How To Make Your Own Balms And Oils From The Beautiful Herbs In Your Garden By Melina Murphy
I adore herbs. I get exciting about collecting herbs. I savor their flavors in my cooking. They are so versatile and can be used to relieve certain ailments. I love making teas and tinctures, infusions, oils, and balms out of herbs.
Over the years I have experimented with and made many oils and balms. I love learning about and getting to know different herbs. When you start making herbal oils, you begin to build a relationship with a herb and get to know its properties and what it can be used for.
Of all of the oils that I like to make these are my three favourite:
Comfrey Oil
Makes a green oil. The common name for comfrey is Knitbone which highlights its role herbally. It is regarded as a great herb for the young and reckless as it could help with broken bones. This could be due to comfrey containing constituents like allantoin that may help to stimulate growth of new cells and rosmarinic acid that has anti-inflammatory properties. It is also good for the elderly whose bones may be more brittle. It is very helpful and soothing for offering relief from stiffness and joint conditions like osteoarthritis. It is like yoga for herbs.
St John’s Wort
This is a very powerful herb which can be helpful for treating any skin condition where there is inflammation or irritation. It can be useful on bites, cuts, stings, rashes, skin conditions and sore muscles. I also have clients that use it daily as it has helped reduce the number of sunspots they have had to get burned off.
Calendula
This herbal oil is very gentle and helpful for sensitive skin. It is great for relieving baby’s nappy rash. It can be used to relieve the same conditions as St John’s Wort, but is better for someone with more sensitive skin.
Caption: Comfrey soaking in olive oil.
How to make herbal oils
To make your own herbal oil you will need:
- Organic olive oil.
- Your herb of choice, washed and thoroughly dried.
- A mason jar with secure lid.
Caption: Gotu Kola
Method:
- Chop up the herb of your choice and place in a sterilised mason jar.
- Pour organic olive oil over the chopped herbs making sure they are completely covered and no part of the herb is sticking out – otherwise it will go mouldy. Seal the jar.
- Leave the herb to soak in the oil for six weeks.
- After six weeks, strain the oil out by pouring it into jar through a colander or strainer lined with a tea towel, flour bag or piece of muslin.
How to make a balm
It is easy to turn your herb oils into balms, which can be used daily to relieve certain conditions.
Place the herbal oil in a large pot on the stove using 5 parts herbal oil to 1 part beeswax, on the lowest heat possible. Once the beeswax has melted into the oil, stir to combine and pour the mix into sterilised jars to set the balm.
You can also add some essential oils to your balm, depending on what you are planning to use it for. My current favorite balm is “Melina’s sinus and anti-cough balm”, made with olive oil soaked with mint, bees wax and eucalyptus and cedarwood essential oils. It is great for treating a cough.
Making oils and balms is great fun and they can make great home-made gifts for friends and family.
Caption: Comfrey oil
About Author
Melina at Macksville Natural Health Clinic is a passionate herbalist, masseuse and yoga teacher. She has worked in health for over fifteen years and currently runs a health clinic and yoga studio in Macksville NSW.
To find out more information about Melina’s clinic visit them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MacksvilleNaturalHealthClinic or contact her at melinainfinitelove@yahoo.com.au