Medicinal Skin Salve

Herbal Skin SalveThis salve is made from oil that has been infused with St. John’s Wort, Comfrey and Calendula herbs.  Each of these herbs has many wonderful skin healing properties including cuts, scrapes, stings, bruises, burns, sore muscles, diaper rash, cradle cap and more!  It is so simple to make and can be given as fabulous gifts too!  You can read about the specific medicinal properties of these herbs below.  If you like other herbs and want to use them instead, by all means do what works for you!  That is the beauty of this recipe!

comfrey

calendula

St. John’s Wort

Solar Infusing Oils for Homemade Skin Salve

From left to right: Calendula, Comfrey, St. John’s Wort

The first step is to infuse the oils!

Place fresh or dried herbs into pint or quart jars (depending on how much you want to make) and cover the herbs by an inch.

Cover the jars with lids and set out on a warm sunny porch or sunny window seal in the winter.

Allow to infuse in the sunlight for 2-4 weeks.

Dry herbs are best to use so that moisture doesn’t get into the oil.  Although, there are some herbs that need to be used fresh like the flowers and buds of St. John’s Wort.  If you do use fresh and see moisture develop at the top of the inside of the bottle just open it up and wipe it away with a clean paper towel.

Try making a double strength salve by straining  the first batch, placing the infused oil back into the jar and then adding more of the same herb starting the process all over again.

Salve Recipe

Once the oils are infused, measure the amount you have.

For every cup of oil you will add 1/4 cup shredded beeswax.

Melt the beeswax with the oil in a saucepan until melted.

Test the salve to make sure it is the consistency you want by spooning a little bit and placing into the freezer for a minute so it sets up fast.  If you want it more solid add more beeswax.  If you want it softer, add more oil.

Pour the liquid salve into a jar ( I get mine at Industrial Container and Supply).

Before it sets up ( and it will do it quickly) add 1 drop of vitamin E oil for every ounce.

Also add 2 drops essential oil for every ounce.  I like to use lavender and tea tree oil for their medicinal properties.  They compliment the salve very well!

The vitamin E oil will help preserve the salve longer as well as keeping it in the fridge too!

Emily Saddler

Emily is married to her best friend Ryan, homeschool mom of 7 awesome kids, Holistic Health Practitioner in the state of Utah and Traditional Naturopath outside of the state of Utah, master gardener, yoga/pilates instructor, certified clinical and master herbalist, licensed massage therapist, and doula. She is a very passionate advocate of all things Mother Nature! Emily maintains a blog called “Sage and Sourdough Wellness and Herbs” where she shares gardening advice, delicious recipes made with fresh, organic ingredients, herbal and natural home care product recipes and loves teaching classes on gardening, plant identification and herbal remedy workshops. Check out the events and classes page for more info.

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