DIY Healing Salve Recipe for Simple Cuts and Burns (2024)

By Stacy Williams

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These days, something such as a simple cut or burn could quickly become infected if you weren’t able to find the right OTC medicine to help with it. Store shelves are often empty right now and even something as simple as Neosporin can be hard to find. The answer to the problem of empty shelves it to make more at home so you don’t need to buy it. Things like this healing salve are just one of those things you can make at home.

DIY Healing Salve Recipe for Simple Cuts and Burns (1)

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This recipe for a healing salve is perfect for simple cuts, scrapes and simple burns. We’ve used it in our home since around 2015 and it has never failed me.

It whips up in a pinch and is a great addition to any holistic medicine cabinet.

Or when the store is out and you need something quickly.

DIY Healing Salve

The ingredients in this healing salve recipe- lavender essential oil and tea tree essential oil – both have been shown to have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Lemon essential oil is shown to be disinfectant as well.

Witch hazel has been known to reduce inflammation and be antiviral and Lavender is thought to reduce pain slightly as well.

These are all great for healing those minor injuries that happen.

But what really makes this healing salve so amazing is that you can take the base salve recipe and boost it however you want.

Herbs such as Comfrey like THIS and Calendula like THIS are great additions to a healing salve recipe and both come in their dried form as well as liquid forms.

How to Make a Healing Salve

At the end of this tutorial, I will give you a few additions and their properties so you can decide if you would like to add them or not.

The additions not only change what the base use for this healing salve is used for, but can also help to promote healing in other ways.

How to Preserve DIY Healing Salve

This recipe for healing salve will be good on a shelf for up to 8 weeks. However, if you would like to preserve it so it’s shelf stable for up to 6 months, you can do so by adding a few drops of vitamin E oil like THIS to your mixture below.

Vitamin E oil is often used as a preservative in homemade beauty products and other DIY products.

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You Will Need:

Supplies Needed:

Add the coconut oil, beeswax and almond oil to a double boiler and fully melt it over low heat. Make sure to stir it constantly with the rubber spatula so it does not burn.

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You’ll also want to make sure to scrape down the sides as needed.

If you do not have a double boiler, you can use a small metal bowl set on top of a small pot filled halfway with simmering water.

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Once they are fully melted, pour them into a mixing bowl and allow it to cool for 30 to 60 seconds.

You don’t want it “just off the stove” hot, but you also do not want to allow it to cool so much it solidifies.

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Once the mixture has cooled a bit, add the witch hazel and 12 drops of each essential oil.

Then, using the electric mixer, beat the mixture until it is a creamy texture that you are comfortable with.

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As it cools, it will become more of a solid cream instead of a runny mess.

If you used 2 tbsp. beeswax, your final result will be more of a creamy texture. If you used 3 tbsp., it will have more of a solid ointment texture.

Once you’ve reached the consistency you are happy with, pour the mixture into a 4 oz lotion jar or a 4 oz jelly jar.

Set it aside and allow it to cool completely.

Should I Put a Lid On My Homemade Beauty Product Immediately?

When you make this healing slave recipe, do not add a lid on the finished product until it is fully cool.

Adding a lid to a hot product could cause condensation to form on the inside of the lid. This can promote mold growth or ruin your finished product.

How to Use a Homemade Healing Salve

To use this healing salve, massage a small amount onto the affected area. If needed, coer with a bandage.

Reapply every 6-8 hours or as needed.

What herbs and essential oils can I add to this recipe for healing salve?

If you want to increase the properties of this recipe for a healing salve, you can add the followng when you add the essential oils.

Be sure to add them before you mix the ingredients so they will be evenly distributed.

Comfrey – promotes skin healing due to allantoin and rosmarinic acid in the leaves that promote new skin cell growth. May be antiviral as well.

CalendulaHas anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Good for soothing minor cuts, aches and pains.

Peppermint essential oil – soothes sore muscles. Great for arthritis and general aches and pains. Also, good for use for headaches and upset tummies.

Eucalyptus Essential OilPerfect for adding to help relieve chest congestion and coughs.

Looking for more DIY products to make and stop buying? You may enjoy these:

If you’re tired of store bought deodorant, this homemade deodorant recipe is just what you need! This lavender scented homemade deodorant is super easy to make and works better than anything in the store!

If you like the smell of lilac, you will love this lilac perfume! Learn how to make lilac perfume in just a few minutes! It smells so good you won’t want to wear anything else!

Graham crackers make a great snack and this homemade graham cracker recipe is the best! Learn how to make homemade graham crackers in just minutes! They’re perfect for snacks, Smores, holiday baking and even pie crusts! You’ll never go back to store bought again!

DIY Healing Salve Recipe for Simple Cuts and Burns (9)

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DIY Healing Salve Recipe

Cuts, scratches and simple burns don't stand a chance against this DIY healing salve. Made with antibacterial and antiviral ingredients, it's perfect for your holistic medicine cabinet.

Course DIY Home Remedies

Cuisine American

Keyword Lavender Oil, Lemon Essential Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Witch Hazel

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Cooling Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4 ounces

Author Stacy Williams

Cost $1.50

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the coconut oil, beeswax and almond oil to a double boiler and fully melt it over low heat. Make sure to stir it constantly with the rubber spatula so it does not burn.

  • Once they are fully melted, pour them into a mixing bowl and allow it to cool for 30 to 60 seconds.

  • Once the mixture has cooled a bit, add the witch hazel and 12 drops of each essential oil. If you are adding additions or Vitamin E oil to preserve, add them now.

    Then, using the electric mixer, beat the mixture until it is a creamy texture that you are comfortable with.

