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Herbal Chronicles #3 - Good/Best Herbs for Salve Making + A Recipe for YOU!
To continue on the herb chronicles journey, I thought I’d share with you all, some recommended and easy to access herbs for salve making, talk about what are salves and also share a pretty basic but handy salve recipe to keep around your home or person for minor aches and pains.
What Is a Salve?
A salve is something applied topically to heal the skin. It can take the form of an ointment, balm, and/or cream. They are made with oils, utters, and waxes in order to create a semi-solid material. Generally, in order for salves to remain shelf-stable, no amount of liquid is applied UNLESS is the utmost smallest drops of a tincture.
And yes, just so you know, tinctures aren’t only used orally. They can be applied topically when necessary and fit to do so!
What Types of Oils Can Be Used in Salves?
Some examples of oils that can be used in salves are:
Olive - moisturizes and hydrates the skin, fights acne causing bacteria
Coconut - has saturated fats which are responsible for holding moisture in the skin.
Sunflower - Possesses Vitamin A and Vitamin E which provide antioxidants and help repair damaged skin cells.
Sweet Almond - Treats dry skin, reduces the appearance of scars.
Apricot - possess anti-inflammatory properties.
What Kind of Wax To Use?
Beeswax is the most commonly utilized wax to bind all the ingredients together. Candelilla and Carnauba are also very good alternatives but Candelilla can be difficult to find. Most times, beeswax can be found or purchased as pastilles (the little circle beads) which makes measuring very easy.
Why Use/Make Salves?
Since the ingredients in a salve are multi-functional and multi-purpose, you’ll benefit greatly using and making a salve for:
Dry Skin
Diaper Rash
Chapped Lips
Sunburns
Eczema
Cuts and scrapes
Aches and Pains
However, there are more uses for a salve. Simply shape your recipe by the ingredients and oils to serve the purpose they are needed for. You can also pack a medicinal kick+punch by infusing your herbs in the oils.
What are good herbs for Salve Making?
Calendula: Good for healing wounds, skin irritations including rashes, abrasions, cuts, scrapes, burns, wounds, and insect bites. Good for people with sensitive skin and babies.
Chamomile: A very healing herb. Suitable for cuts, scrapes, and other minor wounds.
Comfrey: Also known as bone-knit; good for healing cartilage, tendons, and bone. Also relieves occasional pain and swelling. Smells pretty good; sweet yet earthy.
Hibiscus: Natural acids present in hibiscus help to purify the skin by breaking down dead skin and increases cell turnover. Can help to control acne breakouts. Is a good moisturizer for skin because of its high mucilage content. Good for sensitive skin.
Lavender: Good for skin irritations, relieves minor pains; soothing and calming.
Lemon Balm: The scent alone eases stress and anxiety, contains rosmarinic acid (a chemical compound with antioxidant properties). Can also be used for cold sores. Has strong anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties/actions. Is soothing, healing and tightening on the skin. Great for acne and sunburned skin.
Rose: Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, helps fade blemishes.
Thyme: A warming herb that soothes sores muscles.
Yarrow: Good for bug bites and stings. The flowers stop bleeding very quickly when applied to minor wounds. Reduces swelling.
I know this isn’t the most comprehensive list but this is a simple beginners list. I recommend if you have any curiosity about making a salve with a specific type of herb that you google the name of the herb + salve recipe and you should find articles and recipes especially from herbal sites.
10 to 15 drops each of Lavender Essential Oil and Eucalyptus oil (1 dropperful of each oil).
1 dropperful of 400 IU Vitamin E oil.
Instructions: Using a double boiler (those double stacked pots people use for fondues), fill the bottom pot with a bit of water and place the top pot on the top to heat until water boils.
Once water starts to boil in the lower boiler pot, add in the above ingredients EXCEPT the essential oils and Vitamin E Oil.
Simmer on medium-low or LOW heat for 20 minutes due to presence of butter and stir occasionally.
Once 20 minutes has gone by, stir the mixture one more time before pouring it out in the 9 oz amber salve jars. Place them in the refrigerator to chill so to avoid the butters causing the salves to crystallize later on.
