Get Your Herb On!

Calendula, part of the aster family, is a flower long known for it's anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. It is great to use topically for cuts, scrapes, and burns or it can be taken orally for cramps, pain and minor swelling. Calendula is safe and has no side effects - I have used calendula topically on my son since he was born.
You can buy calendula salve or ointment at your natural food store, or you can get your herb-on and make a SIMPLE salve of your own.

You will need:

• Calendula flowers (grows easily from seed and grows well in pots)
• olive oil (about 1/2 cup)
• mason jar
• cheesecloth
• beeswax (about 1/8 cups)
• container to keep the finished product in (you can buy salve containers specially designed for this, or you can get creative and reuse old baby food jars, tins, or whatever you have lying around)

What you do:

• Cut about 1/4 cup's worth of flower heads off of the calendula plants
• Place in mason jar and cover with 1/2 cup of olive oil (quantity can easily be doubled or tripled if so desired). Make sure that all flowers get submerged in oil
• Cover jar and place in a sunny window for a week or 2. Oil should turn a deep gold color.
• In a week or so, your oil is ready! Put a couple of pieces of cheesecloth over the top of the jar and hold with a rubber band. Strain oil from jar into a small kitchen pan.
• Add beeswax to the oil (you can also add any essential oils you wish at this point --but none are necessary!) and heat over medium heat until all beeswax is melted.
• Pour into containers and let harden. Ta-da! See I told you it was easy!!