Key Ingredients

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A natural skin protectant and moisturizer very high in vitamins A & E.  Not only can it sooth skin, it also refreshes and renews skin cells.
Beeswax: Also a natural moisturizer, it also contains powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Vitamin E Oil: This is a powerful burn aid, used topically or orally.  Vitamin E oil helps regenerate damaged skin cells.  I also like to use Vitamin E oil as a natural preservative for my salves and balms.

Calendula flowers: I infuse (or steep for a long period of time) my extra virgin olive oil with organic calendula petals for their gentleness in healing.  Calendula can be used on infants, elderly and even people with sensitive skin.  Calendula can benefit the skin in many, many ways, but some of my favorites are calendulas ability to heal and sooth chapped, cracked or raw skin.  It is gentle yet effective.  It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties.  To make your own calendula infused olive oil, simply fill a mason jar halfway with organic calendula flower petals and heads, then fill the jar with extra virgin olive oil, close lid tightly, and shake.  Store in a cool, dark place for 3 to 4 weeks, shaking daily.  After 3 to 4 weeks, you are ready to use your calendula infused olive oil in homemade salves and balms, or simply as a deep penetrating moisturizer.  Your skin will love it!

Tea Tree Essential Oil:  Wow, I could go on for days about all of the benefits of tea tree oil, but a few of my favorite reasons to love this stuff are its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Lavender Essential Oil: I think we all know how relaxing and comforting this essential oil can be.  But did you know that it also has analgesic (pain relieving) properties?

Orange Essential Oil: This essential oil is also known for its anti-septic and anti-inflammatory properties.  Not to mention its wonderful, fresh scent!  This is a wonderful antiseptic and astringent!

Shea Butter:  The UNREFINED shea butter that is scraped straight from the seed pods of the Karite tree is best!  This is another ingredient I could go on for paragraphs and paragraphs about, but again, I will only include my favorite benefits here.  Shea butter is an excellent moisturizer, and works well on skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.  I add shea butter to my salve recipes is because it helps to heal wounds while reducing the appearance of scars.

All Natural Healing Salve Recipe

• 1  ounce  grated beeswax
• 1 cup calendula infused extra virgin olive oil (plain is fine if you do not have calendula)
• 2 tablespoon shea butter
• 1/3 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
• 1/2 teaspoon tea tree oil
• 1/2 teaspoon lavender essential oil
• 15 drops orange essential oil
• 15 drops lemon essential oil
• Several small clean jars or containers to pour your salve

In a double boiler over medium heat, melt your grated beeswax and shea butter.  This can take a while depending on how fine you grate the beeswax.  But be patient, once you start to see melting, the process speeds up.

Once the shea butter & beeswax are liquid, turn the heat to low, and slowly add your olive oil and vitamin E oil.  Mix well (I use a disposable craft stick for this).  Then add your tea tree, lavender, orange and lemon essential oils, mixing slowly. You can now remove it from the heat.  I like to stir my liquid salve until I can see the first light traces of wax on my disposable craft stick.  This means the liquid is beginning its cool down.

Carefully pour your liquid salve into your clean container(s).  When the liquid has solidified (usually around 20 to 45 minutes depending on your quantity and size of containers) it is ready to use.

Keep sealed in an airtight container, and always remember to keep in a cool place (or it will melt!)

Application

This can be used on minor scrapes, cuts, scratches, insect bites, burns, calluses, scars, scabs, and rashes. I even use this as cuticle cream.  We use it on just about everything…even our dogs!

CAUTION:  Not for use on cats.  Essential oils are not safe for cats, and should be kept out of cats reach.

I hope you enjoy making and using my healing salve recipe as much as my family and I do.

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Author Bio:

Kelley Swan began her interest in natural remedies, herbs, essential oils and handmade soaps and body products over 7 years ago, after becoming a mother.  Wanting the best of the best for her family,  she started reading herb books, growing herbs, using essential oils, and reading more herb books and organic gardening books.  This all lead to soap, salve, balm, and herbal tea making.

You can find Kelley’s natural products at market.  For questions or direct orders, she can be reached by phone or email.

Kelley Swan
Swan Valley Soapery
903-440-0375
kelley@swanvalleysoapery.com

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The following video was shot by Texas AgriLife Hopkins County Extension

Debbie at Della Terra Farm shared her Rosemary pesto recipe with us.  If you don’t have all the ingredients on hand, that’s okay.  Debbie grows all the herbs you need.  If you don’t feel like making it yourself, well, Debbie sales basil and rosemary pesto every Saturday at market.

• 1/3 cup fresh rosemary
• 1 1/2 cup fresh parsley
• 4 garlic cloves
• 11/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup walnuts (walnuts make this pesto ROCK)
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• fresh cracked pepper to taste
• salt to taste

Combine rosemary, parsley, garlic, cheese, walnuts and 1/4 cup olive oil in a food processor.  Pulse until well blended and finely chopped.  With the processor running, drizzle int he remaining oil and process until smooth and only tiny bits are left.

Taste then add salt and pepper only if needed.

Can be refrigerated for up to one week.