CM salve combines the healing properties of Calendula, Comfrey, Marshmallow, and Mullein.  This is a basic salve for healing non-open wounds, such as breaks and sprains.  It is particularly good for rashes and skin irritations of many varieties including eczema and psoriasis.  CM can be layered with Arnica oil if there is swelling.

Herbal salves are wonderful things! They are convenient to use and very powerful.  Salves are made with a combination of herbs, carrier oils, and a solidifier.  I prefer beeswax as a solidifier.  It is a natural thickener and interacts well with the skin.  It allows the skin to breathe and softens rapidly on the skin.  Almond oil is the main carrier oil in our salves.  We prefer almond oil because it has a mild smell, has one of the lowest rancidity factors of any carrier oil, and can handle high temperatures.  The other carrier oils were chosen for their high Vitamin E and antioxidant content.

Hair, Skin & Nails Blessed Waters

In considering what blessed waters to discuss for this topic of hair, skin, and nails, I picked my very favorite five.  The last two are tissue salts and get used at my house quite often.  Tissue salts are worth getting to know, so I will include a link to more information here.

AC & MIN Tinctures and Dry Herb Packs

AC (formerly Acne)

Acne is a complicated problem and can be very discouraging.  Skin problems almost always have their roots in trouble with the eliminative organs.  Because the colon and/or kidneys are not working properly, the skin is being used to eliminate toxic build-up from the body.  Clearing acne requires much more than just applying something topically to the skin.  Issues with the colon, the liver, the kidneys, and the diet must be dealt with before the skin can clear.  Developing the habit of drinking sufficient water is also a must.  This formula contains herbs that cleanse the liver, kidneys, and blood.  A good diet is absolutely essential.

MIN (formerly Minerals)

MIN contains the same three herbs—Dulse, Nettles, and Alfalfa—as KNA.  KNA is one of the most nutritious combinations and provides a host of vitamins and minerals.  MIN however, also contains herbs for hormone balance, calming the nerves, strengthening the pancreas, and supporting the kidneys.  MIN makes an excellent daily mineral supplement and is safe to use when pregnant or nursing.  I like to make MIN as a glycerite and take it every time I think about it.  I have so much more energy and better health whenever I do.  It also makes a reasonably pleasant tea for use when pregnant or nursing.

The three blends and three singles that were chosen for April are particularly helpful when you are wanting to improve the health of your hair, skin, and nails.

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^LeAgeless is made from nine essential oils, each one bringing its unique healing and regenerating properties to this astonishing blend.  This combination of essential oils assists in maintaining or developing beautiful and healthy skin one cell at a time.  Some of the oils in this blend prevent free radical damage, others are useful in repairing damage caused by wind and sun.  Daily use of this blend can be helpful in strengthening fragile capillaries and bringing a healthy, radiant glow to the skin.

This is a wonderfully synergistic and beautifully aromatic blend of essential oils with mood-elevating and confidence-building properties.  Designed to foster within us both a vision of ourselves as accepted and acceptable, and a readiness—always—to become even better.

I like to add a drop to the water I use to wash my face and then follow that up with ^LeAboutFace lotion.

^LeAgeless should be applied to the skin of the face, neck, hands, and arms (and anywhere else you would like).  A carrier oil containing 10% of Jojoba can bring a little extra-emollient value to this blend.

^LeDelicate is a wonderful blend for overall hair health.  It seems to help the scalp absorb nutrients, making the hair more healthy and vibrant with each use.  ^LeDelicate adds attractive natural highlights.  For babies with cradle cap, ^LeDelicate, diluted with Almond Oil, should be massaged gently into the scalp.  Use a very soft brush to dislodge the scaly patches, and then rinse or wipe them away gently.  Use a good quality lotion or ^LeBaby Me in a carrier oil to soothe the baby’s scalp after this treatment.

^LeDelicate can be applied by adding 3-4 drops to shampoo when washing your hair.  For hair loss, try placing 3-4 drops of ^LeDelicate in your conditioner.  Leave the conditioner / ^LeDelicate blend in your hair and wrap your entire head in a warm towel for 10-15 minutes.  Afterward, rinse your hair gently.  This process should be repeated several times a week until the problem has disappeared.

