When I plant my vegetable garden in the spring I always plant
marigolds as a kind of sacrificial plant.
They are excellent to attract harmful insects away from my veggies. Now that the planting season is over and my
vegetables are pretty much done producing I have big beautiful bunches of
marigolds. I hate for them to go to
waste and there’s no need to let them.
Marigolds have been used medicinally for centuries . . . both internally
and topically.
It’s an easy process to make a soothing salve for your skin to
help heal wounds, soothe burns and soften dry, chapped skin.
Homemade Marigold Salve
Two handfuls of marigold flowers
1 cup oil (such as olive oil)
2 Ounces Bees Wax
In addition to the ingredients, you will need a fine material (cheese
cloth or a knee-high stocking) to strain the steeped marigolds from the oil and
small container(s) with lid(s).
Gently wash the marigolds in cold water and then place the marigolds in a small saucepan with the oil. Heat oil on low until flowers begin to
wilt. Remove from heat source and
cover. Allow to steep in the oil for 12
hours or so.
Reheat the marigold oil mixture over low heat. While the oil is warming, place cheese cloth over a funnel (I use stocking stretched over a canning funnel) and
set over a bowl or jar.
Once the oil is warm, strain through your material the gather it
up and squeeze as much of the oil out as you can. Discard flowers.
Slowly melt wax over a double boiler. The water should be at a simmer, not a boil,
to make sure the wax doesn’t get too hot.
If it gets too hot it will destroy the healing properties extracted from
the marigolds.
When the wax has melted, add the marigold oil slowly, mixing
continuously.
Pour the mixture into clean containers, cover tightly and store in a cool location.
