Body & Soul: Nature's Healing for Garden Hands: Calendula Hand Cream

You can have healthy, well-cared-for hands and a beautiful garden with these practical techniques.

August/September 2005
By Janice Cox  
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Makes 8 ounces
Fresh calendula or pot marigold petals are known for their skin-softening and soothing properties. This nourishing cream is good to use if you have small cuts and scratches over your hands, because of calendula petals’ natural antibacterial ingredients that help heal skin.

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  • 3 tablespoons fresh calendula petals
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • 1/8 teaspoon borax powder
  • 1 tablespoon grated beeswax
  • 1 tablespoon grated cocoa butter
  • 1/2 cup light oil such as almond, sunflower or olive
  1. Place calendula petals in a ceramic dish and gently crush to release the plant juices. Pour boiling water over the petals and let sit until cool, about 20 minutes. Strain out flower petals and stir in borax; keep stirring until borax is completely dissolved.
  2. In another heat-resistant pan or bowl, mix together beeswax, cocoa butter and almond oil. Gently warm the mixture in a water bath or microwave until beeswax and cocoa butter are melted. Gradually stir in borax and calendula flower infusion.
  3. Keep heating the mixture and stirring until well blended. You also may pour the entire mixture into a blender and blend on medium until well mixed. Let the mixture cool completely. You may need to give it one more good mixing before using.
  4. Pour into clean container with a tight-fitting lid. Massage a small amount into clean hands.

Click here for the original article, Nature’s Healing for Garden Hands.

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