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OINTMENT/SALVE

Read First Balsam Pear S. Cucumber O. Juniper Berry O. Red Clover O.
Simple O. Calendula O. Emergency O. Lavender O. Sore Leg O.
Basic O. Chickweed S. Eucalyptus O. Lavender/TeaTree O. Sage/Violet O.
4-C Skin Lotion Cocoa Butter S. Healing S. Painful Sores O. Skin S.
3-C Skin O. Comfrey/Plantain O. Itch O. Plantain O. Violet O.

DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.


READ FIRST
For instructions on how to make an ointment/salve with a more modern procedure and ingredients, see Basics/How To. Be aware though that many old recipes call for lard, an animal fat, and lard is still considered an excellent carrier of the extracted benefits of herbs. Some contend that it is superior to oils in this regard. I suggest trying both methods and making your own determination.

Ointments/Salves can be made quickly and easily if you first prepare an oil of the herb while it is in season and keep it on the shelf for later use as an ointment. See Basics/How to for specific directions on infusing the herbs in oil, but do not continue onto the last step of adding beeswax to the recipe. Simply strain and store the oil. Besides simple oils which employ only one herb, a combination of herbs can be used to make a compound oil of your favorite ointment recipe and used later to make the ointment itself.


menuSIMPLE OINTMENT
8 oz lard by weight
2 oz (4 tbsp) beeswax

Melt wax in top of double boiler and add lard gradually. Stir till cool.

Can be varied by using a cooking oil (ie. olive, safflower, sweet almond, or avocado).

Herbs can also be infused in the melted lard and beeswax added later. See Basics/How to.


menuBASIC OINTMENT
Crush fresh or dried herbs and simmer with fat of your choice (ie. lard, olive oil, safflower oil, etc). Simmer on top of stove in top of double boiler for several hours. Or, they may be baked in the oven for several hours in the fat using a low heat. Strain and place back on heat, then melt beeswax in it. Pour into jar.


menu4-C SKIN LOTION
Useful for skin inflammations and for those with possible bacterial complications.

Combine 1 tbsp each of Chamomile, Comfrey, Chickweed, and Calendula in a mason jar. Over this pour 2 cups boiling hot water; cover and let steep for 20 minutes. Strain and place in a spritzer bottle. Add 1 dropperful of echinacea extract and 1 dropperful of usnea extract. Spritz as needed.


menu3-C SKIN OINTMENT
An ointment which is general in purpose and can be used on almost all skin problems.

¾ oz dried chickweed
¾ oz dried comfrey leaf (or root)
½ oz dried calendula flowers
8 to 9 oz of sweet almond oil (or olive oil or combo of the two)
¼ oz (approx) of grated beeswax
800 IU vitamin E

Optional: Echinacea and usnea extracts can be added just before the beeswax for their antiseptic properties.

Powder herbs.
Combine herbs and oil in a pyrex bowl or the top of a double boiler.
Place ¾" water in an electric skillet and bring temp to a steady 95°F.
Place bowl in water in skillet and clip cooking thermometer to side of bowl with tip touching the oil.
When a steady temp of 95° to 98° degrees is attained, allow to simmer for 12 to 14 hours or till herbs look "used up".
Strain through fine muslin and into a measuring cup to remove all traces of the herbs.
See how much oil you have recovered; it should be about 4 oz. Add a bit of oil if it doesn't.
Return oil to cleaned bowl or pan and raise the temp in the skillet to 150°.
Keeping heat at 150°, return bowl or pan to skillet and add beeswax (melts at about 148°F).
Keep stirring well till beeswax is melted.
Test for desired consistency by dropping a drop or two into the bottom of a jar which will hold the ointment. When desired consistency is reached, remove from heat and add contents of vitamin E capsule(s). You can also add the tinctures at this time.
Allow to set up; cap tightly.

VARIATION
For Red Mange or other skin problems in dogs.
Makes a 2 oz batch.

¾ oz. chickweed and comfrey mixed equally
¼ oz calendula
1/8 oz elecampane
1/8 oz lemon peel
5 drops essential oil of lemon
½ dropper echinacea
800 IU vitamin E
5 oz sweet almond oil
1/8 oz beeswax

Follow procedure as above. Withhold oil of lemon, echinacea extract, vitamin E, then add after removing from heat the final time.


menuBALSAM PEAR SALVE
This was kept handy for pinpricks that occurred when doing stitchery such as quilting. It also served as an all-purpose salve.

