 Here we are with part two of our edible botanicals series. This week we are discussing something that I am passionate and excited about – lavender! Lavender is incredibly versatile. Its floral scent is calming, and its appearance adds romance and beauty to any dish. Lavender is perfect for drinks, baked goods, glazes, and as a garnish.
When cooking or baking with lavender look for the Munstead variety for the best flavor. You can use any variation of lavender, but each variety will give you a different taste outcome. Baked goods are a great candidate for the addition of lavender. It is especially delicious as a pairing with citrus desserts. The lavender melds deliciously with citrus flavors – think lemon lavender pound cake, orange lavender shortbread. YUM. There are a few things to think of when baking with lavender – you want to enjoy the floral flavor without chewing on the flower parts. The best way to grind up the flowers is to use a coffee grinder dedicated to herbs. The ground lavender can be mixed with the recipe’s allotment of sugar and combined that way. Alternatively, you may choose to make a syrup from your lavender (straining the flowers after the infusion is complete). The method depends on what you are making. Pairing lavender with citrus flavors also reduces the impact of the strong lavender flavor. Lavender can easily overpower any dish, so use restraint when adding it to recipes that don’t have a guideline amount. When experimenting with adding lavender to recipes, start conservative and add more the next time you make the recipe, if necessary. No one wants to feel like they are eating straight lavender flowers. The lavender sprig is a gorgeous addition to baked goods and meat dishes. Its scent can calm and ease stress, and its appearance is something that adds whimsey and delicacy. Adding decorative touches of lavender to cakes, drinks, and meat dishes can take the visual presentation of a plate up a level or two. Try this for your next dinner party or birthday event and wow your guests. You can also utilize the leaves of the lavender plant to make your own Herbs de Provence to flavor potatoes, salmon, lamb, chicken or pork. Add dried lavender leaves with thyme, rosemary, sage, and oregano for a delicious homemade herb mixture. Bonus points if you grow each of the herbs in your garden and dry them yourself! The flavor and appearance of the herb mix will be worlds better than anything you can buy in the store. Try adding dried lavender flowers or leaves to different sauces to make homemade meat glazes. You can add these to anything from chicken to salmon. You can use many different glaze mediums – honey, vinaigrette, butter, olive oil. Imagination and the lure to your tastebuds are your only limitations when it comes to cooking with lavender. Lavender can even make drinks more exciting. You can dry your homegrown lavender to make a homemade hot tea blend. You can start with a simple syrup containing lavender and add to iced teas, lemonades, smoothies. You can start your day with a lavender infused smoothie, and end it with a floral libation. You can make lavender infused vodka by adding ¼ cup lavender flowers per 750ml of vodka. Shake the mixture and put it in your freezer for four to seven days for a delicious alcohol infusion. Also, check out the Yummly website for tons of great lavender drink recipes. You will not regret it. I hope you found some inspiration to add lavender to your diet. As we all know, lavender is fabulous for calming the body, but it also adds some great flavor to food and drink. Have you cooked or baked with lavender? If you have, I would love to hear what you thought of it.
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 Most people think dandelions are a weed – a nuisance that should be sprayed with weed killer and mowed over. However, there are some great reasons to let your dandelions grow, or at least harvest them from someplace other than your lawn. These little ‘weeds’ are full of flavor and vitamins.
