Herbal Healthcare Recipes

Here are some basic recipes to supplement the Staff Development Committee Alternative Health presentations:


Basic Healing Salve

Ingredients

2 oz Comfrey Leaves,Dried
1 oz Calendula Flowers,Dried
2 c Olive Oil
1 oz Pure Beeswax
4 Drops EO Of Tea Tree
4 Drops EO Of Lavender

Directions

Heat herbs in olive oil over low heat for 5 hours. Do not boil or
bubble. You can use a crock pot for this. Strain out all of the herbs
while oil is warm. Put 1 1/4 cups of the herbal oil into a saucepan,
add the beeswax, heat over low heat just until wax melts. Pour into
jars and store at room temp. This is the base for the psoriasis salve,
also makes a great lip balm, or a salve for healing cuts and scrapes as
it will promote healing and has antiseptic properties. To customize it
for psoriasis, eczema, or dry skin, add some herbs!

Eucalyptus Chest Rub

Ingredients

40 drops essential oil of Eucalyptus
10 drops essential oil of Camphor
2 drops essential oil of Wintergreen
1 drop essential oil of thyme
1 ounce Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon Beeswax

Directions

Preparation: Add the beeswax to the olive oil and heat until the beeswax is melted. Use very low heat or a double boiler to prevent burning the oil. When the wax is melted, remove the oil from the heat then add the essential oils and stir to blend. When the mixture is cool it is ready to use. You can make this using only the eucalyptus oil if preferred.

To use rub a small amount on the chest as needed to relieve congestion.

Herbal Repellent Oil

Ingredients

1 part fresh pennyroyal
1 part fresh thyme
1/2 part fresh basil
1/2 part neem leaf (if available)
tea tree essential oil
citronella essential oil
olive oil

Directions

Pick your fresh herbs. Manually remove any dirt then set them in a sunny place until the herbs are wilted.

Using 1/4 cup as your part, measure 1/4 cup of pennyroyal and thyme, and 1/8 cup basil and neem leaf into a crock pot. Pour in enough olive oil to cover the herbs plus another inch of oil (approximately 1 cup). Turn the crock pot on low temperature and heat the herbs for about 3 hours. An alternative way to prepare your oil extraction is to place the herbs in a clear glass jar and set it in the sun for about five days. Shake it once or twice a day.

When you have finished heating your oil, strain your oil through a cheesecloth lined strainer. Squeeze out as much oil as possible. Measure out how much oil you now have. For each ounce of oil add 10 drops of citronella essential oil and 5 drops of tea tree oil.

Pour into lotion bottle and label.

Pain Reliever Salve

Ingredients

Mix together 1 oz of chickweed (reduces inflammation and aids in healing), 1 oz of
wormwood (a great pain reliever), and 1 ounce of yarrow (an anti-bacterial agent that

also helps relieve pain). The yarrow plant contains achillein and achilleic acid.
These substances reduce the clotting time of blood, so they help stop any bleeding.
Yarrow also has pain-killing and anti-inflammatory properties that are similar to aspirin.

Add the mixture of herbs to 2 pints of olive oil and simmer 3 hours.
Strain and add 3 ounces of beeswax and 1 teaspoon of tincture of benzoin.
Test for consistency before pouring into wide mouth containers.

Teething Gel

Ingredients

1 ounce pure vegetable glycerin
2 drops essential oil of clove


Directions

Add one drop of clove to your glycerin and shake it until it is well blended. Test it on yourself to make sure it is not too strong before adding another drop. For a young baby I use 2 drops. You could use vegetable oil instead of glycerin if you want. Glycerin is very sweet so it makes the remedy a bit more appealing.