How to Make Calendula Healing Oil and Calendula Healing Balm
Why Make Your Own Healing Herbal Oils
They specifically benefit your skin and hair by improving skin hydration and lubrication, by calming and soothing redness, irritation and inflammation, by acting as antiseptics and they can be used to treat skin infections. They are safe for the most sensitive and worth to try if you have skin problems. The ingredients are easily available, maybe you already have some of the herbs growing in your garden?
There are 2 methods to make herbal oils using dried roots, herbs and flowers:
Hot Infused Oil -(Infusion)- Recommended for roots and hard parts of plants-
Place dried herb in a heat proof bowl like Pyrex with enough vegetable or olive oil to cover In a double boiler, heat the oil and herbs for 1 to 2 hours,( 3 hours for very thick roots) very gently, keeping temperature well below boiling and stir often. Strain through muslin and store in a sterile dark glass bottle.
Cold Infused Oil -(Maceration) – Usually for flowers and soft parts of plants.
Place the herb into a screw-topped jar and pour in enough vegetable or olive oil to cover. Leave in a warm place like on a sunny windowsill for one week to one month, shaking daily. Strain the mixture through muslin and store in a sterile dark glass bottle in a cool dark place.
If you do not heat the oil, but let the herb soak for a while, add some Vitamin E before adding the herb, not only it is a rich ingredient for the skin, Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant in your preparations and it prevents the oils to get rancid.
The followings herbs are commonly used to make ointments and creams:
- Arnica– bruising and swelling
- Calendula oil -soothing and healing for eczema, dermatitis, and wounds
- Chamomile– soothing and healing for rashes and inflammations and inflammations including eczema, dermatitis and wound.
- Comfrey- soothing and healing for cuts, wounds, skin damage
- Cucumber– soothing for inflamed skin.
- Lavender– healing and disinfecting for infected wounds and burns.
- Vanilla pod and Rose– for the beautiful scent.
Other useful blends:
- Invigorating and tonic – pepper berry, rosemary, ginger, peppermint
- Healing – chamomile, calendula, lavender
- Disinfecting – Thyme, Sage, Lemon myrtle
- Soothing – chamomile, calendula, Rose
Always label your products with a complete list of ingredients and date. Herbal oils can be used alone or as the first step in making herbal creams. They are beautiful in Massage by relaxing, by relieving tension and by smelling divine. They are safe for the most sensitive skin like Baby skin or Grandma skin.
The Author:
Originally trained in her native France, Marlene Daniels is a third generation beautician, an herbal home remedies specialist, herbalist, aroma therapist and soap maker.