Dandelions contain a vast amount of vitamins and minerals. Those include Vitamin C, calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, potassium, folic acid, iron, magnesium, and fiber. It’s astonishing that we trash these loathed little plants, and treat them so poorly when they provide such benefits to our health. One of the best things about the dandelion is - you can eat the entire plant – from the leaves, flowers, roots, and crowns. If you choose, you can gain benefits from every piece of the plant – and use each part in different dishes or applications. Dandelion flowers are very versatile – you can make syrups, jellies, honey, vinegar, and wine. They can be used to make dandelion tea and added to salads. The entire flower head(or crown) can not only provide nutritious elements, but it can also add a unique and exciting look to any dish. You can batter and fry the heads and use as a side dish or an edible garnish. Dandelion leaves are a great addition to green salads. They can also be stir-fried with other veggies for a delicious and nutritious meal. Most people find the older leaves to have a bitter taste and prefer to use the small young leaves when eating them raw. You can remove some of the bitterness from older leaves by cooking them. The roots can be roasted and used to make dandelion coffee. I suppose if the world runs out of coffee beans, I might resort to dandelion coffee, but until then, I think I will stick with what I know. Do you cook with dandelions? I would love to learn how you utilize them in the kitchen! *A word of caution – make sure you harvest your dandelions in an area that does not use weed killer or other pesticides or herbicides that can be harmful when ingested.  It’s finally summer – the days are hot and the nights are warm. You are probably spending more time outside and enjoying trips to the beach, the park, neighborhood BBQ’s, and walking the dog. With the warmer weather and the stronger sun, we need to alter our skincare routines to keep up with all that sun time. Following are some tips for keeping gorgeous skin during the summer.
Sunscreen Never forget to apply sunscreen before heading outdoors. While sunscreen is vital year-round, it is especially imperative during the summer months while the sun is at its strongest. Not only does the sun cause sunburns, cancer, and contributes to early aging of the skin, but it also causes embarrassing discoloration. Invest in a daily facial lotion that contains SPF to protect your face throughout the day. If you are especially active, apply your moisturizer more than once. If you plan to have an active day outside, look for a waterproof sunscreen and reapply every two hours to get the most protection. You should also use SPF 30 at the least. Hydrate your skin Hydrate your skin both inside and out during the summer. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day, and eat foods rich in water – the majority of these are fruits and vegetables. Look for melons, grapes, celery, and lettuce. Body oils work well to add a lot of moisture to your skin. You will also want to apply lotion to your face and body after showering. Post-shower is the time when your pores are most receptive to moisturizing. Exfoliate The summer is the best time to exfoliate your skin. Sugar scrubs work wonders at removing dry skin and dirt lodged deep in your pores. Due to excessive sweating during the summer, you tend to have more buildup in your pores that can be difficult to remove with just a typical facial wash. Vitamin C, Collagen Peptides, and Omega 3’s Don’t forget to take your vitamins. Vitamin C contains collagen to help you have healthy, youthful skin. Vitamin C also combats free radicals that make our skin age prematurely. Collagen Peptides also help keep your skin young and firm. They come in powder form that can be dissolved in coffee or tea easily. Omega 3’s are the perfect way to add healthy fats into your diet if you don’t eat much fish or avocado. Healthy fats help our skin look radiant and soft. You can enjoy all of the summer activities and protect your gorgeous skin at the same time. Put together a summer skincare routine and stick to it to have radiant skin all year long. Sources: https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/how-your-skin-can-survive-summer#1  There are a plethora of different herbs that will not only look gorgeous in your yard but are also useful in your home. Each herb has many different uses – from adding flavor to soups or salads to clearing up skin issues or easing an upset stomach. It doesn’t matter if you have a large outside space to plant or just an apartment balcony. Herbs are flexible when it comes to being in containers. Many times, as with peppermint, growing in containers is ideal. The following herbs are easy to grow and will provide you (and the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds) with beautiful and useful plants. 