One year for my birthday my mom gave me a locally made salve/body balm.  As soon as I opened it, I fell in love with the smell.  Then I put it on.  It soaked into my skin like no other lotion ever has.  I started using it on cuts and scrapes, my son’s eczema and even sunburns.  I quickly deemed it THE MIRACLE SALVE.

I’ve been using it every day for over a year.  My skin is smoother and more hydrated.  Any skin problem can be solved with this stuff.  Then, one day she went out of business.  After trying a few other salves that did not live up to this one, I decided to learn how to make it.

I looked on the back of the tin for the ingredients and started googling ‘how to make a salve.’  It’s actually quite simple.  All you need is a type of oil and either shea butter, beeswax or both.  They’re melted together and turn into a spreadable balm or salve.

The key to the salve I loved so much is the long list of herbs.  The herbs are infused into olive oil (either by the sun or over low heat).  The list looks daunting, but I found them all on Mountain Rose Herbs and Etsy.  Buy just one ounce each and it will last a very long time.

I purchased the other oils listed on Amazon as well as the shea butter and beeswax.  After making this a few times, I think I’ve finally nailed the ‘recipe’ and I’m so excited to share it with you!

Herbal Salve/Balm for Extreme Moisturizing

Herb Infused Olive Oil

Take a quart jar and add 1 Tablespoon each of these dried herbs

• St. John’s Wart
• Calendula
• Comfrey Leaf
• Burdock Root
• Black Walnut Hulls (Powder)
• Dandelion Nettle
• Heartsease
• Goldenseal

Add olive oil to the top of the jar and let it sit in the sun for 2-3 weeks (stirring every other day).  If you’re in a hurry, you can do it in a double boiler for an hour.  After the olive oil is infused, strain out the herbs with a piece of cheesecloth.

How to make the salve/balm

1. Mix 4 ounces of the infused olive oil with 1 ounce almond oil, 1 ounce hazelnut oil, 1 ounce jojoba oil and 1 ounce grape seed oil in a double boiler.
2. Add 1.5 ounces of beeswax and 1 ounce of shea butter over low heat.
3. Stir until completely melted.
4. To test consistency, dip a spoon in the mixture and place in the freezer for 2 minutes.  That will be the finished consistency of the balm.
5. Once you’ve reached your preferred consistency, add 10 drops each of peppermint, lavender, eucalytpus, patchouli and sandalwood.
6. Pour into a container and it will harden as it cools.