CALENDULA

Calendula flowers follow the sun, opening when it rises and closing as it sets. It gathers the sun's warming, fiery, nourishing energies. Calendula flowers are high in Apigenin and Flavonoids (antioxidants), which is why it protects the skin from UV radiation and maintains the skin's natural pigmentation. Calendula moves stagnant lymph and blood by warming and urging the skin toward healthy circulation. Calendula has been used for centuries for all kinds of surface injuries, cuts, and wounds that are swollen, red, inflamed, and painful. It prevents the appearance of inflammation, encouraging the body to heal the tissues at its own pace. If you are suffering from inflamed cystic acne, sunburn, uneven skin, Calendula keeps the inflammation from spreading, lessens the pain, slowly resolves the pus, and moves the debris away through the adjacent lymphatics. It keeps wounds from hardening and forming scar tissue.

ROSEHIP

Vitamin C is found in active form and in substantial quantities in Rosehips. Vitamin C is the body's most important antioxidant. It increases the synthesis of collagen and photoprotection. Photoprotection allows the skin to correct the previous photodamage (solar damage), resulting in depigmenting solar lentigines. Solar lentigines are flat spots of increased pigmentation on the face.

CHAMOMILE

Chamomile is a member of the Rose family. It is a relaxant and antiallergenic. In herbalism, it is used in conditions where tension combines with heat - overstimulation, excitation and irritation, such as irregular redness on the cheeks or other areas of the skin. The polyphenols and phytochemicals in Chamomile are known to speed up cell regeneration and protect against harmful free radicals found in pollution. Chamomile also contains an antioxidant called apigenin which binds to specific receptors in the brain to decrease anxiety and initiate sleep.

LAVENDER

Lavender is a cooling relaxant, and it's very stimulating to the skin as well as antiseptic and helps clear away infections on the skin. In spiritual herbalism, Lavender is for "negative states of the soul" when the astral body grasps the physical body too tightly. The astral body is essentially identical to the autonomic nervous system, which relays impressions felt by the unconscious mind. So it is used when unconscious experiences cause the autonomic nervous system to clamp down too intensely.

ROSE

Rose is the personification of passion, but in the body, it reduces heat. It turns down the excitement in the limbic centre of the brain, which regulates passion. Therefore it is used for a cooling, calming effect on the skin and is beneficial to use for rosacea and similar skin conditions caused by autoimmune heat and excitation. Rose is also rich with antioxidants and has mildly astringent properties. It tightens the pores and gently tones the skin as well as strengthens skin cells, and regenerates skin tissue.

NETTLE

Nettle is an all-around nutritive herb. It is high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. It is said that Nettle cures through nourishment. Leaves are natural astringent, tighten and firm the skin, regulate natural sebum production, treat acne, and promote flawless skin.

In some lore, it is said that nettles bridge the gap between this life and the next and that nettles grow out of death to heal old wounds and restore ancient lineage. In a way, nettles connect us to the past while protecting us from the present.

As the saying goes; When in doubt, use Nettles...

ROSEMARY

In traditional herbalism, Rosemary is used for conditions caused by circulatory weakness. Rosemary stimulates and warms. Good blood circulation in the skin helps the body move more nutrients and oxygen to the epidermis. Rudolf Steiner taught that Rosemary increases the sense of selfhood, which he related to the fire element or warmth of the body. He suggested that Rosemary be used to gently warm the body and support self-consciousness.