DIY Herbal Salve: Healing with Nature

DIY herbal salves in metal tins with fresh mint leaves on a wooden surface.

DIY herbal salve have proven easy to make, natural, and satisfying to produce at home. With the mixture of dried herbs and a blend of oils, you get a soothing salve, an infusion of the essence of nature’s tender power. These types of herbal salves will give one an added assurance that there is another way to support your skin care through natural means, and thus are an important addition to any wellness routine.

In this post, we are going to walk you through an easy recipe for a homemade herbal salve and share with you some guidelines on the best herbs and oils to choose in regard to your individual needs. Keep in mind that herbal salves are just great and a must in any wellness cabinet; however, when using them on very sensitive skin or skin with specific issues, clear them first with your health professional.

Benefits of Making Your Own Herbal Salve

The biggest positive regarding making herbal salves yourself is that you can ensure each ingredient involved truly reflects your values about health and wellness. In fact, using only a few simple organic ingredients allows one to make customized salves with individualistic usage of personal-preference dried herbs. Here are some benefits of crafting your own salves:

Pure Ingredients: Homemade salves do not contain preservatives or artificial fragrances.
Cost-Effective: Homemade salve making often proves less expensive than buying salves from commercial sources.
Customizable: You choose herbs for specific skin needs that you or others might have. You can add oils or essential oils to make other, stronger applications.

Making a salve is also an empowering process, whereby you link with nature through ingredients you will be using. Ready to get started? Here is the recipe.

How to Choose Herbs for Making Herbal Salve

When making a homemade herbal salve, choosing the right herbs is key. Many herbs have been traditionally used in salves and balms for their skin-supportive properties. A few favorites include the following:

Calendula (Marigold)

Probably the most popular of all herbs to use in salves, calendula is often treasured for its light and gentle touch on sensitive skin. Their beautiful orange petals add so much beauty and are of value in and of themselves.

Lavender

The lavender adds a calming aroma to your salve and is skin-soothing. This is a great herb to work with for those who enjoy subtle fragrances and also tend to apply it for relaxation.

Comfrey

Comfrey is another popular herb amongst DIYers in salve-making, especially for dry skin issues. It contains allantoin, which has been used in skincare for years due to its hydrating properties.

Plantain Leaf

Plantain leaf is one of the most common “weeds” that’s packed full of skin-loving goodness. It’s easily wild harvested and dried, making it a great and easy choice for a do-it-yourself herbal salve.

Basic Supplies for Making Herbal Salves

Before we get into making the recipe, let’s go over what you’ll need:

Dried herbs: Choose one or more dried herbs like calendula, lavender, or comfrey.
Carrier oil: Olive oil, sweet almond oil, and coconut oil are some of the options as a base. Beeswax: This gives firmness to the salve, which is very much required for a solid texture in the salve.
Double boiler: This is quite essential in raising the temperature of the ingredients without them getting burned.
Small jars: These need to be ready for the storage of the completed salve.
Cheesecloth: It will be useful when straining the herbs from the infused oil.

How to Make Your Own Herbal Salves

Now, in detail, let me take you through the preparation of a light herbal salve using herbs which have been dried and oils. This takes some little time in its preparation, since the herbs must get to infuse with the oil, but it is relatively easy to make, and quite enjoyable.

Step 1: Making Herbal-Infused Oil

Take about 1 cup of dried herbs and place them into a clean and dry glass jar.
Place 1 cup of carrier oil-olive or coconut oil-over all herbs.
Seal and set in a sunny spot; let it be there for 2 to 3 weeks, shaking gently every day.
This is called the “solar infusion method” and will let the clear oil naturally draw the benefits from the herbs.

Quick Tip: For faster infusion, use a double boiler on low heat. You can simmer herbs and oil for 2-3 hrs, but make sure the oil doesn’t get too hot.

Step 2: Strain the Oil

After your oil is infused, it’s time to strain out the herbs:

Place cheesecloth over a bowl and pour through your infused oil.
Squeeze the cloth to get all the oil.
Discard the herbs and reserve the oil from the strainer.

Step 3: Add Beeswax

Beeswax helps give your salve a smooth and spreadable consistency.

For every 1 cup of infused oil, add approximately 1 ounce of beeswax pellets in a double boiler.
Heat the oil and beeswax over low heat, stirring periodically until the beeswax is completely melted.
Check the texture by putting a small spoonful in the freezer for a few minutes. If it’s too soft, add more beeswax; if it’s too hard, add a bit more oil.

Step 4: Pour and Cool

When the desired consistency is achieved:

Pour the warm salve into small, clean jars or tins.
Let it cool down to room temperature until solid.
Label them with the date and ingredients, and store them in a cool, dark location.

Your homemade herbal salve is ready for use. Apply to dry skin, hands, or feet when any extra moisturizer is needed.

How to Personalize Your DIY Herbal Salve

The thing that really makes a DIY herbal salve special is its adaptability. Here’s how you can customize yours:

Adding Essential Oils: Add just a few drops of any essential oil, for example, lavender or tea tree oil, for the wonderful smell and increased efficiency of the natural properties of a salve.
Mix and Match Herbs: The mixing of many herbs, like calendula and lavender, creates a more complex salve.
Changing Texture: If you want it harder, just add more beeswax.

If you want it softer, use less beeswax. Playing with the ingredients allows you to tailor-make a salve to suit your needs.

Storage Tips for Your Homemade Herbal Salve

To maintain the freshness and efficiency of the herbal salve you have prepared at home, follow these simple tips for storage:

Keep It Cool: Place the salve in a cool and dark place because heat and sunlight destroy the ingredients.
Clean Hands: Always handle the salve with clean and dry fingers or take a little spatula to scoop the salve; this avoids bacteria building up.
Label and Date: Labeling your salves with ingredients and date will help you make a note of the freshness.

Homemade salves generally last 6-12 months, depending on storage and ingredients.

DIY Herbal Salve Recipes to Try

Ready to try your hand at your herbal salve? Here are a few simple recipes to get you started:

Soothing Calendula Salve

Ingredients: dried calendula petals, olive oil, beeswax, lavender essential oil
Use: Best for dry or sensitive skin; very soothing and non-irritating

Soothe Herbal Lavender Salve

Ingredients: Dried lavender, Almond oil, Beeswax, Chamomile essential oil
Use: Great for winding down, apply to the bed for a nice sleep.

Uplifting Citrus Salve

Ingredients: Dried lemon balm, Coconut oil, Beeswax, Lemon essential oil
Use: Great at refreshing, so revitalizing. Serve great as a hand salve in mornings.

Welcome to Making Your Own Herbal Salves

Building your own DIY herbal salve is a beautiful way to get comfortable with natural ingredients and practice simple and effective skincare. Having a few herbs and oils in one’s reach can allow for batches of salves according to the needs of your skin, right at the comfort of your home. Enjoy the process, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different herbs, guiding their inspirations from nature.

Ready to get started? Grab your dried herbs and oils, and in only a few steps, you will have a natural soothing salve all your own.

Benefits of Making Your Own Herbal Salve