At the age of sixteen, Lissa Bell found she had Vitiligo, which is hereditary in her family. At that time, not much was known about Vitiligo, and therefore, nothing could be done for it other than bleaching the pigmented skin in order to create a more uniform appearance. Over time, she researched and read the limited information she could find about the condition. Eventually, she found that she could not use products that contained synthetics without suffering an adverse reaction. While in her early thirties, the youngest of her two children developed eczema. She wanted, as a mother, to make it all better. So she began researching herbal skin care. She developed an herbal soap for her son. Amazed with the results, Bell began experimenting with herbal products for her own skin. In 2009, she started Lissa's Naturals, a line of skin care products for sensitive skin.
The Care and Keeping of Sensitive Skin
A Practical Guide to Holistic Skin CareBy Lissa BelliUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2012 Lissa Bell
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4620-4399-6Contents
Preface...........................................................................ixIntroduction......................................................................xiChapter 1 The Best Herbs for the Treatment of Sensitive Skin.....................1Chapter 2 Skin Care Pantry Essentials............................................16Chapter 3 Infusions, Decoctions, Tinctures, and Emulsions........................26Chapter 4 Skin Food..............................................................32Chapter 5 Face Care Formulary....................................................38Chapter 6 Body Alchemy...........................................................60Chapter 7 Hands-on Skin Care.....................................................75Chapter 8 Would You Put That in Your Mouth?......................................80Bibliography......................................................................87Index.............................................................................89
Chapter One
The Best Herbs for the Treatment of Sensitive Skin
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) First aid plant, medicine plant
Gel or juice
Uses: medical burns, sunburn, cuts, wounds, insect stings, bruises, acne and blemishes, scars, wrinkles, poison ivy, warts, welts, skin ulcers, eczema, shingles, and dandruff (straight from the plant).
Actions: astringent, emollient, anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, anti—inflammatory, immune support, wound and tissue healer, and demulcent.
Constituents: glucomannan, polysaccharide, steroids, organic acids, enzymes, antibiotic, amino acid, saponin, and minerals. It contains phytochemicals: acemannan, beta carotene, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, cinnamic acid, coumarin, lignins, p-coumaric acid, and saponins. It contains nutrients: amino acids, calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, and E.
Note: It is possible to develop intolerance if aloe is used in excess.
Caution: DO NOT take internally during pregnancy.
Aloe vera gel (a member of the lily family) has been used for centuries as a folk cure for burns, cuts, and skin problems. It is believed that Cleopatra may have used it as a cleanser.
It contains more than twenty amino acids and carbohydrates and is common in first aid creams, shampoos, and other natural body products.
It is known to restore tissue close to the center of a bad burn by inhibiting the release of thromboxane, which is thought to be directly responsible for cell death and permanent scarring. It speeds healing and stimulates new tissue growth. It can also help to heal cold sores and diaper rash.
There are more than two hundred different species of aloe vera in dry regions around the world. It is known to speed the healing of damaged tissue, counter irritation and inflammation, and deliver a slight numbing effect. It also fights infection.
Taken internally, the juice is known to help lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation from radiation, increase blood vessel generation in lower extremities in people with poor circulation, and soothe stomach irritation. It can also be helpful against infection, varicose veins, skin cancer, and arthritis. It can be used as a laxative and is helpful in the treatment of AIDS as well as skin and digestive disorders.
Combined with whipped egg whites, it makes a good firming mask. As an astringent, it has soothing properties. It contains a polysaccharide that helps skin retain moisture.
Because aloe vera gel penetrates the skin very quickly and reduces inflammation, it is used to treat a wide range of sports injuries, such as sprains, strains, and turf burns. To increase cell-healing time, use aloe gel in the initial ice compress. Soothe more into the injury site two to three times per day.
It also relieves irritation from insect bites and helps restore the skin's natural pH.
Aloe vera is rich in polysaccharides, galactose, plant steroids, enzymes, amino acids, minerals, and natural antibiotics.
Because of its antibacterial and antifungal properties, aloe discourages mold and bacterial contamination.
