HERB - witch hazel & arnica

[CorwynWdwd@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/15/2000 8:41:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
jamiebozeman at hotmail.com writes:

> I am Looking for a recipe for a 
>  bruise/muscle ointment for our heavy fighters.  I belive the primary 
>  ingredient is Arnica is anyone familiar with this?  Jamie

As always YMMV

I do a cup of arnica blossoms in about three cups of vinegar with a hot 
pepper pod added. It makes a good muscle rub for sore muscles and really gets 
the circulation going to move out the congestion of a bruise or a sprain. Let 
them steep in a sealed jar for about two weeks, strain and bottle. I suppose 
you could also extract the arnica in the witch hazel extract, though I've 
never tried that (yet).

I also make an ointment with calendula blossoms, comfrey leaves or roots 
(whichever are available) , yarrow, saffron and cloves in a base of anhydrous 
lanolin, coconut oil, and a bit of beeswax for thickening. It sits atop the 
skin for a bit then soaks right in. Put about a cup of the calendula 
blossoms, several dried or fresh comfrey leaves (or about a quarter cup of 
root) half cup of yarrow, a pinch of saffron and three or five cloves. To 
this I add about a cup of lanolin, two or three cups coconut oil and the 
beeswax (no more than a teaspoon or so). I cook it at 400 degrees in an oven 
for about thirty to forty-five minutes. Yes, this seems to burn the herbs and 
supposedly this shouldn't work, but for some reason it does as long as the 
top of the casserole dish you use is well fitted. Strain and let cool before 
using.

Corwyn
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