Standard Salve
or Ointment Recipes

It is easy to make your own salves or ointments where you can use different variations to make it specific for your individual need.

What is the difference? They both protect the skin while providing antibacterial and/or antifungal healing benefits. (You usually choose essential oils and herbs that have these benefits in them to use) Ointments are usually used to protect raw, irritated, or wounded areas from air and moisture. Salves are usually thicker and used on scrapes and wounds.

Basic Directions for an Essential Oil Salve

Start with 1 cup (some use 1/2 cup if you like it thicker)of olive oil (or carrier oil of your choice) and about 2 teaspoons (1 oz) beeswax and an essential oil like lavender, chamomile, tea tree or myrrh (or use a combination of them, and some sterile containers (small jars or tins) to put the finished product in and something to label them with.

Heat the oil in a glass container over some hot water (a glass double boiler works great for this). Do not get any water in the oil.

If you do not have a way to heat it over water you can heat it in a pan directly over the burner but be sure and have it on low heat and watch it carefully. You can also use a microwave if you like, with a microwave safe container. Just be sure and not over heat it.

Once the oil is warmed add the beeswax and stir to melt it (the smaller the pieces of wax the quicker it will melt).

You can also melt the wax separate and then add the oil if you like. The microwave also works great to melt a small amount of was, just don’t overheat it.

Let oil and wax cool slightly, (but not too long or it will start to set up) add 15- 30 drops of essential oil depending on the oil you are using or the sensitivity of your skin. Stir slightly to mix and pour immediately into your jars. If it starts to sit up too much before you get it all poured just reheat it slightly.

Once cooled cap and label them with the name, ingredients and date made.

Enjoy using your homemade essential oil salve!

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Variations

Try some of these variations to help you come up with your own creation that meets your own specific need. Do some research and use the oils and essential oils that have the properties that you want in yours for your specific need.

Olive oil is a good common oil to use, but you can use whatever oil you want or use a combination of different oils to come up with your own mixture.

You could also use a solid oil (like coconut oil) and leave out the wax. Or use part of a solid oil along with the other oils. Experiment and see what you like. If you want a salve that is firmer or softer adjust the wax or solid oil adding more or using less.

You can also use a different wax instead of beeswax, maybe you would rather use soy wax, then use it.

You can also add some vitamin e oil for a preservative if you want when adding the essential oils just squeeze about 6-8 capsules into it.

You could also use T-50 Vitamin E oil or Rosemary Oil Extract for a preservative in your products.

There are lots of different essential oils that will treat the same condition. Plus one might work great for one person but not as good for someone else, they find a different oil works better for them for the same condition. There could be two essential oils that help with the same thing but one is very expensive and one is not. There are lots of variations so pick ones out that you like and works best for you.

Remember it is your own creation, you know yourself better than anyone else.
*Do you like one kind of oil or wax better than another?
*Are you allergic to some of them?
* Do you like one essential oil better than another.

Learn about different carrier oils you could use and decide which you would like to use.

Learn about different essential oils you could use to decide which you would like to use.

You can get essential oils at From Nature With Love

Mountain Rose Herbs also has essential oils.

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Basic Direction for making a Herbal Salve

Making a herbal salve is basically the same as making a essential oil salve except you are going to be using herb infused oils.

So make some infused oils and then follow the direction above for the essential oil one using these herb infused oils, you can even still add the essential oils to it for extra benefits or just for their fragrance to make your salve smell nice - it’s up to you.

It is up to you which herbs you want to use in your salve, to learn about different herbs and find out which you want to use

click here.

Making your Herb Infused Oils

You can have a have a variety of infused oils on hand for you to use whenever you need them.

Fill a jar (like a quart canning jar) half full with a dried herb or full with a chopped fresh herb. Pack them into the jar loosely.
Make a separate jar for each of the herb infused oils you want.

After your herbs are in the jars pour your carrier oil over the herbs to the top of the jars. Use a spoon to stir and push the herbs into the oil so that they are completely in the oil. Put a cloth or paper towel over the top and keep in place with the ring of the canning jar.

Let this set for at least 6 weeks, checking and stirring daily to make sure the herbs stay in and completely covered by the oil.

Then strain your oils and pour the oil back into jars, cap with a lid, and label and date them.

To make your salve follow the directions for making an essential oil salve using 1 cup of a single infused herb oil, or combining different infused oils to make 1 cup of mixed herb infused oils to use in your salve recipe.

Olive oil works good for this but use whatever kind of oil you want except for the solid oils – to use solid oil (like coconut oil) you will have to heat the oil as described above in making the essential oil salve. Let the herbs simmer in the heated oil for a least one hou, then strain before it sets up.

Enjoy your herb infused oils and your herbal salve!

Would it be easier for you to have a kit with ingredients and video instruction to show you step by step how to make herbal ointment?

If so you can buy a herbal medicine making kit

Learning Herbs Medicine Kit

This kit has all the ingredients to make herbal healing salves, including the containers and labels, you just need to add the olive oil, have a double boiler or saucepan and a strainer. It also guides you in making a herbal tincture and a nourishing herbal infusion. If you like using kits to learn go ahead and check it out.

You can get some really nice herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs

Also at More Than Alive has herbs and blends.

Basic Chest Cream

This is a nice cream to rub on your chest and throat for those times when you have a cold with a stuffy nose and cough.

Take 8 ounces of olive oil and heat in a microwave safe container (a glass measuring cup works great). Do not heat too long, heat for 10-15 seconds at a time.
When warm enough to melt the wax add about 1 ounce of beeswax (chopped into small pieces to melt quicker). Stir to melt completely.
Squeeze in 6-8 vitamin e capsules and 15 drops of tea tree essential oil, 15 drops of peppermint essential oil, 5 drop of eucalyptus essential oil and 5 drops of marjoram essential oil.
Stir and pour into your jars and containers. Cool completely then cap and label with name, ingredients and date.

It will be a great comfort when you come down with your next cold!

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Ointments

Method 1:

For this method you just take some premade lotion or lotion you have made yourself and add tincture in it.

Use 1 ounce of lotion to 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of tincture.
You would want to use a tincture that has antibacterial benefits.

Stir together and put in small, clean jars and label and date. Always make sure any containers you use have been sterilized to keep your products from molding and it doesn't hurt to refrigerate them if they are not going to be used quickly.They should keep for a few (3-5)months.

Method 2:

Take 2 ounces of dried herbs (you can also use essential oils about 10-15 drops per ounce of carrier)Again find ones that are antibacterial
and 16 ounces of coconut oil or cocoa butter or a combination and you could use part oil for some of the 16 ounces so that the finished ointment is not so solid. (some say to use petroleum jelly but I stay away from any product that is petroleum-based, if you want you can use it)
Combine the ingredients (if using herbs)in the top of a double boiler and heat over low heat for about 2 hours. (make sure the bottom of the double boiler doesn't run out of water)
Remove from heat and cool slightly but not completely and then strain with a strainer lined with cheesecloth. (if using essential oils just heat the butter and oil to a liquid and add the essential oils, don't simmer)
Put into clean jars and label and date.
Will store in the refrigerator for 4-6 months)

Use to protect your skin from winter wind, soothe skin irritations, or depending on what herb or essential oil you used to reduce pain.

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