1. Lavender Plant lavender in full sun and make sure the soil is well drained. Lavender does not like having wet feet. It does best if planted in a rock garden or on a slope to ensure proper drainage. Honey bees love lavender and can be seen buzzing around the beautiful purple blooms. 2. Lemongrass Lemongrass makes a stunning landscape grass. While lemongrass enjoys a lot of moisture, it needs good drainage to prevent root rot. Lemongrass can also be grown in large containers and looks lovely as a fixture on a porch or walkway. 3. Peppermint Peppermint should be grown in containers unless you want the plant to spread through your lawn like a weed. Peppermint sends off runners that will take over quickly. It should be planted in an area that gets sun most of the day, and it should be watered often. 4. Rosemary Rosemary likes to be in full sun with good drainage. It needs to be trimmed of dead wood each spring and enjoys small trimmings throughout the summer and fall. It is a fragrant herb used mostly for white meats, soups, and sauces. You can even add a few sprigs to olive oil for a delicious infused oil. 5. Sage Sage does well in a container or planted in the ground. It blooms in early spring with delicate pink or purple flowers and can be harvested from regularly. It’s easy to grow and the cuttings can be hung upside down to dry – and can be used to flavor your favorite holiday dinners. 6. Basil If you are a fan of cooking with basil, it is a must-grow herb. It can be grown on your kitchen window sill – and can be harvested from whenever you need it. It also makes a beautiful addition to any garden with its dark green leaves and fragrant aroma. 7. Chamomile Chamomile has both a perennial and annual breed. If you want a perennial – plant Roman Chamomile. If you are more interested in the annual – look for German Chamomile. Both have delicate daisy-like flowers that attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. It is often used as a companion plant in the vegetable garden to protect other plants from harmful insects. 8. Calendula Otherwise known as the pot marigold, calendula is a beautiful plant with bright yellow and orange petaled flowers. The calendula plant will not only add interest and color to your yard, but it also attracts beneficial insects and is used as a companion plant in the vegetable garden. Whether you are planting these herbs for their beauty or their usefulness - they are sure to please the gardener with their ease of growth and their ability to attract pollinators and other helpful bugs.  Perhaps you’ve heard of bergamot, and perhaps you haven’t. Bergamot comes from the rinds of the bergamot orange tree. It is used in Earl Grey tea, many perfumes, as well as skin care products. It has a spicy citrus scent and is a great option for beautiful skin and hair.
While bergamot has many healing properties which include reducing depression symptoms and increasing digestive functions, this article will focus more on the skin care aspects of bergamot. Like so many other herbs and essential oils, bergamot contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can benefit skin irritations and acne. Bergamot is a great skin cleanser. You can find beauty products that contain bergamot or add some oil drops to the products you already own. It is best to use at night as bergamot can increase your skin’s photosensitivity. If you suffer from oily skin and clogged pores, bergamot can help. It will remove the icky buildup in your pores and even out the oils in your skin. Due to cicatrizant (a property that encourages healing) in bergamot, it is a natural scar healer. It can reduce the appearance of scars and works well to even out skin tone. If you have acne scars or dark spots on your skin, using the bergamot oil can make your skin tone even and youthful looking. Bergamot is also an excellent oil for taming wild curls or frizzy hair. The oil will soften the hair and leave a gentle scent behind. Add a few drops of bergamot oil to your shampoo and wash and condition as normal. Always dilute bergamot oil with a carrier oil. Never apply directly to the skin. Some people can have a sensitivity or an allergic reaction to the oil. It is always a good idea to spot check a small area on your arm before applying to the face to ensure you do not have a bad reaction to the oil. Spot treatment for Acne Mix bergamot oil with a carrier oil of your choice. I recommend Jojoba oil as it is great for Acne prone skin. Apply bergamot mix directly to the pimple or blackhead. Leave this on your skin overnight. *Using it during the day can have ill effects if you expose your skin to sunlight.  Ground Orange Peel Sweet orange oil comes from the peel of the orange, not from the fruit of the orange. It contains heaps of vitamin C, as well as many other healing properties. All of that and it smells delicious too. Sweet orange can heal wounds and skin conditions, relieve pain and depression, sanitize your kitchen, and increase your libido. If you don’t use orange oil around your home, you might want to after reading what it can do for you.
