architheque

I recently put together a huge order at Mountain Rose Herbs for a bath product workshop I’m doing with a friend. I took advantage of the order to get a few things for myself, naturally. First up is this blend of organic herbs and flowers for a spa-worthy facial steam bath. I’ve noticed, lately, that with a little smart shopping, “spa-worthy” can be had for pennies on the dollar. I’ve no doubt this facial would have cost at least $45 at the local day spa, yet if I’m willing to DIY on the towel and boiling water part, I can have it for $1.65. Heck yes!

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This morning, as I sat in the bathroom slicing aloe for my latest sunburn, I started pondering what other medicinal house plants I could be growing.

A google search gave me lots of hits for mushrooms, but that wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. Other than basic mint for soothing tea, what kind of plants can I grow in my house for home remedies?

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In my social and economic circle, Whole Foods is referred to as Whole Paycheck, and I haven’t shopped there since I was an impressionable teen still tied to my parent’s purse-strings. But I took a spin through one Saturday morning because I was there and it was there and I couldn’t think of why not. Glad that I did, because now I can report that they had the Dr. Hauschka Trial Care Kits recommend earlier on sale for $17. Good stuff!

I am completely susceptible to a good sales pitch. As Sprig gave such a good one here, all I can say in response is, “Ooooohhh, I want one of those!” Read up on Dr. Hauschka, my friends, and you’ll want one too. Good clean ingredients, a holistic view towards the health of your biggest (and most visible) organ, and the donation of partial profits to a good cause. Who wouldn’t be a little seduced by that?

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If you have any desi coworkers or friends who are going home for Christmas and are likely to bring you back a souvenir, be sure you ask for this. I picked up my jar at an admitted tourist-trap (The Bombay Store in Mumbai), but they’d probably buy your souvenir from a place like that anyway, so don’t let them give you any grief about having to go there for you.

I use this stuff to soothe my skin when the prescription acne medications I use have stressed it out. I feel like a queen every time I smooth it on. When the main ingredients are honey and saffron, how could you not?

Ingredients: honey, saffron extract, walnut oil, almond oil, pistachew oil, wheat germ oil, neroli extract.

Did you see any parabens, mineral oils, preservatives, or fillers in that list? No? Neither did I.

Isn’t life grand?