Introduction: Calendula Salve for Eczema and Other Skin Issues

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About: I'm real Jack of all trades, but it's better to be good at many things than a master of one. maker of blades and other weapons, replica ww2 machine guns with paintball guns fitted. Tesla coil build in the prog…

Easy to make Calendula Salve for naturally treating skin inflammation like Eczema and Dermatitis, but also helps with minor injuries and burns.

Step 1: First of All, Harvest Time!

These flowers grow like weeds where I live in New Zealand, but they should be easy to find elsewhere in the world. commonly called Marigolds, they have a distinctive flower and grow like wildfire, and tend to produce more flowers once picked so plenty to work with. cut the flowers stem just below the flower and take only fully bloomed flowers as they have the most to offer.

Step 2: Drying Time!

I have drying racks set up but easy to make something up. clothing drying racks work well. line with news paper and spread out the flowers so they dry properly, and lay more news paper down and put somewhere with airflow and leave them alone for a week.
once flowers are dry to the touch seal them up in glass bottles until your ready to do the next step.

Step 3: Brew Time!

place flowers into a double boiler and add Grapeseed oil to cover. I do mine in small batches and use 450ml of oil for each. put it on a medium heat and cover. Stirring occasionally will help.
leave on the heat for as long as you can, do mine for around 3 hours.

Step 4: Strain and Press

line a small funnel with two layers of cheese cloth and load it up with your brew. strain as much as you can then load the cheesecloth parcel into a potato ricer and press to get every drop of oil, then return the oil to the cleaned out double boiler. you want to make sure you remove all the plant matter giving you clean oil.

Step 5: Add Beeswax

Add a few drops of Lavender Essential oil as a preservative, then add 100g of clean beeswax and allow it to melt fully and come together as one.
the amount of beeswax added effects the consistency, more wax, harder finished product. I find that the amounts here work well for me.

Step 6: Filling Time

Transfer the mix to a measuring jug and fill your containers, take care to avoid spillage as it can really make a mess. I have used 100g ointment containers that I can get at the local pharmacy for minimum cost. 450ml of oil before wax is added fills around 6.
use newspaper under them as you fill, that way you contain the mess, as it really does make cleaning up easier.
leave the containers open till set then cap and store somewhere cool till needed.
if the consistency is too hard, re melt and add a little extra Grapeseed oil. the contents of the containers can be released by using a hot water bath.

Step 7: Enjoy!

this has been my very first instructable, so be nice. I welcome suggestions as know my grama sucks and I would be screwed without spellchecker lol.
the crazy thing is I'm an engineer so this being my first is crazy. but I tend to keep some of this in my toolbox for burns and cuts that are common in my line of work.