Slices of cucumbers to refresh tired eyes, olive oil to restore hair, a lemon rinse to lighten hair color. By no means is natural body care alien to most people, yet many of herbalist Breedlove's more than 110 recipes, remedies, and ideas will enlighten and inspire. In fact, she provides some rather unusual alternatives for most if not all of the commercial skin, hair, and other care products. Need to darken hair? Try a mix of black walnut hulls, grape leaves, wine, and water. Corns a real annoyance? Bandage roasted garlic cloves around the offending toes. Suffering from itchiness due to poison ivy or dry skin? There's the cucumber pizza solution, slathering the entire body with this green vegetable. In addition to providing tons of tips about pampering, she also walks readers through the maze of herbs and natural ingredients, from acacia flowers to zinc oxide paste. A 101 course in soothing and relaxing. Barbara Jacobs