There are numerous ways to use orange oil. You can add drops to a diffuser to relieve depression, anxiety, and help ease you into sleep. You can add it to a carrier oil to use as a massage oil, add it to your shampoo to add shine to your hair or use it in skincare products to improve your skin. Mix orange oil with water to clean your kitchen or add to the dryer to add a crisp clean smell to your clothes. Skincare Sweet orange oil can help with acne, increase collagen, protect against sun damage, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is a great addition to any skincare routine. Look for skincare products that contain sweet orange oil, or make your own. Add a drop or two to aloe vera and apply to your skin. Always use a carrier oil, and make sure you spot check before applying to your face for the first time. Natural Sedative Diffusing sweet orange oil in your room before bed can help calm you into a peaceful sleep. It can help treat insomnia by lowering your stress levels and calming your mind so you can fall asleep easily. Inflammation Relief Orange oil can decrease swelling in the body’s tissue providing you relief from muscle and joint pain. Increases Libido Orange oil increases blood flow and increases a person's feelings of contentment. Try combining orange oil in a carrier oil to make your own massage oil, or diffusing it to boost a lethargic libido. Wound Care As a natural disinfectant and antiseptic, orange oil works wonders on disinfecting and healing wounds. Depression and Anxiety Relief The next time you are feeling depressed or anxious try diffusing sweet orange. It reduces the pulse and naturally reduces the body’s cortisol levels. You can also add orange oil to a carrier oil and dab it on the wrists – just inhale the scent when you need a calming breath. Gas and Constipation Relief Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, orange oil works great for stimulating the bowel to relieve constipation, and to reduce gas in the digestive tract. Natural Cleanser Orange oil contains antibacterial properties so it works great as a natural cleanser – with the ability to prevent many bacteria, including E. coli. It also works well to get rid of ants. If you have ants crawling across your kitchen counters, spray an orange oil solution to remove their scent trails. Combine orange and bergamot oils to a spray bottle of water to make a powerful, and chemical free, kitchen cleanser. It can be used on any kitchen surface, and it will smell amazing. Immune System Boost Orange oil boosts the immune system with its antioxidants and free radical fighters. It’s like drinking orange juice when you start feeling sick, with way less sugar. Diffuse the oil nearby or add to a carrier oil and rub on the bottom of your feet and/or your chest. Sweet orange boasts so many beneficial properties, it is a great addition to any home. Do you use sweet orange oil for any of the above uses? Do you use it for something not listed above? I would love to hear about it.  Lemongrass Soap Lemongrass is a gorgeous tropical grass that boasts many healing properties, and it tastes great too. If you are looking to add ornamental grasses to your yard, think about planting some lemongrass. It is a beautiful plant with long draping blade and a rich citrus scent. Lemongrass grows quickly and gets rather tall when mature, about 3 to 4 feet high. The grass adds a delicious lemon flavoring to food. It also makes a pleasant and healing tea.
