I’m so excited for this post as this is something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long while! If I had known how easy this is I would have done it years ago. I’m going to show you how to make an herbal salve with herbs that you can forage or are most likely growing in your garden. The best part about it is that you can use any number of herbs, it doesn’t have to be the exact ones that I show you here, as there are many that have powerful healing properties.
Herbal Salve Recipe
Herbal Salve
Ingredients
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups infused herbal oil
- 1 oz beeswax
- 12-24 drops essential oils of your choice
Instructions
- Make the infused herbal oil (see more detailed instructions on how to do this below).
- Heat the infused herbal oil in a double boiler. You can use a metal bowl or glass pyrex measuring cup over a pot of water if need be.
- Add the beeswax and stir until it completely dissolves.
- Stir in the essential oils.
- Carefully pour the mixture into jars or tins and set aside until the salve solidifies.
Notes
Choosing and Drying Herbs
Alrighty, lets get into the details of this salve making! The first step in the process is to make an herbal oil infusion, which sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is. There are a few different ways to do this, but the first thing you need are herbs.
For this salve I used plantain leaves, comfrey leaves, yarrow leaves and flowers, lavender flowers, and lemon balm leaves. There are many other medicinal plants and herbs that can be used, such as calendula, St. Johns wort, and arnica to name a few. I foraged the herbs for this salve, but you can also purchase high quality, organic dried herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.
If you foraged your own herbs you will need to dry them first. Hang them upside down for several weeks, use a drying screen, or if you need them in a hurry and you happen to have a food dehydrator (Excalibur is best), you can use that as well. Since I was making yogurt in my dehydrator already, I decided to do double duty and dry my herbs at the same time.
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It’s important to make sure that your herbs are completely dry before you make your oil infusion or else mold can form and it will go rancid.
Making the Herb Infused Oil
Now it’s time to make your infused herbal oil. There are a few of ways to do this, the first is to simply put your dried herbs in oil and let it sit for several weeks. I will often gently heat my oils as they’re infusing in my dehydrator a few times to help the process along. You can use several different types of oil for your infusion, but olive oil is the most common. I also like to use coconut oil.
If you need your infused oil sooner, or if you want to use coconut oil which is usually solid at room temperature, you can gently heat the herbs in the oil over a double boiler or in a slow cooker on low heat. I was short on time and wanted to use some coconut oil, so I decided to go with this method. Plus, I recently acquired a slow cooker that came with a second mini slow cooker, and I discovered that this is the perfect use for it!
Crush up your dried herbs a bit and put them in your vessel, then cover with oil. I used a combination of olive and coconut oil, a total of approximately 1 1/2 cups. The more oil you make, the more salve you can make. Heat for several hours, making sure that it doesn’t get too hot and cook the herbs. I did this in the evening and turned off the heat before bed, letting the herbs continue to steep overnight.
The next morning I had a very fragrant herbal oil infusion! Strain it with a sieve and cheesecloth into a bowl that you will be able to use as a double boiler.
Use the cheesecloth and squeeze every last bit of oil into the bowl. Now that you have your herbal infusion, it’s time to gather the rest of the necessary ingredients.
Making the Herbal Salve
Beeswax (or carnauba wax for vegans), essential oils of your choice, and some sort of vessel to put your finished salve in (such as these tins) is all that you’ll need besides the infused oil. I used about 1 ounce of beeswax (one small stick), and lavender and lemon essential oils, to accentuate the lavender flowers and lemon balm in the salve.
Now everything comes together quite quickly. Put your bowl of herb infused oil onto a pot of boiling water, double boiler style. Cut your wax into chunks and add it to the warm oil.
Add drops of the essential oils you chose, I did 12 drops of lavender and 6 drops of lemon. Once the oil heats up the wax should melt fairly quickly. When it’s completely melted, take the bowl off the heat (it’s probably hot!) and carefully pour it into your tins or vessel of choice.
