Natural way to heal a babies skin
Healing salves are a great alternative to harsh chemicals for the treatment of standard childhood ailments. I make this salve for a friend with a baby to treat nappy rash and eczema. It reduces redness and swelling, fights infection, reduces pain, takes away itching and acts as a powerful natural moisturiser.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup base oil (Sweet almond)
30g (1/2 cup) Coco butter
45g (1/2 cup) Bees Wax - Note if vegan replace with twice the coco butter.
1/2 cup dried St Johns Wort
1/2 cup dried Gotu Kola
1/2 cup dried Marigold (calendula)
Warning : Don’t use Bitter Almond oil for salves.
Healing actions;
Powerful enough to aid healing, mild enough to be safe for babies. The three main ingredients combine to make an unrivalled herbal cure.
Goto Kola reduces the redness and takes away the itch. Allowing the skin to heal without scratching
St. John’s Wort is a great antiviral, strong enough to coped with pus filled weeping wounds on a battlefields of the past. It’s also a local painkiller reducing the pain and prompting fast healing.
Calendula is a powerful Antibacterial, anti fungal and antiseptic. Similar in operation to standard wound healing creams.
Tools
Double boiler or glass bowl and a pan
A filter for the oil
Muslin cloth
Jars to store
Instructions
Warning don’t let any water get into the mix. We are basically making body butter and water would turn it rancid.
Step 1 - heat infuse the oil.
Place a glass bowl inside a pan of gently simmering water (use a double boiler if you have one) add Almond oil and the herbs. Allow the infuse over a low heat for 30 minutes, stir clockwise occasionally.
Step 2 - Filter
Once infused pass the mix through a filter to remove the herbs (I use a fine sieve followed by a muslin). You don’t want any bits in the final Salve.
Step 3 - Thicken
Place the clean oil back on the heat and add the coco butter and grated beeswax, heat until just melted.
Step 4 - Store
Working quickly pour the finished mixture into suitable jars. It takes between 5-10 minutes to fully set. Once set, it’s ready to use and will keep at room temperature for over a year.
Use sparingly a little goes a long way
For more ideas, click here for my witch crafting index
For more herbalism guide click here.
