Find this recipe and 65+ more in the book Herbal Revolution, written by our founder and CEO Kathi Langelier.
The farm in the summer is filled with beautiful plant life and rows and rows of orange and yellow buzzing with the sounds of pollinators. Calendula is an easy plant to grow and easily self-seeds year after year. Its sticky, resinous blossoms are one of my favorite topical plants to grow and have on hand year-round. These beautiful yellow blossoms are antimicrobial, astringent, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. They have an amazing ability to regenerate skin cells and heal wounds without scars. You can use calendula oil alone on cuts, scratches, burns and rashes or use the oil as a base for other topical recipes.
Makes 2 cups
2 cups dried calendula
2 cups extra virgin olive oil
Spice grinder
16 oz jar
Wooden skewer or chopstick
Veggie tray heating mat (optional)
Strainer
16 oz jar for storage
Run the calendula through a spice grinder, and then place it into a 16 oz jar. If you don't have a grinder, you can just place the calendula into the jar. Next, slowly pour the olive oil into the jar, filling it all the way up. Then with the skewer or chopstick, push down inside the sides of the jar. You'll notice air bubbles as the oil makes its way through the calendula. As more air bubbles come up, the volume of the oil will go down. Top off the jar with oil and repeat the process with the stick. Do this a couple of times. Then place the lid on the jar. Shake and place the jar upside down for a few minutes. Shake again. Open it back up and see if there is more room to add more oil; if so, top it off.
Place the jar on a veggie tray heating mat (such as the kind used for gardening) for 1 to 2 weeks, or let the jar hand out at room temperature for 4 to 6 weeks. Once ready, strain and store in a clean 16 oz jar.
You can use the oil as it is, by rubbing onto your skin and massaging it in, or you can make it into body butters and healing salves.
1 tbsp Elderberry Tonic
1/4 tsp dark maple syrup
Pinch of cinnamon
3/4 cup still or sparkling water
Oxymel is a sweet blend that combines raw apple cider vinegar and honey with herbs, berries and/or fruits to make a refreshing infusion that is taken stright, added to water, or made into drinks.
Rose Oxymel makes a lovely cooling and refreshing medicine that can help calm and cool the nerves on hot days or when your energy and temperament is feeling hot.
1 tbsp Digestive Tonic
1/4 tsp finely grated fresh ginger root
1/4 tsp honey
3/4 cup still or sparkling water
