Homemade Healing Salve

Making your own healing salve is easier than you may think. A little goes a long way, so you can make small batches and store them in various locations for easy access. I keep one in the kitchen junk drawer (you know you have one too), one in the bathroom with the bandages and such, and one with our camping gear. You use it just like you would any antibacterial cream from the store!

I have links to several products for you to check out. These are not affiliate links! I want to show you the available options and typical pricing.

Why bother

Unlike some products, antibacterial creams aren’t quite as full of crazy. However, you can never be sure where things are sourced. If they’re lab-made chemicals, then what in the world did they make them with? If you make your own, you can be sure of exactly where every ingredient came from.  

If you are making an herbal variety, you can control it from seed to pot! You can feel good about putting this on a cut or rash on your kiddo, knowing that nothing toxic is going straight into their bloodstream! Every little bit helps bring you peace of mind. It’s a small change, but it’s a change!

Ingredients Needed to Make Salve

Herbs, roots, flowers = Active ingredients

This is your healing property. Rather, it’s the anti-inflammatory effects of rosemary or the antifungal effects of neem that come into play, and this is where your healing comes in. I love combining herbs and flowers to make the most out of a salve.

The Salve in the photos above is made with calendula and oregano!  Together, you are getting antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, AND antimicrobial. From. Two. Plants. Man. Nature is really the best.

This one was made with infused olive oil, but you can use essential oils as well.

If you don’t grow your own herbs, you can try the local grocery store. You may be surprised by what is on offer. Also, search for herbs and healing near you. Maybe try natural stores, etc. There may be a gem in your area that sells a wide range of dried herbs!

Carrier Oil as a Base for the Salve

This can come in the form of an infused oil, as seen in this article. However, if you choose to go with essential oils, they can be added to a carrier oil of your choice. There are many options: oil, Avocado, Jojoba, and Coconut. I tend to use olive oil, coconut oil, and jojoba for most things because they have healing properties of their own.

Wax of Choice

This is to solidify the sale without it hardening completely. The most common choice is beeswax, which I use. If you’re not comfortable with that, some alternatives are soy wax, sunflower wax, and carnauba wax. I have never used any of these options, so I can’t tell you which is better.

See links below to check pricing.

Equipment Needed

-Double Boiler or pot and bowl

-Small tins or some storage containers

-Whisk

-Kitchen Scale

-Measuring cup with pouring spout

Process

1. Melt Wax

Melt your chosen wax in a double boiler or a bowl over a pot.

2. Add other oils, whether essential oils, carrier oils, etc.

Turn off the heat and add all other oils and ingredients.

3. Mix & melt well

Mix well. Make sure everything is smooth and completely melted.

4. Pour and let cool

Pour into chosen container(s) and let it cool.

**Do not put a lid on, as this will cause condensation and water is the enemy of salves!

The first thing to keep in mind is the oil-to-wax ratio. This is a 4-to-1 ratio. As in, four parts oil & 1 part wax. It’s best to use a kitchen scale for this.

To measure the oil, just zero out the scale with a shot glass, then add your oil.

Conclusion

Making your own healing salves is easier than you may think. The hardest part, honestly, is deciding which herbs to start with. Use what you have in the garden or what your local store offers in fresh herbs, preferably organic. 

Do some research on what herbs and plants have the healing properties you need, and you’ll be surprised at the common flowers and herbs that can be used!

Small Steps. Meaningful Rewards.

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