Title: The Morning After Rejuvenator
Categories: Herb
Yield: 1 Bath

10	dr	Peppermint oil
10	dr	Myrrh oil
8	dr	Eucalyptus oil
8	dr	Cedarwood oil

When an evening of celebration, dancing or just plain partying leaves you feeling somewhat worse for wear. The Morning After Rejuvenator puts you back on track. Because you body absorbs water through your skin, a long soak in specially selected purifying and energizing oils will rehydrate you as it cleanses you within and without. A tub-safe cup of fragrant peppermint-rosehip tea calms down a touchy tummy, and helps to relieve head and muscle aches. Peppermint contains cooling menthol, which is good for relieving hot, toxic hangover-induced headaches. Peppermint oil stimulates circulatory activity and relieves faintness, dizziness and nausea. Peppermint brewed as a tea cools and detoxifies your poor beleaguered liver. Like peppermint, myrrh oil is also beneficial to the digestive system when taken internally. Myrrh oil was once a primary ingredient in massage oils, as its rehydrating action helped maintain the health and suppleness of skin and hair. Myrrh is highly aromatic and, when mixed with peppermint and eucalyptus, helps relieve congestion headaches. Stimulating, refreshing eucalyptus oil warms the body and promotes mild sweat, eliminates wastes and toxins through the skin, and reduces hang-over recovery time. It is excellent for helping you resume a normal schedule the day after. Familiar cedarwood oil gives the blend a soothing, woody bottom note and cools your overworked kidneys.

Run your bath to a comfortably hot temperature, between 95 and 100 degrees. When the bath is nearly full, add the oils. Swirl the water gently with your hand to combine evenly.

FULL BATHS: If your whole body requires treatment, then full baths are in order. To take a full bath properly, make sure the water is deep enough to immerse your shoulders.

Put your mug of tea within easy reach, and rest in the bath for as long as you like. You can ease your headache and dizziness by giving yourself a vigorous head massage after soaking your hair and scalp in the bath water. Starting at your scalp line, rub the tips of your fingers in a circular motion, moving the base of your head where it meets your neck. Then start at your temples, repeating the same circular massaging motion backwards to the point of your jawbone. If you have a scalp massager, use it all over your head until your scalp is tingling. Take 10 deep, slow breaths after you complete your massage and exhale completely. If you are able to rest after your bath, simply rub yourself dry and retire. If not, take a quick, cool shower to keep your energy level equal to your regular round of activities. ** The Herb Quarterly -- Summer 1996 **

Scanned and formatted for you by The WEE Scot -- paul macGregor

previous

next