THE HERBAL HOME SPA: Prof. Rita Heikenfeld, CCP, CMH
This very long page has a lot of my favorite home spa recipes.
Some great home-made "home spa" recipes I mentioned on Ron Wilson's radio show!
Rita’s Gardener’s Hand Salve
As an herbalist, I love this simple salve for garden-weary hands. Fun
to make with kids. Double or triple this if you want.
Melt together:
6 tablespoons almond oil
1 tablespoon cocoa butter
1 tablespoon beeswax.
Stir, let mixture cool.
Stir in several drops of peppermint oil or your favorite essential oil. If using fresh herbs, let them dry first . You’ll want about 2 tablespoons chopped dried herb. The reason for using dried vs fresh is once in a great while, the moisture in fresh herbs may cause the oil to get moldy after a time. This has never happened to me (I usually let the fresh herbs wilt a bit), but professionally, I need to tell you this - add them to the almond oil and warm it. Let the herbs cool in the oil and then strain and proceed with your recipe, adding more oil if necessary.
Even easier:
Thanks to a loyal reader who sent this tip in anonymously: To each cup of
herbal infused oil, add 1/4 cup beeswax. Melt on low until wax is melted.
You can always add more beeswax, or more oil to your liking. Remove from
heat and pour into container. Store in a cool, dark place.
Salves last several months at least.
ROSEMARY GLADSTAR’S FACE & HAND CREAM
One of my students sent me this recipe, and I enjoy making it. Use a good
quality Aloe Vera gel.
This is a bit oily when first applied to the skin but is quickly absorbed.
This recipe came from Rosemary Gladstar , a wonderful and kind herbalist
and healer. Remember to use only distilled water, which is a “hungry”
water and helps with the infusion process. Don’t use ordinary tap
water because of the bacteria content which will cause your cream to spoil.
Anhydrous means “without water”. Lanolin is wool grease obtained
from sheep’s wool. The lecithin acts as an emulsifier, which keeps
everything blended and well mixed. Aloe gel from the plant works best, but
you can buy Aloe gel in the health food store. Your mixture may be a bit
more thin using gel from the store but will still be wonderful.
2/3 cup rose flower water, orange flower water or distilled water
1/3 cup Aloe Vera gel
Essential oil
Vitamin A or E (opt)
3/4 cup apricot, almond or grapeseed oil
1/3 cup coconut butter or coconut oil
1 teaspoon anhydrous lanolin
2 tablespoons liquid lecithin
1/2 oz grated beeswax (2 tablespoons)
Melt oils and wax together over very low heat or in microwave. Watch so they don’t burn. Set aside to cool. Cut and peel Aloe until you have 1/3 cup of Aloe pulp, and be careful that you don’t get any spines or skin into your pulp. Whip Aloe in blender. Add rosewater to whipped Aloe and blend. Slowly pour the oil mixture into the top of the blender. You’ll see an immediate change in consistency. Listen for a change in sound and look at the cream, which should be thickened. Spoon into jar. Keep at room temperature for several months.
Tips from Rita’s kitchen: If you use herbs in the formula and not essential oils, refrigerate it or add Benzoin tincture as a preservative.
LOVELY LOTION
Use base formula for Face Cream but don’t add beeswax
RITA’S HOMEMADE BATH SALTS
The two ingredients that are key here are sea salt and epsom salt. I developed this recipe as my “signature” bath salt recipe.
The dry milk is a soothing ingredient. Epsom salt is soothing to sore muscles and is found in the pharmacy aisle. A little more or less of any ingredient is OK for both salts and soap. And if you want to really make it just like the expensive versions at the bath & body shops, add a tablespoon or so of fine granulated sugar and pack a few vitamin E tablets in which will melt in the hot bath water. The sugar is antiseptic and scrubs your skin and makes it soft, while the vitamin E acts as an anti-oxidant and is soothing to cuts and scrapes.
Master Recipe:
Mix together:
1 cup Epsom salt
¼ cup sea salt
2 tablespoons baking soda
Variations:
1 tablespoon dry goats milk
1 tablespoon regular (not instant) oats, run through a blender (opt)
1-2 tablespoons bath herbs of your choice, finely ground or not, your choice,
or a few drops essential bath oil of your choice
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Vitamin E capsules
Wheat Germ capsules
Primrose capsules
Vitamin C tablets
Mix together. You can add food coloring – depending upon how thorough you are in mixing, all the crystals won’t be colored, but you’ll get pretty “dots” of color here and there. To use, pour ¼ cup into a hot bath.
BATH HERBS
HERBS FOR ACHING MUSCLES AND JOINTS:
Bay, Juniper Berries, Oregano, Sage, Strawberry Leaves.