For athlete's foot, apply aloe and allow gel to dry. Apply powder and put on socks. Tea tree oil can be added to the gel or powder.
For Crohn's disease, drink one-half cup of juice three times a day to help heal the digestive tract.
Allergic reactions are rare. Perform a patch test behind the ear or on the inside of the forearm.
If using a commercial aloe product, be sure it is free of mineral oil, paraffin, alcohol, and coloring.
For a healing and antibacterial gel, add two tablespoons of dried calendula, chamomile, or comfrey to one-half cup of aloe gel. Pour the mixture into a glass jar and steep on a sunny windowsill for two to three weeks. Shake daily. Strain and bottle.
For sunburn relief, mix a drop or two of lavender essential oil to aloe vera juice. Pour into a small spray bottle. Spray on skin as needed.
Apply ice or cold aloe vera gel compress directly to hives to relieve itching, shrink wheals, and block further release of histamines into your skin.
Chilled aloe vera gel can also be applied to soothe razor burn.
For minor burns, run affected area under cold water for ten minutes, and then apply aloe vera gel. Combined with comfrey, aloe will help heal fractures and sports injuries.
Calendula Pot Marigold, English Marigold
Flowers or petals
Actions: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal. It is used as a blood cleanser and wound healer.
Constituents: contains salicylic acid and is rich in beta-carotene, stearin, triterpenoids, flavonoids, and coumarin as well as microelements.
This herb can be applied topically or taken internally for its antiseptic, cleansing, and detoxifying properties.
Applied topically as a lotion, cream, or salve, calendula speeds healing and counters infection.
It is useful for minor burns, sunburn, insect bites and stings, sore and pustular spots, mastitis, cuts and abrasions, inflamed rashes, hemorrhoids and varicose veins, and helps to heal inflammatory problems throughout the digestive tract, including peptic ulcers and gastritis.
Calendula is a healing herb for rough, damaged, and problem skin.
A compress or poultice made of the flowers is excellent first aid for burns, scalds, stings, impetigo, varicose veins, and chilblains. A strong infusion can be used and applied cold to treat conjunctivitis.
Because of its antifungal properties, it can be used to treat thrush and help in the recovery from gastrointestinal infection. It is an excellent remedy for inflamed or ulcerated conditions. It can be used externally as a poultice, or used internally to treat gastritis and gastric or duodenal ulcers.
The sap from the stems can be used to remove warts, corns, and calluses.
It is also the most effective herb for sensitive skin. Because of its healing and soothing properties, it works well in baby oil, baby lotion, and baby powder as well as in creams and lotions.
Use as a salve or ointment for cuts, infected sores, grazes, and wounds. It is excellent for diaper rash.
Calendula-infused gel will calm sunburn. Leave on for twenty minutes and blot off. Use every day for one week.
For sprained or strained muscles, apply a tincture following a cold compress.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) Also called German Chamomile and Wild Chamomile
Flowering tops and essential oils
Uses: facial masks, steams, eye cream, hair rinses, and shampoos, mildly sedative tea also used as a digestive aid. Often found in facial oils, floral waters, and compresses. Can be used for acne, allergies, boils, burns, cuts, chilblains, dermatitis, earache, eczema, inflammations, insect bites, rashes, and sensitive skin.
When used as a tea, chamomile can act as a sedative and digestive aid.
It is good for treating indigestion, acidity, travel sickness, cramps, inflamed skin, and poor sleep.
It is current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia for the treatment of dyspepsia, nausea, anorexia, vomiting during pregnancy, dysmenorrheal, and specifically flatulent dyspepsia associated with mental stress.
Chamomile is commonly used in pharmaceutical antiseptic ointments and in carminative, antispasmodic, and tonic preparations.
It is also extensively used in cosmetics, soaps, detergents, perfumes, and hair and bath products.
Actions: diaphoretic, restorative and mildly astringent, anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, relaxant, and antispasmodic, soothes digestion, heals wounds, and acts as a penetration enhancer.
Constituents: sesquiterpenes such as chamazulene and farnesol, which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
The essential oil is rich in terpene alcohol (bisabolol), which is proven anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant.
