How to Make a Healing Skin Salve

Salves are also called ointments and are simply a preparation made from herbs, oil and beeswax. When you apply a salve to your skin, it stays in place due to its thick consistency.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oil
• Beeswax
• Herbs
• Glass jar
• 2 pans

1. To begin, make an herbal oil. The type of oil you choose depends on its future use: olive oil is excellent for moisturizing and healing wounds; grape seed oil is preferred for massage; and almond or apricot oil is favored for cosmetic uses.

2. Grind 2 oz. of fresh or dried herbs in a blender or mortar and pestle.

3. Place your pulverized herbs into a clean pint-size glass jar, and then add your preferred oil to fill the jar.

4. Cap tightly, and then heat for 3 hours at a low temperature in your oven-150 degrees is perfect.

5. Strain before using.

6. Using a double boiler or glass measuring cup placed in a pan of simmering water, heat about one cup of your herbal oil.

7. At the same time you're heating the oil, melt beeswax in a separate pan.

8. Add about 1/4 cup of melted wax to the hot oil and stir to mix it thoroughly.

Tips & Warnings

• Calendula, comfrey, echinacea, mugwort, plantain, thyme and yarrow are common herbs used in salves because of their vulnerary properties, which encourage the healing of wounds by promoting cell growth and repair. But many other herbs can be appropriate for salves.
• Another method is to allow your mixture to steep in a sunny place for several days.
• If you're using one-ounce jars for your finished product, add about 16 drops of essential oil for fragrance, if desired.
• Healing hand salve or lip balm recipe 1-1/4 cups chopped comfrey, which has been infused in olive oil 1/4 cup aloe extract 1/4 cup beeswax Combine the oil and aloe extract, and then heat the oil mixture and the beeswax separately. When both are liquid and hot, combine them. To make sure you have added the proper amount of beeswax to your salve, do the "freezer test": simply dip a metal spoon into the hot mixture and then place it in your freezer on top of a paper towel for about two minutes. You can then use it on your skin to determine if it is the consistency you desire. If it's too waxy for your taste, add a bit more oil; if it's too liquid, add a bit more wax. Repeat the freezer test as many times as necessary until you get a blend of oil and wax that you like. Pour the hot mixture into small jars or lip balm-sized tubs and use on all wounds or as a lip balm.
• For serious skin problems, always consult a medical professional.

[AbbyNormal]

on 3/28/2008 The wax MUST be melted in a double boiler. Good article.