As our cities expand to meet the needs of a constantly growing population, maintaining contact with nature becomes a fine balancing act. Nature Therapy is unique in the healing process as it appeals to each of us in different ways. We thrive on our uniqueness and enjoy being treated as individuals.  A good dose of nature cures many of the stresses of modern life and boosts our immune systems.

 

 A short walk, a long cycle, a mountain trail, a walk on the beach, a horse ride, a stroll through the botanical gardens away from your usual routine, is part of this natural healing process. Let’s start by curing ourselves, for ourselves. Unless the situation requires immediate medical attention, there are many common on hand ingredients that can be used in small emergencies.

 

Take the kitchen as one example. Most of us have many of these vegetables or  herbs at hand and, knowledge empowers us!

 

 

ECHINACEA MIXED WITH GARLIC - Use on infectious sores

 

CABBAGE - Mash leaves and apply to the skin to draw out poisons and pus. Replace when the mash becomes hot

 

CARROTS - Use leftover carrots from the juice extractor on sores, bruises, chapped skin and nipples

 

COMFREY LEAF - Mash leaves and moisten with comfrey tea for swellings, open sores, cuts and wounds

 

FIGS - Heat figs for 3 minutes. Cut open and apply to infected sores to bring them to a head

 

GARLIC - Mash fresh garlic and add warm water and flour. Use for pain, pus and infections

 

OATMEAL - Apply cooled oatmeal to a soft cotton cloth and place over inflamed area and insect bites

 

POTATO - Apply grated raw potato to bruises, sprains and boils

 

TOFU - Squeeze water out of tofu. Chop and add a teaspoon of ginger and some flour until the mixture thickens. Draws out inflammation and fever

 

GINGER OR CAYENNE - Add to poultices to promote circulation

 

Take a grinder and create your own home made nutritious natural flavourant.

Mix coarse sea salt, freshly ground pepper, dried nettles, dandelions, parsley and celery, sesame seeds  or indeed any seed that adds to the general flavour.  Nettles contain iron that is easily absorbed  by the body and so provides more oxygen to the cells. Dandelion contains magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, and various vitamins that help ease  fatigue and depression and also increases resistance to infections.

 

Juices made from fresh fruit and vegetables have specific healing properties and can prevent and  help heal many conditions as well as providing us with the nutrients needed to sustain a healthy and happy life.

 

Fruit juices are known for their cleansing abilities. They purify the blood and eliminate toxins  from the cells. Vegetable juices help to regenerate and rebuild the body.  They help in the production of new cells.

 

Raw juices are usually easily absorbed into the bloodstream within roughly 15 minutes when taken on an empty stomach. 2 glasses a day is all that is necessary as a good preventative measure. Juices provide the body with new energy without depleting the energy needed for digestion. Fruit and vegetable juices should always be made and drunk immediately.

Storage changes the frequencies of the ingredients, which then lose their therapeutic effects.

 

Turn your kitchen or part of your garden into a productive health bar.

 

While many herbs can be grown successfully in your garden, others will most probably have to be obtained in dried form from the nearest health store.  Ensure a space  for your own kitchen remedies, in the kitchen!

 

Borage, catnip, cayenne, chamomile, comfrey (if you have the space), dandelion,  echinacea, elder, fennel, lemongrass, mullein, nettle, parsley, peppermint, sage and yarrow all grow well in our climate.  Some need protecting  from the intense sunshine, but correct planting will ensure success. Other herbs such as Alfalfa, fenugreek, ginger (use freshly grated!), hops, raspberry leaf, rose hips and valerian can be bought and stored.  Combining alfalfa, nettles, chamomile, dandelion and parsley  creates a wonderful nutrient filled supplement for yourself. When making a little daily pot of this brew be sure to add a teaspoon of freshly  grated ginger. Not only does this mix give you the nutrients you require for the day, it also ensures a good balance of all the tissue salts needed for the system to perform at optimum. Be sure to obtain information on any herb you do not know, especially if you are on any long-term medication. Alfalfa is rich in beta-carotene and contains many vitamins and minerals essential in maintaining basic good health. Hops are rich in vitamin C and help to ease stress and nervousness.  Catnip contains selenium, an anti oxidant and Vitamin B5 which is known as the stress vitamin. Ginger reduces intestinal gases and prevents nausea.  It also relaxes the muscles of the intestines. Peppermint calms the muscles of the digestive tract. Garlic promotes digestive acidity. Parsley is a gentle detoxifier that helps speed up the healing process.

 

A simple rule to healthy eating is to use the leaf, stem, fruit, flower, root and seed together e.g. carrots, lettuce, spinach, tomato, wild garlic or nasturtium flowers and cucumber. The body knows the difference between real food and

“artificial food” and it processes each very differently!

 

Add nettles and lettuce to soups and stews for a wonderful peppery flavour. Coarse salt or apple cider vinegar mixed with dried herbs and aromatherapy oils can also be used to make instant refreshing baths.  Most of us with gardens have rosemary, lavender, thyme, roses, elderflowers, chamomile, and peppermint or lemon balm growing.

