How to make a basic salve at home
Hello, and welcome to my first of many blogs into the homesteading life of new! If you are new to this, join me in my journey! If you’re a seasoned pro of homesteading, just know I aspire to be like you! I’m hoping many of you are in the same position as I am where we are aspiring homesteaders, one step closer than we were a few years ago, but not quite where we can call ourselves full homesteaders as of yet. If you are just beginning, what are you beginning with?
My journey, like many, started during COVID. I was learning more and more about the toxins and endocrine disruptors we have all become accustomed to having in our homes. I promptly switched out laundry detergent for homemade, swapped my deodorant, and made my own hand soap (it wasn’t a great recipe, but it got us to where we needed to be at the time). As soon as I cleaned those few things up, I quickly started noticing the difference in how I felt, the severity of my cycles lessened a little (mine still suck, but it was less suck), and my interest blossomed.
Fast forward a few years later with more knowledge and less time to do everything I’d like to do, I took an herbal course to become a more knowledgeable herbalist (there is no such thing as a certified herbalist. I don’t mean to offend anyone, but that official title isn’t recognized by anyone except the person who says they are one). As soon as my family moved to a location that had more wildlife, greenery, and less suburbia, I immersed myself in herbal medicine. I am adamant that what is happening on the outside of our body is a reflection if what we put inside. As a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (that certification exists), I am huge on eating whole foods, holistically and regeneratively grown. Since inflation is insane, and I don’t want to worry about other people ingesting something I created and shipped to them, I decided to focus on what we can put on the outside of our bodies to help them heal. This includes herbal salves, natural body butters, but specifically living with the seasons.
Our bodies are accustomed to having certain fruits and vegetables that grow in the summer, in the actual season of summer. The same thing can be said with the fall (helloooo gourds), winter, and spring. Spring is especially abundant with herbs that can be utilized throughout the season, and throughout the summer months. (think lemon balm for sunburns).
So, what I will be sharing is the simple way to make a healing salve that is very similar to my Skin Serentiy salve in my store. This can be used to help with the appearance of scars, stretch marks, varicose veins, dry & cracked knuckles, cracked heels, and so much more! The beautiful part of the herbal journey and the creation of topical herbal applications is how customizable it is. You can infuse different types of oils with different herbs depending on your intention or desired result. This example will be super simple but remember how customizable it can be!
**We will be utilizing herb-infused oils. There are two traditional ways to infuse oils and one is quicker than another. The heat method can be done in a day. The sun method can be done over the course of a few weeks. The heat method can be done in a pinch but the medicinal potency will be less than the sun method. I use both when needed, but prefer the sun method. Read about both in the links above.
Oils to be used can include (but not limited to):
Any liquid carrier oil
Herbs to be used depend on the intention for the salve but can include (but not limited to):
Healing Skin Salve:
● 1 oz beeswax for every 4FL oz of oil
● ½ tsp vitamin E. oil per every 10FL oz oil
Place oil and beeswax into a double broiler
- If no double broiler is available, place into a Pyrex measuring cup (or dish) into a cast iron skillet with water. Simmer the water and leave the measuring cup in the water until beeswax is melted.
To test consistency, dip a spoon into the oil mixture and place into the freezer for 2 mins. The consistency of the salve will be what it is when it is hardened at room temperature.
Place into salve tins, jars, or whatever you’re keeping your salve into. Let harden at room temperature overnight. Add extra herbs on top if you’re feeling festive. Enjoy the healing salve!
Please ask any questions you may have! Feel free to browse my other blog posts, and join my newsletter list while you’re at it! The pictures provided are of my Skin Serentiy salve product. Let me know what you think of this super simple recipe, and any variations you have created! See you next time, you beautiful magickal being!
