This is what my family uses for our First Aid Salve. The recipe is one I created after researching different botanicals & essential oil and then using the advice a very wise woman, I looked around at what botanicals grew naturally on our land. This salve is used for minor cuts, scrapes and burns. Be sure the wound is clean and not a puncture wound.

• 50% Comfrey infused oil *
• 5% Rosemary infused oil *
• 5% Lavender infused oil *
• 5% Calendula infused oil *
• 5% Plantain infused oil *
• 5% Chickweed infused oil *
• 5% Mullein infused oil *
• 20% beeswax
• rosemary essential oil**
• tea tree essential oil**
• lavender essential oil**

Dandelion Salve
copyright 2008

This is what we use for sore, achy muscles and arthritic joints.

• 6 parts Dandelion infused oil *
• 1 part melted beeswax

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* About Oil Infusions:

My oil infusions are made by filling a large mouth glass jar about 1/2 - 3/4 full of the dried botanical. These are then filled with Sweet Almond (or Fractionated Coconut Oil or Olive Oil) and left in a sunny window. They get a couple shakes a day. To use the oil, strain the botanicals from the oil. Refill oil as needed. Lard is another nice oil to use for infusions.
Another way to infuse oils is to gently warm the oil in a crock pot and add botanicals to it. You will want to keep the crockpot on a low temperature so you do not french-fry your herbs!

**Please keep the total amount of your essential oils to 2% or less of total salve amount.

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First Aid Oil

First Aid Ointment

Burn Ointment

Burn Paste

Connie's Lip Balm

Dr. Christopher's Burn Paste

Connie's Cold Sore Salve

Ointments

Heavenly Herbal Balm

Connie's Lotions

When I started making soap and salves, I found a couple 'gurus' that graciously shared their extensive knowlege with me. As a payback to these wonderful folks we are giving them some cyber space of their own.

Connie Henrie shares her famous salves with us. The recipes are listed both in weight and percentages so you can make the amount you need.

I am always happy to share my basic ointment recipe. I call this Ointment "First Aid Ointment" and we use it for everything. When I came up with the recipe I chose herbs that grow in my area. There are many herbs that would be good choices, but I wanted to start making some the same every year. I still make many other variations in small amounts for individuals with specific needs. I wanted something that would cover my families needs, from a babies diaper needs to everyday problems like cat scratches, bruises and then also for things like chicken pox, something I could have in my first aid kits in the car, my purse, the bathroom etc. This is what I came up with. * First Aid Oil Top Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil infused with Comfrey, Plantain, cranesbill, Chickweed, Mallow & Mullein. I infuse all the herbs separately into the same oil, taking all summer to do it, so it is a very potent infused oil. There are many choices you could use for your First Aid Oil. If I have it, I also add Balm of Gilead, or Propolis. I grow these herbs myself, pick them, let them wilt a day, and then start to infuse them. I often use gallon glass jars set into boiling water or in a hot place (truck of the car). If you use freshly wilted herbs you must know what you are doing and not let your oil go bad. I use the same oil and infuse as much of the different herbs as I can fit into the oil throughout the summer. After a couple of weeks I strain out the herbs and add another batch. I do this all summer, so by the end of the summer I have very potent oil. First Aid Ointment Top 50% - 100 grams First Aid Oil* 30% - 60 grams Lanolin 10% - 20 grams Emu Oil (Hemp Oil, Shea Butter or other healing oil of choice) 10% - 20 grams beeswax Lavender Essential Oil Tea Tree Essential Oil Connie's Burn Ointment Top 45% First Aid Oil * 40% Honey 5% Emu Oil 5% Wheat Germ Oil 5% Beeswax It is difficult to keep this ointment from separating, so I use a glass measuring bowl in a sink of cold water and mix with a stick blender, and then spoon into pots. Connie's Lip Balm (Pocket First Aid Stick) Top 45% First Aid Oil 25% Beeswax 10% Hemp Oil 10% Shea Butter 10% Emu Oil I also add 1-3% of the above total of Flavor Oils, or 1-2% Essential Oils to this. We keep this in our pockets and apply to everything from insect bites, scratches, bruises, to chicken pox. We find it takes away itch, reduces inflamation, and helps things to heal. (Now it seems to prevent sunburn lips - however don't advertise that fact) Dr. Christopher's Burn Paste Top I take Equal parts of raw honey and wheat germ oil (slowly heat the honey in a double boiler to soften) and put in a blender or food processor with the wheat germ oil. I add freshly picked comfrey leaves (I rip out the stem like you do for romaine lettuce) while the processor is on. I add as much comfrey as I can. It looks like fresh green manure. Cover the burned area of the body as thick as you can. I cover that with Saran Wrap to keep the mess to a minimum. I put my kids to bed on an old swimming towel covering them with an old sheet. We reapply over top of what was already there as needed. If you can do this for 12 -24 hours you will be amazed at how it heals. This also works well for bruises, but then I just use Olive Oil as a base. Top Another Ointment that works is to infuse Castor Oil with Yarrow, Comfrey, Balm of Gilead, or Propolis. I use 5 parts of the Oil to 1 part of Beeswax. I have added Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Essential Oils to this. I use this in alteration with other ointments. This one also works well for Cold Sores. Top For ointments I basically take 1 part of infused oil and 1 part of lanolin and then add a bit of beeswax if I want it thicker. For a basic ointment to cover every day needs I also will add 1% of Lavender and 1% of Tea Tree Essential Oils. Now I weigh everything, but to begin with I just added until it smelled right. This makes a nice soft ointment like a Vaseline that will coat a babies bottom and leave a barrier. It is also perfect for scraped knees etc. For things like insect bites & chicken pox I prefer to have something stiffer and waxy, not greasy, so I often use 5 parts of infused oil to 1 part of beeswax and put it into a lip balm tubes so that it can be rubbed on, and my kids can keep it in their pocket. There are many other things that will add to an ointment that I like to use. Emu Oil, Hemp Oil, Shea Butter and Essential Oils are favorites of mine. I think the synergy is often amazing. In a pinch in the winter when I run out of my oil from the previous summer I will do more oil using dried herbs. My favorite combination is Comfrey, Calendula, and Chamomile. It makes a nice herbal oil for lotions, basic diaper ointments etc. It is not nearly as potent as the oil I make in the summer, but it works and is a good place for beginners to start. For another variation you can use honey instead of lanolin, and add a bit of beeswax so that it won't separate. I use unpasterized honey that is local to me. Top If you are just new into making infused oil try infusing Comfrey, Calendula and Chamomile (they are herbs that you can easily buy, and when you want to start growing your own, they are easy to grow too) in the best Olive Oil you can buy. The take equal parts of your infused oil, Hemp Oil, & Shea Butter and gently melt together. I like to add 1% Rose Geranium to this mix and I call it "Heavenly Herbal Balm". You need to set your jars in the fridge or they will not set up. This makes a nice body butter that would be great for pregnant mom's, skin problems etc. If you have Emu Oil you could also add some of that, but you might need some beeswax then to help it to set up. Let inspiration be your guide and I am sure you will come up with something wonderful. For those of you who have lots of experience infusing oils try infusing into Castor Oil, it has different properties than Olive Oil and will give you different results. Hopefully I have given those who want to learn some food for thought, and you will be able to create something that will help someone near and dear to you.

• Making Butter
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• The Adventures of Raising Chicks
• Making Lotions
• Making Salves & Body Butters
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