Easy Homemade Herbal Salve for Bites, Bruises, Scrapes & More

Written By:

Kristen Davidson

Simple Solar-Infused Oil

To make a simple solar-infused oil, follow the directions linked here, skipping the alcohol and the blending steps. Keep your jar steeping in a warm, sunny location for around 4-6 weeks.

Herbal Dream Team Salve

I love to hear what people name their healing salves: “Fix It” salve, “All-Purpose” salve, “Miracle” salve, and one of my favorites, “Green Wonder” salve (from Red Moon Herbs). In each of these you will find some combination of the herbs we’ve discussed above, along with each person’s unique twist. Here is a basic salve that I call the “Herbal Dream Team” salve, but you can call it whatever you like!
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Equipment

  • Double boiler (or a pouring pot placed in a small saucepan with water)
  • Wooden spoon* (or disposable bamboo fork)
  • Thermometer (optional, but nice)
  • Sanitized containers for storing your salve (I use 2-ounce glass amber jars for storage)
  • *If using a wooden spoon, you may want to use a new spoon dedicated to making salves as it may be a bit waxy afterward, and if it has been used to cook food, some unwanted aromas could transfer from the wood to the salve.
  • Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 2 cups herbal infused oil*
  • ½ cup organic beeswax pastilles

Instructions

  • Gently heat the oil in a double boiler. Make sure that whatever you are using for a double boiler, there is no chance of water splashing into your oil. You want to heat your oil to about 140ºF (60ºC)—This is the lowest temperature that will also melt the wax.
  • Add the beeswax pastilles and gently stir (I use a disposable bamboo fork). Make sure the wax melts fully.
  • Take the salve off the heat. Pour the oil into an easy-pour container like a frothing pitcher (if it’s not already in a pouring pot), then carefully pour the oil into the jars.
  • Let the salve cool fully (about 4-6 hours) before putting the lid on. You don’t want condensation to form on the top of your jar as this can cause the salve to mold.
  • Your salve will have a shelf life of about one year. If you want to extend the shelf life, store it in the fridge, or at least avoid temperature extremes, especially hot or very warm temperatures, which could melt the salve.

Notes

*Follow the instructions for making Herbal-Infused Oil. For this salve, use equal parts dried calendula, comfrey, yarrow and plantain (½-ounce each) when making your infused oil. Alternatively, If you make your oil in single batches like I do, simply mix ½ cup each of calendula, plantain, yarrow and comfrey oil.
Tried this recipe?Mention @homesteadlivingmagazine or tag #homesteadlivingmagazine!

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Kristen Davidson

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Kristen Davidson

Kristen’s background is in culinary arts, ceramics, and creative writing. Her delight in food, particularly good ingredients, and the desire for a more just food system lured her into farming. Here she fell in love with herbs, beneficial bacteria, fungi, and the breathtaking complexity of the natural world. She lives with her husband, Beau, and their family on Laird Woodland Farm, a small herb farm in south-central Kansas. For more about herbs, mushrooms, and foraging fun, visit @lairdwoodlandfarm.

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