Salve Making 101

Salve Making 101
by Cynthia Schell of www.greenbotanicals.com
Dry itchy skin has plagued humans since the dawn of time, and we humans have always looked for solutions. 120 years ago, the town doctor would also have a garden to create the medicines,while people alone in the wilderness,away from towns and Doctors would have to know how to make their own recipes. For everyday health problems the homemaker would have to know how to make a salve. To this day the monastic tradition of medicine making continues in Poland and other countries.We all descended from medicine makers, our ancestors had to create medicines with the plants available in order to survive, thankfully some of them had to be fairly accomplished at this task. You may be able to ask some of your grandparents or great grandparents about their family history of making salves.Many of the old farm remedies were made with lard, it was a readily available substance and when gently heated with plants it could easily become a salve. It would cool to a gel and was easy to use. Today most salve makers are using plant based oils that are hardened with bees wax.it is very easy to create your own healing salve. One of the most popular products made by the Amish today is a very simple Plantain salve. Plantain, it is easy to find and makes a great base oil. Gather 20 leaves, wash with water, then dry. Place in a small pan,add a cup of olive oil. Gently heat over a double boiler. Your temperature of the oil should not exceed 130 degrees. You can let the infusion sit for a few days, heating then cooling until the oil begins to absorb the plants properties. Plantain is a very mucilaginous plant, you will find the oil will absorb the same properties. Drain the leaves out of the oil, then thicken with bees wax.You can also add essential oils to increase the healing properties. Start with small batches, and infuse a number of plants, then test to see what combination is good for you. There are many books on the subject of plant medicine making, my favorite "The Family Herbal" by Rosemary Gladstarr.
cynthiaschell@yahoo.com 08-17-10

Green Botanicals and WISE

Our herbal work has been delayed this year due to an unexpected kitchen remodel. I am happy to report that we are finally up and running again. We will be announcing the products we have in stock and let you know when they will be shipping.
Our herbal classes are running on the first Tuesdays of the month, we are going to work on systems of the body but the class voted to continue on our normal path of spontaneous herbal studies and herb walks. So what ever your level of herbal studies you can feel free to join us.
During this down time I have had a number of requests to start our WISE program again.
We had a lot of success running WISE a few years ago and I will be working with people on an individual basis during the fall and possibly offer the weekly class again in January, in Central Square or Cicero. I am going to try to post ideas here on the blog - so that people I am working with can get encouragement and maybe even post their ideas and thoughts. So watch for posts and let us know what you think.

Green Botanicals and WISE

Make your own laundry soap

You may not think about it, but every week you spend around $5. on laundry soap. I used to and then I started thinking about it and made my own! As a soap maker, I have lots of soap scraps left over. I created my own recipe for making it. I also made this recipe available with my natural stain remover stick. You can find it at one of our shows or watch for it to be on my ETSY Green Botanicals
Here is an e-mail from a happy customer
"Hi Cynthia,which one of your soaps did you use in the laundry soap? I'm going to need to get some. I couldn't believe how wonderful the laundry detergent recipe is. I don't have to tell you how much I love all my cremes.Thank you,Karen"
So watch for it or check us out at a show soon!

Winter is no picinic for your skin!

We live in the cold Adirondack region of New York State, it can snow 3 or 4 feet overnight!
We tried lots of different skin creams for our skin but nothing would heal the cracked fingers we get up here in the north country! When we tried your winter salve we were amazed! It worked miracles on my husband fingers,he is a logger and out for hours in the cold every day! Thank you Green Botanicals for making a product that really works! You were right - the 2 ounce jar really lasts for a year! A great value and great product! Thanks, Martha M. Old Forge NY
PS Send me 2 jars and a lemon balm lip balm - another great product!

Our happy customers can tell you this product really works!
If you have never tried it, e mail me @ green_botanicals@yahoo.com and we will send you a sample one for free along with our great lemon balm lip pot- you pay the $2.50 shipping.

Cracked Winter Skin

This time of the year the cold weather is so rough on our skin and now even our friends in Florida can benefit from using our wonderful Winter Salve - if you have never tried it now is the time! What is a salve? It is the base of thickened oils that all organic skin creams are made from, to turn salve into cream you need to add alcohol. So avoid the drying effect of alcohol and try a salve.
We make our salves from our own Adirondack herbs such a peppermint,plantain and comfrey that help treat the cracks .The herbs are infused in organic olive oils, thickened with pure raw bees wax and organic essential oils that are anti fungal, anti bacterial and vaporizing.
Thousands of happy customers in Central New York use this product and believe us - we know how to treat winter skin! Try a large jar of our Winter Salve and will will also send you a free lemon balm lip treatment made with the amazing lemon balm herb that helps prevent the out break of cold sores and chapped lips! If you have never tried our Winter Salve, click on the free sample and just pay the shipping we will send you a sample to try.
Visit us on the web at www.greenbotanicals.com