This batch that I made yielded two 4 ounce and two 2 ounce containers. I like to make various sizes so that I can stash them in different places such as my purse or the car. Once the tins are full let them sit undisturbed for a few hours to solidify.
That’s all there is to it! It’s pretty amazing what we can make at home with just a few simple ingredients and a bit of time. This salve is good for minor cuts, scrapes, bruises, bites, stings, rashes and dry skin. I use it on my hands and feet all the time. Not only does it have astounding healing powers with all of the medicinal herbs that it contains, but it smells absolutely divine!
You can also make this into a lip balm if you’d like, simply add more a bit more beeswax to help it hold up better on your lips. This herbal lip balm from Lovely Greens is also a nice sounding recipe to follow!
I make and sell an herbal salve very similar to this in my Etsy shop, if you’d rather buy it than make it yourself. It makes a wonderful gift!
Happy herbal salve making!
I often use oil combos for the kiddos in the winter as well as vapor discs for the shower. Working on an itch cream too!!
I’ve made scrubs and soaks, but never any salves like this!
Can wait to try this!
I’ve made Fire Cider, Elderberry Syrup, Cough Syrup, and Calendula Oil.
I had no idea how simple this is to do! The hardest part is making the dried herbs. :) Do you have recommendations for different herbal combinations?
really interesting Colleen! Makes me want to make some! Happy you are using the mini crock pot…
Just looking at the herbs and salve makes me happy. Amazing what nature offers! Great giveaway!
I’ve just started experimenting with making some creams and using essential oils in them, I can’t claim too much, but it has been fun and they are nice to use!
I haven’t made a salve per say, but I found that for my sons diaper rash (which he has horribly for a while no matter what we did) that the only thing that really helped was coconut oil mixed wit a drop of tea tree and lavender essential oils.
Looking forward to possibly winning this. I would love to make some dry skin salve for just me.
This slave looks great and you make it sound so easy. I’m thinking I might have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing.
I agree,she did a great job on the directions.
Love making my own salves!
Love making homemade anything which means less chemicals! I just infused herbs and olive oil to make salve like this.
I have used essential oils for several years now but never made my own. I will have to try this salve!
I can’t wait to try this!
I’ve made things like oil mixtures for oil cleansing or essential oil blends, but I’d love to try my hand at something like this.
I make sleepy spray for the kids!
I love this idea for the mini crock pot! I will be on the look out for one at garage sales now!
Would love to try MRH EO’s!
Interesting. I’ve never made salve.
I am just getting started. Today I made deodorant, body wash and face serum.
Great recipe, looks great!
I’ve taken a couple of classes that included making a salve but I’ve never made one on my own. I have infused oil with some herbs that I’m growing for topical application. It was nice, but a salve would be much better.
I’ve never made salve – that looks perfect for dry skin on my hands! I do make my own facial oil which helps heal acne and prevent eczema from flaring – a mixture of rosehip and almond oil with essential oils of chamomile, lavender, rosewood and tea tree. A bunch of drops in a salt bath also helps!
I have made a few salves, elderberry syrup, fire cider, bath salts, and a few tinctures.
I have an herbal concoction steeping in my front window right now….need to order tins to put it in :~)
I love making salve! Lip balm is a very similar process as well. I would love to win this giveaway!
I make salves and tinctures. We use my plantain/chickweed/lemon balm salve on humans and animals alike!
No, but I would love to try and make this on my own
i’ve been diying a few things but not my own salve.
I have made soap, lip balm, and body wash.
Very neat! I’m adding this to my list of skills to learn!
I love using herbs, this would be a lovely thing to win!
I’ve never made my own salve before,but after reading your post,I’m might give it a go.Great job on the directions…cheers.
I’ve been making a wound salve for several years now. My family lets me know when we are getting low so the never run out, lol. Herbs are awesome!
I’ve never tried making salves before but I’m gonna give it a try this summer!
I make my own tinctures and oils. Making some salves is on my list of herbal things to do!
I’ve just started making herbal salves & balms, so much fun!
