I have a 9 year old with eczema. Over the years we have tweaked his diet and have gotten him to a point where he doesn't often have the huge flare-ups he used to have (dairy and cane sugar are his triggers). His asthma has been under control too, which often goes hand in hand with the skin for him. That said, our success seems to be in part to his diet, and also our skin care and bathing regime. We have worked with his allergist and a dermatologist for a few pesky painful bits, but generally, we try to keep his skin pampered so we don't have to resort to the steroidal ointments. We have a cream and body oil we use after bath every night, but we also make a salve for spot treatment. This salve can be used by all of us for various skin applications, but I most often use it for rough patches. This base oil is made from an herbal infusion. I like using the oven method because it is gentle and easy. The process is just simply pre-heating the oven to a low 250ºF temp, and then placing your oven safe bowl of herb/oil in the oven, turning it OFF, and leaving the herbs to infuse in the oil for several hours. I find it convenient this time of year to just do it at night and leave the bowl in the oven overnight. If I am already using my oven for dinner, I just cool it down to temp and make sure it is OFF before putting the herbs in there. This method gently heats the oil, and allows me to do other things besides monitoring the temperature constantly as I do more with the stovetop or crockpot methods. Once summer arrives I usually prefer the solar method since I don't want my oven on, but the oven is so simple and perfect for most of the year. 
This salve I like to make uses calendula and lavender. I often vary the type of base oil I infuse depending on the time of year (each oil has different properties, absorption, etc.). Use whatever oil is safe for you and your household. This batch I used avocado oil, but I often use (organic) olive oil, grapeseed oil, or even coconut oil. {Calendula~Lavender Infused Oil} For this oil, I use 1 cup of oil to 1 cup of packed dry herbs (calendula flowers). Most often by weight is best, but I know with calendula it is a light petal based herb, and this ratio works for this infusion. I filled the cup first tightly with calendula, and added a few tablespoons of dried lavender buds. The lavender is optional, but I love it, and I dry my own each summer to use in my herbal concoctions. Place your dry herbs in an oven safe bowl. Pour over your oil. It is going to look like you don't have much oil and it at first won't even cover all the herbs. That is OK. Stir it up to get it all coated. Place in your preheated 250ºF oven, turn off the oven, close the door, and leave it for a few hours. I usually just leave it overnight. To strain just run it through a few layers of cheesecloth. Squeeze it. I like taking the ball of cheesecloth and herbs and squeezing it with my lemon squeezer. It gets out more oil than my carpal tunnel hands ever could. This is your base oil. 
To make the salve, you can use the low temp oven method again to melt things, or do a low temp/gentle double boiler by heating water on the stove in a saucepan, and placing your oven safe bowl over the top. {Calendula~Lavender Salve} Into your oven safe bowl or double boiler :: 3 ounces of your freshly made aromatic calendula-lavender oil (you will have some left over for other good stuff) 1/2 ounce of mango butter 1/2 ounce (up to 1 ounce) of grated beeswax You may ask if the mango butter is optional - sure. You can use coconut oil for that portion (it is a room temperature solid oil, which is a nice substitute) or skip it and use just the infused oil and beeswax. Cocoa butter would work too, although the arguably wonderful scent will overpower any oils you add. Shea butter should work too, although I haven't used it since we have an allergy in the house. I have found my son likes the texture when it is a little thicker and not as oily, and the mango butter works great for us. This has a good skin feel for him. I say use a half to a full ounce of beeswax because ~ it will vary depending on how you like it. Or your climate. I use less this time of year because it is still cool and I don't want it hard as a rock and impossible to use. In the summer I use the higher quantity of beeswax because I want it to set even in moderate heat - such as in my travel bag or hiking tote. To test if you like the consistency, the trick is to melt it all together, take it off the heat/out of the oven, and let it cool right there in the bowl. After it fully cools stick your finger in there and rub some on. See how you like it. From there re-melt and tweak it if you need to. Remove it from the heat, and now add your essential oils. I used 12 drops of organic lavender essential oil. Work quickly so it doesn't all harden in your bowl. Now, just pour it into your tins. For this batch I used a single 4 ounce tin. Sometimes I use smaller tins so I can have one at home and one in my purse. I like using a lip balm tube for a small portable version that is great in a travel bag, first aid kit, or backpack. If you use a tube, be sure to label clearly it as a salve so you don't apply it to your lips! For all of my tins, I put a detailed label with ingredients, use, and date on it somewhere so I don't forget, as well as a name label on the lid. 
Now, let it cool. It is ready to use! My son loves it on his dry annoying patches. I love it on my garden knuckles. You know, the red dry cracking knuckles you get after digging, raking, and planting in the garden like a madwoman after a six month break where your previously gloriously hard-earned garden callouses turned into soft supple winter hands without hard use. Ahem. After you make this 4 ounce batch you will have some of that base oil left over to use in bath melts, balm, or another batch of salve! Making your own infused oils and salves is not hard, and both are a great addition to your home kit. *** Note: I use only 12 drops of lavender EO because we have tweaked it to where my son is comfortable with the scent level (and my oil infusion has some scent since I added dried lavender buds to that process). You can add up to 20 - 24 drops total comfortably for 4 ounces of oil! Calendula:
2 Comments
Daniela
3/29/2015 05:31:42 am
How do you know the oils had been infused when doing the cold infusion method. I've had mine sitting for 4 weeks now but the plant material look like when I put it together and I am unsure if I should let it sit longer. It is fragrant but it dissipates quickly Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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denise cusackI am a certified aromatherapist, clinical herbalist, certified permaculture designer (PDC), organic gardener, plant conservationist, photographer, writer, designer, artist, nature lover, health justice activist, whole foods maker, and mother of two young adults in south central Wisconsin. 
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