Herbal Salve Recipe

For this homemade salve recipe I wanted to create something for aches, muscle pains and inflammation.

So I used the herbs mentioned in the article, How to Infuse Oil with Herbs for Use in Homemade Recipes, click on the article name and it will open in a new tab so you can have both the instructions open at the same time to refer back to if needed.

Herbs Used in This Recipe

In the herbal salve I used infused oil that contained the following herbs:

  • White Willow – Pain, inflammation, help relieve sore muscles and joint pain.
  • Horsetail – Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, relieve dry itchy skin.
  • Comfrey Root – Reduce inflammation, bruising, heals skin, sore muscles.
  • St. John’s Wort – Anti-inflammatory, relieves aches and pains.
  • Spearmint – Reduce swelling, muscle pain, calms upset stomach.
  • Chamomile – Soothing to the skin, rashes, inflammation, anti-bacterial, muscle relaxant, helps heal wounds.
  • Black Pepper - Black Pepper is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and stimulates circulation.

Butters and Oils Used for This Recipe

  • Shea Butter – light nutty scent, moisturizing, hydrating, softens skin, healing, conditions damaged skin, and good for mature skin.
  • Coconut Oil - moisturizing, softens and soothes the skin, slightly oily until absorbed.

Making Your Homemade Herbal Salve

After the process of infusing your oil is complete and you've strained the herbs from the oil, the fun begins. Making your own homemade salves is pretty easy. Once you start creating your own and get the hang of it you can make adjustments and make yours softer if you like, especially if you don't live in a warm climate.

Herbal Salve Ingredients

You will find a link at the top of this article that will open a new tab with the herbs used for the herbal salve infused oil.

Directions

  1. In a bowl large enough to melt your ingredients, add the infused oil, beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil.
  2. Fill a larger pot a little less than half way full of water and place the bowl with your ingredients inside, like a double boiler idea.
  3. Heat slowly over a medium-low to medium heat, stir occasionally until all ingredients are melted.
  4. While this is melting, get your containers ready to fill. I put an old towel down (to protect the surface from any spills) then put the containers on that.
  5. When the ingredients have been completely melted, turn the burner off and carefully remove the bowl from the hot water. Be so careful not to spill, this is hot! Use pot holders and set the bowl on a towel.
  6. I let the mixture cool just a bit before adding the essential oils. I really don’t know if you have to do this but I do, I think I am getting a better sense of what my mix of essential oils will smell like when it's a bit cooler.
  7. Add the essential oils and stir well then pour in the containers and wait for them to harden before you start using it and giving it to friends and family.

Notes:

  1. I always start with the least amount of beeswax. When all ingredients are melted, I take some of the mixture and put it on wax paper to cool to see what the consistency is like. From there if I want, I'll add in more beeswax. Let it melt and test again.

It will take 2 to 3 hours before it's hardened. Start with just a little bit so you know what it will be like on your skin.

Personal Experience Using the Herbal Salve

I have used this for minor neck pain, back aches, on my knees, and to soothe the aches in my wrists. I believe this salve has helped to relieve these aches and pains and inflammation. I have had others tell me it has helped them as well.

I cannot attest to anything more than minor aches and pains.

Homemade Recipe Tips

  • Make sure your work space and hands are clean.
  • Make sure the containers you are using are clean.
  • Make sure salves and creams have cooled enough before pouring in glass containers so they don't break.
  • Keep the batch size small so the homemade products you use are fresh unless you're making gifts.

Infusing Herbal Oils

  • Before you decide on which plant material you are going to use, I recommend you do your research on the plants or herbs you want to use.
  • The infused oils I make are for topical use, I recommend you do a little test on your skin prior to using your infusion, just to make sure you don’t have a reaction, chances are pretty low that it would bother you, but you just never know especially if you have sensitive skin.
  • All my infused oils have turned out great for the salves I’ve made or using them as they are or mixing with other oils and essential oils.