half a bag pf calendula flowers

[sarah]

i had to pull up my calendula flowers today i had no idea they would grow so big and swamp my runner beans. they were also beginning to get a white mould so up they came.

the flowers are so lovely i didnt have the heart to throw them on the compost heat so i picked them all off thinking maybe i could make calendula cream, but have just googled for a recipe and it seems rather a palarva just for half a bag. anyone got any other idea what i can do with them. i will just throw them away else.

[sarah]

[cambourne7]

You can make a cream/ointment

http://www.swedishbitters.com/calendula.htm

[sarah]

what an interesting article. seems i have been growing the cure for all ills! i am going to dry the petals and try some cream (think i may use something other than lard though). and might try it as a tea aswell. thanks cam. ;D

[cambourne7]

thats ok

sarah raven made the cream on gardeners world once but i am sure if you google you will find a suitable link :-)

[manicscousers]

thats ok

sarah raven made the cream on gardeners world once but i am sure if you google you will find a suitable link :-)

I've got it if you need it
also, good for a tea and for putting in home made soap and lip salve, let me know..off now, stiff bum  ;D

[Trixiebelle]

OOOOOHH! Took the words right out of my 'internet mouth' Manics!

I've just gathered some to make soap with this afternoon. Lovely stuff  :)

[sarah]

o yes please manics that woudl be good. i googled the gardeners world sarah raven thing but it was a video and i cant run it on my computer (until husband comes home :-[). i am drying them in the airing cupboard at moment as there is no sunshine.  i would like to make this into a salve or cream as a surprise for my mum who had surgury to remove cancer a while ago which severed some nerves in her arm which she gets quite a bit of pain in so i am hoping it may help a little.  ;)

[manicscousers]

sarah, you need beeswax and olive oil, will look up recipe and amounts tomorrow, just got comfy with the computer on my knee, not allowed to lift it myself and ray's in the bath
ray's mum swears by it for her ulcerous leg..I make no claims for it but, I love it  :)

[sarah]

cheers m'dear. :)

[manicscousers]

found it, at last
150ml or 5fl oz olive oil
25g or 1oz beeswax,
melt together in a double boiler, add a good handful of dried calendula petals and simmer for 15 minutes, have a seive and cheesecloth ready
strain it straight into jars as it hardens when you take it off the heat
small honey type jars are good
hope it works, m x

[sarah]

thanks manics i am going to try that asap and i will report back. :-*

[Marymary]

As the cream begins to set whisk it occasionally & you end up with a much softer cream.  If you just leave it to set it becomes hard which is fine but nicer if you can scoop it out. 

Let us know how it goes.

[sarah]

thanks for the tip mary. off to find beeswax.  :)