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Comfrey Symphytum officinale root: 2 ounces
St. John’s wort Hypericum perforatum flowers: 1 ounce
Plantain Plantago major leaf: 1 ounce
Calendula Calendula officinalis flowers: 1 ounce
Mullein Verbascum thapsus flowers: 1 ounce
High-quality cold-pressed olive oil (enough to cover herbs)
Beeswax (quantity will depend on the amount of infused oil and consistency required): 1 to 2 ounces
Use freshly dried herbs if possible and grind them finely. Cover them with a high-grade, cold-pressed olive oil in a tightly capped preserving jar. Allow it to sit in a warm place for 10 to 14 days. Shake the oil mixture twice a day, ensuring that all the herbs are covered in the oil. Top up with more oil if necessary. After steeping for 14 days, strain out the oil using butter muslin or cheesecloth and squeeze the herbs to ensure as much of the oil is released as possible.
Place this oil in a saucepan over a water bath or in a double boiler, and bring it to a low temperature that will melt beeswax. For every cup of oil, add one to two ounces of grated beeswax depending on the consistency required. At this point you can use the “spoon test” to gauge the consistency of the ointment. Take one teaspoon of the mixture and place it in the refrigerator for five minutes. The consistency after this time will indicate the hardness of the final product. Add more beeswax to harden or more oil to soften.