I just started growing calendula flowers in my garden last year. Not only are they beautiful, they’re so useful too! I love using it in a healing salve since it can treat numerous skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis. Been in the sun too long? Slather it on your sunburn. Bug bites? Works for that too. Calendula salve is truly a wonderful all around skin healer!
Calendula salve
Infuse Your Oil
It really couldn’t be easier to make too. There are two ways to infuse your oil. You can use the crockpot method, detailed in this post here, or you can do a solar infusion.
For a solar infusion, fill a clean, dry jar half full of dried calendula or full of fresh. Cover completely with grapeseed, coconut or olive oil and screw on the lid. Coconut oil is my favorite because it lasts longer and has additional skin healing benefits. Let this sit on a sunny windowsill for two weeks, shaking a few times a day.
Strain it Out
After the two weeks are up, strain the herbs from the oil. You can use a coffee filter, cheesecloth, or even a clean, old t-shirt. Be sure to squeeze all the herbal goodness out! If you’re using coconut oil be sure that the oil is warm when you strain it, since this oil is solid at room temperature. Just be sure it’s not so warm that you burn your fingers!
Add the Wax
Place the oil in a double boiler, or in a heavy bottomed pan on the lowest heat possible. I’m talking barely on type of heat. I like to add 1/4 cup of these beeswax pastilles per every pint. They’re so much easier to measure than the bars! Candilla wax can be used for a vegan version. Stir gently with a metal spoon just until melted.
Pour it Up
You can use pretty glass jars, or the ever classic metal tins. I prefer tins myself. Pour the hot wax/oil mixture carefully into your containers to cool. After a few minutes, I like to put mine in the fridge to speed up the process. If it’s too soft re-melt and add more wax. Add more coconut oil if it’s too firm.
How to use it
Apply this liberally as often as needed on bruises, eczema, dry skin, psoriasis, burns, rashes and the like. Safe for prolonged use and on children.
Looking for a good healing salve?
Calendula is just one of the skin soothing herbs in the healing salve over at my shop. If you don’t have the time for a diy, or you’re looking for something more, then be sure to check it out here.
What is the shelf life on this? Seems so easy!!!!
Thankfully it is super easy! The shelf life all depends on what carrier oil you use, coconut oil has one of the longest. You can also add 1/4 teaspoon of vitamin E oil to prevent the oil from oxidizing and going rancid faster. Altogether I would say you’re looking at a year or two of shelf life.
Hello!
I would like to use coconut oil with this. Like you said, it solidifies at room temp. You mentioned shaking it a few times a day, but won’t it solidify even on a window seal? Is that ok or do we need to make sure oil is always liquid? Thanks!
I’ve made salves with coconut oil before using the crockpot method described in this tutorial here. Just sub in calendula for lavender herb. https://www.theherbalspoon.com/2014/02/diy-lavender-salve-all-natural-and.html