Herbs as Beauty Aids

It is generally believed that the use of cosmetics originated in China over 4,000 years ago. A lot of general information on herbs and their uses was gathered and recorded in the forst "Herbal" by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung, in 3000 B.C. The earliest evidence of cosmetics, however, comes from Egypt. There it was costomary to bury, along with the mummyfied bodies of pharaohs and their consorts, samples of the comforts and luxuries available to them in their earthly lifetime, for use in their after-life.

Early experiments in the field of herbal cosmetics were carried out by Galan, a Greek physician who lived in the second century A.D He discovered that vegetable oil could be mixed with water and melted beeswax, and that the resulting cream when smoothed on the skin. was cool and soothing; not only did the skin become soft but it also become supple. He said, thus, discovered what we know today as "cold cream".

much progress has been made in herbal cosmetics, since Galan's time. Today there are a wide range of natural herbs which are of great cosmetic value. They can be beneficially used as beauty aids. Some of the important herbs which can be used in this manner are described here in brief.

Curd (dahi)

Curd is considered one of the best aids to natural goods looks. It supplies the nerves and the skin with healthy ingredients and counteracts the ill effects of exposure to the scorching sun. The bacteria in curd make the skin soft and glowing. Curd mixed with orange or lemon juice is a good face cleanser. It supplies moisture to the skin and fruit juice provides the essential vitamin C. One spoonful of juice should be mixed in one cup of curd. This should be applied to the face and neck and allowed to dry for 15 minutes. It should then be wiped off with a soft tissue and washed with water. A mixture of oatmeal flour and yaghurt has been found effective in making the skin brighter and softer. This mixture should be kept on the face for 15 to 20 minutes and then washed off with warm water. For pimples, paste of curd and bengal gram flour (besan) should be applied on the face and then washed off. Curd is also considered valuable in conditioning the hair. It makes the hair soft, healthy and strong. Curd should be massaged right into the scalp and then washed off. Dandruff can be removed by massaging one's hair for half an hour with curd which been kept in the open for these days.

Curd is considered one of the best aids to natural goods looks. It supplies the nerves and the skin with healthy ingredients and counteracts the ill effects of exposure to the scorching sun. The bacteria in curd make the skin soft and glowing. Curd mixed with orange or lemon juice is a good face cleanser. It supplies moisture to the skin and fruit juice provides the essential vitamin C. One spoonful of juice should be mixed in one cup of curd. This should be applied to the face and neck and allowed to dry for 15 minutes. It should then be wiped off with a soft tissue and washed with water.

A mixture of oatmeal flour and yaghurt has been found effective in making the skin brighter and softer. This mixture should be kept on the face for 15 to 20 minutes and then washed off with warm water. For pimples, paste of curd and bengal gram flour (besan) should be applied on the face and then washed off.

Curd is also considered valuable in conditioning the hair. It makes the hair soft, healthy and strong. Curd should be massaged right into the scalp and then washed off. Dandruff can be removed by massaging one's hair for half an hour with curd which been kept in the open for these days.

Milk (dudh)

Milk is useful as a cosmetic and as a beauty aid. A fresh lime should be squeezed in a glass of boiled milk and set for 10 minutes. It should then be applied over hands, arms, face, neck and soles at night and allowed to dry. It should be washed off with warm water in the morning. Its regular use will writen the complexion and make the skin skin soft. Washing the hair with milk and egg yolk every day will promote hair growth and protect the scalp from all diseases.

Other Foods

Honey (shahad)

A mixture of honey and alcohol is believed to promote the growth of hair. It is said that Japanese geisha girls, who have luxuriant hair, mix several tablespoon of honey with alcohol, and stir them together. They massage this mixture into the scalp. allow it to remain there for two hours and then shampoo it out thoroughly. It is said that regular use of this honey-alcohol mixture stimulates the hair follicles to grow into luxuriant tresses.

Ground nut (momphali)

The oil from the ground nut can serve as a beauty aid. A teaspoon of refined groundnut oil, mixed with an equel quantity of lime juice, may be applied daily on the face before going to bed. It keeps the face fresh. Its regular use nourishes the skin and prevents acne.

Almond (badam)

The paste of almonds with milk cream and fresh rose buds paste applied daily over the face is a very effective beauty aid. It softens and bleaches the skin and nourishes it with the choicest skin food. Its regular application prevents early appearance of wrinkles, blackheads, dryness of the skin, pimples and keeps the face fresh.

Lentil (masur)

The flour of lentil mixed with milk cream can be applied with beneficial results as a bleaching cosmetic. It whitens the complexion and prevents wrinkles on the face.

Black Gram (urad dal)

Washing the hair with a paste of cooked black gram and fenugreek leaves lengthens the hair, keeps it black and cures dandruff.










Green Gram (mung)

The flour of the green gram is an execellent detergent and can be used as a substitute for soap. It removes the dirt and does not cause any skin irritation.Its application over the face bleaches the skin and gives one a good complexion. Black gram flour, mixed with green gram paste, when used for washing the hair, lengthens it and prevents dandruff.