.

Deodorants

First, to answer the question that may be on the tip of your tongue: yes, homemade deodorants do work. And one of the most compelling reasons to make your own is quite simply that they are far better for you than many shop-bought deodorants. Most commercial deodorants work in two ways: as antiperspirants by clogging the skin’s pores and as deodorants by neutralizing the smell of perspiration. But the ingredients that clog and mask the pores contain aluminium, which can be absorbed into the body. Opinions vary as to what effect the build-up of aluminium has on the body: some claim that it accumulates in the brain; others that it settles in the lymph glands and in women the breasts (if you’re a woman and you are pregnant or breast feeding, really think hard about using an alternative, natural deodorant).

Each of the ingredients in homemade deodorant performs a very specific task: bicarbonate of soda absorbs the smell, rather than simply masking it; tea-tree oil – a natural antibacterial, antifungal agent – kills the bacteria that causes the smell; coconut oil soothes and moisturizes the skin; cornflour binds everything together, making it easy to apply; essential oils add fragrance – cinnamon for women and cedar for men are pleasant options, but you can experiment.

To make a deodorant, quarter-fill a cup with bicarbonate of soda and add the same quantity of cornflour. Mix in enough coconut oil to form a paste. Add four drops of tea-tree oil and a couple of essential oil – that’s it. Mix well. Apply the deodorant with your fingers or a soft cloth. This product won’t sting after shaving or stain your clothes and you can use it anywhere on your body.

An alternative to the above is a ‘deodorant stone’ – a crystal of natural salt minerals that inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause odours. Deodorant stones are hypo-allergenic and therefore perfect for most sensitive skins. They can be bought online or from good health shops.

The menstrual cup

The menstrual cup, designed by women for women, is a safe, eco-friendly, self-sufficient and convenient alternative to tampons and towels and of course avoids all risk of toxic shock syndrome. On average a woman will use up to 20 items of sanitary protection for each period, which adds up to several thousand throughout the course of a lifetime! A menstrual cup is reusable and can last for several years. Shaped like a rubber cup and made from medical grade material, it is worn internally and works by forming a light seal on the vaginal walls so that your menstrual flow collects in the cup rather than being absorbed. It lasts up to eight hours and can then be removed, rinsed and reinserted. There are also fewer health risks, no toxic shock syndrome to worry about and no problems with dryness, which tampons can produce. In studies the only downside some women mentioned was that the cup can be a little messier than regular tampons and towels, but other than that, it seems to be a viable alternative. For more information, check out www.mooncup.co.uk.

HOMEMADE SOOTHERS FOR EVERYDAY AILMENTS

By extending our knowledge of the natural world it is possible to gain a deeper understanding of how our bodies and minds are influenced, both positively and negatively, by what we eat, smell and touch. This information can then be used to alter our attitudes and emotions and to rejuvenate and heal our bodies. When sickness or that grotty feeling strikes us down, there are a surprising number of homemade, natural, self-care soothers that can be used to help the problem. Although they are not remedies and will therefore not necessarily cure the condition, they will alleviate it.

Note: 1. None of the soothers described in this section should be used in place of a doctor’s advice. If symptoms persist, consult a doctor. 2. Homemade soothers should never be taken by anyone who is pregnant, who thinks they might be pregnant or who trying to become pregnant.

Oral soothers, teas and infusions

Bad breath: Chew a strong herb such as cardamom, fennel, parsley (the latter is especially good for combating the smell of garlic), dill or aniseed, or drink a tea made from mint leaves or fenugreek.

Bloating: Drink a tea made from dandelion root (a good diuretic) or either chew raw angelica or drink a tea made from it.

Cellulite: Dandelion-leaf tea helps break down waste and toxins in the body that are thought to be the cause of cellulite.

Common cold: Drink a tea made from elderberry extract and ginger and never underestimate the soothing effect of a thick chicken soup if you have a cold.

Constipation: Make an infusion of dandelion root, ginger, burdock and liquorice. Use this concentrate to make tea, which should be drunk warm twice a day.

Coughs: For an expectorant: sip carrot juice. To soothe: make a paste of raw garlic, onions and honey, leave to infuse overnight and take a teaspoon every three hours. Drink elderberry tea to boost immunity and fight the infection.

Fatigue: Ginseng tea or capsules.

Flatulence: Eat fresh pineapple or drink a glass of pineapple juice after each meal.

Hangover: Make a dandelion tea and allow to cool. Put a couple of teaspoons of the tea into a blender with a whole banana and some honey and top up with milk. Blitz and drink.

Headache: Drink beetroot tea, preferably made from raw rather than cooked beetroot (don’t use pickled beetroot).

Indigestion: Apples, carrots and the juice of raw potatoes all have antacid properties.

Menstrual cramps with light bleeding: Drink a tea made from cramp bark, blue cohosh, ginger, camomile and prickly ash.

