ecobites.com

Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

Homemade beauty picked from the herb garden or purchase quality organic herbs from your local farmers' market. Herbal properties +  recipes to get you started. There are tons of ways to use these beauties ....Bath Salts, Bath Teabag, Chamomile Lip Gloss or hand cream which also makes great gifts. A Citrus Refresher Bath Mixture, this sprightly bath blend relieves that frazzled feeling after a hot day.

Calendula Healing herb for rough or problem skin

Ginger Warming herb that gently purifies as it stimulates (Not usually found in the garden or out and about, but I had to include it since it's so easy to find and so great for the body)

Lavender Gentle cleanser and tonic for all skin types

Peppermint An astringent which clears the complexion

Rosemary Invigorating antiseptic which boosts circulation and deep cleansing

Lemongrass Refreshing, rejuvenating and energising, astringent and fragrance

Lemon Verbena was considered as a very strong purifying agent. There is also a strong belief that verbena herb can bring you more sweet dreams - ancient Greeks used to put dried leaves of verbena into their pillows to get more pleasant dreams. Specially made lemon verbena extracts are used in making oniments and lotions which are used to lower the irritation and reddening of skin. In a form of rinser lemon verbena herb can be used to stimulate hair growth and make it much stronger.

Dried Lemon + Citrus Peel contains volatile oil. You can dry your own citrus peel on wire cooling racks in a warm, well-aired position.

Bath Salts
¼ cup Epsom Salt
¼ cup Sea Salt
¼ cup Baking Soda
1 cup shredded plant leaves (any combination or all of the plants can be used)

Combine all these in a mixing bowl with a large spoon. Once well mixed, place in a container with a cap (non-plastic preferably) and close until ready to use.

Bath Teabag

2 tablespoons lavender
2 tablespoons calendula
2 tablespoons peppermint
2 tablespoons Epsom salt

1.Put herbs and Epsom salt into muslin bag.
2.Method 1: Tie tea (muslin) bag to tub faucet and let warm bath water run through bag.
3.Method 2: Boil one-quart water. Put tea bag in the water and let steep covered for 15 minutes. Pour this into bath.
4.Method 3: (light bath) Run bath water. Put muslin bag in water so herbs can infuse over time into the bath.

Citrus Refresher Bath Mixture

2 cups dried lemongrass, 1 cup dried lemon verbena leaves, 1/2 cup mint leaves, 1 tablespoon dried, ground lemon peel, 1 tablespoon dried, ground orange or mandarin peel, 10 drops peppermint essential oil.

Combine the dried herbs and citrus peel until the mixture resembles tea leaves in texture.

Drizzle the essential oil over the dried herbs, stirring the mixture gently.

Store in a tightly sealed jar.

To Use: Add 1/2 cup of the mixture tied in a muslin bag to each bath.

Run the hot water over the mixture and then add cold water until the bath is the correct temperature.

Relax and Enjoy!

 Chamomile

Long known for its calming, sedating effects, it makes a beautiful hair rinse for blonde hair as well as has calming anti-inflammatory effects for sensitive skin.

Chamomile Lip Gloss

• 1/2 teaspoon. Macadamia Nut oil

• 1/2 teaspoon Jojoba oil

• 1 teaspoon organic virgin coconut oil

• 1/2 teaspoon. Cocoa butter

• 1/2 teaspoon Beeswax (grated)

• 1/2 teaspoon Chamomile flowers (dried)

In a double-boiler, melt 1/2 teaspoon Macadamia Nut oil, 1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil, 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil and 1/2 teaspoon Cocoa butter until it is liquefied.  

Add 1/2 teaspoon of dried Chamomile flowers and stir gently for about 10 minutes. 

Strain the mixture with a very fine sieve into a small Pyrex ramekin and clean the area of the double boiler where you had the mixture (Dry the area well). 

Pour the new strained mixture back into the double boiler and reheat. 

Add another 1/2 teaspon cocoa butter and 1/2 teaspoon of beeswax shavings. 

Heat and stir until liquefied completely. 

Remove from the heat and pour into a 1/2 oz. amber or cobalt container. 

This is enough for personal use. 

To use on dry hands, or to give as gifts, you'll want to double or triple this recipe.

This is a very soothing formula that has real "staying" power.