Phytochemical and nutrient content: Alpha-bisabolol, apigenin, azulene, borneol, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, farnesol, gentisic acid, geraniol, hyperoside, kaempferol, luteolin, p-coumaric acid, perillyl alcohol, quercetin, rutin, salicylic acid, sinapic acid, tannin, umbelliferone. Nutrients: choline, vitamins B1, B3, and C.
Two components of azulene are bisabolol and chamazulene, which are powerful antiseptics.
Chamazulene relieves pain, encourages wound healing, is anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic. It is known to kill the bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus.
Bisabolol speeds healing of ulcers and can prevent their development. It is also antimicrobial.
Belliferone is antifungal. This and chamazulene have been shown to be effective against thrush. (Candida albicans)
Caution: Should not be used daily for long periods, as this may lead to ragweed allergy. Do not use if ragweed allergy exists. Chamomile should not be taken with sedatives or alcohol. Large doses may cause vomiting.
It is one of the few herbs that can be safely taken by babies, children, and adults for digestive problems.
Chamomile can treat mouth ulcers, stomachaches, and colic. It soothes inflammation and treats gastritis, Crohn's disease, and colitis.
In 2008, it was found that chamomile extract, in the form of oil, accelerates the healing of burn wounds.
Chamomile tea should always be brewed in a pot with a cover, because most of the active ingredients are formed in the steam.
Apply topically as an anti-inflammatory. Use the infusion as a lotion on sore or itchy rashes, grazes, insect bites, and stings.
Apply warm chamomile tea bags to puffy eyes.
As a lotion or poultice, flowers will soothe sore nipples and mastitis.
Chamomile has been used to treat menstrual pains since Roman times. It is highly available and easy to grow, harvest, and preserve.
In baths, chamomile soothes muscle tension and eases anxiety and nervous stress that interferes with digestion. Because it is able to calm spasms of the smooth muscle of the intestine and uterus, it is effective in treating painful menstruation.
It also eases the pain of premenstrual migraines.
When infused with oil and rubbed into the affected area, it can ease pain from rheumatism and gout.
A chamomile compress can be used to treat sciatica, and an ointment containing the essential oil is antiseptic and soothing for itching and eczema.
For nervous tension with cold hands and feet, it can be combined with ginger.
Children from six months or older can drink the infusion to help ease nighttime irritability, stomachaches, and to promote a restful sleep.
Breast-feeding mothers can drink chamomile tea to ease colic and digestive discomfort.
Add a small cup of chamomile tea to the baby's bath to encourage a good night's sleep and rub on gums for relief during teething.
Steam inhalation can clear phlegm and help asthma.
Chamomile-infused olive oil is a good massage oil for cramps.
A patch test should be conducted before using chamomile tinctures, distillates, or essential oils, since they are known to cause contact dermatitis in some people.
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) also known as boneset, knitbone, and bruisewort.
Leaves, flowers, and roots
Uses: an effective skin soother and healer. It is often added to ointments to treat eczema and psoriasis. Effective in healing wounds, stomach ulcers, and bone fractures. Binds tissues and stimulates tissue repair. Apply regularly to damaged tissue such as sprains, bruises, sports injuries, and operation scars to promote regrowth and shorten recovery and repair time.
Comfrey is efficient as an ointment, cream, or poultice of leaves and root, and helps treat varicose veins, slow-healing wounds, and ulcers. Only apply comfrey around the edge of an open wound. Apply with caution during pregnancy. It is excellent in antiaging cream, because of its healing and regenerative properties.
Take baths in comfrey to improve circulation. It also alleviates and heals minor burns.
Actions: a cell proliferant that promotes the growth of connective tissue, bone, and cartilage and is easily absorbed through the skin. It is anti-inflammatory, astringent, demulcent, and healing. Comfrey is also used for its ability to break down red blood cells.
Constituents: mucilage, allantoin (up to 0.8 percent), tannins, resin, essential oils, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, gum, carotene, glycosides, sugars, beta-sitosterol and steroidal saponins, triterpenoids, vitamin B12, protein (up to 35 percent) and zinc.