Lemongrass can be consumed orally – and it should be! You can add it to soups, sauces, and stir fry. It can also be applied topically to the skin or diffused into the air. If you want to grow your own lemongrass for use in the kitchen, plant either the East or West Indian variation. Here's some other great uses for Lemongrass. Eliminates bacteria and yeast Lemongrass contains antimicrobial properties which can help treat bacteria and yeast within the mouth. It can even help fight cavities. Drinking lemongrass tea can boost your oral health. Reduces swelling Lemongrass can reduce inflammation in the body. If you suffer from inflammation within your body try drinking lemongrass tea. Relieves pain Lemongrass’s analgesic properties can help get rid of a headache, ease muscle cramps, and muscles spasms. Healthy Skin and Hair Lemongrass contains both A and C vitamins. These are both great for your skin. It can relieve skin issues from acne to eczema. Look for skin serums or skin care products that contain lemongrass essential oil. It can also help fight dandruff. Just add a few drops of lemongrass essential oil to your normal shampoo. High blood pressure and high cholesterol Lemongrass has been shown to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart rate. If you suffer from high levels of any of these, try adding lemongrass to your diet. That being said, do not stop taking prescribed medications without speaking to your doctor first. Stomach ailments Drinking lemongrass tea can help keep your digestive tract healthy and happy. If you have an upset stomach or cramping, reach for the tea. It has been used for digestive issues since ancient times. Joint pain Due to lemongrass’s ability to reduce inflammation, and its pain fighting qualities, it is a great option for those who suffer from joint pain. Cold and Flu Lemongrass is packed with Vitamin C, and contains antibacterial and antifungal properties which can help reduce the effects of the cold, cough, and flu. Add a few drops to a bowl of steaming hot water and inhale the steam to relieve symptoms. Anxiety Lemongrass essential oil added to a diffuser when you are feeling depressed or anxious can help relax you and calm your anxieties. Insect repellant While citronella is known as the go-to insect repellant, lemongrass has a milder scent but can also be a great repellant option. Lemongrass can even kill fleas when adding a few drops of lemongrass essential oil to water and spraying on your pet. Cleaning Lemongrass is great for freshening up the home. Add a few drops to baking soda and spread over carpets before vacuuming. Let it it sit for a little while then vacuum. Your house will smell wonderful. Lemongrass Tea: Pour boiling water over 1 to 3 teaspoons fresh (or dried) lemongrass. Let steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain the lemongrass out of the water and enjoy! *Cautions:
Lemongrass is one of my favorite scents! Stay tuned for more MB Botanicals products with Lemongrass.  Peppermint is incredibly easy to grow; it is probably one of the easiest herbs to grow yourself.
*A word of caution – never plant any of the mint family directly into the ground unless you want it to spread everywhere. The mint family sends out runners and it will soon take over your garden like an invasive weed. If you don’t want this to happen, try planting in containers. Peppermint is a beautiful plant with vibrant green leaves with tall purple scented flower towers. If you plan to harvest your own peppermint, you will want to harvest from the plant prior to flowers forming. Peppermint can be used in three different ways. The leaves can be used in cooking or to make a tea. The essential oil can be used in a carrier oil, skin care products, or creams. And the peppermint capsules can be consumed like a vitamin. *Caution: Those who suffer from GERD – gastroesophageal reflex disease should avoid consuming peppermint. It is also suggested that you speak with your doctor before adding peppermint supplements to your diet. Some medicines or other supplements can have a negative reaction with the addition of peppermint. Digestion If you suffer from indigestion, flatulence, diarrhea, or irritable bowels; peppermint may be able to help ease your pains. Peppermint increases the flow of bile, thus reducing indigestion. It also contains antispasmodic properties which can reduce stomach spasms and pain associated with irritable bowels and diarrhea. Sleep Issues Peppermint soothes and relaxes the body and mind. It can help ease a troubled mind and relax you enough for you to sleep. To use peppermint at bedtime, you can diffuse peppermint oil in a diffuser near your bed. For extra relaxation try combining peppermint, lavender, and chamomile oils in the diffuser. Or, you can drink a combo of peppermint and chamomile tea just prior to bedtime. Fresh Breath Peppermint contains anti-microbial properties that fight the nasty bacteria that can grow in your mouth. Try gargling with a few drops of peppermint oil