Herbal Ointments, Recipe and Tips

Today I'd like to discuss the process for making remedies for skin conditions and/or muscle aches using herbs and essential oils. A variety of base mixtures are available on the internet, and you will need to make a base, be it for an ointment, salve, or cream, to infuse the herbs into or to put the essential oils into. Here I am going to provide recipes for a base for each form of remedy with the source where in which I got the recipe and my own notes below it. For this post, I have provided a recipe for herbal ointments:
"To Make an Ointment

You Will Need:

2 cups of olive oil
1 cup of grated beeswax
4 ounces of dried herb

Directions:

• Chop the dried herb using a spice mill, coffee grinder, food processor, or traditional mortar and pestle
• Place the dried herb and olive oil in a heat-safe glass dish. Do not cover the herbal mixture.
• Warm over low heat, stirring regularly. The temperature of the oil should remain between 100 and 125 degrees.
•           The herb should remain at this temperature to infuse in the oil for three hours.
•          Allow the herbal oil to cool.
•          Strain the herbal oil through cheesecloth and discard the spent herb.
•         Measure the herbal oil.
•         Add one ounce of beeswax for every one cup of herbal oil.
•        Warm the oil again until the beeswax melts.
•         Any other ingredients desired in the herbal ointment can be added at this point. Vitamin e, honey, and essential oils are common ingredients added to herbal ointments.
•         Pour the herbal ointment into a glass jar. Label the herbal ointment with the contents and date of preparation. Cap the container with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. The herbal ointment will harden as it cools in the refrigerator. " (Source: http://heather-schulte.suite101.com/making-herbal-ointments-at-home-a165676)

Notes: I use this recipe as written and it works well for me. These ointments work as a remedy for bug bites and stings, eczema, dry skin, puffy eyes, insect repellent or for perfume. Herbs that infuse well into ointments and their medicinal properties are listed here. This is a great resource for all medicinal herbs and their properties, and I recommend utilizing this reference. Ointments should be stored in the refrigerator in a glass container with an air-tight lid. You can add Benzoin as a preservative, but it irritates sensitive skin and shouldn't be used in remedies for treating scrapes and cuts.