(Please note: when adding butters to salves, you will want to heat the entire recipe on the stove for 20 minutes on a low simmer then chill the finished salve in the fridge to avoid crystallization)
Any questions about any of the above information? Comment or Inbox me, or Ask. I’d love to help out any way I can! Especially when it comes to craft I love and hold so dearly.
Next time, I hope to be able to explain and share with you all, Infused Oils. I’ll also link those two posts together so its easily referenceable! Please share and reblog or like if this was helpful. Your feedback is immensely needed and appreciated!
I love getting lost in the details of nature, and ladybugs are no exception! My new cross stitch pattern allows you to stitch these tiny marvels up close, capturing their distinctive spots and delicate form. It's a fun and rewarding project for anyone who appreciates the beauty of the small things. Grab the pattern in my Etsy shop!
So, today, we visit herbs. And probably a common but simple and easily answered question. Along with tips, added knowledge and basics.
So, why herbs?
They work! (No really, they do. Did you know that modern medicine wouldn’t be what it is today without at least some constituents from the herbs we have out in the wild?)
Take Willow bark for example. Willow bark is natures’ Aspirin. It comes from several varieties of willow trees like white willow, European willow, black willow, etc. Back in the days, it was most commonly used for pain and fever. It is also used to ease inflammation for centuries. People even chewed the bark itself too, to relieve pain and fevers.
They allow the body a mind to heal.
Pharmaceutical suppress our emotions or tamper with them; they offer synthetic replacement for things that the body cannot naturally produce.
They support natural healing processes vs. pharmaceutical process which hinder...
They are empowering to gain botanical and wild crafting skills.
Gathering and crafting are ways we can connect with herbs and nature in general.
Ok, now, how do we gather them? / Are there any rules to follow?
When Gathering...
Always gather with permission, gratefulness and healing intentions; be sure to bless the herb for blessing you!
Make sure you are properly identifying the botanical. Be mindful. You don’t want to get your herbs confused. For everything benevolent, there is a malevolent counterfactor even if those herbs can be used or serve other handy purposes.
Be sure you have found a safe place to harvest. This means do so far away from roads and away from pesticides, please!
Check that the plant is fresh.
Be sure you are ethically wildcrafting. Practice mindfulness; check the United Plant Savers for endangered plants... like Goldenseal.
What are ways we can use or prepare herbs?
Infusions; Can be hot or cold. If hot/warm, consists of boiled water poured over herbs and left to infuse for the right amount of time based on that particular herb . Cold/room temperature is good for herbs that are rich in mucilage so that the heat doesn’t destroy their moistening properties. (Ex: Hibiscus)
Sun or Moon; Usually made with fresh herbs but instead of heating with a stovetop, or fire, the solar or lunar (usually full moon) energy or heat activates and triggers infusion.
Decoctions; A long, low simmer of the herb on low (IF herbs are high in volatile oils). Simmers for anywhere between 30 minutes and 4 hours.
Tinctures; Can be made with: Alcohol (like Vodka), Alcohol and Glycerite, Glycerite alone OR Glycerite and Water. Uses finely minced herb and powder and is tightly packed. Menstruum added (solvent that extract); Alcohol, Vinegar, Water, Honey. You want to make sure you use enough menstruum to cover the herbs.This must sit for 6 to 8 weeks, been macerated (shaked) periodically. Once ready, use a cheesecloth to strain and press the herbs out then store it. Lasts for up to 5 years if done correctly. Is not water soluble.
Tip#1 for hot infusion: It’s 4-25 minutes for herbs high in volatile oils (Ex: Peppermint).
Tip#2 for hot infusion: Therapeutic herbs get a longer time to infuse at approx. 4-8 hours and these are called “Overnight Infusion”.
Tip#1 for Decoctions: For dried herbs, use 2 heaping tablespoons per 4 cups of water. If the water is boiling down, then double that water’s amount.
Tip#2 for Decoctions: For Fresh Herbs, use 4 heaping tablespoons of fresh herbs to 4 cups of water. Be sure the water hits 150 Fahrenheit!
Tip#1 for Tinctures: Alcohol extracts what water does not. Glycerite extracts what water does. This is why there is a variation.
There are more ways to utilize herbs and make preparation and I’ll share that soon!
