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Herbal Salve making Basics

Herbal Salve Recipe Basics

Did you ever wonder why salves are so good for everyday use for example how about a bee pollen salve is so powerful for the skin,  where bee pollen is cold infused into the oils used in your salve recipe. Bee pollen is a powerful skin care aid in cell regeneration because of the flavanoids,antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids but particularly because of its pure form of b complex vitamins . Domestic Bee pollen due to the bees cross pollination process(s) allow this. providing a new and powerful source of cell regeneration of the skin.

Herbal healing salves are great for everyday use and are very powerful in healing Wounds, Cuts, Sores, Bug Bites with little or no scaring They are also used for sore muscles and actually extracting infections and  poisons from a wound. and a good black salve can over time pull a small splinter out of a wound or hard to get area.

Follow this category to get the recipes for many salves

Below is a simple recipe for a general healing salve to help you understand how salves are made and to be used as a base recipe for other salves you desire.

There are many different types of salve used for different purposes. E.G.  

• To draw out a poison or infection of some sort one can use a black salve. 
• For Burns of all degrees one can use a good burn salve.
• For. Cuts and bruised one can use a general healing salve
• For Injuries one can use a  sprain salve
• For poor Circulation, reumatory arthritis, and or joint pain or even to help stimulate blood circulation in specific ares of the body through a topical process one can use a circulation Salve
• For inflammation one may use an powerful anti-inflammatory salve.
• For Eczema use a lavender tea tree, oregano,plantain salve
• and these are just a few salves 

Making The Salve:

What You Will Need:

• 1 ounce of pure Beeswax
• 8 ounces of herbal infused oil
• Lavender essential oil
• tea tree essential oil
• vitamin e liquid capsules ( to use as a preserver to get more of a shelf life of the salve)
• stainless or enamel pot
• potato ricer or cheese cloth for pressing the oil soaked herb(s)
• Glass jar for storage ( Small baby food jars work great)
• 2 cup pyrex measure cup (for transferring liquid salve into containers or tins)

Here is a video on a simple healing Salve that can be used everyday everywhere for cuts, bruises, bug bites, dry skin, burns, and sore muscles as well as vascular veins.

I.  First you will need to make an infused oil:

Cold infused oils: ( better quality salves and longer shelf life)

Take 6 ounces of your herb or her combination (in total) and place in a quart size mason or glass jar.

Add a Good quality olive oil and stir very well.

Let sit for a min. of 4 weeks to achieve a good quality infusion. Some say 2 weeks (I go 4 weeks and try to make extra so I always have some ready to make a batch of salves

after the 4 weeks strain and press herbs back into the stained oil.

Warm infused oils: ( Quicker good for quick needs but has a shorter shelf life)

 In a  stainless steel or enamel pot add 1 1/2 cups of good quality olive oil  and bring to a very low simmer once you reach the simmer point back off the heat

Add  6 ounces of your herb or her combination (in total) .

stay on low or warm for 1 hour.

After one hour take off stove and let oil cool. Once cool stain and press

II. Making the salve liquid to pour into your containers:

1. Add once ounce of pure beeswax and slowly melt it completely
2. Once completely melted, add infused oil to the melted beeswax.
3. You will notice it will solidify at this point just let it all remelt together as one liquid.
4. Once completely a warm liquid add to pyrex measure cup and quickly pour into your containers.
5.  While still in liquid form break and add vitamin E liquid of one capsule and then add essential oils 2-3 drops of each per container. 
6. Let harden and use as needed

Pine Bark and Needle Benefits

Pine Bark and Needles

Pine bark is a powerful antiseptic loaded with flavanoids and  50 time the amount of antioxidants of vitamin c and e.  this natural solution is similar to the potency of grape seed mother powerhouse of a herb loaded with antioxidants and more. The opc’s found in the pine bark /needles are great for microcirulatory problems such as varicose veins and macular degeneration and to chronic venous insufficiency as well as diabetic retinopathy. opc’s ale help strengthen and maintain overall healthiness of the molecular structure of the venous’ .