I’ve made calendula salve for friends with eczema. It worked really well!
Never tried to make my own salves but would like to try!
No, I’ve never tried to make my own natural healing products. It is on my list of skills to learn
I’ve never made salves, but would like to try it. Your instructions for making salves is so nice, and the photo’s amazing. Thank you for teaching us.
I have not made any healing salves, but I have made soap, laundry soap, lotions, creams and my own deodorant! I love making new things that are good for me and will be trying this salve recipe soon! Thank you!
Yes, I’ve made herbal shampoos & conditioners from blonds, redheads & brunettes… Still working on one for silver :)
I just made my first salve, no herbs, but that would be awesome too!
I never tried making any kind of healing salves but I made homemade dry and liquid laundry soap. I would like to try. What other herbs would you recommend besides the herbs in this recipe.
I have made many home remedies including healing salves.
I made lotion bars
I haven’t used herbs very much, but would like to learn. I made a salve using beef tallow and essential oils. I use it on the calluses on my feet and it works great!
Love making my own stuff! Would love some goat milk ideas, too.
I love making salves & lip balms, my friends & family love them! Thx for the opportunity to be in this drawing! Peace, Pam
I was on the fence about making infused oils. This looks fairly easy. So, I think I am going to try it.
Healing s a lves, bath products, scrubs, chapsticks, aromatherapy inhalers……most of ehat ee use is homemade. Always looking to add newformulations!
Fantastic post and a great giveaway!
I’ve made some bath salt and sugar scrubs, deodorants, toothpaste, massage oils and lotions. Mostly just make them for personal use, but I do offer recipes to my friends that may be in need.
I make my own deodorant, hand soap, and a few other things. I LOVE MRH essential oils and products. It’s so nice to not have to worry about the latest pyramid scheme.
I love this, I would love to try making a salve or anything with beeswax, so far the most I’ve done is coconut oil with lavender and tea tree oil, great for diaper rashes and bug bites. :)
I have made a couple of herbal tinctures and have been wanting to make some salves!
I am new to herbs and so far I’ve made a lavender salve and a calendula salve! I’m really enjoying it!!
My three main herbal potions I make are, Plantain oil, chamomile honey and Elderberry syrup.
Great post! Love making salves and I love Mountain Rose Herbs.
I love Mountain Rose Herbs also!!
I’ve made eo blends and one attempt at an eczema relief oil. But way more to come
I have made some body butters with essential oils but not with dried herbs. It would be great to learn more about dried herbs and their uses! Thanks for a wonderful giveaway.
I’m relatively new and I have been working on creating some trauma oil and some salves. I’m really exciting about getting deeper involved in herbalism!
I have rosacea so I make a rose oil light cream that helps make my skin not burn so much.
Nice!
I’ve made Plaque Tonic/Fire Cider; elderberry syrup, elderberry tincture, other tinctures, nourishing herbal infusions, herb infused oils, salves. Love herbs and using them!
Love essential oils and herbs, have started infusing oils this past month and am ready to make some salve! Thank you for sharing, looking forward to learning more!
I just made a wonderful healing salve made with Plantain, Calendula and Comfrey herbs infused with EVOO. These herbs had been infusing for 5 weeks. The aroma was simply lovely when I opened the jar to strain them. I added my beeswax then essential oils of Rosemary, Oregano, Frankincense, Helichrysum and a couple drops of non GMO vitamin E. A family member and a couple of friends at work are having some skin irritating issues so I gave this to them. Oh yes, I also added a few drops of Manukau oil!! The end product was a beautiful shade of green with a heavenly scent and simply enjoyable!
I have made lotions w/ essential oils but never anything with herbs. I want to learn and would love to win. Thanks for the giveaway.
I just made an herbal salve with calendula, lavender , rosemary, and peppermint I would definitely try this one also :)
I have never made a salve before. I am so excited about trying it by following this tutorial!
Yes, I make a calendula salve that we love !!!