Mouth ulcer: Squeeze a little fresh lemon into a cup of warm water and add a couple of drops of tea-tree oil. Use as a mouthwash.

Nausea: Chew fresh ginger or drink it as a tea.

Premenstrual syndrome: Take 500–1,000mg/0.017–0.035oz of evening primrose oil a day or two before symptoms usually start and continue taking daily right up to the second day of your period. In extreme cases, consult your doctor, who may suggest higher doses for a limited time.

Run-down: This is when your body is most susceptible to illness, so eat two raw cloves of garlic a day to boost the immune system and to revitalize your body from the inside out.

Sore throat: Blackberry tea to sip.

Thrush: Despite widespread belief, live yoghurt doesn’t help. But adding essential oils of tea tree and sweet thyme, together with a few dandelion leaves in a warm bath might.

Toothache: Drench a cotton bud in oil of cloves and place on the affected tooth until the pain subsides.

Water retention (including swollen ankles): Drink dandelion-leaf tea and increase your intake of vegetables that have diuretic properties (for example, carrots, onions, cucumbers and leeks).

Skin rubs and aromatherapy

Note: Always carry out a small skin test to check for allergies before using any of the soothers suggested below. Using a cotton pad, apply a little of the treatment on to the fleshy skin under the top of the arm. Leave for 24 hours, checking regularly for any sign of inflammation. If no adverse reaction occurs after this period then it is safe to proceed with the treatment.

Bruising: Arnica cream rubbed gently on to a bruise will help bring down inflammation and swelling.

Blocked sinus: To ease daytime symptoms, put a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil on to a tissue and inhale; at night time add a couple of drops of the oil to your pillow. For more extreme cases, add the oil to boiling water in a basin, place a towel over your head and inhale the vapours.

Burns: Cut open an aloe vera leaf and apply the sap directly to the burn. Alternatively, apply a compress that has been soaked in cold tea made from the green leaves of ragwort (St James’ wort), lavender oil or camomile flowers (the shop-bought version is a lotion) or from witch hazel.

Cracked or infected skin: Marigold flowers steeped in boiling water and allowed to cool, then gently wiped on with a clean cloth twice a day.

Common cold: Add eucalyptus oil and clove oil to your bath.

Cold sores: Scrunch a marigold flower in your hand and apply directly to the cold sore.

Dermatitis: Make an infusion of marigold flowers and chickweed and dab on to affected areas.

Dry skin: Cut open an aloe vera leaf and apply the sap directly to the affected areas.

Eczema: Crush one or two vitamin B tablets into a fine powder in a pestle and mortar, add a little wheatgerm oil, olive oil, safflower oil and sunflower oil, mix and apply to the affected areas.

Haemorrhoids: Apply a cold wash of witch hazel and marigold flowers.

Head lice: Squeeze unscented body lotion to half-fill an eggcup, then add essential oils: one drop of lavender, one of geranium and two of eucalyptus. Mix together then massage into the head and leave for half an hour. Comb thoroughly with a nit comb before shampooing. Rinse off, then use a final rinse of clean, warm water in a mug with two drops each of lavender, geranium, eucalyptus and rosemary together with two teaspoons of white vinegar. Dry naturally.

Insomnia: Sprinkle lavender oil on your pillow.

Leg cramp: Rub with arnica cream.

Sadness: Before going to bed, add some pine needles, willow bark and larch bark (the inner part) to a mug of boiling water. Place it, still steaming, on your dressing table to scent the room while you sleep. Do not drink.

Sore tired eyes: Put a whole rosebud into a cup of boiling water and allow to cool back to room temperature. Dab the rose water directly on to the eyelids.

Stiff muscles: Add rosemary oil to a hot bath. When dry, apply arnica cream.

Thrush: Crush a clove of garlic in a light olive oil – mix until it forms a paste. Apply to the affected area. Leave for 10–15 minutes. Wash away then soothe with a cream made by half-filling an eggcup with unscented body lotion into which has been added two drops of myrrh oil, two of lavender oil and one of tea-tree oil. (This cream can also be applied to a panty liner.)

Wasp or bee stings: Scrunch a marigold flower in your hand and apply directly to the sting.

Weak or split nails: Mix tea-tree and marigold oils together and rub on to the nail.

Golden paste

Fab for aches, pains and inflammations especially in the winter months, just a teaspoon swallowed daily can make a real difference. It can also be added to hot milk for a soothing drink, sort of a golden paste latte.

60g/2½oz ground turmeric

70ml/2½fl oz coconut oil

½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Put the turmeric and 250ml/9fl oz/1 cup water in a pan, stirring over a gentle heat until you have a thick paste. This should take around 7–10 minutes – you may need to add a little additional water or turmeric along the way to achieve a good, thick consistency. Grind the pepper and add, along with the coconut oil, at the end of the cooking. Stir well (a whisk is ideal). Once cooled and jarred, place in the fridge and use within 2 weeks. Can be frozen for up to 6 months.