It’s easy to forget when we spend all of our time in the same place, just traveling back and forth from home to work, but we are definitely connected to nature. I’m not talking about hugging trees or feeling a storm come on like a barometric-kneed pirate. I’m talking about physical and mental reactions to changes in landscape, elevation, and temperature.
This became abundantly clear as we criss-crossed the country the last few years on our epic roadschool adventure. Allergies in Texas. Migraines in Florida. Altitude sickness in Yellowstone. The absolute emotional catharsis of evergreens in the Pacific Northwest.
We are natural beings, and as such, our bodies respond to natural changes. Now that we’ve settled in the Black Hills of the upper plains, our greatest nemesis is the dryness that comes with the cold. Our lips don’t just chap. They split. It’s always the first sign of itchier days to come.
I’ve shared how to make an herbal infused honey for taste bud tantalization, but did you know that you can use those same honeys for skin care as well?
Honey makes a GREAT, albeit sticky, addition to your skincare routine!
Honey is antibacterial, antifungal, antibiotic, antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and emollient. By itself, honey is a great simple remedy for healing wounds. That emollient property is what really kicks it over the edge for lip care. You see, honey lubricates your skin and holds onto moisture — softening, soothing, and conditioning.
Then add in a vulnerary herb like calendula. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, wound healing.
Winter doesn’t stand a chance.
So before your lips crack open this winter, whip up a batch of this Calendula Honey Lip Treatment. The process is a little different than the one I showed you earlier, but variety is the spice of life, right? Your lips will be lovely and luscious again in no time.
Calendula Honey Lip Treatment
Benefits and Uses: heals and moisturizes dry, chapped lips
Yields: about 1/2 cup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon dried calendula flowers
- 1/2 cup raw honey
- Place calendula flowers in the bottom of a clean pint-sized glass jar.
- Set up a double boiler by filling a small pot with 2″-3″ of hot water and situating a heat-safe glass bowl atop the pot. Be sure that the glass is not touching the water. Turn on the burner to moderate heat to bring the water in the pot up to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and add the honey to the glass bowl. Gently warm the honey until it’s warm to the touch but not too hot to handle, about 5-8 minutes. Avoid overheating the honey, as this compromises some of its medicinal properties.
- Pour the warm honey over the calendula flowers and stir gently with a knife to make sure the flowers are completely submerged and coated by the honey.
- Place jar in a warm spot (a sunny windowsill is a great choice) and allow the honey to infuse at least 5 days and up to 1 month, until it has a mild floral note when you taste a drop of it. When the infusion is complete, strain the honey through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean jar. (if you’re having trouble straining it, you can warm the mixture using a double boiler as you did in step 1 to make it easier to pour through the sieve.) Store in a covered jar at cool room temperature up to 1 year.
- To use, pour a small amount onto your finger and apply directly to clean lips. Avoid dipping your fingers into the honey jar, as this can cause contamination. For best results, use this treatment once or twice daily and avoid using lip balms with petroleum-based ingredients or menthol.
Excerpted from The Simple Guide to Natural Health, by Melanie St Ours
If this is your first venture into making your own home remedies, it can be a bit daunting to find the ingredients that aren’t typical culinary spices.
Not to fear! In the Apothecary, I stock small portions of the herbs and essential oils that I mention in my posts just so you can get your feet wet without investing in an entire pool.
5g Calendula, dried, whole flower, organic would be perfect for this recipe.
If you enjoyed this recipe and would like to check out more remedies from The Simple Guide to Natural Health, just click the link to be whisked away to Amazon. This is an affiliate link so if you choose to purchase the book my family will receive a small commission at no added cost to you.
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Disclaimer: Please note that I am a not medical professional and everything written here is a product of my own research. Don’t take any advice given here over that of a trained doctor. If you ingest any herbs, always make sure that you’re 100% sure that they’re safe. If you’re pregnant or giving to a child, always consult a doctor before ingesting herbs and plant you aren’t familiar with. Honey should never be given to infants under the age of 1, even externally, due to the increased risk of botulism.
