Myrrh and Lavender Ouchie Wash

With the pleasing aromatic, this amber-colored ointment is amazing at cleansing those fresh wounds. This mixture will also help with oozing of blisters and weeping rashes that can be caused by bug bites and stings. The prep to make this wash takes 4 weeks. Even though it is a long time, it will last approximately 2 years in a dark and cool or room temperature location away from children.

2 cups dried or 2 1/2 cups freshly wilted lavender buds

1/2 cup myrrh gum powder

1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin

3-4 cups unflavored vodka

This strength of ointment may sting little ones ouchies even when diluted. Use with caution.

If you are using freshly wilted lavender, first strip the buds and bits of greenery from the stems; discard the stems. Place the lavender and myrrh with the glycerin in a 1-quart canning jar and pour the vodka over them, so that it comes to within 1/2 inch of the top of the jar. The herbs should be completely covered. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the mouth of the jar (to prevent the metal lid from coming into contact with the jar’s contents), then screw on the lid. Shake the mixture vigorously for about 30 seconds. After 24 hours, top off with more vodka if necessary. The herbs will settle a bit in the jar, but that’s okay.

Store the jar in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks so that the vodka can extract the valuable chemical components from the herbs. Because the liniment contains powdered myrrh, it must be shaken vigorously at least twice a day during the 4-week period in order to loosen and integrate the paste that tends to form at the bottom of the jar.

At the end of the 4 weeks, strain the herbs through a fine mesh strainer lined with a fine filter such as muslin or a paper coffee filter, then strain again if necessary to remove all herb debris. press or squeeze the herbs to release all the valuable herbal extract. Discard the marc.

Pour the liquid into storage containers, then cap, label, and store in a dark cabinet.

Shake well before each use. Prepare a dilution of the wash, using 4 teaspoons for every 1/2 cup purified water, then pour over the wound to remove dirt and debris.