Herb of The Day: Self-heal/Oil and Cream

Continued from my post on Facebook, here are the recipes for the Self-heal infused oil and also the Self-heal cream.

Self-heal Infused Oil

• Fill a jar with fresh self-heal blossoms and leaves. 
• Pour olive oil in to fill the jar, stirring as you do so to allow air bubbles to escape. 
• Cover the jar with a piece of cloth held on with a rubber band-this will allow any moisture to evaporate.
• Place the jar on a sunny window sill.
• Check the jar every few days, and if necessary push the plant material back down under the surface of the oil. 
• After 2 to 4 weeks the color will have drained out of the plants.
• Strain off the oil. 
• Allow it to settle, so that any water will sink to the bottom, then pour the oil carefully into bottles and label.
• This oil will keep for several years, but it is best to make a fresh batch every summer if you can.

Self-heal Cream

• To make a cream, you will be using some of the self-heal oil you have made, and combining it with a strong self-heal tea (see post on our facebook page for directions on making tea). This cream recipe can be used for other herbs or combinations of herbs too.

1. 2 fl oz oil
2. 3/4 oz beeswax
3. 2 fl oz tea

• Put the oil and beeswax in one bowl and the infusion in another, and stand them both in a large pan of hot water. 
• Heat until the beeswax melts.
• It is important that they are both the same temperature.
• Slowly pour the tea into the oil mixture while beating with an electric mixer set at the slowest speed.
• Once all the oil is mixed in and the mixture has emulsified and thickened, pour the cream into clean jars. 
• Once set, label, and store in a cool place or in the fridege.

Use the oil and cream for cuts, sores, wounds, aches and pains, and swellings in the throat.