½ cup mutton tallow
½ cup lard
½ cup white vasoline
2 tbsp beeswax
3 large balsams from pear balsam vine (Momordica charantia)
oil of wintergreen

Remove the seeds from the balsams. Cut them into small pieces and fry in lard till crisp. Strain through juice strainer or cloth. Add other ingredients and mix well. Add a few drops of oil of wintergreen. Pour in jars to let cool.


menuCALENDULA OINTMENT
7 oz petroleum jelly
2 oz (a handful) freshly picked calendula flowers

Melt petroleum jelly over low heat.
Add calendula.
Bring mixture to a boil and simmer very gently for about 10 min, stirring well.
Strain through fine gauze and press out all the liquid from the flowers.
Pour liquid into container and seal after it has cooled.


menuCHICKWEED SALVE
Good first aid for cuts, nicks, bites and scratches, itches and rashes.

12 oz fresh chickeweed
1 pint olive or sweet almond oil
½ oz beeswax

In ovenproof container combine Chickweed and oil.
Place in 150°F oven for 3 hours; strain and add ½ oz melted beeswax to oil (always melt waxes in top of double boiler to avoid fire); stir as mixture thickens.


menuCOCOA BUTTER SALVE
4 oz. herbs of choice
6 oz. cocoa butter (vegetable oil can be substituted)
1 oz. beeswax

Melt cocoa butter in top of double boiler with beeswax.
Add herbs and allow to heat through in double boiler over very low heat for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Strain out herbs.


menuCOMFREY-PLANTAIN OINTMENT
1 oz dried comfrey
1 oz dried plantain
8 oz sweet almond oil
1½ oz. beeswax

See Salve/Ointment for directions on making a salve/ointment.


menuCUCUMBER OINTMENT
Used as a healing and cleansing cream.

1 lb cucumber
3¼ oz pure lard
2¼ oz veal suet

Grate the washed cucumbers into a pulp or use a blender or food processer.
Strain the juice out and save.
Cut the suet into small pieces and heat over a water bath till the fat is melted out from the membrane.
Add the lard.
When melted, strain through the muslin into a crock or jar capable of holding upto 1 quart.
Stir until it begins to thicken.
Add 1/3 of the juice.
Beat with a spatula till the odor has been wholly extracted.
Put into jar and cover.
Heat in a water bath till the fatty matter separates from the juice.
Strain off the green coagulum floating on the surface.
Put jar in a cool place to solidify.
The crude ointment is then separated from the water liquid on which it floats, is melted and strained and then placed in glass jars which must be kept sealed.
Add a layer of rosewater on the surface to help preserve it. Rosewater may also be added to make this preparation creamy and white.


menuEMERGENCY OINTMENT
Combine some wheat germ oil and honey and apply to sore, bruise or wound.
Tinctures of Comfrey, Calendula, St. Johnswort or Mullein can be added (between 5 and 15 drops) to the oil and honey.


menuEUCALYPTUS OINTMENT
Contains antiseptic and healing properties. Produces good results in chapped hands, chafes, dandruff, tender feet, enlargements of the glands, spots on the chest, arms, back and legs and pains in the joints and muscles. Apply a piece of clean cotton or gauzy type material to wounds after all dirt is washed away. For aches and pains rub the affected part well and then cover with cloth; repeat 2 or 3 times.
12 oz elder oil
2 oz beeswax
2 tsps eucalyptus oil
20 drops wintergreen oil

Combine elder oil and wax in top of double boiler over low heat until wax melts; remove from heat and stir in remaining 2 oils. Pour into appropriate containers.


menuHEALING SALVE
Useful for skin rashes, swellings, wounds and eruptions.

1 part calendula flowers
½ part plantain leaves
½ part mugwort
½ part comfrey leaves
Simmer the herbs in lard (1 lb lard for each 4 oz of herbs) till leaves are crisp. Strain and store in appropriate jar. Can also be made with oil and beeswax (Basics/How To).


menuITCH OINTMENT
Use Burdock root or Chickweed or a combination of both.
Wash and grate the Burdock root or use fresh Chickweed; combine with safflower oil (or olive oil) and cocoa butter; cook in a covered heat resistant dish at 200°F for 2 to 3 hours (use an electric skillet with water in it to have controlled temp - see (Basics/How To).
Strain and return liquid to dish along with grated beeswax; figure ¼ oz beeswax for each 2 oz liquid.


menuJUNIPER BERRY OINTMENT
Useful for wounds, itching, scratches, scars from burns, hangnails and festering sores.

