How to Make Natural All-Purpose Healing Salve

This salve is a must have in my house, and I make a few batches of it every year. I always keep this on hand- if my family goes out, or if my kids go to a friend's house they usually take some of this with them, just in case. It's stalked in my bathroom and first-aid kit at all times. We use this SO OFTEN that it kind of developed a catch phrase for whenever someone gets hurt, "Problem? Just SALVE IT." I use it for pretty much every topical injury unless it is extreme and requires emergency care. Even then- if there are broken bones involved I will use it AFTER the visit to the ER to help with the healing process. (Disclaimer- do not try to use this in the place of seeking the care of a licensed physician).

First before you can get to actually making the salve itself you'll need to make a herbal oil infusion. For this you'll need a base oil to work with, personally I use Vegetable Oil because it works great, it's inexpensive and you can pick up a big container of it right at your local grocery store. However, any base oil will work. Most people would prefer more expensive oils, but honestly in my opinion going fancy is over rated. Sunflower oil, olive oil, or grapeseed oil will work great too as a base but they tend to be a little more pricy and as a mom on a budget tight enough to make a noose with- I'd rather get more for my money and stick with plan old Veggie Oil. ;) Seriously it works JUST as great as any other on your skin. I usually make sure that I have enough oil to fill at least half of a medium sized sauce pan with- or enough to fill a mason jar (which is what I store the infused oil in after it's made until I'm ready to make the salve.)

After you have a base for your herbal infused oil- next you'll need to make sure you have the herbs. Now personally- living in the woods I try to harvest what I can myself from plants that grow around my house and in my own back yard. What you can't find by wild harvesting you can easily find online to make this.

I'm including pictures to help you identify certain herbs incase you should want to attempt wild harvesting them as a reference guide- but as a disclaimer NO pictures in this post belong to me and have only been shared from Google as a means to help you identify certain plants/ dried herbs if you are unfamiliar with them.

• Jewelweed: ½ cup stems, leaves, flowers fresh or dried

These plants like wet woodsy areas, marshes and bogs. They can usually be found from late spring to early fall growing from 3 to five feet tall at maturity.

The flowers are usually a bright orange. The stem when ready to pick should be purplish in color and full of liquid which you may be able to tell by touching it.

I normally harvest these around late July to mid August. If I'm not making a batch of salve "That Day" I dry them out to store for later use.

Jewelweed can normally be found in areas where poison ivy, poison sumac and or poison oak grow. This is because jewelweed is a natural treatment for rashes that can be caused by these poisonous plants. Simply crushing the leaves or stem and rubbing them on the effected skin that was exposed helps sooth the skin. I have found that it also does wonders for rashes in general, especially when teamed up with other plants which is why I always use it in my all purpose.

• Oregon Grape Root: about 3 TBSP dried (Optional)

Oregon Grape Root is native to western North America and doesn’t grow nearby where I live, so I often buy this online already dried and chopped. I typically add it if I have some on hand to my salve, but I don’t always include it.

Like jewelweed the main purpose is to help treat skin rashes and other related skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea to name a few. Admittedly I have never used it on it’s own before but always added it to other herbs for a more potent topical treatment.

• Aloe Vera: Dried: 1-2 TSP dried, powered, liquid or gel or 1-2 leaves.

You can usually find some form of Aloe Vera in most local super markets, health stores or plant nurseries.

Currently I have two aloe plants that I just cut a small portion from to use in making my salve, but before I had my own plants I would usually just buy some aloe powder online. You can find it online dried, in powder form, you can get the gel, the juice or the entire plant most anywhere. It really doesn't matter what form it comes in, it will still add all the needed medicinal ingredients you want in your salve. Just- I'd recommend staying away from adding processed sunblock that states it contains aloe in it and is loaded with chemicals.

If your going with fresh aloe, usually I just cut a sliver down the leaf exposing the gel inside and add it, skin and all- however the gel inside the aloe plant is the most medicinally potent part of the plant. It is great for your nourishing your skin as well as treating sun burn, other minor burns, or preventing sunburn.

• Witch Hazel: ½ cup dried or fresh bark, flower and leaves or 1 small branch.

If you happen to have a witch hazel tree growing in your yard or nearby and are able to harvest some I would take a small branch with some flowers and leaves on it to use for your salve.

I’m not fortunate enough to have one around me so I have to buy mine already cut and dried.