Primarily it acts as a inhibitory to oxidation through the enzymes within but also being not limited and as oxidation diminishes its anti inflammatory properties go to work . The pine needle possess near 100 times more of the antiseptic properties than the bark.
Secondly, a cooled tea can be used as a powerful antiseptic wash for wound management and infection prevention as well as rashes and eczema
Secondly, it is good for the Circulatory system thus producing more healthier red blood cells and oxygenation all the main systems more effectively.

Pine Needles and bark also possess high levels of vitamin C to help aid the immune system and other main systems that require a healthy immune system for optimal performance such as the adrenal glands.

A few good uses of pine needles and bark are: (but not limited to)

• Cold
• Flus
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Sinus infection
• Fever
• External wound infection
• Eczema
• Hives
• Gout
• Ulcers
• Veracious veins
• Respiratory Issues
• Improves eye health
• Boosts imune system
• Asthma

NOTES:

1.A few words of caution: while there are over 100 different varieties of pine, the Ponderosa, Norfolk Island and Yew needles should be avoided, as brewing can prove toxic.

2. Do not use if pregnant!

Pine Needle tea Recipe:

• Gather about a handful of healthy pine needles
• Chop or break up into 4th’s 
• Bring 10 ounces of water to a hard boil 
• Add pine needles and low simmer for 5-10 minutes 
• For a more stronger tea dimer for 15 minutes

Drink 2 times daily drinking the resin and oils are important.

The power of herbs for preppers "Astragalus Root"

The Power of Herbs for Preppers Series “Astragalus”

Astragalus is a powerful herb mainly focusing on the immune system but not limited to this herb packs a potent punch in the delivery of enzymes to aid in many aliments. This herb also works similar to echinacea but with more outreaching enzymes. Furthermore, it through maintaining and supercharging your immune system keeps the adrenal gland working optimally. This is all vital for diabetics. 

This herb Like Echinacea, has powerful ahi bacterial properties with a bit of a kick. Astragalus work well with other herbs such as elderberry, dandelion and rose hips (to name a few adding additional flavanoids and powerhouse of vitamin C herbs puts this herb in a new class of “Super antioxidants. This is a Diabetics Heaven for it pro vides healthy immune system support, a surcharge of vitamin C and detox all in one herbal combination thus cleansing the system from free radicals an toxins that cause stress on the main systems. 

Finally, this type of combination of herbs is not only limited to diabetes but other aliments like the common cold, flus’ and other bacterial and respiratory infections. 

A few good uses for Astragalus root would be:

• Low white blood cell count
• Common Cold
• Flu's
• Diabetes
• auto imune disorders
• side effects of chemotherapy
• fatigue
• heart problems
• kidney problems
• ulcers
• viral hepatitis
• infertility
• high blood pressure

A Simple herbal combination tonic would be to take 1 part astragals root, 3 parts dandelion root, 2 parts elderberry, 2 parts rose hips. add to 2 cups of boiling water bring to a low simmer and let simmer for 20 to 30 minutes  or until reduced by half. Press and strain the concoction well.

Dosing: (ADULTS)

 and take daily for 10 days and 2 days off. (if not sick) as a daily health tonic

Take 2-3  times daily (if sick)

Nutritional Foods and Super foods for Preppers

Nutritional foods and Super foods  for Preppers

Target: Nutrition

Survival: Food

"Read our other posts on "

Natural Superfood's 

Bee Pollen

Slippery Elm Bark

“Nutritional Foods”

These Herbs,Foods and Superfood's provide an abundance of minerals,vitamins and amino acids vital to all the main systems. This is always crucial during a 

bug out situation. added stress' can effect your way of thinking rationally and realistically. It it vital to keep all our main systems nutritionally healthy so that a healthy and maintained immune system remains in tact. and always in optimal readiness.

1. Central Nervous System Foods:

Yellow Corn has all the minerals and Vitamins to retain a healthy Central Nervous System. Such as Vitamin A, K, Magnesium. Manganese, B6, B12

Peanut Butter:

Spinach: A great Source of IRON Vitamins C,A,K,E, Panthothenic Acid, B1,B2,B6,

Niacin

Celery: a Natural Recovery drink ( celery juice) VERY POWERFUL. Will recover lost sodium levels naturally and safely.

