Donna’s Blog

Clays

On March 31, 2010   /   Natural Skincare and Beauty   /   Comments Off on Clays

The simple, natural & inexpensive way to healthy skin. Active french clays,Bentonite, Kaolin, Black & Moroccan red clay These pure chemical free clays consist of curative volcanic ash or feldspar minerals. Dug from the earth and carefully sun dried – each of these beautiful clays has similar abilities, but they differ in their level of absorption and mineral properties. Cosmetic clays regularly used, rejuvenate skin, exfoliate and stimulate blood circulation to the skin, removes dead skin cells and debris from the pores and refine pores to create a smooth, healthy glow. French clay properties and use: – Green Clay: Very […]

Read more →
Back to Top

Pet Care with Herbs

On March 14, 2010   /   Herbal Medicine and Health, Recipes   /   Comments Off on Pet Care with Herbs

Animals, especially household pets such as cats and dogs benefit from a change in diet once in a while, especially one that is additive free and natural. Animals with skin problems, allergies, diabetes, kidney and liver problems will all benefit from a more natural food diet. Stop That Scratching! Flea treatment for cats and dogs is most effective using essential oil of Ti – Tree. For cats, dilute Ti – Tree into a carrier oil (Calendula is great) and rub into area at the back of the neck and base of tail twice weekly. Dilution rate is 34 – 40 […]

Read more →
Back to Top

Stills now on sale

On March 10, 2010   /   News and Updates   /   Comments Off on Stills now on sale

We are now stockists of these beautiful hand hammered copper stills from Portugal. The stills may be used for making wine, hydrosols and essential oils. These are traditional distillers with no gaskets, simple and easy to use and very cost effective. We have them on display in our herb shop, if you would like to view them physically or email enquiries to donna@cottagehillherbs.co.nz  

Read more →
Back to Top

Nutrition and Natural Foods

On October 31, 2009   /   Herbal Medicine and Health   /   Comments Off on Nutrition and Natural Foods

The following are some of the common minerals and trace elements, together with their functions, deficiency symptoms and natural sources. CALCIUM: Essential for all vital functions of the body including bone and teeth building and for normal growth, heart action and all muscle activity. Needed for normal clotting of the blood and many enzyme functions. Extremely important in pregnancy and lactation, also speeds all healing processes. Some deficiency symptoms are nervousness, mental depression, heart palpitations, muscle cramps and spasms, insomnia and irritability as well as the obvious ones of tooth decay and porous and fragile bones. Natural sources of calcium […]

Read more →
Back to Top

De-Stress Moisturising Bath Salt

On October 31, 2009   /   Recipes   /   Comments Off on De-Stress Moisturising Bath Salt

1 cum Epsom salts 1 cup baking soda 2 tablespoon melted shea butter 15 drops ylang ylang essential oil 15 drops sandalwood essential oil Combine Epsom salts and baking soda. Add essential oils to the melted, but not hot shea butter. Carefully trickle liquids throughout dried mixture. Shea butter will tend to solidify as it cools in the powders. Rub well through with fingertips (like creaming butter and sugar) until well distributed. This mixture will leave the skin soft and smooth, the choice of essential oils is effective for anxiety, anger, PMT, nervous depression, stress, heart palpitations, high blood pressure […]

Read more →
Back to Top

Relaxing And Healing Bath Salts

On October 31, 2009   /   Recipes   /   Comments Off on Relaxing And Healing Bath Salts

This is helpful for stress, sleep problems and skin irritation. To your basic bath salt recipe add- 25gm chamomile flowers – dried 25gm lavender flowers – dried 10 drops sandalwood essential oil Add essential oils as before – then combine drieds either mixed through or layered into jar.

Read more →
Back to Top

Basic Bath Salts

On October 31, 2009   /   Recipes   /   Comments Off on Basic Bath Salts

BASIC BATH SALTS: 1 cup Epsom salts 1 cup bi – carbonate soda (baking soda) 30 drops essential oil of lavender Add essential oil to a small amount of baking soda and using a mortar and pestle, grind the essential oil into the powder, then add this to the balance of powders and combine well. Place into chosen containers. Use ½ cup per bath. NOTE: baking soda reduces acidity in the body and is excellent for rheumatism, pain, gout, eczema and psoriasis. Epsom salts is magnesium sulphate, which deeply relaxes muscles and tissues. It is also helpful to draw toxins […]

Read more →
Back to Top

Dry Skin Massage Oil

On October 31, 2009   /   Recipes   /   Comments Off on Dry Skin Massage Oil

15gm shea butter (melted gently in a double boiler) cool slightly and then add– 25ml macadamia or walnut oil 30ml jojoba oil 5ml rosehip seed oil 10ml hemp seed oil 5ml Wheatgerm oil 10ml meadow foam oil 20 drops sandalwood essential oil (see notes) This luxurious massage oil may be used for a whole body massage, or use face and neck area. Shea butter adds more nutrients and body to the blend. For best results use daily after bathing.

Read more →
Back to Top

Cleansing Cream

On October 31, 2009   /   Recipes   /   Comments Off on Cleansing Cream

100gm base cream (either made by using emulsifying wax- see previous recipes) or use one of our store bought types 3mls vegetable glycerine 3ml castor oil 4ml jojoba oil 3ml meadow foam oil 4 drops grapefruit seed extract 12 drops mandarin essential oil Combine all ingredients thoroughly, mixing each one into base cream, before adding the next one. Pot into chosen containers. To use – apply a good coverage of cream to face and neck area – leave on skin for several minutes, then remove with damp cotton wool. NOTE: the castor oil in this recipe is not quickly absorbed […]

Read more →
Back to Top

Shea Butter Hot Oil Treatment

On October 31, 2009   /   Recipes   /   Comments Off on Shea Butter Hot Oil Treatment

This recipe is lovely for bleached, permed or very damaged hair. 30mls jojoba oil 30mls avocado oil 15mls hemp seed oil 15mls apricot oil 30gms shea butter 20 drops rosemary essential oil 20 drops geranium essential oil 20 drops ylang ylang essential oil Combine all oils except essentials, melt shea butter in top of double boiler with the cold pressed oils, allow to cool down and add essential oils. Place in bottle with pump or dropper tip. To use, drop small amounts onto scalp and rub in well. Comb through hair and wrap in hot towels for several hours. Add […]

Read more →
Back to Top

Relaxing Healing Bath Salts

On October 31, 2009   /   Recipes   /   Comments Off on Relaxing Healing Bath Salts

This is helpful for stress, sleep problems and skin irritation. To your basic bath salt recipe add- 25gm chamomile flowers – dried 25gm lavender flowers – dried 10 drops sandalwood essential oil Add essential oils as before – then combine drieds wither mixed through or layered into jar.

Read more →
Back to Top

Avocado Sugar Scrub

On October 31, 2009   /   Recipes   /   Comments Off on Avocado Sugar Scrub

1 cup raw sugar 1 tablespoon avocado butter 2 tablespoon avocado oil 8-10 drops essential oil of choice Rub avocado butter into raw sugar (or melt butter and avocado oil in a double boiler) allow to cool slightly and pour raw sugar into melted, cooled butter. Stir well. At this stage if mixture is too wet add more raw sugar. This resultant mix should be a firm but not too oily consistency. Finally, add essential oil and place in pots.

Read more →
Back to Top

Feautured Posts

Product Tags