Lemon Balm is a powerful antiviral, and great way to ward-off cold sores! Learn how to make this Self Healing Lemon Balm Lip Balm to support healthy lips!
Lemon Balm is one of my favorite herbs to grow – and I have piles, upon piles of it in my home garden. Thankfully I have a green thumb – and this Lemon Balm keeps growing, and growing, and growing.
So I keep using, using and using!
I dehydrate my lemon balm and infuse it in oils to make my own beauty products. While I also much prefer to have a tincture on hand here at home with lemon balm, making an herbal oil infusion is the gateway to making my own self healing lip balm.
I’d love to say that this lip balm was created for my kids, but it wasn’t. Selfish – I know 🙂 Ever since my teen years, I have had the lovely pleasure of frequent cold sores triggered by the sun. I ran throughout my teenage years – in fact, miles and miles on our old country roads and the sun wrecked havoc on my lips.
I tried, for a long time, to curb my outdoor exposure in hopes to alleviate the issues – but that did not do much to solve the dilemna. Once a runner always a runner… even when I’m sore and feeling my age, I still run. It’s a hard habit to shake. 😆😉
I just love it and all these years later I just find ways to deal with the effects of the sun on my lips.
And I did, which is what brings me to this tutorial, today. Yay for that! 🙌🥳
LEMON BALM IS POWERFUL
Cold sores are caused by a virus (herpes simplex type 1)... and while most of the population has it, it’s a virus that will never officially rid from your body.
Keeping your health and wellness under control is one way to help curb the frequency in which it cam affect you, and using this lip balm frequently can also help alleviate the virus when cold sores appear.
(If you nerd-out like I do and love to read about the powerful qualities of herbs, check out these studies about Lemon Balm here and here).
STEP 1: MAKE LEMON BALM INFUSED OIL
To make lemon balm infused oil you will need lemon balm – if you grow your own, you’ll know how quickly and easily it grows (and spreads!)
If you are using fresh lemon balm from your garden, dry out the leaves on a dehydrator (on the lowest setting) or… in a single layer on a paper towel covered sheet pan for a few days.
Or, alternatively, use dried lemon balm (order on Amazon or Mountain Rose Herbs).
To a pint canning jar:
- Add 1/3 – 1/2 C dried lemon balm (+ any other herbs of your choice – comfrey, yarrow, plantain, calendula)
- Cover with carrier oil (sunflower seed oil, or oil of choice)
Cap the jar and allow to sit in a dark place for 4-6 weeks, making sure to gently shake the jar every day.
Or, if you are eager to infuse quicker, you can cap the jar and set your jar in a crock pot filled with water (like a make shift double broiler) on low-medium for 3-4 hours. Avoid using too much heat or you can scorch your herbs.
Can I use more herbs? For an even more powerful herbal infusion, use additional herbs – comfrey, plantain, yarrow or even calendula. All of those herbs are wonderful for supporting healthy skin.
MAKING SELF HEAL (LEMON BALM) LIP BALM
I’ve made a variety of lip balms over the years and my favorite formula for lip balm is entirely adaptable.
- .25 oz castor oil
- 1.25 oz infused oil
- .50 oz tallow (or substitute shea butter, cocoa butter, mango or hokum butter)
- .70 oz beeswax
- 20-25 drops tea tree essential oil (optional)
Don’t want castor oil? Then swap out that .25 oz for another .25 oz of infused oil.
Here in Arizona, that recipe creates the perfect consistency on the lip balm that allows it to ship nicely through the mail (even in the heat) without it being too hard or too soft.
Ingredients for Herbal Lip Balm:
- 1.25 oz. infused oil
- .25 castor oil
- .50 oz tallow (100% pastured preferably)
- .70 oz beeswax
- 20-25 drops tea tree essential oil (optional)
- lip balm containers
- measuring cup for pouring
Instructions:
Combine the tallow, beeswax and castor oil in a double broiler, or in a tall, glass measuring cup nestled in a shallow pan of water. Use the lowest heat and gently warm until melted – then add the infused oil and give the container a stir. If you are using essential oils add at this time.
Pour into lip balm containers. I find that it’s easier to use a glass measuring cup with spout and a steady hand over a dropper. When using a dropper, the solution tends to harden much quicker (and requires you to heat up the measuring cup to liquify again).
Allow your herbal lip balm 30 min or longer to harden before applying the cap. Label as needed.
A lip balm tray is not required, but I certainly love mine — it makes it easy to keep them together while you pour. Before this, I used to rubber band 10-15 tubes together and pour (which worked fine too!)
As with any lip balm, try to avoid leaving these tubes in a warm area (ie. don’t leave them in the car!)
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