A Beginner’s Guide to Making Herbal Salves and Lotions

Topical herbal preparations can be a mild yet potent option for treating painful scrapes, irritating rashes, and dry, lackluster skin.

Although you can often purchase these products at a local natural shop, they’re typically quick and easy to craft at home. These topical blends not only feed your skin, but also form a light barrier that shields and helps your skin take in beneficial nutrients.

Oils, salves, and creams

There are three main categories of topical herbal products: infused oils, salves, and creams or lotions.

• Infused oils are produced by steeping herbs in a carrier oil such as olive or almond to draw out the plant compounds that soothe the skin.
• Salves are solid blends of oils and a wax like beeswax or soy wax.
• Creams and lotions, as you likely know, range from rich to lightweight in texture, combining oils with water to create a moisturizing topical product.

The initial step in preparing these at home is to infuse oil with dried herbs. After that, you can use the oil on its own as a topical application, or combine it to produce a salve or cream.

Infused oils will keep for up to a year, so you can mix and match them as needed for your home remedy stash.

Don’t forget:Perform a patch test before applying any new product to your skin to avoid an allergic response.

How to make an herb-infused oil

Makes approximately 8 ounces.

You need:

• 4 oz. dried herb
• 8 oz. skin-safe carrier oil, such as olive oil or almond oil
• quart-sized mason jar
• slow cooker or stock pot

Directions:

1. Finely chop or grind your dried herb and place it in the mason jar. Cover with the oil, and stir gently so the herb is evenly distributed.
2. Seal the mason jar, and set it in a water bath inside either a slow cooker or a stock pot on the stove (if using a stock pot, set a mason jar lid ring under the jar to prevent the glass from touching the pot’s metal).
3. Warm the water and oil gently for 3–5 days, aiming to keep the oil temperature near 110 degrees. The “low” or “warm” setting on a slow cooker is perfect.
4. After 3–5 days, take out the jar and allow the oil to cool a bit so it’s safe to touch, then strain the oil through muslin, cheesecloth, or a clean cotton t-shirt to remove the herb solids.
5. Transfer the oil to an airtight container and store in a cool, dark place. It will remain usable for up to a year.

How to make an herbal salve

Makes approximately 9 ounces.

You need:

• 8 oz. herb-infused oil
• 1 oz. beeswax, grated or in pellets
• a double boiler
• clean glass jars or metal tins
• essential oils, optional

Directions:

1. Warm the infused oil in a double boiler. Add the beeswax and stir until it melts. Check the salve’s firmness by dipping a clean spoon into the mix and popping it into the freezer for a few minutes. If it’s too soft, add more beeswax.
2. Pour the warm salve into containers (reused jam jars or small metal tins are convenient). If you want to include essential oils, add just a few drops now and stir with a chopstick or another clean tool.
3. Seal the containers and keep them in a cool, dark place. Properly stored salves can last up to a year.

How to make an herbal cream

Makes approximately 16 ounces.

You need:

• 1 cup distilled water or rosewater
• 3/4 cup carrier oil (almond or an herb-infused oil)
• 1/2–1 oz. beeswax (use less for a lighter cream, more for a firmer texture)
• a double boiler
• blender or immersion blender
• clean glass jars
• essential oils, optional

Directions:

1. Combine the oil and beeswax in a double boiler and heat gently until the beeswax has melted. Pour the warm oil mixture into a blender and let it cool to room temperature; it will become cloudy and thicken.
2. Once cooled, run the blender on high and slowly stream the water into the center of the vortex. If your blender overheats, pause to let it cool — excess heat can re-melt the oil and wax and prevent proper emulsification.
3. Watch for the mixture to turn white and develop a thick, creamy texture. The blender may start to struggle as the cream gets too stiff to incorporate more. You might not need all the water, and that’s okay.
4. If using essential oils, gently fold in 1–2 drops at this point.
5. Scoop the cream into jars using a spatula to get it all out of the blender. Cap and store in a cool, dry spot. Creams typically last about a month, and refrigeration can extend their shelf life.

Salve for scrapes and burns

Note:Serious burns require professional medical care. This salve is intended for mild burns and abrasions. If you’re unsure, consult a healthcare provider.

You need:

• 8 oz. herb-infused oil made with equal parts comfrey leaf (Symphytum sp.), oregon grape root (Berberis aquifolium), and calendula (Calendula officinalis)
• 1–2 drops lavender essential oil (Lavandula sp.)

A recipe for rash cream

For this lotion, substitute part of the water with aloe for cooling, soothing relief.

You need:

• 2/3 cup distilled water
• 1/3 cup aloe vera gel
• 3/4 cup herb-infused oil made with equal parts lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), chamomile (Matricaria recutita), and marshmallow root (Althea officinalis)
• 1–2 drops tea tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Radiant face cream recipe

You need:

• 1 cup rosewater
• 3/4 cup herb-infused oil prepared with equal parts yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and calendula (Calendula officinalis)
• 1–2 drops clary sage essential oil (Salvia sclarea)

Takeaway

With these fundamentals for crafting topical herbal remedies, you can experiment with the simple recipes above and stock your first-aid supplies with natural options to soothe scrapes, rashes, dry areas, and other minor skin troubles.