homemade salve Archives - You Make It Simple (2024)

You don’t have to be a serious herbalist or witch doctor to make your own healing salve. It is really very easy to whip up and you won’t ever go back to Neosporin or whatever else you are using for

• cuts
• scrapes
• bug bites
• diaper rash
• lip balm
• dry skin

My family uses this a ton!

We recently ran out of our stock of salve, and it’s not like you can just run to the store and grab some, so I got out my supplies and whipped up a batch. I thought I would take a few photos while in the process and share how to make it with you.

SUPPLIES that you will need:

• ovenproof pan for infusing oil

• cheesecloth
• double boiler or two saucepans for melting wax
• sterile containers (glass baby food jars, empty recycled hair product or face lotion jars work great)
• labels
• wooden skewers or spoon

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 cups Olive Oil ( I buy the big jar of olive oil at Costco)
• 1 1/4 cup Dried Herbs (I use 1/2 cup calendula, 1/2 cup plantain, 1/4 cup comfrey leaf)
• 4 – 6 oz Bees Wax (depending on how thick you want it)
• 1 Tablespoon Vitamin E Oil (helps salve from going rancid)
• 30 drops each Essential Oils – Tea Tree (Melaleuca), Peppermint, Lavender

*Note: you can alter the types of herbs and essential oils that you put in your salve depending on what your needs are. If you don’t already have these supplies, it may seem like a big investment to make a healing salve. However, the oils and vit E will last a very long time, and you’ll be able to use them for other things.

I like this blend because of the amazing properties of these herbs and oils, making it a great GO TO salve for just about anything.

I am one who likes to know the WHY about what ingredients are in the products I am using. So here is the scoop.

CALENDULA:

Calendula has a long history of use as a wound-healing and skin-soothing botanical.

PLANTAIN:

Plantain is a low-growing herb (weed). It is most often used for stings and bites.

COMFREY:

It is well known to assist healing in any part of the body that is torn or broken.

*If you grow these herbs, dry them and store them in an air tight zip bag so you can make salve anytime. You can also just buy the herbs at your local health food store or online. I like Starwest Botanicals

TEA TREE Essential OIL:

• Renowned for its cleansing and rejuvenating
  effect on the skin.
• Skin irritations
  

LAVENDER essential OIL:

• Widely used for its calming and relaxing qualities.
• Soothes occasional skin irritations.
  You want to make sure you use good quality, pure essential oils when making salves and tinctures. When making cleaning supplies, it is not as important. If you would like to know where I buy most of my oils, send me a note.
  

Let’s get started!

1- Preheat your oven to the lowest setting (150 – 170 degrees)

Measure the dry herbs and put them in an oven proof pan

2- Cover with 4 cups olive oil and stir.

Place oil and herbs in oven and heat for 4-5 hours. Heating the oil infuses the properties of the herbs into the oil.

3- Place a few layers of cheesecloth over a bowl or pan.

5- Melt the bees wax.

I have an old pan that I use only for melting my wax in and I keep it wrapped in a plastic bag when not in use. Place that pan in another wider pan with water in it.

It is VERY important that you don’t get ANY water in the wax, or this will promote spoiling of your salve.

Melt the wax, stirring frequently. (This smells so yummy)

6- Prepare jars

Make sure jars are clean! You can sterilize them by placing them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes. I usually just make sure they have been cleaned with hot soapy water and dried thoroughly.

7- Add the melted wax to the oil, and mix well.

*By using a wooden skewer to stir with, you will save wasting a bunch of salve that will stick to the spoon.

To test the consistency of the salve, take a spoon and dip into the mixture. Take it out and let it cool a few seconds. Test the consistency. This is the time to add more wax if it is too runny.

8- Add the essential oils and vitamin E now and mix well.

MOVE QUICKLY.

9- Pour the salve into the jars.

You will need to stir in between pourings to keep things mixed up.

You may even need to heat it up a bit if it starts to set up. (Just don’t heat very long at all and use a very low setting, so you don’t loose all the properties of the essential oils.)

Don’t you just love the beautiful green color, and it smells FABULOUS!

I love these little travel-size tins!

I always double the batch because there is always someone who wants a jar, and they make great gifts or party favors.

Enjoy!