Gardening – Cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes! – Unknown author
There are so many the benefits of gardening except for fresh produce only. Gardeners are known to live longer and I know many seniors who still spend hours in the garden every week… well into their 90s!
It could be the abundance of vitamin D, beneficial organisms on the ground, exercise, or even just time in nature. But gardening certainly has its benefits.
I prefer not to wear gloves when I garden so I can feel the plants and the soil. I feel comfortable doing this since we use organic pest control and litter options. Sometimes though it can leave me with chapped or dry hands.
Salve Magic
Salves are nourishing oil-based ointments, often infused with beneficial herbs to speed healing. Unlike lotion which uses a mixture of oils and water for hydration and moisture loss, they are oil and wax based. You can use different oils depending on what you want to make your sauce. Coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and even rosehip oil are some of my favorites to use.
I often use sauces for different purposes. From healing cracks, to stretch marks, to pulling out the bits…salves are a mainstay in our house. I have salves for hand care and one specifically for dry cuticles.
Gardeners Hand Sauce Recipe
This special dressing has lots of soothing herbs that help nourish dry skin and heal any little cuts from gardening quickly. It also leaves your hands silky and soft, even if you're not a gardener. The dark green color of this salve comes from the many herbs that go into the oils, and it has a deliciously earthy, medicinal aroma.
I prefer to make dressings with dried herbs as this reduces the chance of spoilage as no water is introduced into the oils from the herb leaves. Salves can also be made with essential oils, but I've found that this infused version is more effective and less likely to sting your eyes if you accidentally rub them. Although I add a little lavender essential oil to enhance the healing properties.
Plants for use
You can use many different restorative herbs here, but I used these:
Before you begin: Add the herbs to the oil
This is an important step in making this sauce effective. It takes a while, and there are two ways to inject the herbs, depending on how much time you have.
I use olive oil, but you can also use another liquid oil, like avocado or sweet almond. Coconut oil can also work if you use the one-day infusion option, but you'll want to reduce the beeswax in the hand salve recipe.
Option 1: Option one day
If you want to make your sauce quickly and don't want to wait weeks for the herbs to mature, you can speed up the process in a double boiler.
- Place 1 cup olive oil (or other carrier oil) in the top of a double boiler.
- Add a few inches of water to the bottom and turn the stove on to medium heat.
- Bring to a boil and reduce to low.
- Simmer for 3-4 hours or until the oil has turned a very dark green.
- Strain the herbs from the oil using cheesecloth and store the oil in a clean, airtight container.
Option 2: The longest option
If you have the time and patience, here's how to do a slower infusion.
- Place the herbs and 1 cup olive oil (or other carrier oil) in a glass jar with an airtight lid.
- Leave for at least 3 weeks to give the plants time to infuse and shake occasionally. If it is warm enough, this mixture can be left in the sun to create a sun-infused oil.
- Strain the herbs from the oil using cheesecloth and store the oil in a clean, airtight container.
Once you've drained the oil, you're ready to make the hand sausage!
Gardeners Hand Salve
This herb-infused hand salve is perfect for damaged, dry hands. Great for gardeners and anyone who is rough on their hands.
Yield: 5.5 ounce
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Melt the beeswax, shea butter and herb-infused oil in a double boiler until melted. You can also use a heat-safe glass bowl over a saucepan if you don't have a double boiler.
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Remove from heat and add lavender essential oil, if using.
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Quickly and carefully pour the mixture into a small glass jar or tin.
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Chill in the fridge to prevent the shea butter from turning grainy.
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Use as needed after gardening or whenever your hands need some extra TLC.
Store in a cool, dry place and use as needed. I keep it in the pantry.
More drying recipes
These salve recipes cover a wide range of skin care needs with botanical oils and waxes. Plus, they're free of parabens, phthalates, and other unwanted chemicals since you're in control of the ingredient list!
Do you garden? Have you ever used a moisturizing hand cream or salve to help your overworked hands? Share below!
