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New Blog Post on Hers Magazine's Blog!

If you read my recent Hers Magazine blog post on how to make your own personal wipes, be sure to read my new post on new ways to use those wipes!

Natural Beauty from the Inside Out

Spring really is almost here. Even if you haven't done it since you were a child, consider getting out and biking. Check out my new blog post on the HERS Magazine blog. <3

Update Blog Page

This blog url was updated to NaturalBeautytheBook.blogspot.com.  Please save the new url to your favorites!

Reduce Stretch Marks Naturally

Take a moment to read my recent article about ways to naturally reduce stretch marks.  It's available at HERS Magazine.

Pet tip: Fat Cats

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Is your indoor cat overweight?  Use catnip to encourage them to exercise.  A small amount of dried catnip will make your cat more interested in playing games and exercising.  You can grow catnip yourself (and make yourself some catnip tea!)

Simple Recipes: Dry, chapped skin

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Is your skin feeling dry and chapped?  A simple single ingredient recipe can help heal and sooth your skin.  While your skin is damp, massage the skin with a small amount of avocado oil, found in grocery stores or on Amazon.com.  This oil is soothing and will help your skin retain moisture.

Pet tip: Itching

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Is your furry friend itchy due to fleas or allergies?  Consider adding flaxseed oil to his diet.  Depending on the size of your pet, add between 1 tsp (cats and small dogs) to 1 TBSP (large dogs) of cold-pressed flaxseed oil to your pet's normal food.  The oil has a nutty flavor that most pets enjoy.  The oil helps reduce inflammation and will ease your pet's itching.

Simple Recipes: Odor Busters

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It does not take a long hike to bring out body odor in most folks.  Make an herbal deodorant that works all over the body, including the armpits and your feet!  In a spray bottle, add 1 oz of witch hazel, 1 oz of sage tea (1 tsp sage simmered for 10 minutes in 1 cup of boiling water, and then cooled), and 15 drops of lemon or tea tree essential oil.  Shake to mix together and spray any where you need it.  Allow to dry before putting on clothing.  If you would like a cooling spray, consider adding peppermint essential oil instead of the lemon or tea tree.  It will help cool you down on those hot days!

Pet tip- Hairballs

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Is your cat having a problem with hairballs?  Add 1/2 tsp of plain pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) to your cat's food once every day.  The pumpkin is fiber rich and has a pleasant taste most cats enjoy.

Simple Recipes: Fade scars and fade age spots with Comfrey

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Fade small scars and age spots by massaging them with comfrey-infused oil.  This easy to make recipe calls for 1 cup dried comfrey leaves and 2 cups olive oil.  Simmer these two ingredients over a double broiler for 1 hour.  Remove from heat and cool completely.  Strain the herbs from the oil and store in a dark, glass container for up to a year.  Massage into skin as needed.

Pet Tips- Bad Breath

Shadow

Does your favorite furry friend have bad breath?  Feeding Fido a few sprigs of parsley will temporarily refresh your friend's breath.  Looking for something to cure the problem?  Make a tincture out of thyme by steeping 2 tsp dried thyme in 1 cup of boiling water.  Once cool, add to your pet's drinking water.  Thyme disinfects the mouth and gums.

Simple Recipes: Witch Hazel

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Looking for any easy way to zap acne?  Dab witch hazel on your acne-prone areas twice daily.  Witch Hazel will remove extra oil and helps get rid of acne-causing bacteria found on the skin.

Pet Tips- Tummy Soother

Shadow, left and Bear, right

Does your furry friend(s) seem to get an upset stomach from riding in the car?  Try giving him a cup of chamomile tea before the ride.  Use 1 cup of boiling water and soak a chamomile tea bag at least ten minutes.  Allow to cool, and pour into your pet's water bowl before your trip.  It calms his tummy and helps him sleep on the route.

Natural help for Athlete's Foot

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Mix together Aloe and Tea Tree Oil and massage into the infected area until it is absorbed.  The aloe promotes healing of the infected skin and the tea tree oil has antifungal properties to help tame the infection.  For best results use 6-8 weeks.

Almost Homemade: Pimple-Busting Cream

I love adding an ingredient (or two) to products I already have on hand to pump up their beauty or health benefits.  Today's post is one such mashup.

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After washing your face as usual, add a dot of your homemade pimple-busting cream.  To make, mix 1tsp. of your favorite gentle, fragrance and oil free, face lotion with 3-5 drops of tea tree oil.  Dab on your blemishes up to three times a day.  Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic.

Pet tips- Natural Remedies for your furry friends

Many of us care for our furry friends and would like to use beneficial, natural products on them.  Here are some ideas you may wish to consider.

 Bear

Please remember that products safe for humans are not necessarily safe for animals.  Also, your particular animal may be sensitive to ingredients that are generally safe for other animals.  Use with caution to keep your pets safe, healthy, and happy.

Rosemary helps repel fleas.  Dried rosemary can be ground and brushed onto the animal's coat.  Or boil 1 tsp dried rosemary and a pint of water.  Let the mixture cool completely, then rub into your pet's skin.  Let dry.  You can use this as often as necessary.  It also makes a great final rinse after your pet's bath.

Apple cider vinegar is another great flea and tick repellent.  Mix together 1 cup ACV, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp baking soda in a spray bottle of your choice.  Gently spray on your pet's fur, and massage in.  Let dry and do not rinse off.

If you pet has sensitive, itchy, or irritated skin, consider adding some oatmeal to their bathwater.  Take uncooked oats and ground them in the blender or coffee grinder until fine.  Add a scoop (1/2-1 cup) to your pet's bath water and bathe as usual.

If you like this post, please comment and share with your friends.  I may make pet recipes a new feature on the blog if there is enough interest!

Spice up your Health

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Did you know that an extract from the cayenne pepper, capsaicin, can be used to treat pain, such as that found in arthritis and lower back pain?  A simple, home solution is to add some ground cayenne pepper (found in your favorite store's spice area) to your favorite body lotion.  Massage a small amount to the area causing you discomfort.

Be sure to keep this mixture away from your face, especially your eye area.  Do not forget to wash your hands really well before touching your face once this has been applied.

If using the mix on your hands, I recommend covering your hands with plastic gloves and allow the mixture to remain on your hands for as long as possible.

Simple Recipes: Help for thinning hair

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Feel like your hair is thinning?  Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil or lavender essential oil to your normal shampoo.  Shake well before each use, and massage shampoo into your scalp during your normal hair washes.  These oils are said to encourage blood flow to the area to which these are applied.

Essential oils are strong and should never be applied directly to the scalp without first being diluted.  In this case, we are using your favorite shampoo to dilute the essential oil to a safe concentration.

A Health and Wellness Simple Recipe

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Ever have a sty or cyst appear on your eye?  A common treatment is to place a hot compress on the area several times a day.  The shape of an egg makes it a great compress for your eye area.  To use, boil the egg.  Cool the hard-boiled egg until it is still warm, but comfortable to rest against your skin.  Place it on your eye for 10 minutes.  You can reheat the egg and use it several times during your treatment.