Herbal Hand and Foot Treatments

Many of these recipes work just as well as ready-made treatments, but I hope you never wish to delete spa services from your list of priorities. No matter how down-to-earth you strive to be, there is nothing quite like having someone else give your feet a massage.

Green Cuticle Softener

1/3 ounce soy wax.
2 teaspoons sweet almond oil.
10 drops beta-carotene.
 1,000 IU vitamin E.
2 teaspoons lemon juice.
1/4 teaspoon sodium hydroxide (available at most home improvement stores).

Yield

4 ounces

This blend was inspired by my all-time favorite, One batch will last you at least six months.
Warm the soy wax in a pan and add the oil and other ingredients. Thoroughly blend and transfer to a pump bottle.

Cuticle Oil

1/2 ounce rapeseed oil.
1/2 ounce sweet almond oil.
3 drops lavender essential oil.
3 drops chamomile essential oil.
3 drops tea tree essential oil.

Yield

4 ounces

This makes a three-month supply of moisturizing and mildly antiseptic oil. It can be massaged into nails morning and night to prevent them from peeling and breaking.
Simply blend all ingredients in a pump bottle. You can use an old bottle from eye or face serum, but make sure to wash and rinse it well to prevent any leftover product from messing up your efforts.

Hand Rescue Cream

1/2 ounce beeswax.
Juice of one freshly squeezed lemon.
1 tablespoon sweet almond oil.
5 drops lemon essential oil.
2 drops lavender essential oil.

Yield

5 ounces

1. Melt beeswax in a pan.
2. Add the lemon juice and oils and stir with a wooden spoon until blended.
3. Transfer to a jar. Shake occasionally until the cream is cooled and uniform.

Quick Tip for Strong Nails and Soft Hands

Soaking your nails daily in almond or olive oil strengthens the nails better than any conventional nail hardener. Simply soak for five minutes, wipe your hands clean, and massage in the remaining oil until it disappears into the skin For the same results, but with the added benefit of soothing, mix a teaspoon of honey with two teaspoons of almond or olive oil, and massage into the hands after gardening or other strenuous activities. When burning an organic soy candle, use the melted oil for a deeply penetrating “paraffin” treatment, but be careful not to spill the hot oil, and do not poke your fingers into the candle while it’s still burning! For ultimate hand softening, apply deep moisturizing oil, such as jojoba or grape seed, put on a pair of organic cotton gloves, and sleep in them It works best if you’re sleeping alone.

Manicure in a Jar

1/2 cup organic brown sugar.
1/2 cup grape seed oil.
5 drops vanilla extract.
2 drops lavender essential oil.
1 drop sandalwood essential oil.

Yield

4 ounces

This is my personal hand savior when I need my hands to look freshly manicured in two minutes.
Combine the ingredients in a small bowl and transfer to a wide-necked jar so you can dip your fingers into the mix. Do just that: one by one, dip your fingertips into the jar, massaging the sugary mixture gently into cuticles and knuckles, wave hands gently to please your senses (the scent is lovely!), and briskly immerse your hands in warm water to remove excess oil. Dry your hands and apply Hand Rescue Cream

Green Feet Fizzy

1 cup baking soda.
1/2 cup cornstarch.
1/4 cup Epsom salt.
1/2 cup citric acid.
1/2 cup purified water.
5 drops peppermint essential oil.
5 drops tea tree essential oil.

Yield

4 ounces

Mix all the ingredients in a china bowl. Stuff the mixture into ice cube trays or form small balls and let dry. For a foot soak, use one apricot-size cube. For bubbly bath, use three cubes. Store the tablets in a plastic container with a lid or in a decorative bottle or jar.

Green Feet Reviving Spray

1 cup purified water.
1/2 cup witch hazel.
1/2 ounce white clay (kaolin).
5 drops peppermint essential oil.
5 drops tea tree essential oil.

Yield

5 ounces

Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and store in the refrigerator. Shake well before use.

Green Wax Hand and Foot Treatment

7 ounces soybean wax.
1/2 ounce sweet almond or jojoba oil.
5 drops rose essential oil.

Yield

4 ounces

Remember how good it feels to wrap your hands in warm, pliable wax and let nutrients penetrate the skin as it gets softer? You can treat your hands to this decadent procedure at home using completely natural ingredients instead of petrochemicals.
1. Melt wax in a microwave oven according to the instructions on the package. Add the jojoba or sweet almond oil and rose essential oil. Remove from heat and pour mixture into a shallow glass container with a lid. Let cool about five minutes.
2. When the wax mixture is still hot but not burning, apply a thick coating of jojoba oil or heavy all-natural hand balm to your hands, and dip them into the wax bath. Leave your hands in the wax for at least five minutes, then remove hands from the container and peel off the hardened wax. Save the remaining wax for the next time.

What to Eat for Healthy Nails?

A common cause of brittle nails is thought to be iron deficiency. Too little vitamin A, zinc, and calcium also cause nail discolorations, dryness, and brittleness, while an inadequate intake of vitamin B 2 may cause the slow growth of nails.

So what should we eat to keep our nails strong? Vitamin A is contained in raw and dried apricots, carrots, papaya, mango, watermelons, egg yolk, tuna, and salmon. Zinc is contained in Brazil nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, and coconuts, as well as in currants, figs, and salmon. Calcium in its natural form is contained in dairy products, broccoli, raisins, oranges, kiwis, and mandarins, while dried plums, dried figs, tamarind, and egg yolk are especially rich in biotin, a natural form of vitamin B 2.