ANTISEPTIC HERBS:
Eucalyptus
Cold & Flu Bath Salts:
One of my favorite bath salts to make for when we have a cold or flu is
to add a teaspoon each of dried lemon balm or mint, thyme, crushed juniper
berries and eucalyptus to the basic bath salt recipe. I’ll also add
a teaspoon of tea tree oil to the hot bath water.
ASTRINGENT HERBS:
Bay, Comfrey, Lemongrass, Nasturtium Flowers, Raspberry Leaves, Roses, Rosemary,
Yarrow Flowers
SOOTHING HERBS:
Catnip, Chamomile, Comfrey, Juniper Berries, Lemon Balm, Roses, Violets.
Lavender
STIMULATING HERBS:
Basil, Bay, Calendula (also good for toothaches and rashes – found
in natural children’s ointments and teething gels), Fennel, Lavender
(soothing as well, used in baths and footbaths) ), Lemon Verbena, Mint,
Rosemary, Sage (also used in footbaths), Savory, Thyme, Lemon Verbena
Here’s some information about common herbal spa herbs:
CHAMOMILE
This is the daisy-like herb used in teas to calm and relieve anxious feelings.
. It’s also a great stress antidote. Chamomile tea helps relieve inflammation
and can be used to soothe sore gums. It makes a great once-a-week face rinse
(and is mild enough for most babies). To perk up puffy eyes, dip cotton
pads in cool chamomile tea (use a tablespoon of fresh leaves to a cup of
boiling water and steep for 3 minutes, then strain and cool) and place over
eyes. Lie back and relax for about 15 minutes, redipping the pads midway.
Chamomile is apple scented with a citrus hint. Try mixing half chamomile
and lavender for a soothing tea.
LAVENDER
The Latin meaning of this sweet herb means “to wash”. Its fresh,
clean aroma is unmistakable. I love using lavender in the bath because its
astringent action is useful before applying moisturizer. I like putting
lavender flowers into generic bath oil. Lavender is a calming herb and is
very antiseptic. Pure essential oil of lavender is good on cuts, burns and
bites (and buy oil which has been made from English lavender – it’s
more potent than the French is). It uplifts moods and can help banish the
blues.
LEMON VERBENA
Actually a deciduous shrub, lemon verbena is a sweet lemon herb. The leaves
are very tough so if you use them in cooking, either pull them out after
cooking, or chop them fine. It is one of the few herbs that retains its
aroma for years; a great addition to potpourri.
LEMON BALM
This perennial member of the mint family has a clean, soothing scent.
MINTS
There are so many kinds of mints. Any one will work, with peppermint being
the strongest and spearmint more on the sweet side. Mint is used as an uplifting
herb.
ROSES:
One of the most ancient of bath herbs. Roses are astringent, fragrant and
healing.
ROSEMARY:
For “remembrance”. Rosemary actually helps the memory, and is
antiseptic and a good and lavender is a skin-smoother, while chamomile,
of course, makes you relax.
ROSE GERANIUM
One of my favorite old-fashioned herbs, there are many varieties and scents,
from true rose to citrus, to pine scented. I always add rose geranium to
my bath salts, herbal sugars and powders
GREEN TEA: Soothing.
HERBAL SUGAR SCRUB
All the rage now, exfoliants (which remove dead skin cells from the skin)
and scrubs have been used for centuries. The best sugar to use is raw but
granulated works OK, too. A bit of grated ginger is good in here, also.
Another herb that works well is the pot marigold, or calendula. Now if you
don’t have lavender, you can make a simple scrub of sugar and oil,
adding a few drops of essential oil of your choice if you like.
1 teaspoon lavender leaves and/or flowers
¼ cup turbinado (raw) sugar
1 teaspoon powdered Stevia (opt)
2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (or pure or light olive oil), enough
to make a paste
In food processor, blender, or coffee grinder (and if using grinder, do this in batches), process lavender and sugar until lavender is finely ground. Mix with oil to make a paste. If adding grated ginger (about ¼ teaspoon), add it now. Blend well. Use as a body and facial scrub , avoiding eye area
FIZZY BATH SOAK
Fun for kids to make. You can use fresh herbs if you are using this within
a day or two. Dried herbs work best if you are giving this as a gift. Or
if you have no herbs, that’s OK, too.
I like to use eucalyptus leaves, sage leaves and thyme leaves along with some lemon herbs or essential oils for antiseptic and astringent qualities. These herbs are great for respiratory ailments and are used in many commercial lozenges, rubs, etc. to clear mucus from nose and lungs.
