Herbal Recipes
By Denise Bastiero

At Sacred Mountain Massage we like to use natural ingredients in our massage creams and facials products. Some of the recipes we are going to share with you.  They are easy to make and fun for children to participate in creating things like lip balm (Salve) moisture bars and more.

Recipe for Salves

• 1 Cup Almond Oil
• 1/2 Cup of the dry herb of your choice
• 3 Drops of the Essential Oils of your choice
• 1 Oz. Bee's Wax

Grind the dry herbs up fairly well, Warm up the almond oil in a double boiler (DO NOT BOIL) add your dried herbs & simmer for about 5 minutes. Then add your Essential Oil. Once you have simmered the oil and herbs together for 10 minutes place the oil mixture in a mason jar. Allow to cool completely then add the lid. Put it in a cool dark place for 2 weeks so the essential oils and the herbs can soak into the oil. Shake it for a few seconds every day during the 2 week period.  Once the 2 weeks are done you will need 1 oz. of bees wax-shaved or chopped in small pieces. (this is for quick even melting)  Put the oils and herbs back into the double boiler and heat it up making sure it doesn't come to a boil. When it is nice and warm strain all of the herb out of the mixture and keep the oils placing the oil back into the double boiler. Now you will add your Bee's wax when the bee's wax is all melted and evenly mixed through the oil place the liquid in a container of your choice. It can be a large jar or small tins for lip balm or what ever you choose. Allow to cool and it will turn hard and you have herbal salve.

Moisture Bars

• 2 Oz. Coco Butter
• 1 Tbs. Wheat Germ Oil
• 1 Tbs. Emou Oil
• 1 Tbs. Shea Butter
• 1 Tbs. Avocado Oil
• 1/2 Oz. Bee's Wax
• 5 drops of the Essential oil of your choice

Melt all ingredients together in a double boiler. stir so the Bee's wax is evenly distributed. Then pour into a Soap Mold and let harden. When hard remove and just rub on skin. Excellent for dry skin.

Floral Waters

• 3/4 Cup of your favorite dried herb (I like lavender)
• 1/2 gallon of water
• 3 Drops of your favorite Essential Oil (I use lavender here too)

Bring water to a boil add dried herbs. Let them steep for 15 minutes. Add 3 drops of the Essential Oil you have chosen, stir and let sit for 5 more minutes add 1 cups of cold water and mix it. Then put in a glass container with a spray applicator. Depending on the herbs you used you can use it for Mosquito repellent hair tonic, sunburn relief, wrinkle spray for the face or just a refreshing spray for a hot day.

To make Mosquito repellent you can use Peppermint leaves, Lemon, Lemon grass or Eucalyptus. If you are in a hurry and need an effective floral water you can do the following: Add 6 drops of the Essential Oils of your choice to distilled water shake it up and put it in a sprayer for use. I use Young's Living Essential Oils as I have had excellent results with them. I have tried other essential oils but the results were not as good, especially with hair growth. recipe.  For hair growth you can use the following recipe using Young's Living Essential Oils:

Hair Growth Recipe 

• 8oz. of Distilled Water add
• 5 Drops of Lavender Oil
• 6 Drops of Rosemary Oil
• 2 Drops of Ylang Ylang Oil

For hair growth apply tonic when hair is wet and as often as you like. Spraying on is best for even coverage. This is the same recipe my clients used.

Mosquito-Repellent

• 8oz  of Distilled Water add
• 6 Drops of Peppermint
• 4 Drops of Lemongrass
• 2 Drops of Lemon

Denise Basteiro is a Reiki Master and Teacher. She is also certified in Massage Therapy from Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado, a Certified Cranio-Sacral Therapist and Lymphatic Drainage Therapist.  Certified in the Action of Essential Oils, Japanese Facials and Japanese Foot Massage. Read Denise's Biography.