How to Make Calendula Salve

How do you make a calendula salve?

Rosemary Gladstar's "Herbal Healing for Women" (available from Richters) is a good sourcebook for making home remedies including herbal oils and salves. Her basic recipe begins with making a herbal oil. Among several methods she describes, her favourite is the "herbal simples" method of steeping fresh herbs in a clear bottle with enough extra virgin olive oil to cover 5 cm (2 inches). This is left for two weeks in the sun.
The oil is strained. To every 4 parts (by volume) of oil she adds 1 part of beeswax. The oil and beeswax are heated together over very low heat until the beeswax is melted. To check the consistency, a small amount of the hot mixture is placed in the freezer for 1-2 minutes. If the cooled sample is too soft add more beeswax; if too hard add more oil. When the consistency is right pour the mixture in small glass jars and store in a cool, dark place. Stored properly salves made this way will last for months, even years, without the addition of preservatives.