Helichrysum is renowned for its use in the rejuvenation of skin and muscle.  It drains congestion and reestablishes blood flow to traumatized areas, helping bruises and hematomas to dissipate more quickly.  Helichrysum regenerates damaged tissue and can help prevent scarring at the site of an injury.  Helichrysum is recommended for lowering cholesterol.  Helichrysum is anti-inflammatory and analgesic, making it excellent for sciatica and arthritis.

Butterfly Express sells two Helichrysums and the italicum is the more expensive of the two.  Italicum smells wonderful and to some is worth the price tag, but the truth is they both work wonderfully, so if money is an issue please don’t feel you must buy italicum.  If you love italicum, please take advantage of this sale and save 15%.

Helichrysum is an excellent oil for respiratory conditions and for lymph drainage.  It is stimulating to the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and vascular system.  Helichrysum, diluted with a carrier oil, has been used in many cultures as a sunscreen.

Supplements

It is always best to meet your nutritional needs with the foods you eat.  However, this is not always possible and sometimes we need to fill the gaps with herbs or even supplements.

Not all supplements are created equal however, and it is important to get quality vitamins.  One very important thing to make sure of with supplements is that they are food or plant-based.  In other words, make sure the nutrients are coming from a natural source and not a laboratory.

For instance, Alpha-tocopherol is the primary form of Vitamin E.  Naturally sourced Vitamin E is labeled as d-alpha-tocopherol, while the synthetically produced form is labeled as dl-alpha-tocopherol.  You will want to make sure to get a d-alpha Vitamin E and not dl-alpha.

Like Vitamin E, most vitamins and supplements have a synthetic version.  Not only are the synthetically made versions not as beneficial, they can actually clog your cells and make it harder for them to absorb the vitamin you just took.  It is always best to stick with naturally sourced Vitamins and Supplements.

Lotions & Soaps

Lotions are a very convenient way to put oils on very quickly.

These Lotions are homemade natural lotions that are gentle enough for all skin types.  They are paraben-free and formaldehyde-free.  They contain no petroleum products, animal products, or artificial fragrances or dyes.  There are currently eight lotions available, including Lavender Lotion, which is absolutely unbelievable when you are sick or recovering from being sick.  There is also an unscented Carrier Lotion that you can use to apply any essential oil.  The lotions are made with some very interesting ingredients I would like to tell you a bit about.

Sunflower Oil restores proper moisture balance in the skin, whether the problem is dryness or excessive oiliness.
Cocoa Butter Antioxidant properties that fight free radicals.  Makes lotions thick and creamy.  Good for sensitive skin.
Vitamin E oil is known for its high level of antioxidant properties, making it great for damaged skin and preventing the skin from showing signs of aging.
Argan Oil helps fight lines, repairs imperfections, minimizes scars and stretch marks, and restores texture, elasticity, and tone to the skin.
Shea Butter Oil provides superb moisture, with exceptional healing properties for the skin, and is rich in vitamin A.
Aloe Vera extract increases the elasticity of the skin making it more flexible through collagen and elastin repair.  Aloe is emollient and helps supply oxygen to the skin cells.  It is great for sunburnt skin.

I love Homemade Soaps.  I can’t help myself at farmer’s markets, I just love to buy homemade soaps.  My collection is quite fun.  ^LeBabyMe, ^LeAboutFace, and ^LeSego Lily are among my favorite soaps from Butterfly.

The soaps are made with a cold process in small batches.  They are made with plant-based carrier oils and essential oils.  Each of the plant-based carrier oils in these soaps have exceptional healing properties for skin care.  Here is a little bit on each of them.
Castor Oil is a great moisturizer and has been used for wrinkles, acne, and pigmentation issues to name just a few.  It is also antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
Cocoa Butter has antioxidant properties that fight free radicals, help prevent dryness and peeling, fight signs of aging, and soothe rashes and irritated skin.  Good for sensitive skin.
Coconut Oil is a great skin softener, is very good for dry, cracked, and hard skin conditions, and has anti-aging properties.
Mango Butter is very soothing and moisturizing.  It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and firms the skin.
Olive Oil contains antioxidants that protect skin from premature aging, restoring smoothness and protecting against ultraviolet light.

