Calming Balm: Bay Leaf

Any body oil or herbal oil can be turned into a salve with the addition of beeswax. The ratio for a salve is three ounces coconut oil to one ounce of beeswax. If you have a bay laurel tree nearby, pick some fresh leaves, or you can go to your spice rack and take three bay leaves from the jar. Grind the dried leaves in your mortar and pestle until broken up into fine little pieces. Set aside a fourth whole leaf. Use a double boiler to heat the oil and wax until completely melted. Test the viscosity of your salve by pouring a dab onto a cold plate. If you want the salve to have a denser texture, you will need to add more wax, and now is the time to do it. If satisfied with the consistency, pour off into jars to cool. Balms are simply salves with the addition of essential oils. Add two drops of eucalyptus essential oil and two drops of lemon oil while the mix is still warm. Sprinkle in the finely crushed bay laurel into the mix, stir well, and seal to preserve the aroma. Bay Leaf Balm will have a wonderfully calming effect anytime you use it and can be rubbed on your temples when you need to destress. I recommend Sunday night baths where you slather on the balm before stepping into a hot bath. Take a washcloth and massage your skin, then lie back and relax for twenty minutes. When you drain the tub, your stress will also empty out and you can start your week afresh, ready to handle anything that comes your way.