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Page 20
| fermenting. Add a few drops of essential oil, vitamin E or propolis extract to preserve it further. |
| Salves |
| A convenient way to apply herbs topically is with a salve. Salves can be used for healing cracked dry skin, rashes, abrasions and more. Don't use salves on fungal skin conditions, since fungus, like yeast, thrives in a warm, moist environment, and salves hold warmth and moisture in the skin. |
| Start with an infused herbal oil. Place 8 ounces of herbal oil in a clean, dry nonmetal pan. Add 1/4 cup of beeswax. Heat together over very low heat, stirring occasionally, until the beeswax is completely melted. Test the consistency by placing a few drops of this mixture on a cold china plate. Check the firmness of your salve. If it is too soft, add a little more beeswax; if too hard, add more oil. When it has reached the right consistency, pour the salve into small glass containers or tins and cool until firm. When stored in a cool, dark place, salves will last for many months, even years. |
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