How to Make Herbal Oils and Salves
Herbal oils and salves are easy, fun and inexpensive to make. They are much safer and better for you than commercial medications because there are no artificial chemicals in them to harm you or your environment.
Depending on what herbs you use in your herbal oils and salves they can relieve pain, are antiseptic and moisturizing and they can repel insects. Use them to treat minor cuts, rashes, insect bites and stings, burns and bruises.
Some herbs, such as arnica and white willow bark, can be very beneficial on joint pain caused by arthritis or other injuries. All you need do is gently rub in the salve or oil and feel the pain begin to subside. You may need to apply the oil or salve more often than commercial preparations but isn’t that better than using synthetic chemical pain relievers?
You should not discontinue your prescription pain medications without consulting with your doctor. These herbal salves are suggested as additional pain therapies for minor injuries and should never be used without your doctor’s full knowledge and agreement. Always consult a doctor for more serious injuries.
Basic Herbal Recipe
Mix together 2 ounces dry herbs or 4 ounces fresh herbs of your choice with one pint vegetable oil. Put this mixture over medium heat and heat for one hour but do not boil. Let the mixture cool and strain, discarding the herbs and squeezing out as much of the oil as you can.
This is an excellent healing herbal oil and can be used as is. Simply rub the oil into joints or bruises or gently apply to minor insect bites, rashes, stings or cuts. You can soak a cloth in this oil and make a compress for continued healing and pain relief.
Turn Your Herbal Oils Into a Salve
To turn your oil into a salve add 1 to 1 ½ ounces of melted beeswax to the herbal oil mix, keeping the temperature of the oil and the beeswax as close to the same temperature as you can. Stir constantly as it thickens and cools. Pour into wide mouth jars, put on lid and store in the refrigerator. Your salve should keep in the refrigerator for up to a year.
Use These Herbs to Make Your Oils and Salves
For pain use arnica, shredded willow bark, crushed pine needles, Thinly sliced ginger or thinly sliced or crushed garlic. Make your oil or salve and rub on arthritic joints or achy muscles.
For stings, bites, rashes, miner cuts or bruises use feverfew, goldenrod, plantain grass, wild strawberry leaves, chamomile, chickweed or garlic. Apply gently with a cotton ball or swab.
For insect repellent use basil, lavender, sage, rosemary, citronella, garlic or peppermint. You may have to use your concoctions more often then commercial repellents but, at least, you won’t have artificial chemicals seeping into your skin.
For congestion use peppermint, eucalyptus or pennyroyal. Rub over your chest or back and the fragrance will work to break up your congestion.
Keep these salves and oils handy for minor, everyday problems. For serious problems contact your doctor.
Many of these herbs can be grown in your garden or harvested wild from fields, along roads, ditches and creeks.
