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Pure water in our world today is extremely rare. Acid
rain, pollutants from our modern society, and chemical treatment by
authorities, pouring into our waterways has depleted its sweetness. Yet
it will still work wonders to improve your skin, even more so if it is
pure. One of water’s most important properties is its powerful cleansing
effect. A cool shower acts as a tonic increasing circulation and
temperature, while a hot shower will stimulate the circulation and pulse
rate, aiding in the elimination of toxins through the skin.
To test water’s beneficial effect, try a fine spray of
pure water on your skin before applying facial skin care products. The
micro droplets will go into the skin’s upper layer, making the skin care
products more effective. But you must apply the skin care product
straightaway, otherwise the air will draw moisture from your skin.
Low-salt, natural mineral water makes an ideal substitute
for pure water. However, you can make your own biochemically-free water
easily and quickly. The first step is to sprout some wheat seeds. Soak
one or two tablespoons of seed in a large jar of water, overnight. Drain
and rinse three or four times. Place the jar in a dark cupboard, rinsing
four or five more times a day, until the grass shoot begins to develop.
Remove to a sunny spot, continue to rinse, until the grass turns green.
Cut off the growing tips of the shoots and add to a container of water.
After about twenty hours remove the shoots and you will have pure water,
tasting unlike water you have ever tasted before.
Fragrant waters are also beneficial to the skin, and made
by infusing herbs in hot and cold water. They first appeared in
tenth-century Persia, and since Norman times have been used for toning
and healing the skin.
You can make your own fragrant waters by simply steeping
fresh or dried herbs in boiling water. Place the selected herbs in a
large ceramic, stainless steel or enamel bowl and pour boiling water
over them. Cover and steep until cold. For a stronger infusion, steep
for 12 hours. Strain through clean muslin cloth.
The following proportions should apply when making your
fragrant water: three to four tablespoons of fresh herbs or one to two
teaspoons of dried herbs, to every 300 ml of boiling water.
Most infusions only last one or two days, but if stored
in airtight glass bottles in the refrigerator may last up to a week. Any
excess fragrant water to your immediate needs can be added to your bath
and it will exert its beneficial effect upon your skin.
Herbs and flowers to try are chamomile, rosemary, elder
flower, rose petals, thyme or yarrow.
Beneficial flowers, such as rose petals, need to be
treated differently. Put four tablespoons of fresh flower petals in a
stainless steel or enamel saucepan and cover with one-and-a-half cups of
water. Bring to simmering point, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove
from heat, cool, strain through muslin cloth, and squeeze any remaining
liquid from the flower petals.
If necessary, and depending on the type of flowers used,
repeat the process for greater potency. Add fresh flowers to the liquid
and top up if required.
Fragrant water infusions can be made from one herb or
flower, or a mixture of herbs and flowers, depending upon the properties
they exert and your particular needs.
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