The following herbs have properties that can protect, heal, and beautify your skin and hair. Depending on their effects, you can use them to make gentle cleansers, stimulating rinses, soothing salves, and much more. (For how to make healing salves for skin, see “Herbal Preparations“.)
Some plants have had special significance for hundreds of years. One introduced to Europe from the Middle East during the Crusades was the damask rose. Roses and the fragrant oils they produce have been supremely important in the Muslim world since the time of Mohammed (570–632). As early as the 7th century, Arab alchemists used roses and their fragrant extracts to purify mosques, infuse prayer beads with fragrance, sprinkle guests as they entered houses, and flavor foods ranging from sherbet to candy. In fact, one of the books by the Arabic herbalist Abu ‘Ali al-Husayn ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Sina, known in the Western world as Avicenna (980–1037), was devoted entirely to roses. Today, rose oil continues to be an important ingredient in beauty products, as well as aromatherapy.
| HERB | EFFECT |
| Aloe (Aloe vera) | Antifungal, anti-inflammatory, emollient; helps heal wounds and burns |
| Bay (Laurus nobilis) | Antibacterial, antifungal; used in shampoos, hair rinses, and hair tonics to treat dandruff and possibly stimulate hair growth |
| Burdock (Arctium lappa) | Antifungal, anti-inflammatory, emollient; used externally and internally for acne, eczema, and psoriasis; good for oily skin |
| Calendula (Calendula officinalis) | Antifungal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, styptic; helps heal wounds and burns, relieves sunburn; good for normal, dry, and sensitive skin types; good all-purpose hair rinse |
| Chickweed (Stellaria media) | Helps relieve itching |
| Citrus (Citrus spp.) | Antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, astringent; helps heal insect bites and wounds; good for oily skin |
| Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) | Emollient; stimulates cell growth, helps in wound healing; good for dry skin |
| Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) | Fights infection, helps in wound healing |
| Elder flower (Sambucus spp.) | Anti-inflammatory, astringent, emollient; good for both dry and oily skin types |
| Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) | Anti-inflammatory, aromatic; good for dry skin |
| German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) | Anti-inflammatory and antiseptic; used for minor burns, cuts, eczema, and other skin irritations; good for normal, dry, and sensitive skin types |
| Ginger (Zingiber officinale) | Analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, astringent, stimulating; used to relieve bruises, muscular aches and pains, and poor circulation |
| Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) | Helps promote wound and scar healing, encourages production of collagen |
| Grand Fir (Abies grandis) | Antiseptic, astringent, deodorant, stimulant, tonic; good for burns, cuts, muscle aches and pains, and wounds |
| Henna (Lawsonia inermis) | Enhances hair color |
| Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum) | Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, tonic; soothes irritated skin |
| Kelp (Laminaria spp.) | Emollient, nutritive; good for dry skin |
| Lavender (Lavandula spp.) | Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, aromatic; good for normal and sensitive skin types |
| Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) | Antiseptic, aromatic |
| Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) | Anti-inflammatory, emollient; good for sensitive skin |
| Neem (Azadirachta indica) | Antifungal, anti-inflammatory; helpful against dandruff |
| Nettle (Urtica dioica) | Astringent, nutritive; helpful against dandruff; used in hair rinses |
| Oats, oatstraw (Avena sativa) | Emollient, nutritive; good for dry and sensitive skin types |
| Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) | Sedative; relieves irritated skin; can be used to make a relaxing bath |
| Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) | Antiseptic, astringent, cooling, stimulating; good for oily skin |
| Plantain (Plantago major) | Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, emollient; helps with wound healing |
| Red clover (Trifolium pratense) | Anti-inflammatory; used externally and internally for acne, eczema, and psoriasis |
| Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) | Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic; used to treat burns, cuts, insect bites, and other skin irritations; adds shine to hair |
| Rose (Rosa spp.) | Antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, emollient; good for normal, dry, and sensitive skin types |
| Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) | Antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, stimulating; good for oily skin and hair |
| Sage (Salvia officinalis) | Antiseptic, aromatic; used to treat acne; good for oily skin and hair |
| Spearmint (Mentha spicata) | Analgesic, antiseptic, astringent, stimulant; good for oily skin and hair |
| St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) | Anti-inflammatory; helps heal wounds and burns (avoid sun exposure after applying to skin) |
| Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | Antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic; used to treat fungal infections, acne, dandruff, and eczema |
| Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) | Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, styptic; helps relieve itching; good for oily skin |
| Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) | Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, styptic; good for oily skin |
| Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata) | Antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic; used to heal insect bites, scars, and wounds |
