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A friend of mine has a natural health store(she sells nature herbal suppliments and such) Anyway...

Here is a portion of email to me:

We carry a salve called Burchicks Salve and are no longer able to get it from the previous maker. I was wondering if it's something you would be able, or want to try making. The ingredients are: burdock, chickweed, comfrey, plantan, rosemary, lavender, olive oil, and beeswax.

Now here is the question and my comments(I guess). First-comments: I see it has OO, but I don't know if the other are powdered ingredients or EO etc. I would say the Rosemary and Lavender are EO.

As far as making something similiar IDK what % each of the ingredients are/were. She did say that this is the order of the ingredients on the label.

Any help or suggestions on how to make salve(guess this is my question ) and what would be good % for these ingredients?

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Debbie

Infusing herbs in oil is not an exact art. They should be weighed of course, but since herbal material varies from batch to batch and season to season, I would start with 50% of the plant material total. So if you have dried burdock, chickweed, comfrey, plantan (plantain I presume?) I would add them each at 12.5% and the other 50% would be your olive oil. Be aware that the herbs will absorb some of the olive oil and you won't get the same amount of olive oil once the herbs are strained and squeezed out. You will get less once all is infused.

I normally use my Presto pot for infusing since it has a temp control. You don't want to scorch the herbs and waste your infusion. I cook them on low (off and on) for about one week, then strain.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

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Debbie

http://www.sfherb.com/ has dried burdock, chickweed & comfrey. Plantain can be had at http://www.bulkherbstore.com/Plantain-Leaf-Cut_Organic

Presto Pots are also called Presto Kitchen Kettles. They are made of a thick metal with a non-stick coating and have a temp gauge that you plug into the side. It has a glass lid. These pots have a concealed heating element, so there is no need for water; just oils and herbs. This is what it looks like. Don't use the metal basket. It tends to scratch the inner non stick finish.
http://www.amazon.com/Presto-06006-Kitc ... B002JM202I

You melt the beeswax and mix it with the WARM infused oil, then carefully pour into containers. I guess it gets sort of "creamy" if it's a loose balm. Make sure if you are using tins that they are safe for cosmetic use or have an inner liner. I bought tins before for my salve, and even with no water at all, over time the tins discolored and got rusty.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

You might also try Mountain Rose Herbs.

Thanks Irena, I did find a place to get the herbs. Thanks for the link to that Presto Pot too. Guess I never heard it by that name( I think bought one for my sister one year for Christmas)

Thanks lsg-that is where I found the least expensive herbs. Found a YouTube video from them on how to make salve too!!!

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Debbie

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Debbie

Thanks!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Thanks for posting, I watched the video yesterday and have not stop making infused oils for salves since

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

I have to have my tins on the table and pour into them, instead of holding them. My hands aren't as steady as they used to be and I'm sure I would spill it.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

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Debbie

I grow a lot of culinary herbs so maybe I'll just expand my garden and add a few others. I'll have to research their properties to figure out which ones to plant. As for dandelions- there's no shortage of them around!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Debbie