Argan Oil is known in some cultures as “The Tree of Life.” Argan is an exquisite newcomer to the carrier oil world.  Argan is most renowned for being rich in natural tocopherols (vitamin E) and because it contains rare plant sterols not often found in other carrier oils.  Several sites report studies whose initial findings seem to indicate anti-cancer properties for these natural sterols.  These sterols are uniquely combined in Argan Oil to make it anti-inflammatory.  This makes it a great choice for use with essential oils for arthritic conditions, to increase circulation, and to strengthen the immune system.

The properties of this oil make it useful for skin conditions, with good results being shown on stretch marks during pregnancy.  This oil should be considered for use with scarring, eczema, psoriasis, acne, and scars resulting from acne.  Besides possessing healing properties, this oil is reported to be extraordinarily protective of skin, hair, and nails.  It protects the skin from the weather and provides a disinfectant layer.

The main properties sought for when using Rosehip Oil are vitamins A and C, and antioxidants.  These two vitamins are cytophylactic, meaning that they aid cell regeneration and the sloughing off of old dead cells and cellular waste products.  These properties make Rosehip Oil an excellent choice for anti-aging and for the treatment of damaged skin cells including burns and scars.  The combination of antioxidants and vitamin C brightens the skin and reduces or removes skin discoloration.  The antioxidants found in Rosehip Oil also make it a natural anti-inflammatory.  Rosehip Oil is excellent for dry, chapped lips.

I have always had dry skin and a few months ago a friend suggested using rosehip oil straight on my face in place of lotion.  Wow!  I love the way it makes my skin feel and instead of putting lotion on several times a day I put it on in the morning.  Amazingly, I have found that I no longer even need it every day.

List of Topics

Tip: Use the “find on page” or ctrl+F to quickly find where these topics are covered in this blog.
AboutFace,
AC,
Acne,
Adhesions,
Ageless,
Aging,
Alfalfa,
Allergic,
Almond,
Analgesic,
Anti-aging,
Anti-inflammatory,
Anti-oxidant,
Antioxidant,
Argan,
Arnica,
Baby Me,
Balsam,
Blessed Waters,
Blood,
Bruises,
Burns,
Calendula,
Calming,
Capillaries,
Castor,
Cells,
Cellulite,
Chapped,
Chemicals,
Circulation,
CM Salve,
Cocoa Butter,
Coconut Oil,
Collagen,
Colon,
Comfrey,
Copaiba Balsam,
Cradle Cap,
Cramping,
Cytophylactic,
Damage,
Dandruff,
Delicate,
Diaper Rash,
Diet,
Digestion,
Disinfectant,
Dry Herb Pack,
Dulse,
Eczema,
Elasticity,
Eliminative,
Emollient,
Energy,
Eruptions,
Face,
Frankincense,
Free Radicals,
Hair,
Hair Loss,
Helichrysum,
Hemorrhoids,
Herbs,
Hives,
Hormone Balance,
Immune,
Irritation,
Itching,
Kali Sulphuricum,
Kidneys,
KNA,
Lips,
Liver,
Lotion,
Lymph,
Mango Butter,
Marshmallow,
MIN,
Minerals,
Mullein,
Multiple Sclerosis,
Muscle,
Nails,
Nettles,
Nursing,
Nutrition,
Olive Oil,
Palmarosa,
Palo Santo,
Pancreas,
Parkinson’s,
Pineal,
Pituitary,
Pregnant,
Psoriasis,
Rashes,
Regeneration,
Rejuvenation,
Rosehip,
Rosemary,
Rosemary Camphor,
Scalp,
Scars,
Sebum,
Sego Lily,
Sensitive skin,
Silica,
Skin,
Soap,
Sprain,
Sterols,
Stretch Marks,
Sun,
Sunscreen,
Supplements,
Swelling,
Tincture,
Tocopherols,
Tone,
Vaccinations,
Varicose Veins,
Vitamin A-C-E,
Vitamins,
Warts,
Wind,
Wounds,
Wrinkles