Page 7 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - October, 2018

7

HEALTH

Soothing salve, balm save the day

Winter Strong helps Instructor
class harnass natural Winter Strong
addresses
plant medicine questions
and concerns
During the last week about plant
of September, Tsapowum medicines
Chehalis Tribal Behavioral as class
Health hosted another well- participants
attended plant medicine class learned how
as part of the R.E.D. RoAD to make
project. healing
Herbalist Winter Strong salve and
shared an abundance of trauna balm
information with the group with natural
about how to make healing ingredients.
salve and trauma balm.
The group had an open
discussion about certain
plants used to make the salves,
including arnica, yarrow,
calendula, cottonwood, St.
John’s Wort, and plantain.
Our Chehalis Herbal Garden
by the Community Center test the firmness of the salve by
features many of the plants. sss taking a spoonful and placing
Making Infused Oil CHECK IT OUT it in the refrigerator to expedite
setup. The consistency of the
One of the first steps in Classes are sponsored by the salve should not be so soft
making medicine out of plants R.E.D. RoAD Project. Contact that it will melt in the sun or
is to infuse them in oil. Winter so hard that it is difficult to
and Caytee Cline, who heads Caytee Cline at 360-709-1818 apply. Adjust the hardness if
the R.E.D. RoAD project, filled or visit her in the Behavioral necessary by adding more oil
mason jars with the plants. For Health Department. or beeswax.
fresh plants, fill jar completely;
fill halfway with dried plants. FOR MORE INFORMATION Pour the mixture
Next, pour organic olive oil and instructions to make 5 into salve containers
over plant until completely Cottonwood Oil and Trauma and add a few drops
covered. Allow plant to sit Balm, visit the Behavioral of essential oil if desired.
in the sun for a month or so, Health section at chehalis Essential oils are added at the
wiping condensation in the jar tribe.org. last possible minute because
and lid daily. they are so volatile and will
You also can make infused evaporate quickly. Stir in
oil on the stove by placing To finish, strain the oil For every 5 ounces 1-4 drops per ounce with a
plant material in a double with muslin or cheese cloth. 2 of oil, use 1 ounce of chopstick.
boiler and covering it with Compost leaf material and beeswax by weight.
extra virgin olive oil so the pour oil into a glass jar for Cut or grate the measured Cover salves with
oil is about ¼-½ inch over storage. If any water remains beeswax so it melts more 6 lids immediately.
the plant material. Heat very in the oil, it will fall to the quickly. Let cool and label.
gently to hasten extraction and bottom of the jar.
help remove water. Keep the Combine oil and Salve containers
temperature low so it does not Preparing Herbal Salve 3 beeswax in a double These can purchased
boil. Use equal parts of any of boiler. Make sure to through mail-order suppliers,
When making oils, turn the these infused oils (Calendula, heat slowly. Try not to overheat bottle distributors or local herb
double boiler on and off as Plantain and Yarrow). the oil because it will burn shops.
needed. Allow the oil to infuse and damage the fragile plant Tins or brown glass jars
for several hours. You can leave Measure the volume constituents. work best because they protect
it for several days, occasionally 1 of infused oil (or salve from the sun.
bringing the oil to a warm combined oils) in a As soon as the
temperature and stirring it. measuring cup. 4 beeswax has melted,
See CLASS, page 8