Shingles-Herpes-Cold Sore Salve

salve 5

This salve works! The key ingredient is Lemon Balm or Melissa officinalis. It kills any strains of the herpes virus from shingles and chicken pox to genital herpes and cold sores.  It will definitely shorten the duration of any outbreak.  The plants are simple to grow and use. Here’s how to make it yourself.

Recipe

Equal parts
Dried Lemon Balm leaves (anti-viral)
Dried Calendula flowers (accelerates cell reproduction/healing)
Dried Marshmallow leaves and flowers (soothing to inflamed painful tissue)
Fresh or dried St. John’s Wort flower buds (anti-viral and calms burning nerves for pain)

Place herbs in a quart jar, cover and let steep in the sun for 4 weeks or use the stove top method and simmer on very low heat for 1 hour. Be careful not to burn the herbs.

Salve 1

Strain the herbs through a mesh strainer and cheese cloth or other thin cloth. Squeeze the oil from the plants getting as much as you can.

salve 2

You can see the deep reddish-orange medicinal color from the herbs that have infused into the olive oil.  It’s the Calendula and St. John’s Wort that give it this color.  You should measure out about 4 cups of oil.

salve 3

For every cup of infused oil you will need 1/4 cup packed shredded beeswax. I use only one grater for beeswax and never bother to wash it because it won’t ever come clean. Good thing beeswax is naturally antimicrobial. Melt the beeswax and oil together on very low heat until just melted. Check to see if the salve is the right consistency by spooning a little and placing into the freezer for a few minutes to set up. If you feel like you want it to be a little more firm then add more beeswax.

salve 4

While the beeswax is melting get 16 2-ounce or 8 4-ounce jars ready. Once melted add a few dropperfuls of vitamin E oil and about 60-80 drops Melissa essential oil.  I like using the Melissa blend from Butterfly Express. It’s much cheaper than the real thing and does a great job.

salve 5

I like filling the jars with either a turkey baster or medicine syringe. Label and date. Keep in the fridge for long term storage.  Use as needed.

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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