I try to make most of what we use, I make apple cider vinegar herbal hair rinse, body oils, toothpaste, psoriasis/inflammation balm for my husband, itch relief balm, sinus/respiratory balm, depends on circumstances.
I haven’t made any but would love to try!
I made a Healing Herbal Salve that I’ve since ran out of. Will have to try this recipe!
I started to make my own salve but I accidentally burned my herbs so I have my beeswax bar still need to try to make it just need some new herbs!
I’m studying herbalism & aromatherapy & have made several herbal salves! This is an awesome giveaway!
I just made a hair detangler yesterday that turned out beautifully. Love your post!
I have made a plantain salve in the past for my kids cuts.
I have only made a few salves. I used only Coconut Oil, Vitamin E, and a tad of rose oil for the base and then added different EOs, depending on what I wanted to use it for. For chest and foot rub for lungs I added the EOs of Eucalyptus, peppermint, basil, fir needle. It is fun and wonderful to make medicine and I love it.
I have several of those herbs in my garden — funny but I have no plantain in my lawn at all, makes me grumpy! Thanks for the recipe and tutorial.
I LOVE making salves! Ever since my first batch I have been hooked, tthey work tons better than any ither cream and everyone loves them :-)
I have made many things for myself and as gifts for others using essential oils. ;)
There’s a first time for everything, and I would love to get started on learning about essential oils..
I just made my own Elderberry Tincture!!! So excited to learn more to do with herbs and oils. I love your instructional videos they are so easy to understand and not intimidating.
I have made some plain salve and some plain salve with essential oils in it for use at home..I also have some trauma oil sitting now that will be ready in about a week.
Thanks for the great directions and links for ingredients. I make my own salves from plantain, chickweed and comfry and sometimes combined.
Fantastic recipe!! Thank you for giving me some great ideas. I make a salve but hadn’t thought to add comfrey.
Thanks for this great recipe! I can’t wait to try it.
Great giveaway, giving this a try , it seems easy to follow- great directions.
will be trying
Thank you, you have made it look easy and uncomplicated. I am going to bookmark this page. This looks like fun.
I’ve made my own toothpaste using coconut oil and essentials oils. :)
Thanks for sharing this tutorial. I look forward to checking out more posts :) I have made soap, lip balm, deodorant and body butter and look forward to trying this salve.
I haven’t made any salves yet, but I’ve been wanting to try it- we’ve got lots of plantain growing around our house!
Wow! I’ve been a bit intimidated to make a salve, but your post is so informative that I think I just may give it a try now!
This salve is amazing!!! It healed my husband’s second degree burns with no scarring after a molten aluminum project went awry. We haven’t purchased antibiotic cream in 10 years. I need to make a new batch, almost out!
I think the only thing that I’ve made that classifies as healing would be a tummy tuck cream.
Thank you for the fabulous directions!! Can’t wait to try your recipe :)
Over the winter I made ginger, honey, lemon, mint tea and I stayed healthy while everyone around me got colds and flus.
I am going to try to sell a salve with arnica and other herbs like this at our local farmers market!
I make a salve with plantain, beeswax and olive oil. Awesome for any skin conditions!
definitely want to try this!
I just got some herbal salve yesterday from a local artisan. Can’t wait to make my own :)
This is a wonderful post! I have not tried making salves yet, but have made infusions and tinctures.
Looking forward to making this salve. I added many new herbs to my herb garden to try new things this summer/fall. Thank you.
I have made hard lotion bars….kept my hands feet and elbows from cracking this last winter! It was a rough one in the North East! Would love to make these, thanks for all the great info and recipe!
I havent tried to make a salvr yet. Ibam looking for a replacement for vicks vap o rub. My roommate uses it every night for a nail infection. It is working but would like to replace
I made quite a few mild soaps for hair, body, pets and people with skin eczema. I also made my own diaper rash cream when my kiddo was little.
I love your salve! Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Recently I put similar herbs to infuse in olive oil for the salve – comfrey, plantain, calendula, camomile, chickweed. I learned that plantain and chickweed have to be fresh though… so I only did the quick wilt with them.
