SUNBLOCK Recipe

        This recipe may look familiar to those who've seen the anti-fungus/diaper rash cream recipe. The herbs in that one are replaced by black tea, and the oil here is sesame, with just enough wheat germ oil to boost the cream's lifespan.

        Here goes: SUNBLOCK 1 liter (proportions may be halved)

        Ingredients:

        1. 4 teabags of plain black tea
        2. 1 liter mineral or distilled water
        3. 1 tablespoon Borax powder
        4. 250 ml. cold-pressed sesame oil
        5. 50 ml. wheat-germ oil
        6. 100 grams beeswax optional:
        7. 1 teaspoon tincture of juniper or rosemary, to lengthen the life of the cream

        Equipment:
        Container for steeping herbs: a screw-top jar is good.
        Chopstick or wooden spoon to put into jar, to keep it from shattering when the hot liquid goes in.
        Cheesecloth or a clean, thin sock to strain herbs
        1 wooden spoon
        1 glass or pyrex bowl
        Double-boiler or pan for boiling water as bottom half
        Hand mixer, blender, food processor or whisk Spatula
        Very clean, very dry jar for storage

        Method:

        1. Bring the water to a boil.
        2. Put the teabags and wooden spoon in the jar and pour the boiling water over them. Stir vigorously, remove the spoon and close the jar tight.
        3. Meantime, gently melt the beeswax in the glass bowl, over hot water, stirring occasionally.
        4. Add the oils. They will harden up at first; allow them to liquify.
        5. Reheat the tea but do not boil.
        6. Add the Borax to the hot tea and mix very well, making sure it is all dissolved.
        7. Remove the wax/oil mixture from the stove. Very slowly, as in making mayonnaise, add the tea to the wax/oil mixture, whisking (or whirring) the while. Stop mixing when the cream has homogenized.
        8. Stir in the tincture of juniper or rosemary.
        9. Store the cream in your clean, dry jar.
        10. Label it with the contents and the date.

        A very nice addition is 2-3 drops of essential oil of Geranium, Rose or Lavender, which will perfume your cream, boost its healing power, and help to preserve it. Stir the essential oil into the cream after it's gone cold. The cream should keep for up to two years, if stored in a dry, dark place. Do not keep in the bathroom: the steam there will spoil it.

        Please note: my text comes from a course I teach: Safe Use of Herbs for the Family. It is copyrighted; please respect this. Use it, share it, but please do not sell the recipe or put it to any commercial purpose.

        Have fun making and using the cream!

        Miriam miriam_k@netvision.net.il