SC - Introducing myself

[Mark Schuldenfrei]

In a message dated 97-10-27 01:24:20 EST, you write:

<< 
 Alright folks.
 I've heard enough of this bruise ointment.
 Recipe(s), please?
 
 Phlip
  >>
     Well, the process will differ depending on whether you want an ointment
or a more liquid product, say a linament. The more liquid the end product,
the easier the process, although salves aren't hard to make. I'm not really
sure if you want the exact recipe only, or if the process will help, but I
can give you the process, and can't the recipe, so............... ;-)
      To make a linament, steep the herbs of your choice in either alcohol or
vinegar. For bruises, I'd use arnica, plus possibly some of the other herbs
mentioned earlier. Comfrey, certainly. Put your herbs in a glass container
and pour the liquid over them to cover completely. Cover tightly--if your
container has a metal lid a layer of plastic wrap between the lid and the jar
is a good idea. Sometimes metal corodes/rusts in contact with vinegar or
alcohol. Shake well, and place in a dark, cool place. Allow to steep for at
least a couple of weeks, shaking daily. Strain out the herbs and you are
done! The same proceedure works for oils, but the herbs need to be at least
partly dry or the moisture may cause spoilage. You can speed up the process
by warming you liquid to pour over the herbs, but be careful not to get it
*too* hot or you can lose some of the essential oils. Almond or grapeseed
oils are popular, but olive will work well, too, and most of us already have
it.

    For a salve, infuse the herbs in oil as above, and heat it gently. Add
beeswax pieces, melt them in, and cool a bit of the mixture to check the
consistency. Add more beeswax as needed until it's as thick as you wish. I'd
start with about 1/4 the volume of the oil, and add on from there. Other
thickeners are possible as well--lanolin, cocoa butter, and, if you are
feeling particularly hard-core, I believe lard and tallow were used often in
period. Spoon into containers and cover tightly before it hardens.
    If you happen to have the appropriate essential oils on hand, you can
skip the steeping of the herbs and just use them. *Don't* heat them,
though--mix them in after the salve is made and almost cool. Be careful--they
are MUCH more potent thand the plant material they came from and can irritate
the skin in too strong a concentration.

     Well, I hope this covers at least some of wat you wanted to
know........... Let me know if I confused you too much or left out something
important! ;-) 

Ldy Diana
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