Collect the berries from the garden or the wild just as they are getting ripe.

2 cups juniper berries
2 cups oil (olive, peanut, safflower, sweet almond, or etc)
2 to 3 tbsp beeswax
Soak berries overnight.
Strain out the water.
Simmer the berries over very low heat in the oil in the top of a double boiler and take care not to burn.
Remove from heat and strain out berries.
Return to heat and add beeswax.
When melted pour into appropriate containers.


menuLAVENDER OINTMENT
RECIPE #1
25 drops essential oil of lavender
10 drops essential oil of lemon (or neroli)
5 drops essential oil of thyme
2 tbsp oil of lavender (which is prepared by infusing flowers in olive oil)
60 g beeswax

Melt beeswax in top of double boiler, then beat in oil of lavender.
As ointment begins to cool, add the essential oils and continue to beat till cool.
Store in covered jar in refrigerator.

RECIPE #2
Good for chapped lips, skin and cold sores.

4 tbsp olive or almond oil
3 to 4 tbsp beeswax
3 tsp cocoa butter
2 tsp lanolin
10 drops vitamin E oil
15 drops lavender oil
15 drops sandalwood oil
Combine olive or almond oil, beeswax, cocoa butter and lanolin and heat in top of double boiler.
Remove from heat and add vitamin E (a 400 IU capsule can be opened and contents squeezed out), lavender and sandalwood oils and beat well.
Pour into little jars and allow to cool before putting on lids.
Keeps 6 to 12 months.


menuLAVENDER-TEA TREE OINTMENT
Good antiseptic properties and soothing to skin problems.

2 oz oil
½ oz beeswax
5 drops lavender oil
3 drops tea tree oil
400 IU vitamin E

Combine oil and beeswax in top of double boiler over low heat till wax melts.
Remove from heat and add lavender and tea tree oils.
Snip vitamin E capsule open and squeeze contents into oils.
Place in ointment jar and allow to setup before capping.


menuPAINFUL SORES OINTMENT
Combine 8 oz vegetable glycerine and 2 oz white oak bark powder.
Heat together in top of double boiler for 30 min.
Cool, strain and bottle.
Be sure to label.


menuPLANTAIN OINTMENT
2½ cups fresh plantain leaves
1½ cups wheat germ oil
½ cup honey

Mix wheat germ oil and honey in a blender, making sure blades are covered with the oil.
Add fresh plantain leaves.
Scrape out the preparation with a spaula.
Place in a labeled bottle or jar.
To solidify add 2½ tbsp or more of warm, melted beeswax.


menuRED CLOVER OINTMENT
In a pyrex bowl, place a handful of red clover and cover with olive or sweet almond oil.
Place bowl in center of electric skillet which has some water in it to protect the finish.
See Basics/How To for procedure.


menuSORE LEG OINTMENT
1 handful chickweed
1 handful red rose leaves
1 pint olive oil (or other suitable oil)

In top of double boiler combine oil, chickweed and rose leaves.
Simmer over very low heat for 1 to 3 hours.
Strain out herbs.
Use as a liquid ointment on sore legs.


menuSAGE and SWEET VIOLET OINTMENT
Good for chapped lips, cold sores and chapped skin.

2 tbsp finely chopped fresh sage leaves
2 tbsp sweet violets
4 tbsp sweet almond oil

Combine ingredients in a small stoppered bottle.
Leave in a warm place for 1 month, shaking daily.
Strain into a bowl and add 4 tbsp each of almond oil and melted beeswax which have been melted together in the top of a double boiler.
Beat until cold.
Store in an airtight jar in a cool place.


menuSKIN SALVE
1 part comfrey
1 part chickweed
1 part calendula
1 part lavender
1 part rose petals
½ part elderflowers
½ part violet leaves or flowers
enough sweet almond or olive oil (or other oil) to cover herbs in pan

See Basics/How to (ointments/salves) for procedure.


menuVIOLET OINTMENT
Has been used for boils, impetigo, ulcers, skin eruptions.

Melt 1 oz lanolin and 3 oz cocoa butter in small oven pan (use 150° oven).
Add as many fresh violet leaves as liquid will cover and continue to heat for 3 hours.
Strain and store.



©1998 by Ernestina Parziale, CH

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