Want to experience the benefits of all natural healing ointments at home for a fraction of retail cost? Make your own herbal ointments. Ointment or salve allows you to apply healing medicine directly where needed. Our skin is our largest organ and absorbs everything you put on it. When you use your own ointment you won't have to worry about additives and chemicals, just enjoying the pure herbal goodness you've created.
Herbal Infused Oil
Start with these multi-purpose healing herbs: Echinacea, Arnica, Comfrey, and Calendula. Each can be made into an ointment and be used for multiple ailments. Making ointments requires herbal infused oil. You can buy herbal oils, however, and it's much cheaper to make your own infused oils and use them to make ointments. You will need 2 oz. dried herb and 8 oz. of extra virgin olive oil. Finely chop the dried herb or flowers up and place them into a wide mouth glass jar. Pour the 8 oz. of olive oil over top; put the lid tightly on the jar. Keep the jar in the sun for 10 days---shake the mixture once a day. After 10 days your herbal oil is ready. Strain the oil into another jar, cover and store in a dark cabinet until you are ready to make ointment.
Making an Ointment
Now that you made or bought your herbal infused oil, you're ready to make an ointment. Ointments are made with herbal oil and some type of wax or jelly to help the medicine stick to our skin longer and be absorbed. Beeswax is the most natural base for homemade ointments. You will need ¼ cup of melted beeswax for your 8 oz. of herbal oil. Start with 2 oz. of raw or hard beeswax in a double boiler, and as the beeswax melts add 6 oz. of your oil. Stir gently until the mixture is melted and combined. Dip a tsp. into the mixture then put the spoon in the refrigerator. After a two to three minutes check the ointment on the spoon, if too firm add more oil, if too soft add more beeswax. Once you are happy with the consistency, remove the mixture from the heat. Pour the mixture into a glass jar, cover and store in a cool, dark, dry place for two to three days. You can scoop ointment into smaller containers to carry on you or give to others.
Healing Herbs
The recipe for making an ointment is easy, but which healing herb to use depends on what you want to heal. Echinacea ointment is used to treat skin or wound infections, boils, insect bites, bee stings, canker and cold sores. Arnica ointment is used to heal bruises, pulled muscles, bone sprains and joint pain. Comfrey ointment is for treating inflammation or swelling, cuts, scrapes, yeast infection, mouth sores, and rashes. Calendula flower ointment heals wounds quickly, relieves chapped and dried skin, and protects skin in dry cold climates. Start with one, once you get the hang of it you can try another. These four herbal ointments are great to have on hand and any other part of your body that needs healing.
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