Making herbal whoop-ass is something we really love to do here at the Hotel Daire. For several years we used Herbalism as the focus of our homeschool efforts. You can study chemistry, botany, math, anthropology, and history all while gaining useful skills and creating a family apothecary. Back in June Dr. Metro, my naturopath, suggested that I get some calendula oil to massage into my mastectomy scar to help ease congestion in that area. This morning I awoke with a burning desire to finally make a balm. As the early morning light strengthened I mentally considered which oils I have in my apothecary which might serve the purpose best. By the time Mr. Mann, our rooster, started making a racket I had a plan.

Today was the day because Sam has been bugging me for a week to make more Sleep Formula for him. The countdown to his eight a.m. Physics class draws near a close, and his late nights really need to be reeled in. I also have a neighbor with an injured knee, who heard about our famed Triple Mojo Oil for soft tissue disorders from a mutual friend who swears by it. So clearly today is a good day to play mad herbalist.

In the family tradition of naming blends and salves things like Triple Mojo Oil, Fungus Among Us Salve, and Ichy Scratchy Fixy Salve, I need a good name for my scar massage medium. Super Boo Boo Be Better Balm? Or how about Baba Butter? or Scar a Go-Go? I will need to consider my options.

I want to address several things with the balm:

• first – easing of scar tissue
• second  – increasing micro capillary circulation
• third – nerve regeneration to improve feeling in that area
• fourth – lymph flow~ of course
• fifth- to sooth the skin in the lymph compromised parts of my body ~I have noticed the skin there seems different and less supple
• Lastly to incorporate ingredients with anti-cancer capacities to support my body to produce healthy cells.

 

Massaging most anything into the scar area could be helpful.  As long as it doesn’t contain harmful carcinogenic items like BPA etc. Massage is good, and the body absorbs things easily through the skin. I also wanted something I can massage onto my remaining breast to spread the love – and perhaps my belly too, which sports some pretty radical birth tattoos, AKA wicked stretch marks. So whatever I make needs to be pleasant smelling and not too greasy. I also want it to be infused with love magic intensions. Applying it will be an act of self care and reverence for my body temple.

I have also been interested in creating some homemade deodorant for awhile, and creating one that can double as lymph support seems like a good idea. Especially since the most irritating part of making salves, is cleaning up the greasy double boiler.

Infused oils are made by soaking plant materials in oil for several weeks, or by heating them gently for a short period of time – which is the method I use for making infused oils for soap making. You can purchase oils from any local herbalist you trust, or look around online for a small trustworthy company. Luckily for me today I have many oils on hand from which to choose from.  Ah Homeschool!

So here is what I came up with for both massage balm and deodorant:

Seven Herb Lymph Be Better Balm

• 3 part Plaintain/Calendula infused olive oil (All I have on hand is a combo)
• 1 part St. John’s Work infused olive oil
• 1 part Rosemary infused olive oil
• 1 part Red Clover Infused olive oil
• 1 part Goldenrod infused olive oil
• 1 part Cottonwood Bud infused olive oil
• 3 ounces Cocoa butter
• 3 ounces Coconut oil
• 1 ounce Beeswax – from altar candles
• 1/8 tsp each Essential oils: lemon, rosemary, geranium, cypress and frankincense.

1. I mixed all my oils together until I ended up with 4 fluid ounces and set aside. 
2. I have a glass double boiler I use for making medicine, I started out with the cocoa butter and beeswax, heating it until most of it had melted, removing the pot from the heat and staring until it was dissolved. I use candle stubs for my beeswax, as I figure prayers don’t hurt anything, and so there are pieces of wick that need to be retrieved. 
3. Stir in the coconut oil until it is incorporated
4. Add the herbal oils and stir it all together
5. Pour into wide mouthed jar, stir in essential oils – put the lid on and set aside to firm up overnight. (After filling my jar I had 80 grams of the balm base left in the pot – which moved on to become deodorant.)

Clay Deodorant with Lymph Healing Oils

This is my first attempt at deodorant- so we will see how well it goes…

• 80 grams of balm base: herbal oils with coconut oil, cocoa butter and beeswax.
• 40 grams baking soda
• 40 grams arrowroot powder
• 40 grams french green clay
• essential oils

I stirred it all together and put it into a jar to solidify. We will see how it goes on the next hot day. I’m not sure how firm it will become with the olive oil…

Both Cocoa butter and coconut oil are famed for their deeply healing properties for the whole body, including skin and scars. All of the herbs have various healing potentials: Goldenrod can make sore muscles feel better, St.Johns wort uses the power of the Sun to sooth nerves, Red clover is good for keeping blood and lymph flowing freely, Cottonwood Bud is indicated for old injuries and can loosen up scar tissue, Rosemary can invigorate lymph, Calendula and Plantain are both deeply healing for the skin – (I made that oil as a duo – so Plantain gets to play too.) The essential oils I included are all good for lymph. I wish that I had made some Self-Heal oil this year as I am very drawn to that. Next year…

I plan to apply the balm at night prior to bed, as I am guessing it won’t go too well with my compression sleeve. My hands feel pretty good after rubbing it on them while making it this afternoon. Now time to get cracking on that Sleep Formula tincture, and another batch of Triple Mojo Oil for my neighbor…

Hope your Labor day was filled with lovely activities that you enjoy doing.

xo iris

Here is an infographic from Dr. Mercola about toxic ingredients
http://www.mercola.com/infographics/personal-care-products.htm

Here is a short article from the Huffington Post  about dangerous ingredients
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vanessa-cunningham/dangerous-beauty-products_b_4168587.html