I have a crazy busy teen. Football games, council meetings, music lessons, and AP classes. There is a lot of overstimulation at school and she is up past midnight doing homework. She struggles to implement good sleep hygiene/habits and settle her mind before bedtime. I created this salve to support her. She can take it anywhere when she travels and use it easily on her own. It has the benefits of aromatherapy and medicinal constituents. She associates the smell with relaxation and happy memories. It can be rubbed on the temples, shoulders, neck and soles of the feet.
Make an infused oil with fresh lavender and chamomile flowers. I use the folk method- packing a clean jar with fresh herbs and then filling with high quality olive oil. Set aside for 2 weeks and then strain.
Here is a basic salve recipe.
I start with one cup of infused oil. I use organic US grown olive oil as it produces a more reliable result. Next pack a 16 0z. jar with clean, dry leaves if using fresh. Do not crush or macerate the leaves during processing to avoid releasing water into your infusion. Fill the jar to the rim with oil, making sure no plant material has risen above the oil. If so it can be poked down gently using a knife or chopstick. Screw the lid on tightly and set the jar on a saucer in case there is expansion. Let set exactly 2 weeks before straining.
Next you will need
2-3 ounces of beeswax pellets
1 oz of shea butter
Add your strained oil infusion to a double boiler. Heat on medium for 5 minutes. Add in the 2 ounces of beeswax and all of the shea butter. As soon as it is all melted and you see no floating pellets-test consistency by dipping a metal spoon into the mixture and placing it in the freezer for 1 minute. If you are happy with the result remove from the heart. If not, add beeswax and test until you are satisfied. Let cool 2 minutes . Pour into small tubes, tins or jars. Let sit 2 hours before capping and storing. If you add about a TBSSP of castor oil as you are melting it gives your salve a more silky texture.
Latin name: Lavandula (there are lots of species). Family: Laminacea (mint family). Lavender is an evergreen perennial shrub that can grow 1-4 ft high. Typically it appears as a smaller singular plant but in the right conditions it will spread and expand to fill a larger space. The entire herb is covered in a grayish down. At this time of year the plant shoots up a flowers in the form of a terminal spikes. The highly scented purple flowers form a group on the tip of their personal stalk. The narrow leaves are sparsely arranged oppositely on the square stem, often clustered at the base of the plant when not in bloom. Lavender can be very easy to grow in many climates especially when given well drained, poor, sandy soil and full sun. Lavender is not native to the United States. It is very popular with bees and butterflies. The smell is the best way to remember this herb. Rub any part of it between your hands and smell your palms.
Lavender’s pure essential oil is a great remedy for burns, cuts, tight muscles, rheumatism, edema, eczema, hair loss, acne, fungal infections, earache, cold sores, and insect bites/stings. This plant contains numerous volatile oils, many of which are powerful anti-microbials. It was used in WW 2 for wounds and parasites. It was burned for bubonic plague to prevent the spread of the disease. Steam inhalations, baths, and infusions have been used to treat chest infections, asthma, dizziness, insomnia, digestive issues, colic, fever, colds, flu, strep, yeast, vaginal infections, bad breath, muscle spasms, headaches, fear, earaches, eczema, acne, burns, cold sores, edema, rheumatism, hair lossatigue, stress and anxiety. Lavender has a history of being present at birth and death because of its calming nature. The flowers are edible and can be used in baked goods, and other sweets. You will find this herb in many gifts and beauty products.
Energetics:bitter, pungent, sweet, cooling, dry
Element:air
Parts used:flowers. Leaves and stalks can be used for incense
Contraindications: During pregnancy. Do not use the essential oil internally. Do your research on using the pure EO on a frequent basis externally (including in creams and shampoos).
Blackbird's Backyard Pharmacy 