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Showing posts with label pine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pine. Show all posts

Monday, March 9, 2015

Old-Fashioned Pine Tar Salve

Old-Fashioned Pine Tar Salve - Photo by Jan Berry (HobbyFarms.com)

Jan Berry
Hobby Farms Guest Blogger

Some of us grew up with a grandma or great-grandma who kept a jar of black salve on hand for all manner of skin ailments. Every family had their own special recipe, but it usually contained ingredients like tallow, lard, pine tar, chimney soot, or sometimes even onions and flour. It was thick and smelly, but it worked like a charm!
This modern-day adaptation of an old-fashioned home remedy will fill a 2-ounce glass jar. Because a little bit goes a long way, a single batch will last a family for several months. You can easily double or triple the amounts though, if a larger supply is needed.
Old-Fashioned Pine Tar Salve - Photo by Jan Berry (HobbyFarms.com)
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup herb-infused olive, sunflower, or other light oil
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons beeswax
  • 1/2 tablespoon pine tar
  • 1/4 teaspoon activated charcoal
Preparation
For best results, infuse the oil with dried herbs first. Check your yard for plantain or violet leaves or use dried rose, calendula or lavender flowers. Let them air dry on a clean dishcloth for a few days until crumbly. Place the dried herbs in a small jar and pour twice as much oil over them. Cover the top with cheesecloth or a scrap of old T-shirt, using a rubber band to secure in place. Let the jar sit in a sunny window for a few days (or weeks) before straining. Store any leftover finished oil in a cool, dark place for up to one year.
For easiest cleanup, repurpose a used tin can to make this salve. You could also use a small, heat-proof canning jar.
Old-Fashioned Pine Tar Salve - Photo by Jan Berry (HobbyFarms.com)
Measure the oil and beeswax into the can or jar, and set it in a saucepan containing 1 to 2 inches water, creating a makeshift double boiler. Use 1 teaspoon beeswax for a softer ointment consistency or 2 teaspoons for a firmer salve. Heat on medium-low until the beeswax has melted.
Remove the jar from heat, and stir in the pine tar and charcoal with a disposable spoon. Immediately pour into a small glass jar and let cool before capping. Because of its strong drawing nature, avoid storing in metal tins or plastic containers, as the salve could potentially pull impurities from them over time. Shelf life is at least a year.
Use It
Old-Fashioned Pine Tar Salve - Photo by Jan Berry (HobbyFarms.com)
Dab a small amount on a bug bite, splinter, boil or other skin irritation. Cover with a bandage for several hours or overnight. Wash off and repeat as necessary.
Maker’s Tips
  • Pine tar can usually be found in in the horse section of your local feed store. It can be made two different ways: open kiln or kiln method. Because the open-kiln method could potentially produce small amounts of creosote (a carcinogen), try to find the closed-kiln type for this project. A popular brand for making salves and soaps is Auson http://www.amazon.com/Kiln-Burn-Pine-Tar-Liter/dp/B000P7K46S. Unfortunately, because it's imported from Sweden, it's also quite expensive. For brands you find locally, check their website or customer service number to help determine the type of pine tar they offer. They won't be able to advise you on use for humans, though, as their products are only tested and intended as a horse-hoof treatment.
  • Activated charcoal is recommended to have on hand for poison control or food poisoning. You can usually find it in a drug store, pharmacy section of your grocery store or a health store. If you can only get it in capsules, just break open enough of them to reach the 1/4 teaspoon needed for the recipe.
  • Castor oil makes a wonderful addition to this salve and can be used for part of the oil portion.
  • Place a piece of wax paper over your work area when handling pine tar and activated charcoal. If spilled, they could stain light-colored countertops. The finished salve will also stain clothing, so apply carefully.
  • While this is an excellent home remedy for minor ailments, consult with a qualified health care professional for serious injuries and wounds.

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Homemade Pine Needle Facial Toner

  • homemade pine needle facial toner, diy, how to
Before you throw that real pine Christmas tree out or dismantle those lovely natural pine wreaths and garlands you put together for the holidays, gather some pine needles* (or you can cut off fresh pine needles from a living tree anytime of the year) and make a homemade batch of facial toner using just three ingredients. Pine needles, witch hazel and water.
Let's consider the three ingredients: Pine needles are high in vitamin C and helps improve circulation and complexion. Witch Hazel is an astringent produced from the leaves and bark of the North American Witch-hazel shrub. It tightens the skin, reduce swelling, helps repair broken skin and also fights bacteria. Water - It's best to use filtered water or distilled water where the impurities have been removed.
Combine the three ingredients and you have a wonderful fragrant natural facial toner.
  • homemade pine needle facial toner, diy, how to
Here's how to make the perfect natural toner:

Place 2 cups of green (fresh) pine needles and 1 cup of filtered or distilled water in a small saucepan.
Bring to boil and then remove from heat. Allow to cool completely.
Strain water and discard pine needles. Stir in 1/2 cup of witch hazel and pour into a small capped bottle.
Apply to face with a cotton ball after cleansing and let dry.
Store in cool, dry place.
  • homemade pine needle facial toner, diy, how to
This is a mild fragrant, refreshing homemade astringent toner that's cool to your face, helps to shrink pores and firm your skin, giving it a radiant, luminous look that you can make anytime of the year.
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