These days, something such as a simple cut or burn could quickly become infected if you weren’t able to find the right OTC medicine to help with it. Store shelves are often empty right now and even something as simple as Neosporin can be hard to find. The answer to the problem of empty shelves it to make more at home so you don’t need to buy it. Things like this healing salve are just one of those things you can make at home.
This recipe for a healing salve is perfect for simple cuts, scrapes and simple burns. We’ve used it in our home since around 2015 and it has never failed me.
It whips up in a pinch and is a great addition to any holistic medicine cabinet.
Or when the store is out and you need something quickly.
DIY Healing Salve
The ingredients in this healing salve recipe- lavender essential oil and tea tree essential oil – both have been shown to have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Lemon essential oil is shown to be disinfectant as well.
Witch hazel has been known to reduce inflammation and be antiviral and Lavender is thought to reduce pain slightly as well.
These are all great for healing those minor injuries that happen.
But what really makes this healing salve so amazing is that you can take the base salve recipe and boost it however you want.
Herbs such as Comfrey like THIS and Calendula like THIS are great additions to a healing salve recipe and both come in their dried form as well as liquid forms.
How to Make a Healing Salve
At the end of this tutorial, I will give you a few additions and their properties so you can decide if you would like to add them or not.
The additions not only change what the base use for this healing salve is used for, but can also help to promote healing in other ways.
How to Preserve DIY Healing Salve
This recipe for healing salve will be good on a shelf for up to 8 weeks. However, if you would like to preserve it so it’s shelf stable for up to 6 months, you can do so by adding a few drops of vitamin E oil like THIS to your mixture below.
Vitamin E oil is often used as a preservative in homemade beauty products and other DIY products.
You Will Need:
- 1/2 c. Coconut Oil
- 1 Tbsp. Sweet Almond Oil
- 2-3 Tbsp Beeswax Pellets
- 12 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 12 drops Tea Tree Oil
- 12 drops Lemon Essential Oil
- 1 Tbsp. Witch Hazel
- Vitamin E oil, optional
Supplies Needed:
- double boiler (or small metal mixing bowl and a small pot)
- Rubber spatula
- Electric mixer
- Canning Funnel, optional
- 4 oz lotion jars
Add the coconut oil, beeswax and almond oil to a double boiler and fully melt it over low heat. Make sure to stir it constantly with the rubber spatula so it does not burn.
You’ll also want to make sure to scrape down the sides as needed.
If you do not have a double boiler, you can use a small metal bowl set on top of a small pot filled halfway with simmering water.
Once they are fully melted, pour them into a mixing bowl and allow it to cool for 30 to 60 seconds.
You don’t want it “just off the stove” hot, but you also do not want to allow it to cool so much it solidifies.
Once the mixture has cooled a bit, add the witch hazel and 12 drops of each essential oil.
Then, using the electric mixer, beat the mixture until it is a creamy texture that you are comfortable with.
As it cools, it will become more of a solid cream instead of a runny mess.
If you used 2 tbsp. beeswax, your final result will be more of a creamy texture. If you used 3 tbsp., it will have more of a solid ointment texture.
Once you’ve reached the consistency you are happy with, pour the mixture into a 4 oz lotion jar or a 4 oz jelly jar.
Set it aside and allow it to cool completely.
Should I Put a Lid On My Homemade Beauty Product Immediately?
When you make this healing slave recipe, do not add a lid on the finished product until it is fully cool.
Adding a lid to a hot product could cause condensation to form on the inside of the lid. This can promote mold growth or ruin your finished product.
How to Use a Homemade Healing Salve
To use this healing salve, massage a small amount onto the affected area. If needed, coer with a bandage.
Reapply every 6-8 hours or as needed.
What herbs and essential oils can I add to this recipe for healing salve?
If you want to increase the properties of this recipe for a healing salve, you can add the followng when you add the essential oils.
Be sure to add them before you mix the ingredients so they will be evenly distributed.
Comfrey – promotes skin healing due to allantoin and rosmarinic acid in the leaves that promote new skin cell growth. May be antiviral as well.
Calendula – Has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Good for soothing minor cuts, aches and pains.
Peppermint essential oil – soothes sore muscles. Great for arthritis and general aches and pains. Also, good for use for headaches and upset tummies.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil – Perfect for adding to help relieve chest congestion and coughs.
Looking for more DIY products to make and stop buying? You may enjoy these:
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DIY Healing Salve Recipe
Equipment
- double boiler
- 4 oz lotion jars
- Canning Funnel, optional
Ingredients
- ½ c. Coconut Oil
- 1 Tbsp. Sweet Almond Oil
- 2-3 Tbsp. Beeswax Pellets
- 12 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 12 drops Tea Tree Oil
- 12 drops Lemon Essential Oil
- 1 Tbsp. Witch Hazel
Instructions
- Add the coconut oil, beeswax and almond oil to a double boiler and fully melt it over low heat. Make sure to stir it constantly with the rubber spatula so it does not burn.
- Once they are fully melted, pour them into a mixing bowl and allow it to cool for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Once the mixture has cooled a bit, add the witch hazel and 12 drops of each essential oil. If you are adding additions or Vitamin E oil to preserve, add them now. Then, using the electric mixer, beat the mixture until it is a creamy texture that you are comfortable with.
- Once you’ve reached the consistency you are happy with, pour the mixture into a 4 oz lotion jar or a 4 oz jelly jar.
