Image: Christopher Robbins | Digital Vision | Getty Images

In the cold winter months, nurses are especially at risk for catching viruses from patients and coworkers. While there may never be a cure for the common cold, this herbal remedy is the next best thing. This mug of hot grog will make you feel stronger while giving you a break from cold symptoms (especially a runny nose!).

Cold and Flu Tea
This recipe makes one mug.

3 slices fresh ginger (spicy, warming, immune-balancing)
5 to 10 leaves chopped sage (spicy, antihistamine)
2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme (spicy, antibiotic, antiviral)
1 tbsp. honey (sweet, simple sugar)
Juice of half a lemon (sour, vitamin C)
Dash of cayenne pepper (hot, immune-enhancing) (optional)

Tip: Keep a jar of horseradish handy at home, in your car and at work. Horseradish will help open your sinuses!

If you live in an area that doesn’t carry the more obscure tea spices, shop for ingredients for this tea and others at Mountain Rose Herbs online.

Enjoy!

Image: © Veer Incorporated

Just like your face and hands, a nurse’s hair needs a little extra attention to keep it looking tip-top (the caps! the tight ponytails! the harsh hospital lights!).

Use this hair mask in the evening or over the weekend to replenish moisture and wash away buildup. You’ll see a dramatic difference.

Avocado Hair Mask
To bring back your hair’s natural luster and shine, start by peeling one very ripe and soft avocado. Mash the pulp very well so there are no lumps in it. If you wish, add a bit of olive oil to make the pulp a little more watery and easier to apply—and your hair will receive additional benefits from the olive oil!

Wash your hair as usual, squeezing out the extra water after your final rinse. Then massage the avocado pulp into your wet hair for five minutes. (The gentle massage stimulates the hair follicles and will make you feel relaxed and terrific!)

Leave the mask in your hair for at least 10 minutes so the beneficial avocado oils can penetrate deep into your hair follicles. For extra luster and body, after the scalp massage, cover your hair with plastic wrap or a shower cap, then wrap in a terry towel and leave alone for the duration.

Rinse out, using cool water so you don’t “cook” the avocado into your hair. It may take two or three rinses to thoroughly remove all of the avocado pulp, but the results will be well worth the effort it takes. Just one treatment will leave your hair silky smooth for days!

If your hair is damaged from straightening, perms or color treatments, consider using this treatment weekly.

Other Great Hair Masks for About $20 or Less
Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask, 6 oz. ($6.41)
Pantene Relaxed and Natural Breakage Defense Mask Deep Conditioning, 7.6-oz. tubs (pack of three) ($16.96)
It’s a 10 Miracle Hair Mask, 8 fl. oz. ($20.39)

Image: © iStockphoto.com

Taking a long, warm bath is an excellent way to relieve the stresses and strains of being on your feet all day.

Try a homemade lavender and marjoram bath oil mixture, which has the added bonus of moisturizing the skin while it gently soothes away all your worries.

The essential oils will be sure to induce a nice, deep sleep right when you need it.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons almond oil

7 drops lavender oil

3 drops marjoram oil

Follow these three simple steps to add the therapeutic mixture to your bath:

1. Measure the above ingredients into a small dish or bowl.
2. Mix them together thoroughly, then pour the resulting mixture into your bath while the water is running.
3. Relax and enjoy a long, soothing and refreshing soak.

If you would like to enhance the effect, consider adding a bath bag containing fresh lavender and marjoram to the water. Or hang the bath bag over the faucet as you run your bath, so that the water runs through the bag.

Aromatherapy and essential oil products can be picked up at your local health food store such as Whole Foods, or can be purchased online at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Image: © iStockphoto.com

As a very young nurse, I had a patient who wanted everyone to save the watermelon rinds that the patients had on their trays for lunch.

When I collected a few leftover rinds, I took them into her room and gave them to her. What a surprise I had in store!

This was an older women in her 70s. She had the most beautiful, youthful skin for a woman of her age. She shared the secret to her youthful appearance: watermelon! Yes, she took the watermelon rinds and washed her face with them! She said she had been doing it since she was a young girl. It sounded crazy, but her beautiful face was all the convincing it took. Many years later, when my own wrinkles started to appear, I tried this skin treatment…and guess what? I’m a big fan.

The rind of a watermelon is packed with vitamins and minerals, and has natural collagen-enhancing properties such as citrulline, an amino acid that aids the skin’s healing and regenerative processes. Lycopene, which is also abundantly found in watermelon, helps protect skin from sun damage twice as effectively as beta-carotene. The juice from a watermelon also makes a great astringent and helps fight pimples. So the next time you see a watermelon, you may want to consider using a natural and cost-effective way to enjoy this wrinkle remover!

Watermelon Wash

1. Squeeze the juice from a slice of watermelon and grate the rind.
2. Apply to face for 15 minutes.
3. Wash with hot water, then splash with cold water.

The older I get, the more I want to get back to nature and more natural things. Nursing is not only stressful—it’s just plain hard work. As caregivers we often neglect ourselves. So I learned a few tricks when I was a young nurse and mother to take care of myself when I can, and do it with what I have at hand.

After working long hours, I like to take some “me time.” It’s not always easy, especially when you have young children and a full-time job. I had to get creative and be cost-effective. I also wanted to look and feel good.

So here are a few herbal tea recipes that I used back then—and continue to use today—to suit my needs.

Tea to relax after a 12-hour shift

• 4 or 5 linden flowers (sweet, relaxing)
• 1 tsp. chamomile (sweet, mildly sedative)
• 1 tsp. mint (sweet, spicy)
• 2 leaves fresh scented leaf geranium (spicy, balancing)
• 1 tsp. lemon balm (green, relaxing)

• Honey to taste

Steep 5 to 10 minutes and sweeten with honey if desired.

Tea for focus and concentration

This tea promotes a feeling of well-being, energy and mental focus.

• 3 parts lemon balm herb
• 1 part lavender flowers
• 1 part rose petals
• 1 part spearmint tea
• 1 part St. John’s Wort
• ½ vanilla bean
• Honey or lemon to taste

Mix all herbs and flowers in a bowl. Store in a glass jar. To prepare the tea, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of herbs per cup. Pour hot water over herbs and allow to steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Flavor with honey or lemon if desired. Drink up to three cups per day.

Replenish-your-energy tea

• 1 part roobois tea
• ½ part fresh grated ginger
• 1 part fresh mint

Add the herbs to boiled water and cover. Let steep for 20 minutes, strain and store in a quart jar in the refrigerator. This blend will keep for 3 days. Pour out 1 cup, warm it and drink several times daily or before bedtime as needed.