 

Start experimenting with what you have on hand and keep yourself in good health with the results!

 

Another simple method of keeping that immune system functioning well in winter is to have a bowl of Chicken soup once or twice a week. Home made is always best and this is the recipe we use to good effect:

 

A few organic chicken pieces, washed, do not remove fat.

1 large onion, sliced      

3 or 4 cloves of garlic, whole but pricked with a knife

a thumb length piece of ginger, peeled and well pierced through

2 carrots, grated               

2 to 3 full leaves of celery

2 little heads of parsley    

2 to 3 outer lettuce leaves, sliced thinly

1 to 2 chillies (remove seeds to minimise heat, but do leave a few)

water to cover                  

salt and pepper to taste

 

Simmer this broth slowly for at least 1½ hours and leave to cool before straining.  Freeze the left over (if there is any!) for the following week

 

Other foods in your kitchen that are good to add to your diet, especially in winter:

 

BARLEY is rich in phosphorus, magnesium and B vitamins and also contains calcium and iron.  It has a soothing effect on the intestines and is a body building food.  Here is an old recipe for a smooth complexion using barley. Try this drink at least once a week.

Place ½ cup pearl barley in 10 cups of boiling water and simmer for about 1 hour. Keep the lid on. Squeeze the juice of 2 lemons and 4 oranges - keep the skins. (Organic fruit is preferable). Strain the water from the barley into a bowl, add honey to taste as well as the rinds of the oranges and lemons.  Allow to get quite cold.  Remove the rinds and add the orange and lemon juice.  Store in the refrigerator.

 

CAROB is useful in place of chocolate and cocoa.  It contains no caffeine, is naturally sweet, is very low in fat and is rich in iron.  Carob also contains many minerals. For each square of chocolate needed use 3 level tablespoons to 2 tablespoons of milk (or water).  Try this carob treat sweet: Grind 1 cup sesame seeds very finely.  Add ½ cup pecans, ½ cup carob powder, ½ teaspoon vanilla and some honey to taste. After mixing, roll this mix into small balls and chill.  Enjoy!

 

HONEY is both a food and a medicine. Honey contains potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, sodium and manganese as well as various vitamins and enzymes.  A good rule to honey is that the darker and stronger the honey is, the richer it is in iron and other minerals.  When adding honey to your herb teas it is best to allow the tea to cool as heat destroys much of the goodness present in honey.  Honey is good for invalids as it is easily digestible.  Mix honey with Apple Cider vinegar and water to improve digestive troubles and boost the system to cope with winter chills. Make your own honey mask by beating together 1 egg, 1 tablespoon milk and 1 tablespoon honey.  Apply to the face and neck.  Leave to harden. Remove with tepid water to tone and tighten your skin.

 

EGGS  - Egg on your face. Use organic eggs. I tried this recipe recently and found it a wonderful mask to clean away the facial dirt after a period of heavy gardening.  It does tend to pull, so be prepared for this; the after effects are a smooth, refreshed and cleansed complexion.  Separate the yolk from the white.  Beat the yolk and place on a cleansed face and neck for 10 minutes.  Rinse with tepid water.  Then whisk the white and apply to the same area for 10 minutes, rinsing off with tepid water.  Immediately apply moisturiser.  Although the original recipe calls for this every day, once or twice a week, is quite sufficient for such a deep cleanse.

 

Here are a few old-fashioned beauty tips!

 

 

OATMEAL AND HONEY

 

Mix to a soft spread and apply to the face for 15
minutes. Use once a month as a deep cleansing mask.

 

 

OATMEAL AND CUCUMBER

 

Mix to a soft spread and apply to the face for 15
minutes. Use once a month as a deep cleansing mask.

Grate enough cucumber juice to mix into a soft paste and apply to the face, hands or feet for 15 minutes for a refreshing and cleansing mask

 

CARROTS AND TURNIPS

 

Cook and mash. Spread onto face and leave for ½ hour. Cleanses and refines the skin

 

CUCUMBER JUICE

 

Grate and collect juice. Add to cool water and wash your face for an instant cooling and refreshing sensation.

 

CUCUMBERS

 

Grate and collect juice. Add to cool water and wash your face for an instant cooling and refreshing sensation.

Cut a small cucumber into pieces. Soak for 5 hours in milk. Gently apply mixture to burn area

 

EGG WHITE

 

Lightly whisk and apply to the face to cleanse and close large pores

 

BUTTERMILK

 

Astringent, helping to reduce large pores. Apply to the face and leave for 10 minutes. Rinse with tepid water

 

HONEY AND EGG

 

Mix 1 spoon honey and 1 beaten egg white. Spread over the face and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water. Refines the older skin type.

 

LETTUCE JUICE

 

Scald lettuce in a little boiling water. Squeeze out the juice. Apply to pimples and rough skin