Safe, Simple, Skin Soothing
Salve.
How to make an effective all-natural ointment for diaper rash and
more.
By Johnelle Warren.
Just after my first son was born, a family friend sent me a magazine
article questioning the safety of commercial diaper rash ointments.
The article stated that a number of babies had some disturbing premature
developmental growth: pubescent changes, such as growing pubic hair
and breasts- in both girls and boys. The whole thing was a mystery,
but the one common factor between all of them was the use of the best-selling
diaper rash ointment.
Although the article was officially inconclusive,
stating that more research needed to be done, I found the possibility
of diaper rash ointment being the cause of such extreme developmental
problems to be a bit disconcerting. (To say the least!) Even though
the facts had not come in as to whether or not the ointment actually
caused the effects, the article did get me wondering about the safety
of using what could possibly be ill-researched chemicals on my newborns
delicate skin. And along with the possible health concerns, I really
couldn’t stand the medicine-y smell and greasy feel of the various
diaper rash ointments I had tried on my son.
With an already well-established passion for
herbalism, I decided to do a bit of research, and try to find a more
natural, possibly safer alternative to commercial diaper rash ointments.
Every source that I consulted ended up having the same herb on the
top of their list for the treatment of diaper rash: Calendula Officinalis,
or Pot Marigold.
Calendula is a flowering herb, native to southern Europe, that has
been used medicinally for many centuries. I learned that the flowers
are a gentle remedy, used to treat all manor of minor skin conditions.
Calendula has been found to be an effective treatment for such skin
problems as: dry and cracked skin; red and inflamed skin; cuts and
scrapes; minor burns and sunburn; acne and boils; bites and stings;
nettle rash and poison oak (ivy) rash; ringworm and athlete’s
foot; thrush; cradle cap; to soothe nipples that are sore from breast-feeding;
and- what I was most concerned about at the time- as a treatment for
diaper rash.
I found a recipe for making calendula ointment,
and after playing around with it a bit- trying different “base”
oils- I decided that this was my favorite version. Here are the simple
ingredients and directions for making calendula ointment yourself.
You will need:
1 oz. dried Calendula flowers (available
at health food stores)
8 oz. (1 cup) Sweet Almond Oil (best, as it soaks well into skin)
or another vegetable-based oil (Canola, Olive, and Peanut oil
are all acceptable choices)
1 oz. Beeswax (grated or finely chopped)
A few drops of Lavender Essential Oil
or 2 (pierced) capsules of Vitamin E Oil (optional,
as a preservative)
In a glass bowl set in a pan of boiling water,
or a non-aluminum double boiler, (aluminum can react badly with many
herbs!) stir the calendula flowers (dried is preferable- less risk
of spoilage) with the sweet almond oil. Cover and simmer for 2-3 hours,
stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. (I’ve read that you
can also make this type of mixture in a microwave, but I have never
tried it.) Remove the bowl from heat until cool enough to handle.
Wearing rubber gloves, strain mixture through a jelly bag or cheesecloth,
squeezing out any excess oil. Wipe bowl with a clean dry cloth or
paper towel, removing any debris. Return the calendula- infused -oil
to the bowl and the heat, and mix in the beeswax. Stir occasionally,
and when the wax has fully melted, check the consistency of the ointment
by dipping a clean spoon into the warm mixture, and set it in the
freezer for a few moments. If the ointment is too hard for your liking,
add more oil: if too soft, add more beeswax. When the ointment sets
to the consistency you prefer, you may now add the lavender essential
oil or the vitamin E oil, or both: both of which act as a natural
preservative and are gentle and soothing to the skin. Remove from
the heat, and pour into clean glass jars. (Wide-mouthed canning jars
and sterilized baby food containers both work great.) Let cool a bit,
then cap tightly and store in a cool, dry place.
I always kept a jar handy at the changing table,
one in the diaper bag, and a few in the medicine cabinet for use on
any of the conditions listed earlier. With some pretty labels, a basket
of these makes a great baby-shower gift, and those whom have tried
it have been very pleased with the results. I too, have been pleased,
for I found that as a diaper rash treatment, this ointment worked
better than any of the commercial ones did on my son. Plus, I had
quite a bit of fun creating it, and the time it took to make it was
well worth my peace of mind.
©
Johnelle Warren 2005.
Back
to Stories, Articles & Essays
