Healers Salve

Healer’s Salve: The Recipe

Ingredients
*Use organic ingredients whenever possible

• 1 1/4 cup (10 fl. oz.) organic olive oil
• 1/2-2/3 cup dried herbs (approx. 1 tablespoon each dried calendula flowers, dried plantain, dried St. John’s wort, dried golden-seal root, dried olive leaf, dried comfrey root + leaves, pine resin)
• 2-4 tablespoons (1-2 oz.) beeswax
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 2 teaspoons essential oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil
•  
• 1. Measure ingredients.
  
  2. Prepare the oil infusion. You can do this one of three ways:
• Cold Infusion. In a glass mason jar, cover the dried herbs with 1 ¼ cup of oil. Stir to combine, and allow oil and herb mixture to steep for 4-6 weeks.
• Hot Oil Extract. In a glass mason jar, cover the herbs with 1 ¼ cup of oil. Stir to combine. Place the glass jar in a pot on the stove, or in a crock pot, filled with a few inches of water on lowest setting (Be sure to put a towel on the bottom of the pot.). Infuse the oil and herbs for 4-8 hours, a day, or up to 3 days. Note: Watch the pot and add water as it evaporates.
• Super Quick Extract. Place the herbs and the oil in a double boiler and bring to a low simmer. Slowly heat for 30 to 60 minutes, checking frequently to be sure the oil is not overheating.”

3. Strain the oil and herb infusion through a cheesecloth — squeezing to extract as much oil as possible. Be sure you collect at least 1 cup of herb infused oil.


4. In a saucepan, over low heat, melt 1-2 ounces (depending on how hard you’d like your salve) of beeswax into the herbal oil. I suggest starting with the lesser amount of wax — adding more if needed. Note: To check if the mixture is the right consistency, because the salve hardens as it cools, place a “tablespoon of the mixture in the freezer for just a minute or two. If it’s soft, add more beeswax; if too hard, add more oil.”
5. When the consistency is to your liking, remove saucepan from heat.
6. Allow salve to cool on the counter.
7. Using a wire whisk, whisk until salve is cooled to approximately 100 degrees fahrenheit. Add raw honey, vitamin E oil, and essential oils. Whisk until well combined, creamy, and smooth.
8. Pour ointment into storage containers