ALL THINGS TOPICAL

[Lazy Gardener]

This is a place to post your recipes for salves, ointments, and tinctures: Any thing you put on your skin, nails, or hair that has healing properties. I think it would be helpful to have all the recipes in a single thread instead of scattered throughout multiple years of "new topics". I'm hoping that @Britesea will kick things off with her Plantain ointment.

Edited to add:

All things topical index:

Plantain ointment (Britesea) #2.

Herbal Drawing Salve (Britesea) #6

Poison Ivy Salve

https://thefreerangelife.com/make-poison-ivy-salve/ (Lazy gardener) #9

Chapstick (Hinotori) # 11

Lip gloss (Hinotori) # 13

Body butter (Hinotori) # 14

Lotion (Hinotori) # 15

Sore Muscle Rub (Marianne) #22

Ammonia for Chiggers and turkey mites (Creal Critter and Milk Man's dtr.) #26

ACV for bug bites, nettle stings (Marianne) #27 (Hinotori) #28

Simple whipped body butter (Hinotori) #59

Warming Ginger Cayenne Salve (Marianne) #76

Links to useful information (may or may not have been tried by SS members)

http://www.herbhedgerow.co.uk/20-skincare-herbs-for-treating-eczema/

https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/diy-herbal-salves

https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/rose-petal-salve-recipe/

https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/herbs-directory-culinary-medicinal-zl0z1401zhir#Elderberry

 

[Britesea]

Well, ok, I'll give the recipe, but it's really simple.
1. Cover about 1/3 cup dried plantain leaves (either plantago lanceolata or plantago major) with 1/2 cup of olive oil or other neutral carrier oil. Let it sit for at least a week, but the longer you wait, the more powerful it will be.
2. Strain the oil with a clean cloth ( I use a handkerchief) and squeeze the herb to extract as much good stuff as possible.
3. Heat up about 3 oz of clean beeswax in a pan that you can dedicate to this purpose. When it is melted, pour into a container and set it in a pan of simmering water. Add the plantain oil to the beeswax, stirring gently. The cooler oil will probably cause some of the beeswax to start to harden again, but just keep stirring over the simmering water until it is all combined. Remove from hot water.
4. Add 8-10 drops of tea tree oil to increase the antibacterial properties and to help preserve the salve.
5. Let cool and check the consistency of the salve. If it is too soft, add a touch more melted beeswax; if it is too hard, add a little oil.

This stuff is good for at least a year, and I have been known to use it even if it smells a touch rancid if I need it and don't have any fresh. Use it for any bite or sting, nettle stings, rashes... heck, try it for any kind of skin problem!

I recently ran across a reference to making a salve using cottonwood buds for the same purpose. I would probably make it the same way. It's good to know if you live in cottonwood country and don't have any plantain.

 

[milkmansdaughter]

@rodeogirl, this is a great thread for you too. I know you're good with this stuff. I think @Marianne and @Mini Horses and @HomesteaderWife also have recipes (I could be wrong!) Thanks, @Lazy Gardener and @Britesea for starting a dedicated thread.

 

[sumi]

@Hinotori has some recipes as well

Thanks for starting the thread @Lazy Gardener!

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I give credit to @Britesea

 

[Britesea]

I tried making a Black Drawing Salve, but I think it needs more beeswax. I still dabbed it onto my finger where it feels like I have raspberry thorn embedded, but I can't see it.

Herbal Drawing Salve

Heat 1/3 cup of olive oil in a double boiler and add 1 1/2 tsp dried chopped comfrey and 1 1/2 tsp dried plantain leaves. Simmer for 30 minutes. Strain out the herbs and squeeze to extract all the good stuff. Wipe any herbs left behind in the double boiler.
Pour the herbal oil back into the double boiler and add 2 tsp beeswax (I'm going to add at least one more teaspoon). Heat and stir until the beeswax melts. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 tbsp each Activated Charcoal Powder and Bentonite Clay, and 15 drops Tea Tree oil. Stir until completely incorporated. Pour into a storage container (it fit nicely in a 1/2 pint wide mouth mason jar) and let harden before sealing.

To Use: Spread the salve over splinters and cover with a bandage. Repeat as needed to remove the splinter. Be careful as the charcoal will stain EVERYTHING.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

How does this compare to icthamol ointment in texture and odor?

 

[Britesea]

I've never used icthammol, so I don't know.
So, @Lazy Gardener when are you going to post your salve?

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I can post the recipe: Lifted off the net:

https://thefreerangelife.com/make-poison-ivy-salve/

I use my large crock pot to make the oil infusions, and even to melt the wax, and complete mixing it all together. I place a towel on the bottom of the crock pot, them place jars with my herbs/oils, and pour water around the jars. I cover the jars with tin foil to keep the water that condenses on crock pot lid from dripping down into the jars. this allows me to make the infusions while I turn my attention to other tasks.

the last batch I made was real stinky, and I ended up dumping it. Not sure if it's b/c I dried the JW first, or if b/c I used tea tree oil, which my hubby absolutely hates. This time, I'll use JW fresh, perhaps not as much, and omit the TTO.

 

[Hinotori]

I've been sick last couple days. Give me a few and I'll get them up here.