Our own freshly-harvested, organically grown herbs: marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), calendula (Calendula officinalis), and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) before being pressed.
Today I made an emollient lip salve with marshmallow! I was inspired by Rosalee de la Floret who talked in her blog about the topical uses of marshmallow. After nurturing my plants over the last two years I am looking for more and more ways to utilize the amazing emollient properties of Althaea officinalis. I used freshly harvested leaves and a little dried marshmallow root from last year’s divisions, and added some dried calendula petals (Calendula officinalis) and dried lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and warm infused it into safflower oil (Carthamus tinctorius L.) over a 24 hour period, very gently warming it and then letting it cool down (about 5 times). I was myself surprised that the plant material retained such vibrancy through the process. The picture shows the plants before I squeezed out every drop of oil I could get. Lastly, I added beeswax, cocoa butter and spearmint essential oil.