Oil'n'salt scrub.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: herbal and oil scrub
From: Media Goddess <rduffey.indiana.edu>
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 12:27:42 -0400

A friend once made me some salt scrub for bathing, using epsom salts, avocado oil, another oil that I forgot, and essential oils. I wanted to make some, but the health food/international food store I went to didn't have avocado oil, so I got sunflower. It's nice, but the sunflower is a little too heavy and "oily". Does anyone have any suggestions for other oils I could use that would be much lighter, but also pretty inexpensive? Mineral oil perhaps?

[Grapeseed oil is pretty light, as are sesame oil and safflower oils. Sunflower is heavier, it's in the same class as soy and rapeseed oils. For a really heavy oil try extra virgin olive.-Henriette]

From: "Dana" <dana.thehub.com.au>
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 17:06:28 +1000

I once did a skin salt rub, with olive oil (apparently you can use any vegie oil), cider vinegar and epsom salts....

Here's what the book i have says to do:
Add a cup of commercial variety of Epsom salts, (not the fine expensive internal brand) and a cup of apple cider vinegar. This bath is both elimative and relaxing and leaves the skin feeling smooth. Mix a tablespoon of vegetable oil in the cup of Epsom salts and then rub it all over your skin while you stand in the bath. This removes old skin, leaving it smooth and soft. Let the salts fall into the water. Soak at least 30 min. Use cold cloths on your head and neck to help keep you cool. Add hot water as needed to maintain bath temperature. Complete treatment with a cold shower, for at least 3 minutes. You may want to help this eliminative bath by drinking stimulating teas which encourage perspiration (you know, i would never though of looking here for sweating herbs, but it looks like you were right, ry about yarrow...) While yarrow is the strongest, sage, catnip, pleurisy root, peppermint and spearmint will also be effective....

When i did this, it was great!!! My baby was only a few weeks old, and my dad took care of her while i did this, and your skin tingles afterwards (only if you do the cold shower)

Hopefully this was helpful,

dana : )