Always consult your physician if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant

or have other medical concerns before using essential oils or herbs.

ECZEMA/HEAT RASH OIL

1/2 oz. Wheatgerm Oil
1/2 oz. Calendula-Infused Oil
1 oz. Sweet Almond Oil
6 drops Clary Sage EO
6 drops Chamomile EO
15 drops Lavender EO
8 drops Sandalwood EO

CALENDULA OINTMENT

In a stainless steel or other non-reactive double boiler (or crockpot) pour:

250 ml of pure cold-pressed olive oil
Calendula Flowers - Enough to cover completely the olive oil if they are fresh flowers and enough to immerse them in the oil if they are dried. They should be lightly covered with olive oil.

Warm the oil with the flowers and keep at around 100F for at least 3 hours. Strain the calendula flowers from the oil in a cheesecloth, being sure to wring out all the oil that should by now have acquired a yellow gleam.
Put the oil back in the pan and incorporate 100 grams of pure Beeswax, until the wax melts. Add 10 drops of Lavender EO.
You can adjust the amount of beeswax if you want a more solid or lotion-like ointment.

————————————————————————————————————————————–

• Basics for Making Herbal Tinctures, Salves and Oils
• How to Make Herbal Oils & Ointments
• How-To: Ointments & Salves
• Kalyx: About Our Herbs - How to make an infusion, decoction, water-based extract, alcohol-based extract (tincture), and salve.
• Making Ointments
• Making Ointments at Home
• Ointments/Salves
• Ointments & Salves
• Plantain Ointment
• Reconstituting Ointment
• Skin balms, salves and ointments

Infusions - The weakest of preparations, infusions are useful for hydrating the skin. Steep 1 ounce of herb leaves or flowers in 1 pint of simmering (200F) water for about 5 minutes. Do not boil. Let cool to room temperature. Soak a washcloth in some of the liquid, then apply it to the skin. You may also use an infusion as a toner, soother, or astringent.

Decoctions - A decoction is used to same way as an infusion, but is more potent. Boil 1 ounce of the chopped, dried bark, chopped roots, and/or seeds of an herb in 1 pint of boiling water for at least 15 minutes and as long as 24 hours (bark, roots, and seeds require a longer boiling time to release their active constituents).

Macerations - Like decoctions, macerations are concentrated, potent herbal preparations. Fill a sterilized jar with crushed herbs, dried or fresh, using 1 ounce of herb for every pint of liquid. Cover with vegetable oil, cider vinegar, and rubbing alcohol or grain alcohol such as vodka. Cover the jar and let the mixture stand for two weeks; shake the jar daily.

Strain the liquid into a sterilized bottle, cap, and store in the refrigerator. Warm to room temperature before using. Oil macerations may be used as massage treatments; vinegars as toners, hair rinses, or in foot soaks; and alcohols, as toners, astringents, antiseptics, or cleansers. Macerations will keep in the refrigerator for as long as two months.

Poultices - These draw out impurities from the pores. Place a handful of herbs in a cup and moisten them with water heated to about 200F. Allow them to cool enough so they won’t burn your skin, then wrap them in cheesecloth or muslin. Apply the poultice to the skin; remove it when cool.