Recipes in the Passing

          Recipes - Untested

          Beneath you will find several recipes I've come across but never tested. They have caught my eye because after reviewing their contents I could see how they can be beneficial. Some really made me think and re-invent some of my own concoctions.

          Should you try any of the recipes below, please inform me of your results. I would love to have your pros and cons posted beside them.

          Please note that these are not 'original' recipes and that due credit is given to my sources at the bottom of the page. I am providing these for personal use only. Note, results vary per user and so nothing is guaranteed. The notes in italics are those that I found in the book, article, or wherever it was that I obtained the recipe from. For information on making infusions, click here. Click here for a list of herbs for the hair All recipes are for external application only.

          "Such recipes have been used both in the past and present by many people throughout the world who attest to their efficiency in adding life, beauty, tone, or color to the hair. Perhaps among these, you may discover a favorite of your own." This excerpt is from Nature's Medicines regarding some of the entries below.

          Clicking on the bar will bring you back to the main list or you may scroll down through all the entries.


          Hair Care


          Herbal Shampoos

          Normal Hair
          Oily Hair Shampoo
          Quick Herbal Shampoo
          Herbal Castile Shampoo
          Bouncing Bet Natural Shampoo

          Hair Conditioners

          Cherry Bark Conditioner
          Parsnip Rejuvenator
          Nettle Tea Tonic
          Herbal Egg Conditioner



           Hair Shampoo
          1 quart Water
          1 to 2 oz Castile soap shavings or liquid
          Heaping teaspoon of:
            Sage
            Nettle
            Maiden hair
            Southernwood
            Peach Leaves
          Bring water to a boil and remove from heat. Add herbs and allow to steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain and add castile shavings while the liquid is still warm enough to dissolve them.



           Oily Hair Shampoo
          Powdered Orris Root
          The superfluous oil is absorbed by sprinkling the hair thoroughly with powdered Orris. After 5 or 10 minutes, this powder may be brushed out. If applied in the evening, it may be left on during the night, and brushed out in the morning. It may also be used by anyone suffering from a cold, or for any reason where a wet shampoo is inadvisable.



           Quick Herbal Shampoo
          "Fastest and easiest way to make an herbal shampoo, mix strong infusion of a hair herb with a mild shampoo."
          1 heaping teaspoon dried Sage, Rosemary, or Stinging Nettle or dried Chamomile flowers or any other herb used for hair
          1/4 c boiling water
          1/4 c baby or other mild shampoo
          Add herbs to the water (creating an infusion). Allow to steep for 30 minutes. Strain and mix into shampoo.


           Herbal Castile Shampoo
          Pure Castile soap is made from olive oil. It can be obtained solid,powdered, liquid, or flaked. It cleans well, rinses easily, and is much gentler. Use chamomile if your hair is light; sage if it is dark. Add any additional hair herbs which pleases you to reach your goal.
          1/4 c dried Chamomile flowers or Sage leaves
          2 Tblspns dried Rosemary leaves
          1 Tblspn dried peppermint
          2 1/4 c distilled water This is important for those who have hard water
          2 ounces Castile soap
          3 drops of peppermint or eucalyptus oil
          2 Tblspns vodka
          Bring water to a boil and make an infusion of the herbs. Let steep for 30 minutes. Strain well and place in saucepan. Add the soap until it disolves completely or mixes in well (if you are using the liquid form). Bring mixture to a low simmer and stir often. Let mixture cool; it should be thin and creamy. Mix the drops of peppermint or eucalyptus with the vodka and stir into the shampoo mixture. Pour mixture into a jar and cap it. Let stand in a warm place for 3 or 4 days before using.


           Cherry Bark Conditioner
          Results have been seen after 30 days' use.
          Wild Cherry Tree bark
          Water
          Boil the bark over a low flame for 20 minutes. Strain and let cool. Apply as final rinse.
          ***Ragwood may also be used in the same way.



           Parsnip Rejuvenator
           Restores the gloss to the hair and is reputed to stimulate growth.
          1 Choppedp Parsnip Root
          1/2 teaspoonful of Parsnip Seeds
          1/4 cup Olive Oil
          Boil for 5 minutes, strain and allow to cool.Rrub into the scalp and hair.



           Nettle Tea Tonic
          Will make hair soft and glossy
          Nettles
          1 quart water
          Bring the water to a constant simmer and add a handful of nettles. Let simmer for 2 hours. I never boil herbs but this is interesting still. Strain when cool and bottle for use. Apply to scalp every other night. Note: This must be prepared fresh every few days, as it will not keep for prolonged periods of time.


          Herbal Egg Conditioner
          2 tspns Lemon juice
          1 heaping tspn Honey
          1 Egg
          2 - 3 drops Rosemary Oil
          1/4 cup Safflower or other veggie oil
          Add the lemon juice and honey to the egg and beat together. Pour mixture into top of double boiler and heat. Stir until it is warm and creamy. Let cool. Mix the rosemary oil in the vegetable oil and slowly add it to the egg mixture. Whip as you mix the two.
          **1/4 cup oil and Rosemay Oil can be substituted with 1/4 Herbal Conditioning Oil alone.



           Herbal Conditioning Oil
          1/2 c dried Chamomile flowers
          1/4 c dried Rosemary leaves
          1 c Safflower oil
          Place herbs in double boiler and add the oil. Heat the mixture for 30 minutes and then pour into a wide-mouthed jar. Cover the jar with muslin and hold in place with rubber band. Let jar stand a week or so. Stir every day. When the oil has a pronounced aroma strain it into a clear container.
          To use: Warm 1/3 to 1/2 cup of oil (depending on your hair length and thickness) over very low heat for a few minutes. Spread the warm oil through your hair with your fingers until it is fully coated. Cover and apply warm or hot towel. Treat your hair for 20 to 30 minutes. Shampoo as normal.


           Bouncing Bet Natural Shampoo
          This is a lathering herb (due to it's high content of saponnin) often called "soapwort". If you are using the powdered version - please use only 2 Tblspns. Expect to see less suds than you would see with your commercial shampoos. Also take heed that some people experience sneezing when using this herb.
          3 Tblspns dried bouncing Bet herb
          1 1/2 Tblspns dried Sage leaves
          1 tspn pure-grade borax (can be purchased at drugstores)
          2 c boiling water
          Place bouncing Bet, Sage, and borax in a heat-proof jar or other container you can cover tightly. Pour the oiling water and stir well. Let the mixture steep while being loosely covered until it is cool. Cap the container and shake well. Let stand for a day and shake often. Strain and use in small amounts.


           Magic and Medicine of Plants, Reader's Digest; Reader's Digest Assc. New York,1996
          Nature's Medicines, Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing New York,1966

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