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Ointments, salves and medicinal balms are all oil and wax preparations, made to various consistencies. An ointment is thinner than a salve, and is usually applied over large areas of the body to soothe skin, or to rub into the chest as an expectorant. Salves and medicinal balms are thicker and waxier, and tend to be used on specific areas such as joints (or lips!). All are easy to make, by heating an emulsifier such as beeswax or emulsifying wax with an infused oil – you simply add more emulsifier to make a thicker salve or less for a thinner ointment.

To make a basic ointment: in a glass bowl, put 300ml of an infused oil with 25g beeswax. (Use granules, or break solid wax into small pieces – you can even use 100% beeswax candles.) Stand the bowl over a pan of simmeringwater, and stir gently until all the wax has melted. Pour while still warm into wide-mouthed salve jars – the ointment thickens as it cools.

Getting the right consistency: To check if the ointment is the consistency you want, drop a little into a glass of iced water – if it turns into a ball, it’ll be a thick balm; if it disperses on the surface, you’ll have the consistency of a thinner ointment. To make the mixture thicker, add an extra ½ teaspoon of beeswax at a time; to make it thinner, add 1 extra teaspoon of infused oil at a time. Heat again and re-test until you’re happy with it.

Storage Ointments, salves and balms will keep for 1 year.