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Page 37
| method, let fresh plant material wilt slightly to reduce its water content, loosely pack a clear jar with fresh herbs (fill the jar one-quarter full if using dried herbs) and then fill it to the top with oil. Clean the top of the jar well so that no oil or plant material interferes with a tight seal when you put the lid on and leave the jar outside in the sun for several weeks or months. |
| When ready to use, strain through cheesecloth and add a few drops of tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract as a disinfecting preservative. Store in amber glass bottles; label with ingredients and date of preparation. Stored correctly, oils can last for years, though most herbalists prefer to make them annually for maximum freshness. Note that these oils are for external use only. Discard any oil that becomes rancid. |
| To turn any oil into a salve, simply add 1/2 to 1 ounce of beeswax per cup, depending on the consistency you desire. Test the salve by placing a teaspoon of oil in the freezer for a minute. If it's too thick, add more oil; if it's too soft, add more beeswax. Add several drops of tea tree oil, vitamin E or grapefruit seed extract as a preservative; pour into sterile jars or tins; seal, label and store away from heat and light. |
| Hydrotherapy |
| Hydrotherapy is a healing art in itself. A quart of very strong oatstraw, peppermint, chamomile, comfrey, lavender, ginger or lemon balm tea added to your bath is both an herbal and aromatherapy treatment. An effective therapy for muscle soreness and arthritis is to add salt as well as herbal teas to your |
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