A nice bath soak to make is as follows:
Mix ¼ cup each baking soda and cornstarch. Add 1 tablespoon citric acid (you can find this in the canning section – it’s used to boost the acid content of tomatoes that you can or in health food stores) and a bit of unsweetened concentrated powdered drink mix, like Kool-Aid, for color (opt). Use 1/4 cup for each bath. The combination of citric acid and baking soda makes it fizz up!
BUBBLY FIZZY BATH SOAK
Add a tablespoon or two of grated fine Castile or Ivory soap.
GIVE YOUR SELF A LIFT ARROWROOT BODY POWDER
Great for tired feet!
1 cup arrowroot powder
20 drops peppermint oil or 1/4 cup finely powdered dried peppermint leaves
Mix together. Put in a shaker. Sprinkle on feet or body after a bath.
GINGER LIME SALT GLOW EXFOLIANT
1/4 cup fresh chopped ginger root, peel left on
1/2 cup fine sea salt
Juice of up to two limes
1/2 cup warm vegetable oil (avocado, apricot kernel, sunflower, safflower,
almond, jojoba, grapeseed, etc.)
Place ginger root and salt in food processor blender and process as smooth
as you like. Add limes and oil and process until a soft but gritty paste
forms. Use to exfoliate hands, feet and rough spots on elbows, massing into
skin with gently circular motions. Rinse with warm water, spiked with squirts
of lime.
SIMPLE SALT SCRUB #1:
When using salts for bath salts, I like to use sea salt for its purity and
minerals. Sea salt is formed from surface evaporation, naturally, while
most table salts are made by vacuum pan evaporation. To use fresh or dry
herbs is fine instead of essential oils. Just be sure to crush them to release
their oils before adding to the salt scrub.
Mix together 3 tablespoons or so of sea salt, 1 tablespoon Epsom salt and enough base oil to make a paste (olive, almond, grapeseed, apricot, jojoba, sunflower, etc.). Now add a few drops essential oil of your choice or 1 tablespoon minced fresh bath herb or 2 teaspoons dry, minced also. Rub on wet skin (avoid face) and scrub. Then rinse off.
SCRUB #2:
To ¼ cup clover honey, add ¾ cup ground regular oatmeal (for
soothing), 2 tablespoons corn meal (for cleaning) and a tablespoon of lemon
balm, minced. Use as a body scrub, avoiding eye area.
MINT AND ROSE BATH SPLASH
Rose Petals are astringent, fragrant and wonderful. Mint adds a tingling
touch to this vinegar. Sometimes I’ll throw in some lemon verbena,
lemon balm or rose geranium. Any one of these herbs work well, or make your
own combinations. If you don’t have herbs, essential oils work wonderfully
well. Or just use it plain, with the vinegar and water. Cider vinegar restores
the acid balance to your skin and is great for rinsing hair.
2 tablespoons or so fresh rose petals or a tablespoon of dried rose petals and rose geranium leaves or several sprigs of rose geranium leaves and a few roses. Mint sprigs are a great addition to this, as well as lavender, night blooming primroses and other fragrant herbs and flowers. Add these to:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup bottled distilled or mineral water
Steep petals and leaves for a couple of weeks in the vinegar. You’ll know it’s done by the fragrance. Sometimes this takes up to a month. Strain and rebottle, adding water. Use 1/3 cup in each bath. If you are using essential oils, you can use it after a few days.
FOAMY MINT AND ROSE BATH SPLASH
Add 1/4 cup liquid glycerin or castile soap
Other good add-ins for splashes, soaps, exfoliants and scrubs:
Witch Hazel is an astringent
Liquid glycerin holds the moisture in your skin (glycerin is a plant based liquid, sometimes made from coconut. Organic glycerin is sometimes used to sweeten cough syrups, etc. If using glycerin on your skin by itself, always mix with an equal amount of water for good absorption.
• Vitamin E oil – soothing and healing
• Jojoba oil – most like the oil your skin produces naturally
• Coconut oil – soothing and a great moisturizer
• Grapeseed oil – well absorbed by your skin
SCENTED WASH CLOTHS
An old-fashioned way of saying “Welcome to our Table”. Dampen
a pretty washcloth or napkin. Fold it in half. In the center place a few
sweet herbs. Enclose the herbs by folding again. Place in microwave on high
for a minute and let each guest open a fragrant, healing cloth to cleanse
themselves before or after eating.
GREEN TEA AND HERB BATH FOR SORE MUSCLES
Place into a large tea ball or cheesecloth/muslin square (tie with long
ribbon)
The contents of one green tea bag
¼ cup ea: dried rosemary and mint
1 tablespoon ea: chamomile, lavender and epsom salts
Place over faucet and let water pour over it. Add a tablespoon of cider
vinegar to the water as you are filling the tub as a boost for restoring
the acid balance to your skin.
