Saturday, February 28, 2009

How to make a Healing Salve



Dad bought some "Salve-ation" for me (Shea Butter and Fennel), and I was inspired to make a similar but superior product to use for cuts, burns, scrapes, muscle aches, chapped or dry skin, acne, udder congestion and mastitis. The following recipe is for HUMANS and ANIMALS. If it's good enough for us, you might as well use it on your animals too.

This is the second batch I have made. I added mango butter, sweet almond oil, and coconut oil to this one so that it would help chapped skin as well as be healing.

Over the course of a year or two gather your ingredients. This way, the cost doesn't overwhelm you. :o)

Infuse comfrey leaves in olive oil or castor oil - I set mine in a sunny window for about 4 weeks. (Note that that link says not to do it for more than 2 weeks. I added Grapefruit Seed Extract to mine as a preservative.) But, you can heat it over low heat instead and vastly speed up the process.

Strain your comfrey leaves out of the olive/castor oil.

Add several heaping Tablespoons of beeswax and about 1/2 cup of Mango butter to the pot and heat over low heat until it's melted in.

Adding the comfrey root powder.


Then, to test the thickness of the cooled mixture, just drop a tiny drop on a cold plate. Give it a minute to cool and then see if it is thick enough for your liking. If not, add more beeswax. (How's that for scientific?) I'm not giving exact measurements because I did not use exact measurements!

Then add:
Peppermint Essential Oil - pain relief, circulatory system, anti-inflammatory, supports muscles and bones
Lavender Essential Oil - relieves pain, enhance blood flow, rejuvinates skin, soothes burns and sunburns, protects against cancer
Fennel Essential Oil - helps in milk production, anti-inflammatory, good for the skin
Tea Tree Essential Oil - antibacterial
Oregano Essential Oil - good for acne, anti-viral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti parasitic, helps heal psoriasis, excema, athletes foot, relieves congestion
Cayenne Pepper - improves blood flow
GSE - antibacterial
Vitamin E Oil - natural preservative
Comfrey Root Powder - healing
Sweet Almond Oil - improves complexion, softens skin
Coconut Oil - good for dry skin

Pour it into sterile jars. Do not put the lids on until it has cooled.

Teresa has suggested I name it "Mother's Touch Healing Salve" or something along those lines. I like that idea because it implies that it's not only for mothers to use on their children, but good for Udder Kinds of Mothers too! Or for Other Mother's Udders. Kris suggested I name it "Salve-anella" but if I expect to sell any of it, I better not! Sounds too much like salmonella. :o)

8 comments:

Stephanie said...

Hi Rachel. I've always been hesitant to put any comfrey in a product that I SELL because of the concern of the wound not being thoroughly cleaned and closing too quickly. I guess I'm just thinking about liability too. Have you ever heard of that being a problem with anyone? I know I'm just usually overly cautious. : ) Very pretty salve.

SingingWolf said...

Hi Rachael, Careful about saying it's good for the critters too. Cats don't do well with many things that people and dogs do fine with, including EOs.

FourMileFarm said...

Hi Stephanie!
I do agree with you that it could be a problem and some sue happy person could come along and sue me. I guess everything from soap to lotions, creams, and salves should come with a warning: USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
I will add on the label "if applied to a wound, it should be THOROUGHLY cleaned first!"
Maybe I should say that "you shouldnt use this if you are allergic to any of these ingredients" as well.... but then again common sense has to start somewhere!
You are right - liability has got to be considered.
Thanks for your comment!
Rachel

FourMileFarm said...

Hi Singing Wolf! Thanks for your comment. You bring up a good point that I hadn't considered - not being a cat person myself. :o) (We do have two cats, and I like them! I just don't give them a whole lot of thought. lol)
I can see that labeling this stuff is going to be something that requires a lot of thought and research! I have used it with great success on my goats udders, and on a wound that one of the chickens had, and on people. But, havent tried it out on any other animals...
I see an increase in milk production every time I massage it into an udder. Plus it helps chapped udders.
Thank you!
Rachel

Anonymous said...

Is this a thick or runny Salve?I love the ingrediants in it i want to try to make it myself but iam no chemist....lol is it for sale?If so i cant tell by the picture if its thick or thin beautiful color also!

Anonymous said...

Is this a thick or thin salve?and is it for sale yet?I love the ingrediants! Beautiful color also Good Job ...So iam taking it that its potenant and works well eh?Good Deal!

FourMileFarm said...

Hi Kamardan, This is a salve that is thick enough to scoop some out on your fingertips, without it sliding off.
You can always remelt it and add a bit more beeswax until it reaches the thickness you like best. I like it to be thick enough that when I leave a jar of it out in the milkroom in the 95* heat it does not turn liquid. :o)

FourMileFarm said...

Sorry I didnt get all your questions answered in my first reply! Yes, it is for sale - $12 for a 4 ounce tin, plus shipping.
It is wonderfully healing - we have gotten to where we use it on almost everything from animals to humans. I almost always keep a tin or jar if it in the milkroom for animals with cuts or scrapes, as well as for mastitis on my dairy goats. I even rub some on udders when I just want to increase milk production. It feels really good on my hands too.