25 Ml a.H. Winter savory or thyme ct thymol

25 Ml a.H. Yarrow

Combine hydrosols in a nonmetallic bowl and pour in 100 ml of hot water. Tent head with a towel and steam face for 10 to 15 minutes. Immediately afterward spritz on hydrosol of neroli, chamomile, or St. John’s wort and allow to air dry. Repeat two times a week.

A.H. yarrow, rosemary CT verbenone, and/or thyme CT linalol

Any or all of these hydrosols should be used as a twice-daily cleanser and toner for acneic skin. Soak a cotton pad and gently pat the skin after washing with your regular cleanser; allow to air dry.

30 Ml a.H. Yarrow or wild carrot seed

1 Drop e.O. Peppermint

Dilute in 1.5 liters water and drink throughout the day. Repeat daily for three weeks; take one week off and repeat. This alone will do wonders for the skin.

ECZEMA AND PSORIASIS

Eczema and psoriasis are two very different conditions, but both seem to benefit to varying degrees from the following treatments. In holistic health terms they are both considered symptoms of some other underlying condition, often related to the respiratory tract. In fact, some types of psoriasis have been directly linked to staph infections of the lungs. However, anything that can bring some relief to sufferers is worth trying. Use both “healing” recipes simultaneously for best tresults.

For Itching

A.H. yarrow

Spray generously or pour over the area as required. Quite dramatic relief.

For Healing

A.H. sandalwood or rosemary CT verbenone

Soak a cotton pad with the hydrosol and compress the area. This helps promote healing of the raw skin underneath so it is less painful when the top layers come off.

15 Ml a.H. Elecampane or eucalyptus

15 Ml a.H. Melissa

Dilute in 1.5 liters water and drink throughout the day. Repeat daily for three weeks; take one week off and repeat as required. Skin conditions and respiratory conditions are considered “brother and sister,” and elecampane is one of the best respiratory-system waters. Melissa helps reduce stress, which can aggravate both eczema and psoriasis.

BURNS

E.O. lavender

A.H. lavender

Apply E.O. directly to the burn; soak cotton in hydrosol and compress on top. Repeat every 5 minutes according to severity of burn. The hydrosol adds a significant cooling effect and works synergistically with the famed properties of the oil. For very severe burns you can use German chamomile hydrosol with the lavender oil. Continue until healing is complete to minimize scar tissue.

BRUISES

E.O. immortelle

A.H. immortelle or peppermint

As in the burn treatment, apply one drop E.O. to the site of the bruise and compress with cotton soaked in the hydrosol. The combined synergy of the oil and the hydrosol compress is phenomenal, although the hydrosol works well on its own. If you do not have immortelle, peppermint is also effective but much less dramatically so.

CUTS AND WOUNDS

A.H. witch hazel

Apply to a cotton pad and place directly on the damaged tissue. Leave in place for 10 to 15 minutes, refreshing with a new cotton pad once or twice. A year ago a friend fell off a ladder and came into the house with four separate wounds, the skin cut and grazed raw and already visibly swelling. We applied a different substance to each wound: A.H. witch hazel, A.H. peppermint, A.H. immortelle, and E.O. peppermint. The witch hazel was the instant success, giving pain relief and reducing swelling on contact. Immortelle reduced the swelling and pain but was less effective on the wound. The peppermint hydrosol had a good initial effect, but it didn’t last long and had to be reapplied frequently. The peppermint oil took some time to act but eventually provided pain relief deeper into the tissue than the hydrosol and worked best on the pain in the underlying bone. The next day the verdict was that witch hazel was the winner.

SCARS

A.H. immortelle

Spritz hydrosol onto scar and then apply the following essential-oil blend while still moist. This is also great for stretch marks, which may cover a larger area than normal scars, and seems to speed up the process with old scar tissue and keloids.