I’m infusing oil for a dandelion salve right now. I’m hoping it turns out okay. I had people tell me that the flowers needed to be fresh not dried, but I let the flowers sit for a few days to wilt and dry a little bit because I read that the moisture content of the flowers can cause the salve to go bad. Hopefully it turns out okay…I have my beeswax and coconut oil ready…just realized that perhaps I should get some tins….haha.
I’ve made fire cider, decongestant, poultices but not salves yet!
I have made several salves and my family loves them. We love making our own herbal remedies!
I would really like to try this recipe
9 years ago I became facinated with the prospect of plants healing us. That the healing power of nature trumps the chemically, man-made pharmaceutical products. They are safer, healthier and smell better. When used internally (i.e. tinctures, infusions, teas, syrups and more), the immune system is amplified instead of depressed. We are sick less or alternatively, become well faster and we feel better. I created my first tincture and salve through a pre-booked kit from a great company. I took raw materials and transformed them into medicine! I was excited and eager to learn all I could. I dreamed of the day I could study herbalism and get that knowledge “under my belt,” so to speak. I’m proud to say, in 2012, while pregnant with my first child, I earned my Master Herbalism diploma through GCNM via online schooling. Good luck to all! I applaud you in your search for natural medicine, to heal yourself and your families! It’s worth the time and the financial investment. Happy herbing!
I started only buying natural products a couple of years ago but I have not yet tried making my own remedies. It is something I hope to learn more about.
No, I haven’t but I can if I win this giveaway of great products!
This is awesome information.
I have herbs infusing as I type. I just need to get the essential oils I want to put in it. I haven’t been aboe to get as many as I’d like due to $$ constraints lol
Is it possible to use aloe vera as a substitute for the dry herbs? Thanks for very clear instruction
I’ve never tried it with aloe vera, so I’m not sure how it would turn out. Usually you want to use dried herbs because the water content in fresh herbs can promote rancidity.
Aloe Vera needs to be refrigerated after being expressed as it can go bad, and is better when fresh(there are herbs that can prevent and extend but you also begin altering the chemical structure as well). If using for burns though, a mix of fresh expressed aloe, honey (raw) and lavender and a bit of tea tree essential oil is one of the best I’ve used to date, and wrapped in gauze during sleep and/or travel- this prevents the gauze from sticking as well as the burns from drying out and cracking, as well as promotes healing and preventing a serious infection.
I’ve heard that you can infuse oil with fresh aloe but I have never tried it myself.
How much herbs should I use for this?
Do you have a salve for cough and congestion
I’ve made wonderful herbal oils infused in the Mighty Fast Herbal Infuser. I’ve made infused oils for headaches, digestion and better sleep and they all have come out amazing. This machine infuses the oils and herbs perfectly. Then I use the oil and mix with beeswax or shea butter and perfection!
Kat ONID, I just got a Mighty Fast and would love to hear your recipes! I’m hoping to make some rubs for sore joints and muscles using *any* herbs/ingredients. Can you email to me? Thanks! micqueli at yahoo
Can you use plantain too?
Yarrow come in different colours, does it matter what colour it is.
Just a brief note regarding the temperature at which essential oils should be added.
We found that 50 C are optimum, at higher temperatures you will loose top notes.
Controlling the temperature throughout the process – with bees wax not above 70 C – will avoide overheating and getting an off odour from the wax.
could I use coconut oil instead of bees wax?
No, it will not set up right without some kind of wax. You can use coconut oil as part of your infused oil, though!
Are aluminum tins are safe for storing salves?
I’m not sure, that’s something that I will have to research further.
This was great! Thank you for the instruction. I have just getting into herbal remedies and thought this would be a good place to start.
Hi there, what is the approximate shelf life of the salves? thanks so much for your gorgeous site.
I have bye me salve from a farmer market and they put salt in it it is for the lips balms how much salt to put in?