Lavender Oil

Pure lavender essential oil is an amazing oil as it is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-depressant and sedative. It's main benefits being that it balances & normalizes body functions, promotes tissue regeneration, speeds up wound healing, cleanses cuts, bruises & skin irritations, soothes & relaxes the mind & body, and eases aches and pains.

Unlike many pure essential oils which require to be diluted in a carrier oil, lavender oil is safe to use directly on the skin. It can be applied directly to spots, bites, cuts, minor burns and acne spots. A few drops sprinkled on a tissue and inhaled or rubbed on the temples or back of the neck will relieve headaches. For bruises, put a few drops on a damp cloth and place over the affected area, repeat twice a day. For earache add one drop of oil to one teaspoon of warm olive oil and place a couple of drops in the ear with a dropper. Mix aloe vera gel with a few drops of lavender oil for a soothing and cooling after sun gel. An excellent oil for your first aid kit.

Lavender oil's calming affect on the system and relief of fatigue , make it widely used in massage and aromatherapy. Not sleeping well? Put 6 drops in your evening bath after a stressful or tiring day, and soak your troubles away. Alternatively place 1 or 2 drops of lavender oil on your pillow before retiring to help give you restful sleep.

Even your pets can benefit from lavender oil. It soothes them in time of distress and also repels fleas and many other insects. For fleas you can add a few drops of oil to the rinsing water when washing pets bedding and/or you can dip their brush in water with a few drops of lavender oil added then brush through their fur. For stress place a pad with few drops of lavender oil in their bed.

Note: If pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult with a healthcare practitioner prior to use. Keep away from eyes.

Always check that you are receiving a pure essential oil when purchasing lavender oil as many lavender oils sold are only for use in pot pourri.

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As Rosemary is to the spirit, so Lavender is to the soul ~ Anonymous

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After Sun Bath Cooler

5 drops pure lavender essential oil
2 drops pure chamomile essential oil

Add to warm bath water, relax and let the oils and water calm your skin.


After Sun Soothing Gel

1 tsp aloe vera or aloe ferox gel
4 drops pure lavender essential oil
1 drop pure chamomile essential oil

Mix and apply to reddened areas.


Lavender Massage Mix
From the Skin Care Company
Submitted By: Tammy

2/3 cup / 150 mls grape seed oil
1/3 cup / 75 mls wheat germ oil
10 drops vitamin E oil
6 drops pure lavender essential oil

Pour all the ingredients into a dark bottle that has a spout. Shake well. Shake well before each use. Pour the oil into your hands to warm before putting it on your body. Massage into your body using a circular motion. This makes 8 ozs / 240mls.


Natural Acne Treatment
From Article Alley Author: Flatpick
For full article got to here
Lavender essential oil and Tea Tree seem to be well tolerated by most users and Tea Tree is one of the best and most popular for natural acne treatment.

Mix the following in a small bottle or container:
1 oz / 30 ml jojoba oil
10 drops of lavender oil
7 drops of tea tree oil
2 drops of bergamot oil
1 drop geranium oil

(To mix without the bergamot oil, simply use 12 drops of lavender oil). Shake ingredients well and apply to your face, neck or back. Avoid your eyes, nose or the inside of your ears. As with any acne treatment, these will take time to work. If you have a serious skin condition, please consult with a dermatologist. For allergy prone skin it may be wise to try applying the oils in a small area first.


Hot Oil Treatment for Damaged Hair
From the LongLocks Hair Care Website

1/2 cup soybean oil
8 drops oil of sandalwood
8 drops oil of lavender
8 drops oil geranium

Mix all ingredients well. Warm oil to a comfortable temperature and apply the mixture to damp hair. Wrap hair in plastic wrap and apply a hot towel for 20 minutes. Shampoo.


Lavender Hand & Foot Wash
From Spa Index
Use this wash to relieve red and inflamed hands and feet.

1/2 cup dried lavender flowers
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh sage
2 cups of water
8 drops of lavender oil

In a saucepan, combine lavender flowers, sage and water. Simmer, covered, on low heat for 20 minutes. Strain mixture through cheesecloth and let cool. Discard the solids, retain the liquid. Add Lavender Oil, shake to emulsify, and then apply to hands and feet with a soft wash cloth or cotton pads. Repeat as necessary, or desired. So refreshing in summer when your feet are hot, and in winter, when they've been cooped up in boots.


Skin Astringent
From Skin-care.Health-Cares.Net

2 bags of green tea
1 tablespoon rosemary
16 oz / 475mls boiling water
1/2 cup witch hazel
5 drops lavender essential oil
juice from a half of lemon

Place rosemary into a strainer or muslin bag and place it into a glass container. and the tea bags and pour the water into it.Let it stand until it's completely cool.Then add the witch hazel,lemon juice and lavender oil. Store in the fridge. It may separate so shake before use.