mixed in a small glass of water. You can also add a drop of peppermint oil to your toothbrush to brush the bacteria off your tongue after brushing your teeth. Or, if you want a quick breath freshener, you can always chew on the mint leaf itself. Focus There are some schools that provide peppermint candies during test taking. They do this for good reason. Peppermint helps the brain focus on the task at hand. Peppermint can help when you find yourself having a difficult time concentrating on an important project. Try peppermint tea, peppermint candies, or diffusing peppermint oil when you need to get something done. I like to drink peppermint tea when I start to loose focus from staring at a computer all day. Helps reign me back in and makes me stay away from mindless snacking. Headaches To reduce the affects of tension headaches or migraines you can either use an application of peppermint oil in a carrier oil to your forehead or neck, or you can diffuse peppermint oil near you. Peppermint can help sooth muscles and reduce tension. Sore Muscles As stated above, peppermint is good at reducing muscle soreness. You can apply a diluted peppermint oil in lotion or cream to your sore muscles to reduce the pain and discomfort. Because peppermint contains anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-spasmodic properties it is one of the best things to slather on your muscles. Peppermint is also great for tired feet. I have a nightly ritual of massaging Soothing Foot Balm, which contains Peppermint, into my feet before bed. Works great to relive tired feet as well as making them soft. Energy If you are feeling a little more sluggish than usual, try diffusing peppermint oil or drinking some peppermint tea. While peppermint does not contain any caffeine, it will energize and rejuvenate you. It even works well when applied or consumed before a workout. Colds & Flu Peppermint is a natural decongestant and expectorant. If you are suffering from a stuffy head, try peppermint tea or diffusing peppermint oil in your room. Its antiviral properties help clean the air of viruses. It is also a natural fever reducer. Try using a few drops of diluted peppermint oil to the back of your neck and to the bottoms of your feet. Peppermint packs a powerful punch, no matter how you use it. It can ease colds, stomach issues, and muscle soreness. And it can help you sleep or wake you up and rejuvenate you. And it’s incredibly easy to grow yourself for use in cooking and to make your own tea.   Tea Tree oil, also know as Melaleuca oil, contains many helpful and healing properties which include antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. Experiencing a skin issue? Reach for the Tea Tree oil. Here are a few ways to use it.
Acne Tea Tree oil’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties can help clear up skin imperfections. You can put tea tree oil on a cotton swap and apply directly to acne, or you can use a face serum that utilizes the power or tea tree oil. Tea tree oil kills bacteria on the skin and under the skin’s surface so it’s a great option for acne and blemishes. Apply tea tree to specific problem areas with a cotton swab, or add a few drops to your favorite toner to boost your toner’s overall effectiveness. Skin Care Tea Tree oil isn’t only great for clearing up acne from your skin, but can also be used to reduce the appearance of age spots and wrinkles. It also has a miraculous way of assisting with not only dry skin but oily skin as well. You can cleanse with a soap like Stormy Dayz or use a few drops of tea tree oil in your facial moisturizer to help with skin issues such as wrinkles, dark spots, and dry or oily skin. Cuts and Scrapes Tea Tree oil works really well as a natural antiseptic. Apply it to cuts and scrapes to clean and heal the wound. The antibacterial agents will fight off the germs, and the anti-inflammatory properties will keep the swelling and redness down. Add a drop of tea tree oil to your wound cream, or carrier oil, and apply directly to the wound. Sanitizer Not only can you use tea tree oil as a hand sanitizer, but you can also use it to sanitize surfaces around your home. Again, with its antiseptic and antibacterial components it makes the best cleanser. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to a spray bottle of water and spritz any areas that attract mold – such as in bathrooms and poorly insulated areas of your house. You can also mix two cups of hot water with a half cup white vinegar, and then add 10 drops of tea tree oil. This works as an effective and mild-smelling cleaner that works just as good at fighting germs as a store-bought cleanser. Athlete’s Foot Tea Tree oil’s anti-fungal properties can help fight fungal infections such as athlete’s foot. And its anti-inflammatory properties can keep swelling and redness at a minimum. Add tea tree oil to the carrier oil of your choice. You should apply this to the affected area twice a day to ease the discomfort from the fungus. It can take a