This recipe was created by Jennifer Narlee Horstman, and posted with permission.
I'm always looking for recipes to share that are healthy versions of products I have used and loved before I started my journey to better health. This one comes courtesy of Jennifer Narlee Horstman, who generously shared her Do-it-Yourself herb-infused healing balm recipe online. With permission, I'm sharing it here!
This healing balm can be used on animals as well as people, and has a variety of uses: lip balm, dry skin, superficial wound care, as a salve over broken bones, rashes and other skin irritations, poison ivy/oak/sumac, brittle nails, diaper rash, mosquito bites and bee stings, and as a chest and foot rub for colds and coughs, to name a few.
DIY Herb-Infused (Petroleum-free) Healing Balm
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4 oz plantain leaf and comfrey leaf infused extra virgin olive oil (see below)
4 oz jewelweed stem infused unrefined cold-pressed coconut oil
1.5 oz unrefined raw shea butter
1.5 oz unrefined raw cocoa butter
0.5 oz beeswax (add more or less depending on personal preference)
(All above by weight)
1/2 tsp lavender essential oil (or your EO of choice).
Melt all together, on low, in double boiler except the essential oil. Once melted, set aside to cool slightly. Once cooled but still liquid, add essential oil of your choice. Set aside to thicken until room temperature.
To infuse oil with herbs:
You can use fresh or dried herbs. If using fresh jewelweed, be sure to pick parts of the plant that are the darkened stems. They have more of the active ingredient in it. Finely chop the herbs, stuff into a glass jar, add liquid oil up to the top and put it in a Crock-Pot. Add water to the crock pot just to the neck of the jar and turn on low. Leave on for 3-4 days and keep adding water to the Crock-Pot as it evaporates.
Alternatively, you can also put oil and herbs in a skillet on low for an hour. This method is only recommended with coconut oil as your base oil, as olive oil burns (oxidizes) very easily.
Be sure to choose only the best ingredients for your homemade skin products. Besides saving on cost, the reason to DIY is to be chemical-free! Many of the herbs can be found right in your own backyard. Only pick plants that you are certain of the identification, and that have never been treated with pesticides or other chemicals. Trouble finding the ingredients?
And these little jars would be great for storing your balm (and sharing with friends!). Thanks again for the recipe and photos, Jennifer!
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