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Title: Stretch Marks
Categories: Info
Yield: 1 Formula

BELLY OIL
1/2cCocoa butter
1/2cCoconut oil
1/4cApricot, almond, or grape
  ...seed oil
20000 I.U. vitamin E oil
2tsGrated beeswax
1tsAnhydrous lanolin
PREGNANT BELLY OIL
1/2cCoconut oil
1/2cCocoa butter
1cAlmond oil
1/4ozRose petals
1/4ozLavender blossoms
1/4ozChamomile
  Essential oil of lavender
10000 I.U. vitamin E oil, optional

Stretch marks are the maps of our children's womb life etched permanently in the soft folds of our skin. Nevertheless, no one really wants to get stretch marks, and the best way to avoid them is by taking steps to prevent them. As with any scar tissue, once the stretch marks are formed, they are a permanent part of the landscape of our body. Time may erase the depths of the lines, but however faint, they will remain a part of our living history.

To prevent stretch marks it is necessary to keep the skin elastic. During pregnancy the skin has to do a tremendous amount of stretching. If it has natural elasticity and is kept well lubricated and cared for throughout pregnancy, it can often make that stretch with no signs of wear. The best time to begin "belly care" is at the very beginning of pregnancy or, even better, prior to conception.

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR STRETCH MARKS

ù Massage a rich lubricating oil over the belly and breasts daily. Take time to enjoy the blossoming of life within and to feel the fullness of your belly unfolding. Drinking lots of water and other liquids is essential to the skin's elasticity and will contribute to its pliability. Take 200 to 400 I.U. of Vitamin E daily. (If suffering from high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes, take only 50 I.U.). Also, mix vitamin E oil into your massage oil or cream base and massage in daily. ù Any good rich natural oil can be used for massage, but my favorite for pregnant bellies are cocoa butter and coconut oil mixed with sweet- scented essential oils. Vitamin E oil should be mixed in, using 20,000 units per cup of oil. The following massage oils are excellent and are all-time favorite of mine. Thick, rich, and luxurious, it is a pleasure to massage them daily over the miraculously expanding womb.

B E L L Y O I L Melt all ingredients together. You may wish to scent the mixture with your favorite essential oil, but I love the rich chocolaty smell as is. Rub the rich oil over the belly and breasts two or three times daily to keep the skin supple and help eliminate stretch marks. This is the richest, most emollient oil I know to use as a lubricant for the expanding belly (or even the entire body!).

P R E G N A N T B E L L Y O I L Warm the oils together until thoroughly melted. Let herbs macerate in the oil over a VERY low heat for about one hour. Strain the herbs from the oil while still warm. Add enough essential oil of lavender to scent. 10,000 I.U. of vitamin E oil may be added. Vitamin E may be purchased in capsules, usually of 1,000 I.U. each. Prick with a pin and squeeze out the oil. You can also purchase liquid vitamin E with the percentage of vitamin E it contains.

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