Recipes : Medicine Chest
Simple Calendula Salve | Clary Sage Vinegar Recipe | Elder Berry Syrup |Flower Essences for Trauma | Flower Essence Support Spray | Kloss’ Liniment
Simple Calendula Salve
Every household should have a few tins of this lovely golden salve around. It is a multiple purpose ointment that can be used for a multitude of skin issues including rashes, irritations, cuts, scapes, bug bites and more. This recipe makes 4 ounces of salve.
4 ounces Calendula infused olive oil
1/2 ounces of beeswax pearls or beeswax bar, chopped
1 teaspoon Vitamin E
(4) 1 oz Salve Jars (glass, plastic or metal tins)
Instructions
In a double boiler, heat the oil and beeswax on medium low heat until melted. Take off the heat, add the Vitamin E. Combine well and pour into your desired container.
Clary Sage Vinegar Recipe
Clary Sage Vinegar is a soothing and astringent gargle for sore throats. You can also omit the honey and put the vinegar infusion into a spray bottle to use as deodorant. Or dilute 1 Tablespoon of the Vinegar in 16 ounces of water and use it as a clarifying and enriching hair rinse.
¼ cup dried Clary Sage blossoms
1 cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup honey
Instructions
Fill a glass jar with Clary Sage blossoms. Pour vinegar over the ingredients. Make sure that the vinegar covers the ingredients by at least 1 inch. If you are using a metal lid, cover the opening of the jar with wax or parchment paper and then put the lid on, or use a plastic lid. Store vinegar in a cool, dark place for one month. Shake occasionally. After one month, strain the vinegar through muslin or cheesecloth into a clean jar and mix in the honey. This Clary Sage infused vinegar is best stored in a glass jar with a plastic lid or cork top.
Elder Berry Syrup
1 cup Elder berries (4oz net wt)
4 cups water
1 cup Honey
Instructions
Combine berries and water in a saucepan. Bring it up to a boil and down to a simmer. Simmer until the mixture is reduced by half the volume. Strain the elder berries out. Combine the leftover liquid (about 2 cups) with 1 cup of honey. Bottle, store in fridge for longest shelf-life. Yields: 24 fl. oz of syrup.
Flower Essences for Trauma
As our Boulder community is processing the grief and trauma suffered as a result of the mass shooting that occurred on March 22nd, we would like to share with you some Flower Essences for trauma. This blend formulated by Flower Essence Practitioners, Theresa Canosa, Lauren Cannon and Sara Marie Miller has provided us tremendous comfort and support during this tragic experience. Our hearts and love are with you all.
Arnica Flower Essence: helps to heal deep seated shock by addressing the emotional and energetic aspect of trauma.
Borage Flower Essence: helps to soothe and lift the heart when it is feeling heavy and sad with grief by encouraging courage and optimism.
Pink Yarrow Flower Essence: helps one to offer compassionate presence while maintaining appropriate emotional boundaries.
Rock Rose Flower Essence: helps one to assume control in catastrophic situations and to offer transcendent courage when facing adversity.
Scotch Broom Flower Essence: helps to shift feelings of hopelessness to a vision of a more hopeful, positive world future.
Flower Essence Support Spray
Ingredients:
2 ounces of Spring Water
4 drops of each Flower Essence (Arnica, Borage, Pink Yarrow, Rock Rose & Scotch Broom)
2 drops Cypress essential oil
2 drops Lavender essential oil
2 drops Neroli essential oil
4 drops Palmarosa essential oil
2 drops Vetiver essential oil
Add spring water to a 2-ounce glass bottle with a spray top. Add 4 drops of each flower essence and drops of essential oils indicated in the recipe above. Spritz generously in a space or on the body to soothe the nervous system and uplift the spirit. Intended for external use only.
Kloss’ Liniment
Kloss’s liniment is useful for reducing inflammation of the muscles, cleansing wounds, and soothing insect bites. Instead of Goldenseal, you can also substitute Chaparral or Oregon Grape Root. According to Rosemary Gladstar, who has been using this recipe for over 30 years, this is one of the finest disinfectant remedies available. In her own words: “Quite truthfully, you shouldn’t be without it."
1 pint of rubbing alcohol
1 ounce Myrrh gum powder
1 ounce Echinacea root powder
1 ounce Goldenseal root powder
1/2 ounce Cayenne powder
Instructions
- Place the powder in a jar and cover with rubbing alcohol (a food-grade alcohol can be used, but rubbing alcohol seems to work best), leaving a good 2-inch margin above the herbs. Cover with a tight-fitting lid. Place the mixture in a warm location and let it sit for 4 weeks. Shake daily.
- Strain out the powders. Bottle. Label the bottle clearly for “External Use Only”.
- To use, apply directly on wounds or moisten a cotton ball with liniment and swab the infected area. Repeat as often as needed until the infection goes away.