Red Kidney Beans: Iron, Calcium, Vitamin C

Sweet Potatoes and Yams: High in Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese, vitamins A,K,E, B1, B6, Niacin, and more

2. Circulatory System Foods:

Beets: Vitamins A, C, K, E, B1, B6,Niacin,

Broccoli , Bell Peppers and eggplant with help maintain healthy vascular walls.

Pees: Vitamins A, C, K, E, Niacin, Folate, Vitamin B1, B2, B6, Panthothenic Acid

Carrots: Vitamins A, C,K,E, B1,B2,Folate, Niacin, 

Asparagus Vitamins A, K, C, E, B1,B2, B6, Folate,Panthothenic Acid

3. Respiratory System Foods:
Onions, Garlic, Pumpkin, Butternut squash, Acorn squash, Figs, Black currants, Pineapple, Apples, Yams,Honey, Hazelnuts, Almonds, Dates,Yellow and Green Bell Peppers, green Chile peppers, Brussel sprouts, tomatoes snow Peas, mustard greens,Mushrooms Pomegranates, Red Cabbage

4. Muscular Skeletal System: yellow corn, Bee pollen, apples, apple cider vinegar, honey, butternut squash, acorn squash, bananas, watercress, raw spinach, organic milk, dark chocolate, dried figs
A powerhouse of a herb for the muscular skeletal system is OATS STRAW it is rich in vitamins A,K, B1-B11,  Calcium, and traces of magnesium


Herbal and Nutritional  Superfood's (Se our post on super foods)

Spirulina: Vitamins A, C, K, E, Niacin, B1, B2, B6, Folate, Panthothenic Acid, 

Slippery Elm Bark ( Se our post on slippery elm bark)

Bee Pollen ( see our be pollen post)

Chlorella:

The Power of Herbs for Preppers Series “Making Tinctures”

The Power of Herbs for Preppers Series 

“Making Tinctures”

A tincture is a very concentrated extract and a little goes a long way.
There are a few common ways to make a herbal medicinal tincture. There are Alcohol based tinctures, Glycerine Based Tinctures, and Acid Based Tinctures for starters.

Alcohol Based Tinctures

Alcohol Based tinctures use alcohol to extract the vital elements from a herb, Primarily anywhere from 80 proof to 190 proof grain alcohol. When you se the number next to the proof content 50% of that number is water the other 50% is food grade alcohol.
Whenever working with Roots, Barks or Seeds and some other herbs such as cayenne, valerian, skunk cabbage to list a few  it is better to use at least 100 proof to ensure a good extract of the vital element to make a good tincture. Also Alcohol tinctures
have a longer self life before they begin to loose their potency. (average 3-5 years)
Children, diabetics should be careful because of the alcohol and sugar content however if making a tea add a few drops of alcohol tincture to boiling water will evaporated the alcohol thus making it safe.

Make a simple alcohol tincture recipe:

1 part echinacea root dried ( if fresh, chop up and  double the amount)
3 parts 100 proof good quality vodka or gran alcohol.
add all ingredients to a clean glass jar and shake well for 2 weeks continuously checking there is more than enough alcohol to cover all the herb always add if necessary.
Let stand for a min of 6 weeks the longer you let it sit the more potent it will be.
Strain the herbs and alcohol into another clean glass jar.
wrap the soaked herb in a cheesecloth and place it in a potato ricer and press. ( This is were the good stuff is.
Bottle and Use  as needed per directions and dosage.

Glycerine Based Tinctures 

Glycerine Based tinctures Use a food grade vegetable glycerine mixed with distilled water This is especially good when using herbs that are bitter or have a bad after taste example, mullen, horehound, oregano, vervain to name a few.
But also Food grade vegetable glycerine is safe for children and diabetics and it will not spike the glucose levels or effect them in any other way.

