Lemon Balm Cold Sore Lip Balm
Lemon balm has a strong antiviral effect on the herpes virus, and is perfect for this healing, homemade lip balm for cold sores.
Equipment
- small glass jar with tight-fitting lid
- sieve
- digital scale
- 2 stainless steel saucepans, one larger than the other
- wooden skewer or spoon
- 5 lip balm pots or 10 tubes
Ingredients
- 1/3 ounce candelilla wax or 2/3 ounce beeswax
- 1 3/4 ounces lemon balm infused oil
- 5 drops Melissa officinalis essential oil optional
For the lemon balm infused oil
- 1 cup dried lemon balm leaves
- 1/2 cup sweet almond oil or liquid carrier oil of your choice
Instructions
Make the lemon balm infused oil
- Fill a clean and sterilized 8 ounce jar with half of the dried lemon balm leaves. Pour the oil over it. Seal, shake, and leave the jar in a dark, warm place to infuse for two weeks. Shake daily.
- Strain the lemon balm leaves from the oil and discard. Refill the jar with more leaves and use the strained oil to cover the leaves. Repeat the process of infusing the oil for another two weeks.
- Again strain the lemon balm leaves from the oil and discard. Bottle the lemon balm infused oil and mark with contents and date.
Make the cold sore lip balm
- Weigh the candelilla wax (or beeswax) and place in a small saucepan with a pouring spout. Fill the larger pan partway with water, bring to a boil, and float the smaller pan with the wax in it. Melt the wax until liquid, and remove the top pan from the heat.
- Weigh the lemon balm infused oil and pour into the melted wax. Return to the pan of hot water to remelt, stirring it gently with a wooden skewer.
- When fully melted, remove from heat, and add the essential oil, if using. Stir well. Next, pour the mixture into the lip balm pots or tubes. The balm will take up to three days to fully set but afterward has a shelf life of up to 1 year.
- Apply the lemon balm cold sore lip balm when you have a cold sore or any time that your lips need some TLC.