[Herbalist] period product-creams fats oils

[Carol / Isrith]

Not sure which English time period you are referring to, but here's
something that may help:

Warm the oils and/or fats in a double boiler, with large amounts of
fresh or dried herbs packed in with the oil/fat so to extract the
properties of the herb. Keep heat of oil/fat at roughly body temperature
for about 3 hours or so. After this time, set up a fine cloth jelly bag
over a clean bowl and pour the contents through the bag. The used herb
will be left in the bag and your oil (nicely coloured now by whatever
herb you used) will be clear and ready for pouring into jars with
tightly fitting lids.

If using an oil, keep the oil warm in a bowl over heat and add grated
beeswax a little at a time until you have the consistency you desire.
Test (as in candy making) by dropping small samples onto a saucer and
then pop saucer into the fridge for fast cooling to see how the unguent
solidifies. Add more beeswax until you have the consistency you desire.

If using a fat which solidifies at room temp, you don't necessarily need
to add beeswax.

Done this way, a salve/unguent will last for a very long time, if kept
in a dark cool place.

To make cream, you add a little water (or herbal infusion) to the mix
and beat/whip very, very well for a long time. Friends with the same
interests are really useful here as you can all take turns at mixing.

You may want to take a look at Culpeper's "Complete Herbal and English
Physician."  Lots of stuff in there on techniques for making unguents
and whatnot.

~ Isrith.



BJ of NZ wrote:

>  Greetings I'm interested in creating period creams,
> oils, and ointments
> using substances that might of been availible to the
> english house wife
>
> so I thought I'd direct a few questions to the list
>
> what vegetable oils would be availible to the English?
> localy availible?
> imported oils ?
>
>  how expensive an reasonably availible would they of
> been  and how perishable or seaonle
>
> What would the animal fats been
>
> I have done a few experiments with Olive oil Duck
> grease and Mutton fat seething soaking or mushing
> calendula petals into it and have been pleasently
> surprised at the texture. but they do not keep well.
>
> so surmise that an ointment as a product was created
> for immediate use to be recreaed as nesscessary
>
> I'd love feed back
>
> Beatriz
>
> =====
> >From bjofnz at yahoo.co.nz
>
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