Making a simple Glycerine based tincture:

1 part dandelion leaves dried ( if fresh, chop up and  double the amount)
3 parts of Vegetable glycerine (mixed with 60 percent of distilled water) This is known as the menstruum.
Add all ingredients to a clean glass jar and shake well for 2 weeks continuously checking there is more than enough glycerine  to cover all the herb always add if necessary.
Let stand for a min of 4 weeks the longer you let it sit the more potent it will be.
Strain the herbs and alcohol into another clean glass jar.
wrap the soaked herb in a cheesecloth and place it in a potato ricer and press. ( This is were the good stuff is.
Bottle and Use  as needed per directions and dosage.

  

Making a vegetable glycerine Mestruume: If for example you need 6 ounces to equal the 1 pat of your herb take 4 ounces of vegetable glycerin and 2 ounces of distilled water and mix well until it comes together and is clear you may want to make extra in case you have to add to your infusion. of douse you can always add strait food grade vegetable glycerine if you forgot to add the  distilled water.

Acid Tinctures:

Acid tinctures are generally made with a vinegar most people use Apple Cider Vinigar. These Tinctures are quick easy and can be very effective even for children.

2 fresh pressed garlic cloves
4 ounces of organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar
Add all ingredients to a clean glass jar and shake well for 1 weeks continuously checking there is more than enough Apple Cder Vinegar to cover all the herb always add if necessary.
Let stand for a min of 2weeks the longer you let it sit the more potent it will be.
Strain the herbs and alcohol into another clean glass jar.
wrap the soaked herb in a cheesecloth and place it in a potato ricer and press. ( This is were the good stuff is.

Bottle and Use  as needed per directions and dosage.

"Tinctures can be used both Internally and Externally" 

1. A good example an Alcohol based tincture of echinacea root can be used externally to treat ache

Why? simply because echinacea is a antibacterial  and ache is a bacteria…

2. A glycerine based tincture of Callendula and cinnamon can be used for eczema

Why? Calendula has powerful healing properties for the skin Cinnamon is a natural antiseptic and can re stimulate surface veins.

3. An Acid based Tincture of Echinacea, Garlic and oregano can be used to treat wound infections. scraps, abrasions, minor cuts bruises,
Why?The Pectin in the Apple Cider Vinegar has Healing Properties, Garlic is antiviral and antibacterial.

4. An alcohol tincture of thyme, mint and lemongrass used externally is good to keep bugs, mosquitoes, nats away

Herbs for Migraines and headaches

"Herbs for Migraines"

Migraine headache can effect ones  lifestyle with a major impact. Pain alone can cause irritability, fatigue, lack of desire, and even cause stress on the main systems. A headache is an indication that there is a problem somewhere mostly lack of nutritional supplementation. sometimes eating helps as we absorb the nutritional values of the meal just consumed. but otherwise there are natural solutions both fast acting and short lasting and short acting and long lasting. 

Headaches are often a digestive system disorder that reaches the stomach or abdominal nerve area(s). other causes can be dress , fear, pain, to excessive levels. also improved elimination of bowels is important so that toxins from bowels do not back up into the blood stream.

A few good headache herbs are but not limited to:

Black Cohosh: Good for women during there menstrual cycle.
Feverfew: a fast acting short lasting herb for migraines due to inflammation.
White Willow Bark: A slow acting long lasting herb with an aspirin like effect good for headaches and other nerve pain.
Butterbur: This herb is mainly used for migraine prevention, however has anti-sposmadic and anti-inflammatory properties by regulating the calcium channels.

These  herbs can be taken as a tincture or tea. 

                                     To make a herbal Tea:

For menstrual related pain take Ginger tea

Take 2 tablespoons of cut dried herb and place in a tea ball or infuser let steep for 4-5 minutes then strain and press( this is were the best parts are in the soaked cut herb so press well!)
Do not use if preagnet or breast-feeding or have liver problems.

If headache is stress related or from nervousness use Nervine herbs. these herbs will relax the frayed nerve endings by calming inducing rest and sleeplessness. once nerves recover this will help the overall pain 

A few good Nevine Herbs

• Skullcap
• Lemon Balm
• Lavendar
• Chamomile
• Valerine
• Hopps