The skin covers the entire external surface of the body and is the body’s largest organ. It has an intricate structure with several layers that performs numerous vital functions. Hence why skincare is an essential routine and there are several herbal treatments that aid in this regard, such as balm and salve. This article delves into salve to explore its use in traditional medicine.
What is a salve?
A salve is a medicated ointment that is applied on the skin to treat and protect against dermatological ailments and promote the longevity of the skin. It is a topical product that is externally applied directly to the surface of the skin as a vulnerary for soothing and healing the skin.
A salve and a balm are similar in that they are both a water-free, beeswax-and-oil mixture that is intended for external application. However they differ in their texture, absorption, and purpose:
- Texture – balms are harder with a high wax-to-oil ratio while salves are softer with higher oil to wax ratio
- Absorption – balms remain on the skin’s surface while salves are absorbed into the skin.
- Purpose – balms form a protective barrier on the skin and seal in moisture while salves heal and soothe the skin.
How is it made?
To make a salve, herbal extraction is first used to extract active medicinal compounds into vegetable oils by maceration (soaking) at room temperature for a specified length of time, in low heat infusion (steeping) or high heat decoction (boiling). After filtration, the resulting herbal oil is then mixed with beeswax to produce a mixture that is solid at room temperature and stored in wide top jars.
An Example: how to make a salve?
- Take an oil such as olive oil or infused oil such as comfrey or calendula.
- Measure the amount based on the following equivalents:
- For 500ml of oil use about 44.36ml of beeswax.
- For 30ml of oil use about 1/2 teaspoon of beeswax. (30ml of beeswax is equivalent to about five teaspoons.)
- Heat the oil with the beeswax and mix until all of the wax is melted.
- Then add herbs and essential oils and pour into containers.
- If the salve is too hard, re-melt and add more oil; if too soft, re-melt and add more wax. (Vegetarian wax or coconut oil may be used instead of beeswax.)
Great Gardener Salve
- 1 part whole calendula flowers, infused
- 1 part meadowsweet flowers, buds and leaves infused
- 1 part plantain leaf, infused
This one is good for gardeners. The meadowsweet soothes muscle ache, the calendula helps with rough skin, and plantain soothes the skin. Make into a salve by following the previously mentioned directions.
Varicose Vein Salve
- 1 part calendula infused oil
- 1 part horse chestnut bark, leaf, and/or green chopped-up fruit, infused in oil
- 2 parts St. John’s wort infused oil
Make into a salve.
Demetria Clark’s recipe for a soothing salve
Use oil infused with one part of each plant:
- Plantain
- Comfrey
- St. John’s wort
- Calendula
Make into a salve. Add a few drops of an essential oil such as lavender or tea tree oil. Use essential oil sparingly as it is very potent.
Uses
Salves generally have antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. They are applied with the finger and massaged directly into the affected part of the skin. Depending on the ingredients:
- Salves can soothe muscle aches and ischemia.
- They can be used for bruises, sores, wounds, boils, and mastitis.
- They have been used as vaginal lubricants for comfort and pleasure during intercouse.
- Black salves have been used historically to draw out tumor from underlying tissue.
In South Africa, the most well known medicated ointments include the American brand Cuticura that was founded in 1865 by the Potter Drug and Chemical Corporation based in Boston and Zam-buk that was launched in 1902 by Charles Edward Fulford in Leeds, England. The question is: Are Cuticura and Zam-buk salves or balms?
Reference and further reading:
- Croaker, A., King, G.J., Pyne, J.H., Anoopkumar-Dukie, S. and Liu, L., 2017. A review of black salve: cancer specificity, cure, and cosmesis. Evidence‐based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2017(1), p.9184034.
- Kumadoh, D. and Ofori-Kwakye, K., 2017. Dosage forms of herbal medicinal products and their stability considerations-an overview. J Crit Rev, 4(4), pp.1-8.
- Romm, A., 2017. Botanical medicine for women’s health e-book: botanical medicine for women’s health e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- Romm, A., Ganora, L., Hoffmann, D., Yarnell, E., Abascal, K. and Coven, M., 2010. Fundamental principles of herbal medicine. Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health, pp.24-74.