ROSEMARY TONIC
Steep a couple handfuls of fresh rosemary sprigs in a bottle of wine for
4 days; serve as a cordial. Or float 1 or 2 sprigs in a glass of wine for
1 hour. Rosemary’s healthful properties include taming headaches and
tummies
ALMOND MASSAGE OIL
1/4 cup almond oil
20 drops essential oil of your choice or 1 tablespoon dried fragrant herbs
Pour oil into sterilized jar, or rinse jar out with cider vinegar, let dry
and then proceed. Cider vinegar kills bacteria so it provides an acid shield
you’re your oil. Add oil or herbs and shake well. Let steep in a dark
place for about a week to mature. Add 1 tablespoon to bath or use a small
amount on skin. If using fresh or dried herbs, strain before using. This
makes a nice gift in a pretty decanter.
FOAMING BATH OIL
1/2 cup your choice of oil: almond, jojoba, red turkey castor, grapeseed,
apricot kernel, unscented baby oil, sunflower or avocado
1/4 cup mild, unscented liquid soap or baby shampoo
10 drops essential oil of your choice or 2 tablespoons dried fragrant herbs
Stir together gently and leave for a week to mature. If using dried herbs,
strain before using.
OTHER GREAT ADDITIONS TO BATHS: Cornmeal is a wonderful
cleanser and water softener, while finely ground oatmeal is soothing to
the skin.
A word about Essential and Base Oils:
Always go to a reliable source.
Base oils:
Olive, Sunflower, Soy, JoJoba, Almond, Apricot Kernel, Grapeseed, Avocado,
Mineral (this is what Baby oils are made of and is the most common oil used
in bath oils).
Essential oils are distilled from the plant itself and are very potent. Except for lavender, I don’t know of any that can be applied directly to the skin without being diluted or mixed with a base oil. Do not ingest essential oils or use them in cooking.
Scented Bath and Shower Gel
Source: Richard Elskoe
1 bar castile soap grated (we use Ivory)
1 cup boiling water
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
5 to 10 drops essential or fragrance oil (optional)
Add the grated bar of soap to 1 cup of boiling water in the blender and
set on "whip." Add essential oil and mix well. Cool the mixture
for 15 to 20 minutes and whip again. Add cold water to the mixture until
you have 6 cups. Whip the mixture again. Pour it into a storage container
and let it cool. Do not place a lid on the container. Fill a pump dispenser
with the shower gel. Shake before using.
** This can also be used as a bubble bath!!
***When the recipe calls for a castile soap that means a white type of soap
such as Ivory or a store brand. You can also use liquid castile soap, Ivory
liquid hand soap or a similar store brand.
To make shower gel with liquid castile soap, follow these instructions:
1/2 cup castile soap (castile hand
soap works fine too, we use Ivory)
3/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon table salt
5 to 10 drops essential oil, fragrance oil or
perfume oil (any scent you prefer)
Pour soap into a bowl and add water. Stir gently until well mixed. Add salt,
and stir until mixture thickens. Add essential oil, fragrance oil or perfume
oil and place in pourable plastic bottle.
~ You may add 1 tablespoon of honey for a different variety. This is great
with a vanilla scented gel.
~ If you would like a more moisturizing gel, you may add a 1/2 teaspoon
vitamin E, sunflower or sesame oil.
Bubbling Bath Oil
This will help itching caused by dryness.
1 pint peanut or corn oil
2 tablespoons detergent-type shampoo
Few drops favorite perfume or rose geranium oil
Mix oil and shampoo with an egg beater. Add perfume or rose geranium oil.
Store in a bottle.
To use, add 2 tablespoons to bath water under running tap.
Vanilla Lip Gloss
1 tablespoon grated beeswax
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/8 teaspoon vitamin E oil
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
Place the beeswax, coconut oil and vitamin E oil in an ovenproof container.
Heat gently until the wax and oils are melted. Stir in the vanilla extract
and mix well. Pour the mixture into a clean container and allow to cool
completely.
Almond Bath Bomb
1/4 cup baking soda
2 tablespoons citric acid
1 tablespoon Borax powder
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons sweet almond oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
1/4 teaspoon essential oil and food coloring if desired
Combine dry ingredients in bowl and stir until well blended. Drizzle in
almond oil and stir until mixture is moistened. Add vitamin E oil and fragrance
and stir until well mixed. Take teaspoon size globs of mixture and form
balls. If mixture is crumbly, add more vitamin E oil. Put balls on sheet
of wax paper and leave for 2 or 3 hours. Reshape balls, then let air dry
and harden for 10 days. Store in a closed container.
Copyright Rita Heikenfeld 2006
