Natural Herbal Salves and Balms
Salves and Balms are made by extracting the beneficial properties of herbs in
oil, and then adding beeswax to attain the desired stiffness. There are two
basic methods of infusing the herbal material in the oil base. One is to loosely
pack the herbal material into a glass jar and cover the herbs with oil. Solar
infuse the herbs in the oil by setting the jar in a sunny place for at least two
weeks, shaking daily. The second method is to use heat to infuse the herbs
(fresh or dried), either in a crock-pot or a non-aluminum pot. The Simplers'
Method is an easy way to calculate proportions, by using parts rather than a
specific volume of each herb. This technique allows you to easily adapt the size
of the recipe. If you want a small amount of salve you can choose a few
tablespoons as your part or if you want a large amount of salve you might choose
1/2 to 1 cup as your part. Completely cover the herbs with oil, making sure
there is a bit of oil above the level of the herbs. When infused, the herbs are
strained from the oil and beeswax is added to stiffen the oil into a salve
consistency. One pint of oil will need at least 1-1/2 ounces of beeswax.
Rosemary Gladstar recommends 1/4 cup (2 oz.) of beeswax to each cup (8 oz.) of
oil. You may want to add a bit more beeswax for a firmer salve, or decrease the
amount of beeswax for a softer balm. Beeswax is an edible substance, and
contains pollen, propolis and honey, all of which are excellent for the skin.
Vitamin E oil has the ability to preserve fats and aid in the healing of wounds,
a great additive to all salves.
Some herbs are more powerful if fresh plants are used, such as chickweed,
dandelion or lemon balm. Use clean plants, then spread the herbs out to allow
them to air dry for several hours to wilt the plants, reducing the moisture
content. Fresh chickweed, for example, contains a lot of moisture and this could
cause your salve to spoil quickly.
To begin your salve, measure the desired amount of herbs into an enamel, glass
or stainless steel pan (never use aluminum), or into a crock-pot. Cover
the herbs with oil. Heat the herbs and oil over a low heat for several hours
(about 3 hours). If you are using roots you should heat the oil longer (about 5
hours). Do not fry the herbs, and keep the vessel covered to retain all the
wonderful medicinal qualities of the herbs. After the oil
is infused, strain the herbs through a cloth. When most of the oil has filtered
through the cloth, squeeze as much oil as possible from the herbs and cloth. Be
careful not to burn yourself in this process! Measure the infused oil to
ascertain the amount of beeswax needed to make the balm.
Pour the oil into a clean pot, add beeswax to the oil and heat it until all the
wax is melted. To test to see if your salve is firm enough, put some on a spoon
and set it in the freezer for a few minutes. If your salve is too soft, add more
beeswax. If the salve is too thick, you can add a bit more oil to soften it. If
you are using essential oils or Vitamin E you can blend them in now. Finally,
pour your salve into containers and label.
Chamomile/Calendula Salve
1/2 cup Chamomile Flower
1/2 cup Calendula Flower
2 cups Olive Oil
3 oz. Beeswax
1/2 cup St. John's Wort Oil (Oil that has been infused with St. John's Wort
Flowers)
1/2 cup Jojoba Oil
2 teaspoons Vitamin E Oil
10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil (optional)
20 drops Chamomile Essential Oil (optional)
Infuse Olive Oil with the Chamomile and Calendula Flowers for at least 2 hours.
Strain herbs out of oil. Add beeswax to the infused oil, stirring until melted.
Add St. John's Wort Oil and Jojoba Oil. Stir well. Add Vitamin E and Essential
Oils. Stir well. Pour into jars. Great all-purpose salve; safe for children, and
good for scrapes, wounds and fungal infections.
Burn Balm
1 cup Lavender Flowers, solar infused in 2 cups Sweet Almond Oil or Olive Oil
for two weeks
Yield: 1-1/2 cups oil
1 oz.Beeswax
2 Tablespoons Aloe Vera Gel
1 Tablespoon Vitamin E Oil
1 Tablespoon Lavender Essential Oil
Strain Lavender Flowers from oil. Melt beeswax in oil. Cool slightly. Add Aloe
Vera Gel, Vitamin E and Lavender Essential Oil. Mix well. Pour into salve jars
and label.
Eucalyptus Chest Rub
2 cups Olive Oil
1-1/2 ounce Beeswax
1Tablespoon Eucalyptus Essential Oil
1 teaspoon Camphor Essential Oil
30 drops Wintergreen Essential Oil
1 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
Melt the beeswax in the olive oil. Remove from heat, cool slightly and add the
essential oils and Vitamin E oil. Stir well and pour into salve containers.
Label. Relieves respiratory congestion.
Sweet Dream Balm (adapted from Rosemary Gladstar's recipes)
1/2 cup Borage Flowers
1/4 cup Chamomile Flowers
1/4 cup Rosebuds
1/4 cup Hops
1/4 cup Mugwort
4 cups Olive Oil
4 oz. Beeswax
50 drops Lavender Essential oil and 20 drops Chamomile Essential oil. Rub on
temples at night for sweet dreams. Great for children!
