Elder leaf balm offers protection from all of life’s biting, sucking creatures, gifting a defensive shield and the ability to repel all of the blood suckers. We are talking protection from biting insects but also from emotional vampires. Tried and tested in Central and South America, Greece, Spain and across the UK.
How we make the Elder leaf balm
Around a Spring Full Moon pick the fresh elder leaves before the flowers develop this is when the highly scented aromatic leaves are at their most potent – they emit a fetid pungent smell that us hedge witches LOVE…..
Ingredients
- 200mls almond oil
- 20g shea butter
- 20g beeswax
- 3 Handfuls fresh elder leaves
- jars with lids
Method
In a small heatproof bowl place, some of the leaves, oil and shea butter.
Bain-marie style, suspend the bowl over a saucepan of water on a low heat for 3-4 hours, keep a constant eye on the water level and top up to prevent the pan going dry. The oil will soak into the leaves and they shall start to shrink leaving space to add more leaves keep adding leaves and watch the alchemy of the oil gradually turn a deep, rich green. The smell is deep a rich gifting an altered state of consciousness, take the time to free write about the elders energy.
Strain the oil mixture through a sieve lined with muslin and add the leaves to your compost.
This oil can be used again using new fresh elder leaves in the same oil for a double concentrated balm.
Return the strained oil to the bowl and place over the pan again on a low heat. Add the beeswax and stir until dissolved. Remove from the heat.
Allow to cool slightly but not set.
You can now add essential oils. We use plant and tree oils to potentiate the protection from all the bloodsuckers of life: Amounts of up to 30 drops in this recipe:
- Cedar
- Lime
- Bay
- Cinnamon
- Eucalyptus
- Juniper
