Herbal salves are such a simple, effective, and useful way to take in herbal goodness! They can easily be slipped into a purse, pocket, or first aid kit. Although semi-solid at room temperature, salves soften once applied to the skin, making them less messy than oils. They also make great gifts and are an easy and approachable way to introduce newbies to the power of herbs. Plus, salves can be crafted for a wide variety of topical uses. The addition of beeswax will protect, soothe, and nourish your skin.
Part 1: Make Herb-Infused Oil
To make a salve, first craft your herb-infused oil(s). This can take anywhere from about a day to several weeks, depending on the method used. You can also purchase infused herbal oilsif you're short on time or wish to skip the process of infusing the oil yourself. We recommend using only dried herbs in your infusions, as the lack of moisture content in the plant material can keep spoilage at bay.
Part 2: Make Your Salve
Once you've created your herbal oil, you're just a few simple steps away from your finished salve! See our basic salve recipe below, and follow along with herbal educator and author Maria Noël Groves for a comprehensive video how-to demonstration!
Makes 5 ounces.
Ingredients
Directions
- Wrap beeswax bar in an old towel. On a sturdy surface, use a hammer to break bar up into small chunks.
- Place beeswax in a double boiler and gently warm over low heat until the beeswax melts.
- Add herbal oils and stir over low heat until well-mixed.
- Remove from heat and add the essential oil(s).
- Quickly pour warm mixture into prepared tins, glass jars, or lip balm tubes and allow to cool completely.
- Store in a cool location for 1 to 3 years.
Pro tip: The consistency of salves can easily be adjusted depending on your preferences. Use less beeswax for a softer salve and more beeswax if you’d like a firmer salve. You can test the consistency by placing a spoon in the freezer before making your salve. When the beeswax melts, pour a little salve onto one of the cold spoons and place it back into the freezer for 1 to 2 minutes. This will simulate what the final consistency will be like. Once cooled, you can make adjustments by adding more oil (for a softer salve) or more beeswax (for a firmer salve).
Best Herbs for Salves
You can make a salve with a single herb or multiple herbs, depending on your needs. It’s useful to make a variety of herbal-infused oils so that you can easily craft a salve whenever you need it!
As a supplier of herbs, we're unable to provide information about the specific uses of herbs in remedies, however, there are many wonderful books in our shop that can help! Some of our favorites include: Maria Noël Groves's Body Into Balance, Rosemary Gladstar's Herbs for Common Ailments and Mrs. Grieve's A Modern Herbal, and Thomas Easley & Steven Horne's A Modern Herbal Dispensatory.
Some staff favorites that you can find in our DIY salves in our cupboards at home include:
Please note that this is only a partial list, and many other herbs can also be incorporated into salves. Happy salve making!
Want to make a vegan salve?
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FAQs
Place beeswax in a double boiler and gently warm over low heat until the beeswax melts. Add herbal oils and stir over low heat until well-mixed. Remove from heat and add the essential oil(s). Quickly pour warm mixture into prepared tins, glass jars, or lip balm tubes and allow to cool completely.
How to make your own herbal salve? ›
Place beeswax in a double boiler and gently warm over low heat until the beeswax melts. Add herbal oils and stir over low heat until well-mixed. Remove from heat and add the essential oil(s). Quickly pour warm mixture into prepared tins, glass jars, or lip balm tubes and allow to cool completely.
What herb combinations for salves? ›
For most salve recipes dried herbs and flowers work best, but sometimes fresh herbs are better. Popular herbs for use in salves are lavender, calendula, yarrow, plantain, and lemon balm.
What is the ratio for herbal salve? ›
In a dry, pint-size jar, crumble 1/2 cup dried herbs and cover with 1 cup of olive oil (ratio 1 part dried herbs : 2 parts oil). Cap and place the jar in a soup pot filled with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, then simmer for 1 hour.
What herbs to grow for salves? ›
Let's break it down and look at each plant:
- Plantain (Plantago major) A common garden herb, plantain is cooling and soothing to burns, rash, sunburn, hives, eczema, psoriasis, and chickenpox. ...