Honey-Lemon Lip Balm
4 oz. Apricot Kernel oil
1 oz. beeswax
1 Tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
20 drops Lemon Essential Oil
Heat the oil and beeswax until the beeswax is melted. Stir until it cools
slightly. Add the Vitamin E, honey and Lemon Essential Oil. Stir until it's well
mixed, as honey has a tendency to settle. Pour into small jars. Label.
What are the Best Oils for Your Skin?
Sweet almond oil or apricot kernel oil (great for sensitive and older skin);
avocado oil (one of the most moisturizing oils and good for older skin); cocoa
butter (protective and water repellent); grapeseed oil (a dry oil, good so the
cream isn't too greasy); jojoba (actually a liquid wax and good to use so the
cream isn't too greasy); peanut oil (good for all skin types); sesame oil
(natural sunscreen); Shea butter (natural sunscreen); and wheat germ oil (high
in vitamins and minerals).
Herbal Reference
BORAGE (Borago officianalis): Relieves anxiety and stress; will help allay
depression; lifts the spirits.
BURDOCK ROOT ( Arctium lappa): Blood purifier. Useful for any systemic rash
conditions, such as psoriasis. Antiseptic. Useful for bites, stings, animal
bites and boils. For rashes, use internally and externally.
CALENDULA (Calendula officinalis): Calendula helps to soothe inflamed tissues,
reduce pain and aids in quick healing of cuts and abrasions.
CHAMOMILE (Anthemis nobilis and Matricaria recutita): Anti-inflammatory;
soothing and gentle; one of the best herbs for children.
CHICKWEED (Stellaria media): Cooling, antiseptic herb used to treat
inflammations, relieve itching, blisters, boils, and abscesses. Dried Chickweed
has little medicinal potency.
COMFREY ROOT & LEAF (Symphytum officinale): Prolific plant that is valuable in
the treatment of all types of skin, bone, and muscle injuries. Comfrey helps
wounds to heal quickly. Use for burns, blisters , broken bones, and
inflammations.
ECHINACEA (Echinacea purpurea or E. angustifolia): Echinacea can be used to
treat infected wounds, psoriasis, and eczema. Echinacea stimulates the body's
defenses at the site of the wound and aids in the development of healthy tissue.
The root is the most powerful part of the plant.
GOLDENSEAL (Hydrastis canadensis): Antiseptic and astringent. Used for cuts,
wounds, infections, bites, and stings. The medicinal part of the plant is the
root.
HOPS (Humulus lupulus): Relaxes, helps with insomnia; relieves nervous tension,
hypertension and anxiety.
LAVENDER (Lavendula spp.): Alleviates tension, stress and insomnia; soothes
insect bites and stings, and burns.
MUGWORT (Artemisia vulgaris): Mild nervine action aids depression and eases
tension.
MYRRH (Commiphora myrrha): Antiseptic and astringent. Very effective antiseptic
used in salves. Combined with goldenseal, myrrh is good for wounds, bedsores,
abscesses, and hemorrhoids.
PLANTAIN (Plantago spp): Astringent, antiseptic, and emollient. Plantain helps
to relieve pain of insect bites and is a wonderful remedy for cuts, and skin
infections. For a quick relief, pick a leaf, chew it and apply it to the insect
bite or sting.
ST. JOHN'S WORT (Hypericum perforatum): The salve is good for burns, wounds,
bruises, sores, insect bites, fungal infections such as eczema, and itching.
When using a St. John's Wort Salve it is best not to use it before long periods
of sun exposure.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are steam distilled concentrates of the natural oils present in
plants, flowers, roots, and trees. They are 100 % pure and must be carefully
used by the drop. Never use them "neat" (undiluted) on the skin!
CAMPHOR (Cinnamomum camphora): Used as a congestion clearing inhalant and muscle
liniment.
CHAMOMILE (Matricaria chamomila): Good for inflammation, insomnia, dermatitis,
eczema, psoriasis, burns.
EUCALYPTUS (Eucalyptus globulus): Used for rubbing on sore muscles, as an
inhalant, and chest rub for colds. Decongestant, antibiotic, antiseptic and
antiviral. Used as a topical antiseptic on sores and fungal infections such as
ring worm.
LAVENDER (Lavendula officinalis): Good for burns, cuts, wounds, eczema,
dermatitis, inflammation, insomnia, headaches, hysteria, nausea, nervous
tension, infections, sores, arthritis, rheumatism, boils, acne, asthma.
LEMON (Citrus limonum): Sore throat, nervous conditions, blood pressure,
digestive problems, fever, anxiety.
PEPPERMINT (Mentha piperata): Inflammation, nausea, indigestion, fevers,
flatulence, headaches, antiseptic.
TEA TREE OIL (Melaleuca alternifolia): Very effective fungicide, antibacterial
and antiseptic. Use for cuts, pimples, boils, cold sores, burns, stings, ticks,
athletes foot and other fungal infections.
WINTERGREEN OIL (Gualtheria promcumbens): Use as a salve to rub on sore joints
and muscles. Harmful or fatal if taken internally.
(from Alaena D.)