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Articol publicat in "UNICA"
- Oct 1999 -
La vie en rose!
by Bianca Brad
Cosmetic is the
art of beauty, and the term comes from the Greek kosmos,
meaning order, system, jewelry, and decoration. Here it refers to our
effort to care for and keep a harmonious external beauty. The
specialists rather deal with the beauty aspect than with health,
leaving, as normal, this second preoccupation with the
dermatologists. Therefore, should the face creams contain substances
so strong as to provide for the miracle effect promised in the ads,
they must be released only on a recipe. The truth is that no cream in
the ads exceeds in skin beneficial substances the natural products in
fruit and garden vegetables. Then, why not use what’s at hand,
considering its efficiency, and why not saving money?!
In the last issue we’ve
seen how good the fruit is for skin and body. This time we are going
to see the qualities of plants. From the 3,600 species existing in
Romania, some 10% are used in the traditional medicine. To use them
efficiently, the plants can be prepared for an infusion, decoction,
maceration, cataplasms, etc.
Infusion: this is the
most frequent way to use the plants, especially their leaves and
flowers. To make it, put 1-2 teaspoons of flowers (leaves), crumbled
and damped in a china or enameled container, and leave them for 5
minutes. Add 250 ml boiled water, cover the container and leave it
for 20-30 minutes. Filter the liquid.
Decoction: the crumbled
plant is put in a enameled metallic container (1-2 teaspoons in 250
ml water), add water and bring to boil (at low flame) for some 15-30
minutes (15 minutes for leaves and flowers and 30 minutes for roots).
Filter and add water.
Maceration: can be made
both for cold and for warm. For cold: wash the crumbled plant and put
it in water at the ambient temperature. Leave for 3-6 hours. Filter.
For warm: mix 20-30 g crumbled plant with the same quantity of
concentrated alcohol. After 12 hours, add 200 g sunflower oil. Leave
the mix for 3-4 hours on the water bath. Boil and mix from time to
time. Leave for 2-3 days, filter the liquid and leave it again for 24
hours. Filter again. Keep in small, colored bottles.
Cataplasm: use the
crumbled plant and mix it with hot water until you get a paste. Put
the paste between two clean fabrics and place on the injured place.
Let’s see now the
benefits of the “beauty flowers”, the plants the beautify us:
Corn flowers
are being used for wrinkled eyelids and tired eyes. They have claming
and tonifying properties, with an antiseptic effect. Place cataplasms
or infusion made of 2 teaspoons of flowers in a glass of boiled
water, on your eyes. As well, they are used for kidney conditions, as
an infusion three times a day (before the main meals), with a
concentration of 2-3 g/200 ml.
Water cresses
have cicatrizing and anti-inflammatory properties, and are used for
burns, wounds, frostbites and ulcerations. Because they activate
surface blood circulation, the flowers are being used in the
treatment of dry skin, as an infusion made with 4 teaspoons of
flowers in a glass of water. For wounds, wash the wound with 10 g of
tincture in which you added 100 ml of water (make the tincture
through the 8-day maceration of 20 g of flowers in 100 ml alcohol).
They are also recommended as tea for gastric and duodenal ulcer and
to relieve menstrual pain.
I won’t add but
peppermint, or mint, recognized for its strong smell and aromatic
taste. The leaves have stimulating, antiseptic properties and can
also be used as a tonic. As for cosmetics, peppermint is recommended
for oily skin, through the application of pledgets with an infusion
made from 50 g leaves in a liter of water. You can also get a
refreshing face water, pouring 100 ml boiled water over 3 teaspoons
of crumbled leaves. Leave it to reach an ambient temperature and add
2 apple vinegar teaspoons. In the form of ethereal oil, it soothes
irritated skin and inflammations. If you want a tonic bath, put
200-250 g of leaves in a sachet and leave it in the bath while you’re
in.
Rose leaves.
The beautiful roses are not considered only for their superb look and
nice smell, but also for their antiseptic qualities. In case you have
tired or cried eyes, put pledgets with an infusion made from a
teaspoon of rose leaves in 100 ml of water. The ethereal oil is
recommended for all types of skin, especially for the dry and
sensitive type. Did you know that roses are good for flu? Get
aromatic vinegar through the 5-day maceration of 100 g of leaves with
100 ml of alcohol and 900 ml of vinegar. Press the leaves in a mull
and rub yourself with this vinegar. If you got aphthae, gargle with
an infusion of 2 teaspoons in 200 ml of water.
Lime flowers.
They are often used as calming, sedative and sudorific teas. As for
cosmetics, they are used to fight circles round the eyes, with
pledgets with an infusion of 4 spoons in a glass, or a decoction made
from 20 g of flowers in 30 ml of water. If you have insomnia, drink
2-3 teas a day, sweetened with honey (not for diabetics!). They are
also recommended for tonsil inflammations (gargling with infusion and
a teaspoon of boric acid), flu (tea from infusion) and for
relaxation, put a sachet of lime flowers in the bath, also apply
pledgets on the eye and in 10-15 minutes you’ll fell fine.
Hollyhock
is emollient and anti-inflammatory. You can treat furuncles with an
infusion of hollyhock flowers. Use the followers and leaves to make
an infusion of 30 minutes, with a teaspoon in 100 ml and place
pledgets on your face to fight cuperosa. Also for the cuperosa and
also with the hollyhock, but this time the roots, apply pledgets with
decoction of a teaspoon in 100 ml. For dry and wrinkled skin, use
pledgets with decoction (30 minutes) of 3 spoons in a glass and add a
spoon of honey. Because of its emollient and hydrating properties,
apply the pledgets with a mixture of 2 spoons in a glass of water, in
case of wrinkled eyelids.
Heart’s
eases is the most efficient antiallergenic, diuretic and
depurative species. It’s being used especially for acne and eczema.
Use an infusion of one teaspoon in a glass of water and drink a spoon
every 3 hours.
Lavender
is being used for its properties: diuretic, antiseptic and
stimulating. It’s being used for acne and burns. Apply pledgets
with infusion made with a spoon in a glass of water. You can put it
in hot water, possibly combined with other plants.
Chamomile
has anti-inflammatory, cicatrizing, and antiseptic properties. For
oily skin, I recommend steam baths with infusion made from 2
teaspoons of flowers in a glass of water. For irritated skins, apply
pledgets with infusion made from 3 spoons in a glass of water. Hair
can also be washed with chamomile tea, thus gaining blonde treats.
These are only a few
plants that can be used as cosmetics.
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