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Monday, October 11, 2010

How To Make Your Own Salve



It might sound really hard to make your own salve but it is very easy. The part that takes the longest is infusing the herbs with oil. I use a crockpot to do this.
1. Decide what herbs you want to use. I used comfrey leaf and plantain herb. Comfrey leaf is used for mending wounds and broken bones. It is a contact healer; relieves pain and helps new flesh and bone to grow quickly. Plantain herb is a great "first aid" plant. It helps to quickly stop the bleeding of an open wound. It also relieves pain and inflammation of stings, bites and the itching from poison ivy. You can also use if for diaper rash.
2. Fill a mason jar 2/3 full of your dried herbs.
3. Fill jar with oil (I used olive oil but you can also use coconut, sweet almond, etc.) of your choice leaving an inch or more from the top of jar. Screw the lid on tight.
4. Put a towel (I used a hand towel) in the bottom of your crockpot. Put the jar in the center of the pot on the towel. Fill the crockpot with water, one inch below the top of jar.
5. Keep crockpot on low heat (you want your oil to be hot but not boiling) for 3 days. The water will evaporate so you will need to keep adding water.
6. When the infused oil is done will have taken on the color of the herbs because the herbs properties have released in the oil.
7. I used a cotton t-shirt to strain my herbs out of the oil.
8. To make the infused oil into a salve you will need beeswax. You need approximately 2 oz. of grated or pellets of beeswax for 8 oz. of infused oil.
9. On low heat, warm oil and beeswax until melted.
10. Add a drop or two of Vitamin E oil (found right at Wal-Mart) for every oz. of oil. This helps preserve your salve naturally.
11. While the salve is still hot pour into your container (a jar with a widemouth, can, etc.) It needs to be something you can get your hand in to get the salve out.
12. Let it sit over night or until the salve has hardened.
13. Put a lid on it and label what it is and the date. It will keep up to five years or more.
If it is too soft, reheat it and add a little bit more beeswax. If its to hard reheat and add a little bit more oil.
You can use this for cuts, bites, burns, rashes, etc.
Keep it out of light and extreme heat.
This is so easy. I got these instructions out of a herb magazine and tried it. I put a picture above of what mine turned out like. We have used it on everything. I put a little in a jar for my boys and they just go get it and use if when they need it. I made extra to give to family and friends too.
If you have any questions just post below and I will answer them.

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