I got this from another list. I am glad I joined this one! Why not add CS to the ointment or salve. I will! Jane
Subject: salve making http://library.thinkquest.org/25411/html/making_remedies.htm?tqskip1=1&tqtime= 0228 An ointment is a salve that the powdered form of an herb or an essential oil has been added to. To make an oil, you will need a powder or an essential oil and a fatty or oily substance. The traditional base for ointments is pork lard. Purified, liquid anhydrous lanolin, almond oil, cocoa butter, wheat germ, and vitamin E can also be used. Pork lard is the best to use because it has healing abilites even before the oils are added to it. Lanolin is good because it is the closest to skin oil, but you cannot be sure of getting a pure sample. Vaseline can also be used, but it is best to try this only as a last resort. As well as your herb and a base, you will need a thickener to be used on the final product. Lanolin and cocoa butter are good for this as mix well and are not sticky. Glycerin, honey, and liguis lecithin are also good, but they are stickier than lanolin or cocoa butter. You can also use powdered gum or resin that has been soaked in cold water and then simmered in gently boiling water. Agar-agar and Irish moss can also be used, and green apples are also good because they add a healing acid fruit pectin to creams and ointments. After you have used the thickener, you will also need a wax to harden the ointment or cream. beeswax alone or in combination with paraffin wax is the best hardener. You only need a small amount of this. Another part of an ointment is the preservative. This is not absolutely necessary, especially if you make the ointment in small batches, close the jars tightly, and seal them with paraffin wax. If you do want to use a preservative, you can use benzoin, poplar bud tincture, or glycerin. When you have gathered all that you need (herb, base, thickener, hardener, and a preservative if you want one), you can begin to make your ointment. 1.. Heat the base and the herb together until the plant has lost its normal color. This is when the base has fully absorbed the healing essence of the plant. 2.. Strain the plant out of the ointment. 3.. Add your thickener. 4.. Add your hardener. 5.. Store the ointment in a small, tightly closed jar. Make sure to label the jar with the name of the herb used in the ointment. -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. Instructions for unsubscribing may be found at: http://silverlist.org To post, address your message to: [email protected] Silver-list archive: http://escribe.com/health/thesilverlist/index.html List maintainer: Mike Devour <[email protected]>
