Natural Herbal Beauty

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. (more…)

Salves need a preservative because they are often used for cuts and wounds and as such need to be free from bacteria. A good preservative to use is tincture of benzoin, which you can purchase from your local drugstore. It is inexpensive and is necessary for the preparation of your salves. Choose stainless steel, glass, or earthenware when you are looking for bowls or containers in which to mix or store your herbal preparations. The containers you use to store the mixtures should be airtight and sterile.

It is helpful to know what the basic ingredients of a salve are. The ingredients used to make the salves are: the herbs you plan to use, an oil, beeswax, and the preservative. The best kind of oil to use is olive or sesame. Do not use the drying oils, such as soybean and linseed. (more…)