Bright autumn and white winter are magical, however, colds, coughs and sniffles often bother us at this time. If you are tired of piles of snotty tissues, try to reach for something natural and maybe even homemade. Mexican mint, which might be growing right now on your windows, isn’t for decoration only. Its leaves are easy to make into a fragrant and multifunctional ointment, which helps unclog a stuffy nose, soothe irritated skin and calm the mind with a drop of lavender or tea tree oil.

If you want an effective aid for travel and at home, this ointment is exactly that!

What can you use the Mexican mint ointment for?

• Common cold – apply the ointment under your nose and care of irritated skin from sniffing

• Fever – apply the ointment to the soles of your feet and massage it in. It really works, you won’t believe it until you try.

• Migraines – if you suffer from frequent headaches, apply the ointment to your temples and forehead

• Phlegm – rub the ointment on your chest, it will help you to breathe

• Eczema –  try the ointment for eczema too, it will help with dry skin

• Wounds, burns, abrasions – the ointment is also effective helper for all flesh wounds, thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects

What will you need to make the ointment

• 20-30 leaves of the Mexican mint

• 200 grams of fat (ideally coconut oil, but you can also substitute it with lard or shea butter)

• 20 grams of beeswax
• A few drops of lavender and tea tree essential oil (optional)

Let’s get into the process of making

1. First tear or cut the mint leaves into small pieces.
2. Then melt the 200 grams of fat in a water bath. To make the water bath, pour water in a bigger pot and then put a smaller bowl with the fat in. I use a classic stainless steel mess tin, which I place in the larger pot.
3. Keep the heat at a low temperature for 2 hours, the water bath must not boil.
4. Let it cool down and refrigerate for 24 hours.
5. Repeat the whole process. Repeating isn’t much fun but the result will be worth it! After 2 hours of heating up on a low flame, add 20 grams of beeswax and let it cool slightly and strain through a clean cloth.
6. Finally, add a few drops of lavender and tea tree oil, e.g. in a ratio of 5+5, and pour the still warm mixture into prepared, sanitized boxes. 

GG tip: Store the ointment in a fridge where it will last up to six months – always ready for use! Let it warm up for a while before use, so that it is easy to work with. Not only does the ointment smell amazing, but it will also help you with many kinds of problems – from stuffy nose to irritated skin.