HANDS

The skin of our hands is subject to adverse weather conditions, hot water, detergents, polishes and garden soil. The best defence is to wear either cotton or rubber gloves or gardening gloves, as appropriate, and to make lavish use of hand creams. Make up several bottles of your chosen recipe and leave them wherever you wash your hands. If you dislike wearing gloves or find that you keep removing them unconsciously, apply a barrier cream before doing any dirty work.

REGULAR HERBAL HAND TREATMENTS

To soften and soothe hands, soak them in an infusion of lady's mantle, fennel, comfrey, yarrow, or marsh mallow; an infusion of calendula or chamomile flowers has the same softening effect.

To strengthen nails, soak them in an infusion of chopped horsetail and dill seed for ten minutes every other day. Make more than you need and bottle for future use.

FEET

The above treatments for hands can also be applied to feet. The enriching mask is particularly beneficial, but remember to wear cotton socks if you are going to put moisturizer on your feet overnight.