Witch hazel is great for many things. I use it a lot for disinfectant purposes, and using it in this salve will help to naturally disinfect cuts and scraps and wounds when you apply it. It’s anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory which helps reduce swelling and bruising. Witch hazel is also great for your skin cosmetically (reducing wrinkles and toning) as well as reducing rashes and unwanted skin conditions. It helps sooth minor burns. It also is great to use to disinfect and treat bug bites and stings.

• Calendula: 3-4 TBSP fresh or dried flowers

Calendula can be grown in most gardens or if you don’t have the space outside, in a flower pot.

There are SEVERAL different varieties, but I use which ever I can get my hands on.

They can grow to at least 2 feet tall in height and often come in different shades of yellow and orange, sometimes I’ve even seen some reddish ones.

I actually planted some myself from seed using seeds I bought online through Amazon once. I started them in doors using an empty egg carton and some soil. I watered them a lot - these seeds LOVE water- but at the same time you have to make sure NOT to drown them. They actually did really well. I was able to transfer them outside in the spring without an issue and they took and thrived. They even came back the following year. Now for me- this is quite the achievement. I'm one of those poor souls that have zero gardening skills despite my love for nature and natural herbal healing. Most plants die in my care with in less than a week. Weeds on the other hand- they thrive around me! LOL Not that weeds are a BAD thing, in fact many wild weeds around my house have medical properties and I use them often. It does prove a pain during my many failed attempts at a vegetable garden though!

Calendula is another excellent treatment for many skin conditions and is soothing for sensitive skin. It can be used to be reduce swelling, pain and bruising. It can also help treat leg ulcers (by gently massaging into the leg topically twice a day for at least two weeks or as needed) stopping nosebleeds, treating varicose veins, and or hemorrhoids.

• Chamomile: add about 3 TBSP fresh or dried flowers

Chamomile is well known as a calming herbal tea and as a mild sedative to help one sleep.

It can also be used topically to help sooth irritated sensitive skin, treat minor burns and reduce swelling and bruising.

There are different varieties of chamomile, the most popular being German Chamomile and English Chamomile. Both have the same properties and will work equally well in this salve. You can grow chamomile in most household gardens or indoor flower pots. You can also find it dried and packaged online.

If you have a box of chamomile tea on hand in your pantry- just use a tea bag! When making your herbal infused oil be sure to tear open the tea bag first only using the dried loose tea.

• Common Plantain Leaves: 3-4 fresh leaves or about ½ cup dried crushed leaves

Common plantain can be found pretty much ANYWHERE. You can even find them growing between the cracks in sidewalks and driveways.

It’s usually considered an unwanted weed, but it is extremely useful! Normally I collect them from early to late spring while the leaves are still young (before the stems as shown in the picture pop up.) If you decide to wild harvest this for your salve and all you can manage to find is plantain WITH stems, that's okay! Younger plants have a little more punch to them, but mature plantain will work it's herbal healing magick too.

Common plantain helps extract unwanted objects and fluids from the body such as tick saliva, snake venom, splinters, venom from spider bites etc. It helps reduce any inflammation when applied topically. It’s good for treating cuts, minor burns, rashes, bites, stings and even varicose veins.

Living in the woods- this plant is IDEAL to have around. We normally get LOADED with ticks every year, and although this doesn't help repeal them, I apply it immediately after finding one on my kids, even if the tick didn't break skin.

• Golden Rod: ¼ to ½ cup dried or fresh leaves & flowers

You can find Goldenrod in meadows, along road sides and in fields. It’s often considered a weed and likes to grow wild. They can get quite tall and usually flower late spring through early fall. I normally start seeing them around my house in August, but my neighbor who is only a few houses down the street from me has a bunch blooming around her house as early as September!

Goldenrod is good for reducing pain and swelling especially in muscles and joints. It also helps treat spasms in muscles. It’s good for treating gout, arthritis, hemorrhoids, rashes and other skin conditions as well.

• Self-Heal: ½ cup dried or fresh flowers & leaves

Self heal, also known as all-heal or as Prunella Vulgaris is a weed and can be harvested around mid to late summer.

It grows low to the ground and you may even have some growing in your yard but don’t notice it in time before you mow the grass and end up taking them out.

They can be found in meadows or sometimes roadsides, on hiking trails etc. They love the sun but also will grow in shady nooks.

