Huddersfield and District Bee Keeping Association

These excellent "recipes" all use naturally occuring products that are found within the hive and made by bees.  A live demonstration of just how easy it is to make them was given by Anne at our February meeting at Wooldale Friends Meeting House.

Propolis tincture

• 100gms propolis to 1 litre of 100 proof vodka
• Or 10gms propolis to 100ml of vodka

Keep in well stoppered container in a warm place, shake often (or heat in a bain-marie)

Comfrey tincture – pack a jar with comfrey leaves and cover with water. Shake twice a day and after 5 days pour liquid into a container. Add 5 fl. oz. vodka to preserve.

Cosmetic cream base – 1 l. batch

• 4 oz beeswax melted in a double boiler
• 15 fl.oz oil (mineral oil; olive; almond;(or a mix of oils eg: 10 x almond, 3 x apricot, 2 x Vit E )
• 12 fl oz bottled spring water (or 10 x water, 2 x rose water or orange blossom water )heated in a kettle or clean pan
• 0.5 teasp. cosmetic grade borax as emulsifier (and has antiseptic qualities)
• Essential oil for therapeutic properties and scent if wished (approx 2.5ml to 1 litre of base)

Sterilise the jars or bottles.

When water is warmer than melted wax (so that wax doesn’t solidify) beat together (or use a hand-held mixer) until the mixture thickens slightly

Tinctures or other aqueous solutions can be added now – propolis, comfrey, marigold etc.(Comfrey for handcream at 40ml to 1 litre of base, so original quantity of water should have been reduced to allow for this)

Essential oil for scent should be added when the mixture has cooled slightly to avoid it evaporating, adding a couple of drops at a time to suit strength required.

Allow mixture to cool to a creamy consistency before bottling to make sure it does not separate.

For lip balm add honey, glycerine and patchouli oil

For dry chapped hands add benzoin tincture, patchouli & rose essential oils in equal parts.

Propolis lip balm

• 1 tblsp beeswax
• 3 tblsp oil
• 1 teasp propolis tincture
• 1 teasp lanolin
• A few drops peppermint essential oil

Melt in a double boiler and stir, adding essential oil when slightly cooled.

Lip salve

• 30gm (1 oz) beeswax
• 30 ml (1 fl oz) apricot oil
• 30 ml (1 fl oz) wheatgerm oil
• 3 drops lavender essential oil (or myrrh, sandalwood or frankincense)

Melt etc. as above.

Antiseptic ointment for cuts

• 0.5 oz beeswax
• 2 fl oz olive oil
• 12 drops bergamot essential oil
• 6 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 12 drops lavender essential oil

Melt etc as above.

Supplier of oils by mail order: G Baldwin & Co. www.baldwins.co.uk tel. 020 7703 5550

Margaret’s furniture polish (cream) – makes 1 pint

• 1.5 oz beeswax
• 0.5 length of a white candle
• 0.5 pt pure turpentine
• 0.5 pt very hot water with:
• 0.5 oz soap flakes (or grated soap) dissolved in

Melt both waxes in a double boiler. Add turps and soapy water, stir briskly until cool and thickened, then bottle.

Another furniture cream

• 0.5 pt turpentine
• 0.5 pt soft water
• 2 oz beeswax
• 1 oz white wax
• 2 squares camphor (? Squares ?)
• 1 oz Castile soap
• 1 teasp ammonia

Shred the waxes and camphor finely into the turpentine. Shred soap into the water and simmer until the quantity is reduced by half. Allow to cool a little. Mix both liquids together and add (CAREFULLY) 1 tsp ammonia. Fasten lid well and shake togther.

Beeswax

The residue from melting of used foundation which contains all the rubbish from the hive, but also propolis and a certain amount of beeswax – is called ‘slumgum’ and was used in USA for surfacing dance floors.

What else might it be used for ?