Tag Alder Salve: Add 1 ounce of tag alder bark to 1 /2 pint of hot olive oil. Cover and simmer 3 hours. Add 3 ounces of beeswax and 1 /4 teaspoon of tincture of benzoin to the strained mixture. Test for consistency and store in a labeled jar.

Tag alder’s signature is the small corky warts on its bark, so this would indicate that it could be used for various skin disorders. Using the signatures of the herbs is another good way to tell what you could use in preparing the salves.

Aloe Vera Salve: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon of pekoe tea and 1 tablespoon of Irish moss. Allow to sit until cool. Add 3 tablespoons of aloe gel. Mix well and store in labeled jar.

Aloe contains a substance that is used to prepare the tincture of benzoin, so you would not need to add tincture of benzoin to preserve this recipe. Aloe is also a great healer and is very soothing for skin disorders. The Irish moss is a thickening agent, and becomes a jelly-like substance when added to a liquid. It also has healing and soothing agents in it. The pekoe tea contains tannin, which is a great healer. This salve can be used to heal burns, including sunburns.

Herbal BeautyMoisturizing Oil: Collect the flowers from mullein and place in an earthenware bowl. Macerate the flowers and cover with almond oil. Let stand for 1 week, covered. Strain and bottle. This is good for skin irritations, as well as being a great moisturizer.

Ulcer Ointment: Good for leg ulcers. Melt 2 ounces of yellow beeswax and add to 8 ounces of honey. Mix well and apply to the ulcer twice daily. Change bandage with each application.

Chickweed Salve: Add about 1 pound of chickweed to 1 pint of olive oil. Heat for 3 hours in an oven set at 150 degrees. Strain and add 1-1/2 ounces of melted beeswax to the mixture. Stir mixture while it is cooling, as it will thicken. Place in a wide mouth jar and label. Great for healing cuts, burns, and abrasions.

Aloe SalveE: Simmer 4 teaspoons of Irish moss in 1 pint of water for 10 minutes. Strain and add the juice and pulp of about 5 large aloe vera leaves. Use this salve for burns. It fights infection as well as speeding the healing of skin tissue.

Amaranth Salve: Place 1 ounce of dried amaranth flowers, leaves or roots in 1 pint of hot oil. Simmer, covered 2 hours. Remove from heat and strain. Add 1-1/2 ounces of beeswax and1/2 teaspoon of tincture of benzoin to the mixture. Test for consistency and store in a tightly closed jar.

Amaranth has strong antiseptic and astringent properties. It can also help stop bleeding. This is a great salve to use for scrapes and cuts on children—particularly for knees and places that are constantly bumped, causing the sore to break open and start bleeding again. Stops the bleeding as well as keeps the sore free from bacteria.

Poison Ivy Salve: Add about 1 ounce each of dried cinquefoil, wild geranium, and powdered valerian root, dried, to 1 quart of water. Bring to a low boil and simmer until the mixture is halved. Strain and cool. Keep in the refrigerator and use as a compress as needed.

Balm of Gilead Salve: Place 1 ounce of the buds in 1 pint of hot olive oil and allow to simmer, covered, 3 hours. Strain and add 1-1/2 ounces of beeswax and 1/2 teaspoon tincture of benzoin to the strained mixture. Test for consistency and place in sterile jar.

This is a good salve to use on burns, scratches, and swelling injuries. Also good for any skin eruptions. The signature of balm of Gilead is the resinous exudation covering the buds. It contains salicin, which is also found in aspirin. It has some of the same pain-killing and anti-inflammatory properties as aspirin.

Gall Ointment: This is a good ointment for soothing the skin after its been rubbed or chafed until irritated. I use it after I’ve worn a pair of shorts that rub me the wrong way. People who go horseback riding on a regular basis will also find it helpful.

Place 2 teaspoons each of lanolin and petroleum jelly in a pan. Cook on low heat until melted. Add 1 ounce of powdered galls. Stir until the mixture is cooled. Do not strain. Add a few drops of tincture of benzoin and store in a container.

Green Elder Ointment: This is a good ointment to rub on the chest and back to relieve congestion. Put 1 /2 pound of green elder leaves in 1 quart of vegetable oil. Heat in an oven for 3 hours at about 150 degrees. Strain and apply as chest and back rub. It’s good to have this on hand during the winter season.

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Preparation of the Salves continue…