Calendula and Turmeric Hand Balm – Nature’s Remedies
A calendula and turmeric hand balm is a simple and handy recipe to have at home, one that you could use for various ailments. Whether your skin is cracked and dry from winter’s havoc, or perhaps your kitchen clumsiness has gotten the best of you. This simple beeswax balm can soothe dry and irritated skin, cuts and burns, insect bites, and offer relief for muscle, joint and dermatological inflammation. Follow through this blog-post to craft your own homemade calendula and turmeric hand balm!
Wound Healing with Calendula and Turmeric
Botanicals provide therapeutic relief through antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cell stimulating and anti-oxidant properties that can enhance the wound healing process (Quave, Cassandra L., 2018). Calendula, also known as pot marigold, is a renowned herb for wound healing. It can soothe dermatological inflammation and offer antibacterial and antiseptic actions. According to a 2018 study, the topical use of calendula was studied for treating foot ulcers. After 30 weeks of treatment, 78% of participants obtained full wound closure (Quave, Cassandra L., 2018). This is promising in understanding the wound healing potential of calendula.
Additionally, turmeric is also harnessed for its anti-inflammatory relief. Turmeric is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-septic (Vaughn AR, Branum A, Sivamani RK., 2016). Evidence shows that the use of turmeric has great potential for relieving a variety of dermatological conditions, such as psoriasis, dermatitis, acne, and eczema. You can learn more about the healing benefits of turmeric here.
How to Make a Calendula and Turmeric Balm?
This recipe incorporates a calendula-infused oil alongside turmeric essential oil, and nourishing beeswax. Don’t worry about not having all the ingredients available. There are plenty of herbal allies and essential oils that can offer inflammatory relief. This includes but is not limiting to:
Lavender
St. John’s Wort
Camphor
Elderflower
Marshmallow Root
Chamomile
DIY Calendula and Turmeric Balm
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup dried calendula flowers
- 1 cup carrier oil for the herbal oil infusion (ie. olive, sweet almond, and/or coconut oil)
- 1/4 cup beeswax pastelles
- 10 drops turmeric essential oil
Directions
- Make an herb-infused oil: place 1/2 cup of calendula flowers in a sterilised canning jar. Top it off with the oil(s) of choice. You can infuse the oil for up to 1 month under a windowsill. For a quicker method: place the jar in a double boiler and let it heat under the lowest temperature for 4-8 hours.
- Strain the herb-infused oil with a strainer or cheesecloth. Squeeze out as much oil as you can from the flowers then discard the herbs in your compost.
- Place the infused oil into the double boiler: position the heatproof jar of the oil in the middle of a stainless steel pot, cover with around 2 inches of water. The jar should stand firmly at the centre of the pot. Make sure water never enters the jar of oil.
- Add 1/4 cup of beeswax pastelles into the jar of oil. Stir occasionally until the beeswax has completely dissolved.
- Record the temperature of the oil, and wait until it cools down to 125 degrees fahrenheit.
- When it is at the right temperature, add the turmeric essential oil into the preparation. Stir to combine.
- Pour the ointment into your jars or tins.
- Let it cool down completely. Label and store in a cool and dry cupboard.
You can use this balm daily for skin-care and wound relief. It is so versatile in its use and can literally be applied for all sorts of wounds, cuts, bites, irritations and more.
Once you’ve made your first balm, don’t stop there! Experiment with your favourite herbal allies, carrier oils and essential oils. Empower your health by taking charge of it and having fun with it! Who knows where this can lead you, you could be helping a lot of your friends and family by crafting homemade balms for their skin-care relief!