Hi
I was wondering if any of you have made your own ointments or salves? How did it work out? What base did you use?
I've read pork lard (though I'm not very interested in using animal fats), beeswax or vaseline work well mixed with any of a plethora of oils.
Ointments and Salves
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hedge*
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I often make ointments and salves Sercee - it's very therapuetic and also I like to know EXACTLY what goes into products that I'm going to use on my body and my families.
My favourite base is Olive oil - simply because it's cheap compared to others and readily available. I use Coconut oil a lot too and I even managed to find a cheap supplier of Shea Butter over here, so I've been using that a lot as well. Beeswax plays an important role in making salves as it acts as a solidifier and also vitamin E oil as it acts as a preservative.
That's your basic recipe, though you'll have to experiment with quantities, then all you need are the Herbs you want to use. Some people like to add essential oils for the smell as well as the properties.
hope that's helped. There's a post over in Herbs and Herbalism about the different types of oils you can use and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.
My favourite base is Olive oil - simply because it's cheap compared to others and readily available. I use Coconut oil a lot too and I even managed to find a cheap supplier of Shea Butter over here, so I've been using that a lot as well. Beeswax plays an important role in making salves as it acts as a solidifier and also vitamin E oil as it acts as a preservative.
That's your basic recipe, though you'll have to experiment with quantities, then all you need are the Herbs you want to use. Some people like to add essential oils for the smell as well as the properties.
hope that's helped. There's a post over in Herbs and Herbalism about the different types of oils you can use and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.
Here in Glasgow, you can buy beeswax for making ointments, it comes in packs and it's small flakelike pieces or buttons. I saw it in Neals Yard and a healthfood shop too. I think it's probably easier to use the candles but most of the health and new age stores sell this and other ingredients. Might be worth a look, I think they are quite inexpensive too.