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Calendula is one of my favorite herbs. ...
- Comfrey (Symphytum spp.) ...
- Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)
It's easy to adjust the consistency of a salve by adding a bit more oil to make it more spreadable or more beeswax to thicken or harden it. Homemade salves without any preservative agents will last about 6 to 8 months at room temperature out of direct heat and sunlight. Refrigerated, they'll keep for a year or more.
What is the main ingredient in a salve? ›
The main ingredients are often ichthammol, phenyl alcohol, or Arnica montana, and may contain herbs such as echinacea or calendula.
What herbs Cannot be mixed together? ›
Therefore, never use the following supplements in combination without consulting your healthcare provider:
- Bromelain.
- Cayenne pepper.
- Dong quai.
- Evening primrose.
- Feverfew.
- Garlic.
- Ginger.
- Gingko biloba.
Don't plant fennel and cilantro in the same container. Rue, sage, and basil also don't get along well. They can restrict each other's growth when grown close together, so plant these in different pots. Dill prefers acidic soil.
Can I use fresh herbs in a salve? ›
It's best to use dried herbs rather than fresh, since the lack of moisture helps keep the salve from spoiling. If you only have fresh herbs, allow them to wilt on a paper towel for a few hours prior to using to remove excess moisture.
For instance, if your salve is too hard, melt it down and stir in more carrier oil until you reach the desired consistency. Conversely, if your salve is too runny, add more beeswax or hard butter (e.g., cocoa butter) to thicken it up.
What is the best oil to infuse for salves? ›
Liquid oils for salves, lip, and body care: almond oil, avocado, fractionated coconut oil, olive oil, rapeseed oil, rice bran, safflower oil, sunflower oil. Of these, a light-colored (opposed to extra virgin) olive oil is the best choice for an all-rounder oil for infusing.
How much vitamin E oil to add to salve? ›
Once the beeswax has melted, add 8 fl oz (1 cup) of infused oil (add more or less depending on how hard or soft you want your salve; see the tips below for more). Remove from heat. Let slightly cool, then add 50-80 drops of essential oils and vitamin E (1mL or ~25 drops, if using).
What is the best flower for salve? ›
Calendula has amazing medicinal properties, and is commonly used in salves & tea's. Aside from its amazing medicinal properties, the blooms are beautiful and abundant throughout the growing season. In fact, calendula has to be one of my favorite plants to grow, because it's so easy to maintain & the blooms are endless!
How to make your own healing salve? ›
How to make an herbal cream
- 1 cup distilled water or rosewater.
- 3/4 cup carrier oil (almond, or an herb-infused oil)
- 1/2 oz. –1 oz. beeswax (less for a thinner consistency, more for a firmer cream)
- a double boiler.
- blender or immersion blender.
- clean glass jars.
- essential oils, if desired.
Like the herb-infused oil, salves have a shelf life of 6 months – 3 years depending on the oil used. Use them for the desired effects whenever you need, or share them with friends and family to spread the plant love around.
How do you make self heal plant salve? ›
To make: Combine about 1/3 cup crumbled dried self heal with about 3/4 cup oil of your choice (olive or sunflower works well for salves). Leave uncovered and set the jar in a saucepan with a few inches of water; heat over medium low for 2 to 3 hours.
How do you make skin healing salve? ›
How to make an herbal cream
- 1 cup distilled water or rosewater.
- 3/4 cup carrier oil (almond, or an herb-infused oil)
- 1/2 oz. –1 oz. beeswax (less for a thinner consistency, more for a firmer cream)
- a double boiler.
- blender or immersion blender.
- clean glass jars.
- essential oils, if desired.
Soothing Gardener's Salve Recipe
Combine arnica and ginger oils and beeswax pastilles in a double boiler. Heat until beeswax has melted and mixture is fully incorporated. Remove from heat and add organic rosehip seed oil, vitamin E oil, and essential oils. Stir quickly to combine.
