Herbal ointments are:
- Easy to make – the total process takes just a few hours (mostly spent in the oven)!
- Affordable – they can be made in large batches, making the cost per jar much cheaper than if you were to buy it in a specialty shop.
- Completely customizable – you can create a recipe to address your specific needs and tastes.
Although there are a number of herbs whose properties can be concentrated into an ointment, these three herbs are good to have on hand:
Calendula
Inflammation is usually the target of calendula, due to its soothing nature. It is often used to speed of the healing process of various skin conditions, such as rashes or eczema.
Comfrey
This herb is renowned for its healing properties; it makes an excellent treatment for irritated skin (especially diaper rash), and can shorten the healing time of wounds and broken bones.
Arnica
Arnica is well-known for its ability to soothe sprains and sore muscles. It is great for sore feet, and can even speed up the healing process for bruises.
What You Need:
- A double boiler
- Oven-proof dish (if you make your own double boiler or your insert can’t go into the oven)
- Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- 1 cup olive oil, or your favorite carrier oil
- 1 cup herb of choice (if using more than one herb, use a total of 1 cup)
- ¼ cup beeswax
- Jars with lids for storage
Method:
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees F; once preheated, turn it off. Put the oil and herbs into the double boiler over medium heat. Heat the oil only to the point where the herbs begin to steep, but do not allow to boil. After the oil has heated through for several minutes, put the top part of your double boiler into the oven and let sit for a few hours.
Strain the oil into a bowl. Put the oil back onto the double boiler on medium heat, add wax, and stir until melted. Pour the oil into your container and let cool completely. If your container is plastic, allow the oil to cool first before pouring. Store in your medicine cabinet and use as needed!