Sometimes I wonder if any of us who live in moist climates can avoid getting some kind of fungus. My dermatologist, Dr. Langei in Mt. Vernon, Washington, tells me that we are hosts to many. I found this recipe for a natural antifungal salve in Rosemary Gladstar’s ‘Herbs for the Home Medicine Chest,’ a book I just love. Here it is:
Antifungal Salve
2 parts chaparral
2 parts black walnut hulls
1 part organically grown goldenseal (make sure it’s organically grown)
1 part myrr
1 part echinacea
a few drops of tea tree or cajeput oil
Method:
To each cup of oil, add 1/4 cup beeswax. Heat until the beeswax is completely melted. To check for firmness, place 1 tablespoon of the mixture into the freezer for just a minute. If it’s too soft, add more beeswax. If too hard, add more of the oil mix. Remove from heat immediately and pour into small glass jars or tins. Store extra in a cool, dark place. Salves will last for months, even years, if stored properly. If you want to add a natural preservative, add vitamin E or tincture of benzoin.
You can buy the oils as essential oils or you can infuse them yourself using solar. Place dried herbs and oil in a glass jar and cover tightly (I like to use olive, almond or avacado oil). Place the jar in a warm sunny spot and let the mixture infuse for 2 weeks. Strain through muslin or cheesecloth, add a fresh batch of hers and infuse for two more weeks. This will give a very potent medicinal oil. Strain well, squeezing out the herbs with your hands.
Many thanks to Rosemary Gladstar!
