The day after Christmas Nora and I made Arnica salve. It was the end of a long process that began last summer when I helped collect Arnica flowers during a hunt (click here for post). After the hunt I infused some of the flowers in avocado oil, and they infused in the oil all Fall in a cabinet in my kitchen. Finally after Christmas I got around to making a salve.
A friend gave me some bee's wax and I checked out on the internet on how to do it. Basically strain the flowers out of the oil, heat the oil in a double boiler, and add bee's wax. I did learn a few things. I first tried straining the flowers and oil through cheese clothe and it did not work at all. I ended up using a fine stainless steel strainer I use for tea. I also added the correct ratio of bee's wax to oil (like 1 to 4 if I remember correctly), but it seemed too thin and so I added more bee's wax. Big Mistake. My salve ended up too hard. So go by the ratio that seems like too little! It hardens up big time when it cools!
Anyway, I was happy with the 'hard' salve. I could still rub my finger in the container and come up with oil to put on a bruise or cut. I figure since it is hard that maybe it will last longer in storage.
Patrick
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