Creating your own balms and tinctures from herbs and foraged materials is a rewarding and sustainable way to harness the power of nature for health and wellness.
This ancient practice not only connects you with the natural world, but also allows you to control the ingredients in your remedies. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
Why Make Your Own Balms and Tinctures?
- Control Over Ingredients: You can ensure all ingredients are organic, sustainable, and free from harmful chemicals.
- Cost-Effective: Foraging for materials and making your own products can be significantly cheaper than buying commercial alternatives.
- Customisable: Tailor your balms and tinctures to your specific needs, preferences, and skin type.
- Sustainable and Eco-Friendly: Using locally sourced and foraged ingredients reduces your carbon footprint.
Getting Started: Foraging and Sourcing Herbs
Before you start crafting, you’ll need to gather your materials. Here are some common herbs and plants you can forage or grow yourself:
- Calendula: Great for skin healing.
- Lavender: Known for its calming properties.
- Plantain: Excellent for soothing insect bites and minor wounds.
- Comfrey: Helps in healing bruises and sprains.
- Elderberry: Boosts the immune system when used in tinctures.
- Rosemary: Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.
- Lemon Balm: as a tea I call this a hug in a mug and it’s a fab calming tincture.
Foraging Tips:
- Ensure you’re foraging in areas free from pollution and pesticides.
- Use a field guide to accurately identify plants.
- Harvest sustainably by taking only what you need and leaving enough for the plant to continue growing.
Making Balms
Ingredients:
- Foraged herbs
- Carrier oils (like olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil)
- Beeswax
Instructions:
Infuse the Oil:
- Fill a jar with fresh or dried herbs (about halfway).
- Cover the herbs with your chosen carrier oil.
- Let the mixture infuse for a week or two using fresh herbs or 2-6 weeks for dried, shaking the jar daily. Alternatively, you can gently heat the mixture in a double boiler for 3-5 hours.
Strain the Oil:
- After infusion, strain the oil using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer to remove the plant material.
Prepare the Balm:
- Measure out your infused oil. I use a ratio of 5 oil to 1 of beeswax, so for example I use five spoons of oil to one of beeswax.
- Melt the beeswax in a double boiler.
- Once melted, slowly add the infused oil, stirring constantly until fully combined.
Optional Additions:
- Add a few drops of essential oils for additional benefits and fragrance.
- You can also add vitamin E oil as a natural preservative.
Pour and Set:
- Pour the mixture into tins or glass jars.
- Allow the balm to cool and harden completely before sealing.
Making Tinctures
Ingredients:
- Foraged herbs
- High-proof alcohol (like vodka)
Instructions:
Prepare the Herbs:
- Chop fresh herbs finely or use dried herbs.
Fill the Jar:
- Fill a jar about halfway with herbs.
- Cover the herbs completely with alcohol or vinegar, leaving about an inch of space at the top.
Infuse the Tincture:
- Seal the jar and store it in a cool, dark place.
- Shake the jar daily for 4-6 weeks, unless you are using lemon balm which can be infused for 24 hours!
Strain the Tincture:
- After the infusion period, strain the liquid through a muslin or fine mesh strainer.
- Transfer the tincture to a clean, dark glass bottle with a dropper for easy use.
Usage and Storage
- Balms: Use balms to soothe dry skin, minor cuts, and insect bites. Store in a cool, dark place to prolong shelf life.
- Tinctures: Typically taken in small doses (a few drops to a teaspoon), tinctures can be added to water, tea, or taken directly under the tongue. Store in a cool, dark place, and they can last for several years.
Safety Tips
- Always research each herb to ensure it’s safe for use.
- Test products on a small patch of skin to check for allergic reactions.
- Consult with a healthcare provider before using new herbal remedies, especially if you have health conditions or are pregnant.
By making your own balms and tinctures, you can create personalized, natural remedies that support your health and well-being. Enjoy the process of connecting with nature and harnessing its power to heal and nourish.