Your own lotions and ointments

Preparing lotions and ointments is easy and economical, requiring few ingredients and no specialist materials.

Beeswax Ointment Recipe

• Place 50ml of sunflower oil and 15g of grated beeswax into a heatproof bowl.
• In a separate bowl, place 50ml of strained herbal infusion or decoction. Place both bowls in a roasting tin and fill it with water, ensuring that the water does not overflow into the bowls.
• Place the tin in a hot oven. When the water boils, turn down the heat. Remove the tin after the beeswax melts.
• Allow to cool slightly for easier handling. Slowly pour the infusion into the oil and wax, whisking with a hand whisk or blender. Pour into screw top, dark glass jars.
• Melt the beeswax and sunflower oil in the oven at the same time as you warm the decoction or infusion.

Herbal Lotion

• Place 10g of grated or finely chopped beeswax and 100ml of unrefined olive oil into a heatproof basin.
• Place the bowl in a pan of water. Gently bring the water to the boil and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until the beeswax melts.
• Allow the mixture to cool slightly before adding 5-10g of chopped herbs to the ointment.
• Pour the mixture into screw-top, sterilised, dark glass jars before the ointment sets.
• Wait until the mixture cools before tightening the lids.