Self heal is good for treating wounds, cuts, bug bites, reduces swelling, hemorrhoids, herpes, burns, and also helps to treat and draw out infections.

• Mullein: 2-3 leaves dried or fresh.

Mullein grows in meadows, fields, and can be found sometimes along trails.

The leaves are very velvety to the touch. They start in tiny rosette bunches and grow tall stems that can reach higher than 5 feet with bright yellow flowers. Some mullein plants may have more than one stem per plant.

Every other year I’ll get one or two growing in my backyard. Never have I got a plant each year so I make sure to harvest a few extra leaves when I can and dry them out. They usually get me through until I can harvest more. You can also find it online.

Mullein is great for treating wounds, cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns, frostbite, hemorrhoids, joint pain and gout.

• Yarrow: 3 TBSP dried or fresh flowers and leaves

Yarrow flowers can be found in most fields, meadows, along trails and sometimes along roadsides.

Make sure that if you harvest these yourself you are CERTAIN that your actually picking yarrow. One of the main characteristics of yarrow if your not familiar with it, is the leaves. They have feathery leaves that are different from other look alike plants such as Queen Ann’s Lace and the poisonous hemlock flower.

Yarrow helps reduce swelling, treats cuts and wounds and is often used to slow bleeding. (great for nosebleeds!)

• Comfrey: ½ cup fresh or dried leaves and 3 TBSP of the dried root

Comfrey can grow up to five feet tall usually have purple bell shaped flowers, though sometimes they bloom with white or blue flowers as well.

I like to use most of the plant in this salve. Flowers, leaves AND the root.

Comfrey helps to reduce swelling, heal wounds and also is an excellent topical treatment for strains, sprains and even fractured and or broken bones. (Do not use in the place of seeing a doctor, especially in an emergency.)

Being a mom of 5 very active kids- I've had to deal with my share of injuries from scrapes, sprains to yup- even a fractured bone or two. I used this salve often when re-dressing their wounds and believe it does wonders to help the healing process. It's also been known to help the production of skin cells and boost their ability to knit themselves back together.

• Peppermint: 3-4 TBSP dried or fresh leaves

I don't know about you- but when I used to think of "Peppermint" my mind would drift to thoughts of strong minty flavored candy or toothpaste.

Peppermint is just great for flavoring stuff or freshening bad breath with however- it's also a good item to have in your medicine cabinet.

Sometimes you can find peppermint plants growing wild, though I haven't been fortune enough to find any myself. Distinguishing one “mint” plant from the next can be challenging if you are able to discover some, especially if you aren't familiar with them. I’ve been told that a common rule of thumb when trying to see if you have peppermint is to look at the stem. Peppermints have square stems that are usually a reddish purple color. Another note is that if you take a leaf and crush it gently it should have a strong scent of peppermint.

Peppermint is good topically for treating rashes, bug bites and soothing itchy irritated skin.

To make your herbal infused oil, first add all your plants and herbs to a medium sized sauce pan. Make sure if you are using fresh plants to chop them up to a decent size first so they will fit better in your pan, gently bruise fresh leaves. Then add JUST enough of your oil base to the pan to slightly cover all of your herbs. Heat this on the LOWEST setting of your burner for 6 to 8 hours stirring it every hour or so. Even though it's on the lowest heat setting you don't want your herbs to stick to the pan or burn- so make sure that you check it periodically. You want to make sure that you let this mixture cook for AT LEAST 6 hours. If you don't give it enough time for the heat to bleed out and bind the medicinal properties of the plants with your oil base- it's not going to do you much good in the end. The longer you let it simmer on low heat the better.

Some people like to infuse their oil by adding all their herbs to a jar and covering them with oil and letting the jar sit for a few weeks.

I tend to always use the stove method. It might seem like it takes forever, but really it's only a day opposed to several days for the same results.

After it's simmer for at least 6 hours (I always give mine 8) the oil should have a darker color to it. Turn off the heat and let your oil cool completely down. Then once your oil is completely cooled to room temperature you want to strain out all the plant matter from your oil.

You can discard the plant material- or if you like save it and use it as compost.

Poor the oil into a glass jar and make sure that you label it. I usually label mine "All-Purpose Oil, and list all the herbs that I used in making it and most important write down the date that you made it. The oil has a pretty long shelf life- at least a year. It's always good to label.