Caution: Avoid excess use. Do not take comfrey root internally, as it is toxic to the liver. Do not take leaf internally during pregnancy or for more than six weeks at a time. Do not apply to open wounds.
Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
Tree: leaves, twigs, bark and cones, and essential oil
Uses: appropriate for use in cleansers and toners for normal, combination, oily and sensitive skin. It is also used to help relieve some vascular conditions such as varicose veins.
It is useful in body care for stimulating the circulation and treating water retention.
Cypress is often used in anti-cellulite remedies and is effective for improving overall skin tone.
It can also be used in shampoos and rinses for oily hair.
Actions: anti-inflammatory. Contains vitamin C, potassium, silicon, and sulfur.
Constituents: pinene, camphene, sylvestrene, cymene, and sabinol.
Note: The scent is sweeter and softer than pine, yet similar.
Add to warm bath to stimulate and revive aching muscles after strenuous exercise.
Add a few drops of the essential oil to a body lotion. Apply in a gentle, upward motion to varicose veins two to three nights per week. Do not massage varicose veins.
To shake off the cold, mix four to five drops of cypress oil into a cup of milk and add to a warm bath.
Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)
Flowers, stems, leaves, and essential oil
Uses: used most often to make soap, floral water, powder, sachets, sleep pillows, and bath blends, and makes a lavish skin cream, lotion, or perfume. One of the only oils that can be used "neat" (undiluted).
Actions: Sedative, antiseptic, and heals acne. It relieves sunburn, bee stings, and muscle cramps. The oil can also be used to treat headaches.
The essential oil kills diphtheria and typhoid bacilli, streptococcus, and pneumococcus.
Traditionally, lavender is used to treat chest infections and coughs and colds through an infusion or steam inhalation.
It is good for calming anxiety and tension. It also relaxes spasms of the digestive tract.
A few drops of the essential oil used in massage oil will relax muscles and ease neuralgic and rheumatic pain.
Constituents: volatile oil (up to 1.5 percent, containing linabol, linalyl acetate, lavandulyl acetate, terpineol, cineole, camphor, borneol, pinene, limonene), tannins, coumarins (coumarin, umbelliferone, hemiarin), flavonoids, triterpenoids. Spikelavender (L. latifolia) contains an oil rich in cineole and camphor.
Note: Lavender blends well with rose and patchouli essential oils.
Caution: DO NOT use heavily scented lavender products during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
Use the flowers and leaves to make an infusion for a soothing facial wash for all skin types, especially irritated and acne skin.
Ground, dried flowers can be combined with ground oatmeal and used as a calming, gentle facial scrub, and mask for even the most sensitive skin.
Lavender water has a clean floral fragrance. It is gentle, antiseptic, calming, and healing. It makes an ideal toner for dry skin.
Lavender essential oil can be diluted with rose water or witch hazel to treat acne. It also repels insects and sooths and heals insect bites.
Lemon Balm: (Melissa officinalis)
Leaves
Uses: soothing to sensitive skin, it can be used in bath preparations, face cream, body and shaving lotions. As a tea, it quiets the heart and the overactive mind. It works well when long-term anxiety edges into depression. Because it inhibits thyroid function, it makes a good remedy for overactive thyroid.
As an infusion, it relieves anxiety, tension headaches, and insomnia. It reduces feelings of panic and calms palpitations.
Lemon balm is also safe for children and relieves spasmodic pains and stress-related stomach disorders such as acidity, indigestion, colicky pain, gas, and bloating.
It can be applied to speed the healing of cold sores or dabbed on as an insect repellent.
Actions: the leaf is used as an antidepressant, antispasmodic, insect repellent and relaxant. It also relieves gas and can be used as a topical antiviral and antibacterial. It has antispasmodic activities due to the eugenol content.
The oil has an antihistamine to alleviate problems with allergens and eczema. It can be diluted in carrier oil for this purpose. It also promotes menstruation and eases cramps.
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Excerpted from The Care and Keeping of Sensitive Skinby Lissa Bell Copyright © 2012 by Lissa Bell. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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