while to see results, so keep with it for at least a month. Scalp Care & Hair Loss As we’ve seen through the past few articles, there are many essential oil solutions to a problematic scalp or hair loss, and tea tree oil is another great option. Tea tree oil removes harmful bacteria from the scalp, leaving a healthy base for strong vibrant hair and no flakes. Tea tree oil will also encourage new hair growth. You can purchase shampoo and conditioner that contains tea tree oil, or you can add the oil to your shampoo yourself. *Melaleuca is a potent oil and should be used with caution and care. If you use it properly it can cure or prevent some irritating skin conditions. Never ingest it and keep it away from children and pets. You should only use tea tree oil topically – and always dilute it with a carrier oil. It is also helpful to do a spot test to see if your skin has a negative reaction to this powerful oil. Add a little oil to a cotton swab and apply it to a small area of your skin. If your skin becomes irritated, don’t use it.  Chamomile is one of the most subtle and useful herbs. It is easy to grow and looks beautiful in any garden. It has delicate, daisy-like flowers. The most common use of chamomile is as a tea, but the essential oil can be used in a diffuser or in skin care products. It can help calm a restless mind, fight insomnia, and is great for the skin. Chamomile contains many wonderful properties including anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-aging, and anti-oxidants, to name a few. It also has a subtle floral and fruity taste that will please just about anyone. The flowers are easy to grow, harvest, and preserve to make your own tea. Just prune the flowers as soon as the petals flatten out, and dry them to make your own tea. If gardening isn’t your forte, look for an organic tea at your local grocery store. Drinking chamomile tea can aid in digestion issues, boost your immune system, and is a perfect evening drink for combatting sleep troubles. Chamomile UsesRelaxation Chamomile is one of the best herbs to use when you need to chill out. It contains a gentle and natural sedative that helps when you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Sleep Aid If you suffer from sleeplessness at bedtime, try consuming chamomile tea in the afternoon and evening. The same natural sedatives mentioned above for stress-relief work wonders to calm your nerves prior to bedtime. Digestion From gas to diarrhea, from nausea and vomiting to motion sickness, chamomile can relax your digestive system and help your tummy feel better. When your stomach pains you, make yourself some chamomile tea. Immune System Booster Chamomile contains anti-oxidents that can boost your immune system. At the first sign of sickness, start drinking a cup or two of chamomile tea per day. Hair Lightener Have you ever put lemon juice in your hair during the summer to lighten your hair? It works well, but it also leaves your hair dry and easily damaged. Chamomile can lighten your hair without leaving your hair crispy and brittle. There are two ways to lighten your hair: Brew a strong tea and apply it to either all of your hair or selected strands. Sit in the sun for about 30 minutes, or until your hair is dry, and then rinse the tea from your hair. Or, apply a tea rinse to your hair every day after you shampoo and condition. This also helps with dry scalp and dandruff mentioned below. Make sure the tea has cooled before pouring it on your hair – there is no need to burn yourself! Dandruff and Scalp Issues Chamomile can treat dry scalp and dandruff. Use chamomile tea rinse after shampoo and conditioner and leave on the hair. Chamomile brightens, lightens, and moisturizes your hair and scalp. Skin Issues The anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties contained in chamomile can fight many different skin issues: sunburn, acne, minor cuts, rashes, and eczema. You can apply strong brewed tea to your skin (once it has cooled), or look for skin care products that contain chamomile oil. Anti-Aging Chamomile also contains anti-oxidants and anti-aging properties which can fight skin aging. Again, you can apply cool tea to the face (you can try mixing it with other items such as honey, aloe vera, etc), or look for skin care products that contain the oil. Try adding it to your favorite clay mask instead of just plain water. Menstrual Issues The anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile can help relax cramping experienced during the menstrual cycle. Start drinking chamomile tea a week prior to your menstruation beginning, as well as during, to get the most benefit. Chamomile TeaSteep 1 teaspoon of dried flowers per 1 cup of boiling water for minimum of 5 minutes and enjoy! Chamomile is definitely a tasty and easy way to improve your health and your skin. Add some skin care products that contain chamomile to your beauty routine, and start sipping chamomile tea to help you get all of the wonderful benefits chamomile offers.  |