Now that you have your herbal infused oil, you'll need a container to make your salve in, and some beeswax. Any wax will do really- or any type of beeswax.

Everyone is slightly different in preference when it comes to the consistently of their salve. Personally I think that a ratio of 1:5 is a pretty good place to start- 1 part beeswax to 5 parts infused oil. You can heat this on your stove top, or even in the microwave. I usually heat it up right in the microwave. Word of caution though- wax is pain right in the butt to clean afterwards. Once it starts drying (which is almost instantly) it can be a nightmare to deal with. So whatever you use to heat up your oil and wax in- you might want to clean it IMMEDIATELY afterwards before the wax takes hold.

If you want you can add in some shea butter, coco butter or something similar. I usually add a few small slivers of shea butter when melting my oil and wax together. Shea butter is fat extracted from the nut of the African Shea tree.

Once your mixture is all liquefied carefully poor it into your container(s) and let them set. This can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour usually (depending on the size of your container and the ratio of wax to oil you used. Play around with the ratio if you want! See what works best for you. Whatever oil or plants you have left over if you keep for later use make sure to LABEL them! Dried plants can be stored in plastic zip lock bags- and as long as they have been dried properly they can keep a shelf life of a year easily. Sometimes longer. Your infused oil should be kept in a glass lidded jar and stored in a cool dry place until your next use. It should keep as long as it is in a tightly closed jar or container for a 1-3 years. (Make sure that during the process of straining out your plant material from your oil you GET ALL the plant material and nothing but liquid is left. Any plant material you leave floating around in your oil will make your oil and your finished salve spoil MUCH quicker as the plant material begins to decay.

Once your salves are dried and your happy with the texture be sure to keep the lid on them when not using. This will keep it from spoiling. Also be sure to LABEL-LABEL-LABEL.

To USE:

Nosebleeds- Gently clean the area as best as you can of wet or dried blood with a wet tissue or cloth. Add a small dab of salve to a tissue or the ends of a Q-Tip and gently insert into the nose and rub around the inside lightly coating. Do this a few times if needed and the nosebleed should stop.

Rashes- Make sure that the infected area is clean. Apply a small coat of salve to the area lightly massaging it into the skin. Let the skin absorb it. Do this twice as day as needed. If the rash persists, or if your uncertain of what it is or is accompanied by other serious conditions be sure to consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Good for treating rashes such as diaper rash in infants and toddlers, rashes from poison ivy, oak and sumac as well other skin conditions.

Sunburn- Apply a coat of salve to the sunburned skin as needed.

Minor Burns- Make sure that the area is clean, apply a generous coat of salve to the burned, irritated skin and wrap in a clean bandage or dressing. Re-apply twice a day for as long as needed. If the burn is serious please seek medical help IMMEDIATELY.

Bug Bites- Disinfect the area first (note that the salve does also have disinfecting properties in it, but I generally wipe the area to clean it with a liquid disinfectant first such as witch hazel extract.) Gently pat dry and apply a dab of salve to the area. Re-apply as needed. (Sometimes for mosquito bites I may add a dab of salve a few times to the same area before it completely heals.) This will help most types of bug bites, mosquitoes, spider bites, flea bites, tick bites etc.

Tick Bites- If you have been bitten by a tick, first SAFELY remove the tick and dispose of it. Then apply a dab of salve to the area of the bite. This will help draw out any salvia that has entered the skin and disinfect it as well as help the wound heal. It is not a guarantee that all tick born diseases will be prevented- but it DOES help. Please still keep an eye out for rashes that may occur afterward such as the bulls eye rash- or keep and eye out for fever or illness that may occur after the bite- just in case. If any of those conditions do occur please seek the care of a health care provider as soon as possible.

Stings- Hornets, bees, wasps- Make sure that the stinger has been safely removed first if it is still in the skin. Clean the area and disinfect (the salve does have disinfecting properties as well, but often I like to clean the area with a liquid disinfectant too such as witch hazel extract) Dab the area dry with a tissue or cloth and apply salve. Do this twice a day as needed. In the case of extreme swelling or signs of allergic reactions please SEEK MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY.

Cuts/Scrapes/Bruises- Clean the area first, apply a coat of slave and bandage. Re-apply as needed. For serious injuries please seek medical help immediately.

Sore joints/muscles/muscle spams/gout and or arthritis pain- Rub a small amount of salve into your hands and gently massage into troubled areas for a few minutes as needed.