Soap: Use a basic lye soap recipe but substitute the liquid with a Jewel Weed puree. Add any other herbs you would like to this basic puree. I like Ginger (for pain), Turmeric (for inflammation), Cloves (anti-everything and for pain), and Plantain (draws sting and infection). So you're just using this as your liquid in the basic soap. Freeze up a bit before making the soap so it doesn't totally scorch with lye. Throw in your favorite skin healing essential oils for more power. If you would rather purchase a bar of ours click here.
Homestead Moma’s Super
Salve Tm
Any Salve Begins With The Right Herbs
Collect the following herbs:
Comfrey, also known as knit flesh. Actually regrows
cells and works to rejuvenate the cells structure. Good on cuts, scrapes,
bruising, and scares.
Cloves, an antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antimicrobial,
and antiseptic.
Wild or Domestic Ginger, for pain relief.
Plantain, for drawing out infection, swelling, thorns
stingers, and the like.
Tumeric, although not wild, huge in helping to reduce
inflammation and swelling.
Wild Winged Sumac, this increases the antibacterial
content and healing power.
White Oak Bark, extremely helpful at healing
infections, stopping bleeding, and tightening skin. High in astringent tannins.
Very good at fighting infection.
Salve: You’re going to fill a pint
jar full of fresh and/or dry herbs and cover with oil. I prefer Organic Olive
Oil. I load it full of as much herb as I can, but still leaving room for the
oil. Simmer the pint jar full of herbs and Organic Olive Oil for
48hrs on low to warm, not hot in a crock pot half full of water. You could also
use a pot of water on a very low burning wood stove. If it gets too hot, the
heat will over cook the healing properties that are “active” at working on and
aiding the healing process. So watch it. After 48 to 72 hrs of mild heat, strain
through cloth and warm oil with equal amounts of bee's wax and 2
Tablespoons of Organic Coconut Oil. You’ll usually get 8oz of herbal oil from
simmering a full pint. So that is about 8oz Organic Bee's Wax, 8oz Herbal
Infused Oil, and 2 Tablespoons heaped of Organic Coconut Oil. Allow to blend
and just before you pour into containers add your essential oils. I add 1
teaspoon of each Lavender, Peppermint, Tea Tree and Ylang Ylang. Litsea Cubeba
is added at 2 teaspoons full. It is the ultimate antiviral and antifungal
essential oil. It cannot be topped. Current studies have found it very
effective in eliminating Athlete’s Foot. These are chosen for their skin
healing and antibacterial properties. Pour into your containers ready for those
you love to come in hollering about all those bumps, bruises, stings, and
poison ivy. This will be a Super Healing Salve as long as you don't over heat
it. Remember to simmer on low to warm throughout process. Again you can
purchase at Homesteadmoma.com
Jewel Weed Ice Cubes (not for eating)! You don't want to eat! It is like Poke Weed, and needs to have the tannins cooked and poured off. This is probably what makes it so potent against Poison Ivy. It is this "first cook and pour off" that helps the poison ivy subside. Though technically you don't cook it, you simmer it slow and low. My friend let me weed her garden and shared her secret for instant summer Poison Ivy relief. All the Jewel Weed I could handle and one recipe I did not have. Ice Cubes ready to go from the freezer when those little people come calling. So easy, you just fill crock pot full of Jewel Weed and cover with all the water it will hold. Looks like you're cookin' turnip greens for dinner. Simmer on warm to low for 24hrs then strain off herb. Pour infused water into ice trays and freeze up cubes for later. After frozen, pop out and place into freezer bags and label so no one puts into their glass on sweet tea! Rub directly onto skin for any relief of outside drama: bites, stings, and Poison Ivy. Remember they are not to be eaten, but unless someone has an allergy to it, it shouldn't do harm if someone does put it in their mouth.
Dry it for later use: simply lay out on a towel out of direct sunlight. Keep temps moderate. I just lay out on the dining room table. You can tie together and hang upside down like you see in pictures. I prefer to lay out so I can be sure it's not rotting. Move or toss around to keep aired out and keep the bottom from getting moldy. It dries out pretty quickly. Or you could use a dehydrator to use as a dry herb in later remedies. Herbs, just like foods, are always best the fresher they can be used. It seems to me they are more powerful in their healing abilities. However, dried herbs are very potent as well. When using dried herbs the average amount will be half of what you would use fresh, because they have now been concentrated as dried. Hope you found this helpful!