Which salve should I make?

When a herbwife first starts infusing oils, it is tempting to turn every herb into a double infused or sun infused oil just to know what it looks like, how it smells and experiment with use.  After a couple of years when your shelves are groaning with oils you thought might be a good idea, the reality hits that actually there are several which aren’t really doing anything except be handed round for people to sniff during talks and demonstrations.  

My unused oils were mugwort, tansy, southernwood and vervain. They could be used as an anointing oil during ceremonies or in ritual bathing. Mugwort, tansy and southernwood have a strong, pleasant scent, so I might try using them in a future experimental lotion.

Every household is different, so the oils you find useful will probably differ from those I love and use regularly. Even so, the following list may help you think about the oils you wish to create. If you’ve never made a herbal oil before then go and read this post first.

Single oils to have within easy reach

For skin and internal tissues

Calendula – this oil goes in most of my skin preparations

Plantain – can be used in any hand or skin lotion, can also replace comfrey in any formula

Yarrow – wonderful healing oil for anything to do with blood

Chickweed – anti-itch, soothing and moisturising, lovely as a bath lotion

Elder bark or leaves – really good for bruising

Comfrey – for broken bones, bruises, varicose veins

Nettles – anti-inflammatory and anti-itching/irritation, moisturising

Horsechestnut – good for strengthening artery/vein walls

For hair and scalp

Rosemary – promotes good blood flow, anti-fungal, moisturising

Thyme – anti-fungal, anti-bacterial

Nettle – promotes hair growth, so useful for alopecia

For ears

Mullein – very good for children’s earache

St John’s wort – there are “scientific studies” which show this oil is as effective as antibiotics for ear infections.

Garlic oil – often combined with mullein to give maximum anti-viral and anti-bacterial effect.

Moisturisers

Marshmallow – my favourite moisturising agent

Violet or heartsease – my second favourite moisturiser

Pain

St John’s wort – I tend to add this oil to any combination “just because”. It’s specific for nerve pain and anti-bacterial

Meadowsweet – for all kinds of pain, contains salicylic acid

Agrimony – for pain caused by constriction

Solomon’s seal – for joint pain

Dandelion flower – light muscle pain, breast massage

Goldenrod – for deep muscle pain

Violet leaf – for breast tissue pain, breaking up fibrous tissue lumps NB Always get any lumps or bumps medically checked out first!

Cooling

Elderflower

Heating

Angelica – lovely massage oil for tight muscles

Ginger – gives a gentle, warming oil

Chilli – use in small amounts as this will heat quickly

Salve combinations

Basic hand salve – plantain, calendula and violet or marshmallow

Old wound salve – comfrey, plantain and yarrow

Eczema preventive salve – calendula and chickweed

Eczema breakout – calendula, chickweed and St John’s wort

Diabetic foot salve – St John’s wort, plantain and marshmallow

Tight muscle pain salve – St John’s wort and agrimony

Varicose veins – horsechestnut and calendula

Joint pain – Solomon’s seal and agrimony

General pain – meadowsweet and St John’s wort

Winter heating oil – Non Shaw's’s hot oil recipe can be found here

Simple Creams

If you want to learn how to make a simple cream which doesn’t separate, read this post.

Aftersun soother – St John’s wort oil plus marshmallow with aloe vera gel and elderflower tincture

Rose moisturising cream – equal parts rose oil and rose tincture

Elderflower face and body cream – elderflower oil and elderflower tincture.

There are innumerable combinations of herbs to provide the perfect salve for the person, condition or moment. What is your favourite?