Making an Herbal Salve: A step-by-step guide
In a previous blog post I wrote about some of my favorite medicinal herbs that we grow here on the farm. One of my favorite uses for herbs is to make a salve. If you are just getting into herbal remedies, this is a great introduction to the healing power of herbs. Below is a guide to making a simple herbal salve.
Choosing Your Herbs
My salves usually fall into three main categories: one to heal small cuts and scrapes, or to generally treat rough, dry hands; one to soothe the itch of bug bites and poison ivy; and one to soothe sore muscles or joints.
Two of my favorite herbs to use for overall skin healing salve:
Calendula
Yarrow
Two of my favorite herbs to use for an itch relief salve:
Plantain
Chickweed
Two of my favorite herbs to use for sore muscles:
Goldenrod
St. John’s Wort
Making Herb-Infused Oil
The first step in making a salve is to make an infused oil with the herb(s) of your choice. There are a couple of ways to do this, but this is my favorite (albeit slower) method.
Place herbs in a wide mouth jar, cover with an inch or so of oil, and cap with a lid. Any vegetable oil will work, but I tend to use olive, especially if I am starting with fresh herbs. Because fresh herbs contain water there is more chance for less stable oils to spoil.
Place in a window sill and allow it to sit for about two weeks.
Strain oil with cheesecloth and compost the herbs.
Making Your Salve
For each cup of herb-infused oil, use ¼ cup of beeswax. Tip: beeswax is easiest to measure when it is grated or purchased as pellets.
Heat the oil and beeswax together over low heat until the beeswax has melted.
Depending on your preference, you may want a harder or a softer salve, so play around with the consistency. To easily test, put a spoonful of your salve into the freezer for a minute and then try it out. For a softer salve, add a little more oil, and for a firmer salve, add a little more beeswax.
Pour oil and beeswax mixture into glass jars or tins. Store in a cool, dark place.
And that’s it! I hope you’ll give it a try. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below.