Calming Mist For Overactive Dogs
Good advice from The Herbs Place

30 drops lavender essential oil
20 drops chamomile essential oil
4 oz / 120 mls of purified water or distilled

Measure essential oils into an empty and clean 4-oz spray mist bottle. Add the water until it is filled. Put on cap and shake well before each use. Spray around the dog and even on its coat since Lavender is a good essential oil to repel mosquitos and fleas. This is great for use in a car with a nervous dog or at any time your dog is over-energized. (Note: He does a lot of work with pets and wears lavender oil to help them feel more relaxed and also helps to keep the bugs away. Great advice for those working with strays ~ Jackie)


Flea Mix for Dogs

2 cups water
2 drops pure lavender essential oil
2 drops pure cedarwood essential oil

Put in bowl, stir to mix. Dip dog brush into bowland brush through dog's coat until all fur covered excluding his/her face.

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Sesame Seed Oil

For thousands of years in the Middle East and Asia, sesame seed oil was, and still is, popular for it's health, beauty and culinary uses. The Ancient Chinese also used sesame oil in their lamps, and with the soot made their ink-blocks. It has a distinctively sweet and nutty flavour and aroma, and is light yellow in colour. Sesame seed oil is also called benne, gingili, til or teel oil in some countries. The most healthy and nutritious oil to purchase is virgin, cold-pressed, gmo-free, unrefined, raw seeds.

Sesame seed oil contains vitamins A, B and E, magnesium, copper, calcium, iron, phosphorus and zinc. It also contains linolenic acid, alpha linolenic acid and lecithin, giving it some of it's amazing health properties. It is an antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory oil. The oil is 82% polyunsaturated fatty acids including omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are necessary for growth and necessary in the prevention and treatment of many chronic diseases like coronary heart disease and arthritis.

It is made up of about 50% oleic acid. Oleic acid is excellent for lowering cholesterol levels by raising levels of HDL's while lowering LDL's (known as "bad" cholesterol). Sesame lignans also lower cholesterol levels by hindering the absorption and formation of cholesterol. Research shows that the oil can neutralize free oxygen radicals within the skin and surrounding tissues. In addition, sesame seed oil contains two important antioxidants sesamolin and sesamol, which amongst many things can increase vitamin E activity.

Sesame seed oil has many first-aid uses like soothing sun and wind burn, sore gums, athletes foot and nail fungus, and painful joints. Has also been said to help restless sleepers from repeated waking up during the night, if massaged into the feet before going to sleep. Mum find it handy for baby too as it can be used on their skin in the area covered by a nappy/diaper to protect against rashes caused by urine. The oil can be used to remove the milk like crust sometimes seen on a baby's head.

Beauty wise, sesame seed oil is loved by beauticians and masseurs Worldwide, due to it having anti-wrinkle, antioxidant, softening, hydrating, nourishing and penetrating properties. It also neutralizes oxygen radicals, one of the major causes of ageing and tightens facial skin. Excellent for both dry and oily problem skin and dandruff. It absorbs toxins from skin leaving it healthy, soft and clean. Easy to do a self massage of ones face or body and then rinse off in the shower. On top of everything it is also a great ultraviolet ray blocker, so apply before going out in the sun.

In the kitchen it is generally used in two forms, either the cold pressed form or the stronger tasting Asian style oil which is extracted from toasted sesame seeds. To keep the health properties of the oil and not to overpower dishes with the fairly strong sesame flavour rather add a little oil to dishes after stir frying or roasting. It is also wonderful added to marinades and dressings. Try it on a cold noodle or pasta salad...yummy!

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Hair Mask

2 tbsps warm sesame oil
2 tbsps neem oil

Mix and massage into scalp, comb hair with wide tooth comb, wrap hair in a hot towel or cling wrap and keep on for at least 15 minutes or overnight, then shampoo out.


Sunblock
From Care2 Green Living
Posted by Annie B. Bond

1 cup zinc oxide paste
½ cup sesame oil
½ cup orange blossom water, at room temperature
½ cup distilled water, at room temperature

Spoon the zinc oxide paste and pour the sesame oil into the top of a double boiler. Stir as best you can. Fill the bottom of the double boiler 1/4 full of water and bring to a gentle boil. Place the top of the pan containing the paste and oil over the bottom and gently heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the orange blossom water and distilled water, mixing thoroughly. Store in a wide mouthed jar with lid; decorate with stickers, if desired. Yield: 2 cups
To use: Dab on the skin. Do not rub in. The more opaque the product is on you, the more effective the sunblock.


Stretch Mark Oil

1/2 tsp organic cold pressed sesame oil
1/2 tsp or 2 capsules vitamin E oil
1/2 tsp organic cold pressed wheat germ oil
4 drops rose otto or 4 drops lavender essential oils

Do not use during first trimester of pregnancy or while breast feeding. Massage regularly on stretch mark area.


Ginger Dandruff Treatment

1 tbsp ginger root juice
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp lemon juice

Mix all ingredients. Apply to scalp and let dry before shampooing. Repeat three times a week.


