Pine Vapor Balm 2022
This particular vapor balm has ponderosa pine resin in it. The resin was collected in the high mountains or near central Oregon. It was harvested in a way that does not hurt the tree.
I highly respect this beautiful tree, just as I do all plants and tree life.
If you plan to go out and harvest tree resin, such as the ponderosa pine, I ask that you respect the tree by making sure you do not take all the resin nor leave it bare underneath...
Give thanks and an offering to the tree.
What You Will Need:
1 quart jar
Corning ware pan
Towel
Oil of choice: Such as olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil
4 tablespoons eucalyptus leaf
2 tablespoons thyme leaf
2 tablespoons peppermint leaf
Several Big chucks of pine resin. About 7, 1 x 2 inch pieces.
Clean containers to store your salve, such as tins or jars.
Now it is time to infuse the herbs and pine resin in the oil.
Put the herbs and resin in the jar. Now add just enough oil to cover it.
Put the towel in the corning ware pan. This keeps the jar from breaking. It is my version (for this day) of a double boiler.
Now add just enough water that when you put the jar in the pan the water will not overflow.
Infuse all day on low heat.
Turn off and let sit over night
Next day turn it on and infuse for a few more hours. Now it is ready to strain.
To strain you will need a strainer and a cheesecloth. Because you are using dried herbs and resin it is ok to squeeze it and get ever bit of oil that you can out of it.
Now it is ready to make the balm, which is basically a salve.
1/4 cup beeswax per 1 cup of infused oil.
I ended up adding about 1/3 cup beeswax to 1 1/2 cups infused oil.
When making salves., balms or ointments you want to add little bits of beeswax at a time. Better to add little bits at a time then to much. Test it as you go.
I tested it by dropping a few drops of the oil with the beeswax on a spoon and I wait for it to cool off. Then test it to see if you like the consistency.
1 1/2 cups infused oil
1/3 cup beeswax
Now add:
28 drops of orange essential oil
28 drops of pine essential oil
28 drops of eucalyptus
Now pour into containers of choice. Cover but do not move until it has hardened.
To Use:
Rub on the tip of your noses and upper lip
Rub on chest
Have someone rub on your back
Put on your feet then put on a sock
Enjoy
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