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Wonderful Winter Herbs and Spices Try these plants as homemade teas, steeped in hot water for the time indicated, or as aromatic enhancements for your spa. Cardamom pods Stimulates digestion; reduces gas; improves circulation to the lungs; considered an aphrodisiac. Steep pods 2–5 minutes. Cinnamon sticks Reduces blood sugar level after meals; boosts memory; helps lower LDL cholesterol; some have found that half a teaspoon taken daily with one tablespoon of honey can reduce the pain of arthritis. Boil for 3–4 minutes, or steep for 15 minutes. Ginger root Supports the circulatory system; helps provide relief for allergies, arthritis, asthma, colds, and nausea. Steep root 15–20 minutes. Licorice root Sweetest of the root herbs; enhances immune system; has flavonoids and phytoestrogens useful for many ailments, including asthma, menopause, sore throat, and viral and fungal infections. Contraindications: pregnancy, high blood pressure, heart disease. Steep root 15–20 minutes. Mullein leaf Antispasmodic (calms a cough); astringent; emollient; expectorant. Steep leaf 2–5 minutes. Peppermint leaf Aids in digestion; increases bile secretion; calms the stomach; highly nutritive; antifungal; alleviates symptoms of allergies and asthma. Steep leaf 2–5 minutes. Rose hips High in vitamin C and bioflavonoids; antioxidant; contains vitamins A and B, essential fatty acids, and lycopene. Steep dried rose hips 10–15 minutes. Slippery elm bark Tonic herb; highly nutritive; contact healer, both inside and out. Steep bark 10–15 minutes. Wild cherry bark Increases respiration and suppresses the cough reflex; used in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis; improves digestion. Steep bark 15–20 minutes. Image courtesy of Bertaut Beauty Get connected to your peers @ www.skincareprofessionals.com 17 Inner And Outer Rainbow Using herbs and spices in treatments, or in the spa environment, has additional benefits for estheticians and clients who are interested in energy work. Humans have a symbiotic relationship with the Earth, and the more we follow nature's cycles, the happier and healthier we will be. To energy workers, the colors in nature's rainbow are the same as the colors of our inner rainbow, the chakra system. The chakras are energy centers that are each associated with a color, sense, sound, organ, and endocrine gland. Chakras extend their energy around and beyond the body as the aura. This is the energy we experience when we meet someone. A person who is full of color energy is vibrant, whereas someone lacking color energy may seem dull. Food has both a nutritional and an energy value. Foods that are fresh from the garden have the most life force energy and therefore supply the most vitality to the body; foods that are highly processed diminish vitality. Your environment and what you eat, think, and do has an energy value that directly impacts your health and vitality. By fueling the chakras with color from nature—fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, and more—we become healthier on all levels. Adding nature's gifts to your winter spa environment doesn't just add color, flavor, and scent to your surroundings, it will help you on your way to sweetening the lives of others. Author, esthetician, and Reiki Master Linda Bertaut specializes in bringing inner beauty to the surface and inspiring others to do the same. She founded Bertaut Beauty to help professionals add wellness therapies to their menu of services. Join Linda Bertaut at her blog www.chakralicious.com for more recipes to feed your inner rainbow. She can be contacted at linda@bertautbeauty.com or 626-405-0424.