Cucumber Salad
From Chinese Food at About.com
By Rhonda Parkinson

As with any cucumber salad recipe, the trick is to keep the cucumbers crisp and water from collecting at the bottom of the bowl. I find that weighting down the cucumbers during salting so they release more water really helps. Be sure to quickly toss the salad one more time before serving. ~ Rhoda

2 medium cucumbers
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsps red wine vinegar
5 1/2 tsps soy sauce
2 tsps organic cold pressed sesame oil
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper, according to taste
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into chunks
2 scallions (green onion, spring onion), thinly chopped

Peel the cucumbers if desired. Cut in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds in the middle. Cut diagonally into thin slices, no more than 1/2-inch thick. Lay the cucumber slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Leave for at least 1 hour and pat dry with paper towels, squeezing out any excess water.
Note: To help drain more water from the cucumbers, I weighed them down with 2 resealable plastic bags about 3/4 full with water. You can also use a saucer to weigh down the cucumbers.
While desalting the cucumbers, in a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, soy sauce and sesame oil. Whisk in the sugar and crushed red pepper. Simmer the dressing over very low heat for 2 - 3 minutes, (this allows the flavours to blend). Remove the cucumbers and pat dry with paper towels, squeezing out any excess water. Place the cucumbers in a large bowl and add the red bell pepper and chopped scallion. Drizzle the dressing over the salad. Toss, cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving, (preferably longer). Toss the salad in the dressing again before serving. Serves 3 to 4.

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Evening Primrose Oil

Primrose Day on 19th April and Princess Haiku's recent comment made me think you might like me to repost my primrose entry. So here it is with a couple of beauty recipes added.

Evening primrose oil is a popular supplement derived from the seeds of the evening primrose plant. Known for hundreds of years as a medicinal plant, Native Americans used the bark and leaves for many disorders and it was also used for many medical disorders in England as far back as the 17th Century.

As the oil easily goes rancid once exposed to the air so it is therefore better to purchase it as organic, cold-pressed, evening primrose oil, veggie capsules. These are readily available in most health shops and some supermarkets.

Health-wise, the oil contains a high concentration of naturally occurring gamma linoleic acid (GLA) which is an Omega-6 fatty acid. GLA supports the body's cardiovascular, immune, nervous and reproductive systems. It also contains oleic acid and palmitic acid. Recent research has shown it's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are found useful in treating arthritis, menopausal problems, heart disease, eczema, itchy skin and sunburn. Is said to lower the risk of osteoporosis in women and relieves PMS and breast feeding breast pain, bloating and depression. Plus many men swear by it as a hangover cure.

Beauty-wise, evening primrose oil is excellent for the skin, hair and nails if taken both internally and externally. Puncture a capsule with a pin and use the oil rubbed into the nails or applied to the skin and scalp. It is very nourishing for normal to dry skin and reduces acne inflammation.

NOTE: Evening primrose oil is not recommended during pregnancy.

Eating the flowers, seeds, leaves, or roots of evening primrose provides the same health benefits as taking commercial oil. Therefore it is worthwhile growing it in the garden. The roots can be boiled and eaten like any other root vegetable. The flowers are excellent for decoration and taste in a salad and the leaves can be cooked the same as spinach and served as a vegetable. During WW2 the seeds were roasted and used as a coffee substitute but nowadays they are generally roasted and sprinkled on salad.

All in all a very useful plant.

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Homemade Eye Wrinkle Treatment/Formula
From Kitchen, Crafts and More

2 tbsp / 1 oz / 30 ml pure essential jojoba oil
1 capsule pure essential evening primrose oil
10 drops pure essential carrot seed oil

Pour jojoba oil into a small dark glass bottle. Pierce capsule of primrose oil and squeeze into the bottle. Add drops of carrot seed essential oil. Shake well. Place two drops under each eye and tap to spread. Don't get into eyes. It will keep for 6 months if stored in a dark, cool place.


Empress of Roses Face Oil
From Traci's Natural Beauty

2 oz. rosehip seed oil
1 tbsp / 1/2 oz / 15ml evening primrose oil
3 tbsp / 3 oz / 45ml cold pressed olive oil
5-10 drops each of helichrysum, rose otto, and neroli essential oil (optional)

Shake together in small squirt bottle, keep in fridge.


Night Gel
From Natural Beauty

For Oily skin
2 tsp evening primrose oil
2 tbsp aloe-vera gel
1 tsp witch hazel
4 drops lemon essential oil

For Acne
2 tsp evening primrose oil
2 tbsp aloe vera gel
1 tsp witch hazel
4 drops thyme essential oil
4 drops spike-lavender essential oil

Follow these directions to make both the oily skin and the night gels: Put all of the ingredients in a 2 oz / 30ml dark glass bottle; cap and shake to blend. If you are using aloe vera gel from a plant, you can refrigerate the night gel for up to 1 week, but then you must discard it. If the aloe-vera gel is store bought, the night gel will keep in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.

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