  • Once you’ve reached the consistency you are happy with, pour the mixture into a 4 oz lotion jar or a 4 oz jelly jar.

Notes

Possible Additions for Your Healing Salve

Comfrey– promotes skin healing due to allantoin and rosmarinic acid in the leaves that promote new skin cell growth. May be antiviral as well.

CalendulaHas anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Good for soothing minor cuts, aches and pains.

Peppermint essential oil– soothes sore muscles. Great for arthritis and general aches and pains. Also, good for use for headaches and upset tummies.

Eucalyptus Essential OilPerfect for adding to help relieve chest congestion and coughs.

DIY Healing Salve Recipe for Simple Cuts and Burns (2024)

FAQs

What is the best natural burn salve? ›

Aloe vera: With minor burns, like a sunburn, aloe vera helps soothe and moisturize skin. There's also evidence that aloe vera may help with skin healing. Cool compresses: A cool compress relieves pain and soothes skin.

How do you make natural healing salve? ›

Place beeswax in a double boiler and gently warm over low heat until the beeswax melts. Add herbal oils and stir over low heat until well-mixed. Remove from heat and add the essential oil(s). Quickly pour warm mixture into prepared tins, glass jars, or lip balm tubes and allow to cool completely.

How do you make self heal salve? ›

To make: Combine about 1/3 cup crumbled dried self heal with about 3/4 cup oil of your choice (olive or sunflower works well for salves). Leave uncovered and set the jar in a saucepan with a few inches of water; heat over medium low for 2 to 3 hours.

How do you make homemade pain relief balm? ›

- Take three teaspoons of beeswax (easily available online) and mix it with four teaspoons of coconut oil. - Heat it in the microwave so that beeswax and coconut oil get mixed well. - Add a few drops of all essential oils to the mixture after taking out the mixture from the microwave.

Which ointment is best for burn wound healing? ›

Polysporin is a combination of bacitracin zinc and polymyxin B sulfate. It can be used to treat partial-thickness burns, particularly those that involve the face and perineum [9]. For uncomplicated wounds, many clinicians apply Polysporin ointment covered by a nonadherent dressing.

What is the best healing salve for burns? ›

First Aid for Burns

The American Academy of Dermatology does not recommend applying any type of ointment to a burn due to the risk of infection. Petroleum jelly, applied two to three times daily, may help the skin in the burned area retain moisture and heal more quickly.

How do you make natural antibiotic salve? ›

Melt coconut oil and beeswax over a double boiler. Transfer to a blender and add witch hazel, lavender oil, and tea tree oil. Blend 30 seconds. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

How do you thicken homemade salve? ›

If you prefer a thicker salve, add another half ounce of beeswax. (This recipe is based on an 8:1 oil:wax ratio. You can increase it up to 6:1.

How do you make skin healing balm? ›

Method
  1. Add carrier oil, coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax to a glass bowl and heat until completely melted, using either a microwave or the double boiler method. ...
  2. Add remaining ingredients and mix until combined.
  3. Transfer into container of choice.

How do you make healing paste? ›

To make one:
  1. Combine a teaspoon of activated charcoal powder with just enough water to wet the powder to create a paste.
  2. Spread the paste on the affected area.
  3. Leave on for 10 minutes.
  4. Carefully wash off with a damp cloth.
  5. Repeat twice a day until healed.
May 17, 2019

What is the ratio for homemade salve? ›

Mixing Your Salve

Now you mix the oil and beeswax together to make the salve. I typically make my salve with an oil to beeswax ratio of 3:1 or 4:1, which results in a thick but still easily spreadable texture. For example, in my latest batch I had about 100 mL of melted beeswax so I added about 300 mL of oil.

How do you make joint pain salve? ›

Reduce Arthritis Inflammation with this Homemade Cream
  1. 1/2 cup olive oil.
  2. 3 tablespoons cayenne powder.
  3. 1 cup coconut oil.
  4. 1 coffee filter or cheesecloth.
  5. 1 heat-proof glass jar or bowl.
  6. 1 glass jar with a tightly fitting lid for storage.
Jan 18, 2018

How to make body pain ointment? ›

How To Make A DIY Pain Relief Cream
  1. 1/2 cup coconut oil.
  2. 2 tsp beeswax pellets.
  3. 15 drops Restore Essential Oil Blend.

How to make salve without beeswax? ›

Weigh Castor Oil, White Cocoa Butter, Palm Oil, Soybean Oil, Carnauba Wax, and Avocado Butter into a microwave-safe container. Melt using short time bursts, stirring after each heating, until mixture is liquid. Weigh and add extracts, Neem Oil, and essential oils. Stir well to combine.

What is the best cream for fresh burns? ›

You may put a thin layer of ointment, such as petroleum jelly or aloe vera, on the burn. The ointment does not need to have antibiotics in it. Some antibiotic ointments can cause an allergic reaction. Do not use cream, lotion, oil, cortisone, butter, or egg white.

Is petroleum jelly better than aloe vera for burns? ›

Aloe vera is mainly used to treat first- and second-degree burn wounds resulting in reduced recovery time to 9 days. Aloe vera dressing for once or twice a day has been more effective than the current treatments, including petroleum jelly gauze dressing, silver sulfadiazine 1% ointment, and framycetin cream.

How do you make homemade burn relief cream? ›

Simply mix the lavender oil, honey and olive oil together and put in a glass jar. To use it, slather it over the burn, and cover it the injury site with dressing or bandage. That's it!

What herb is best for burns? ›

Calendula, apply to the skin for first-degree burns and sunburns. This remedy is sometimes considered the treatment of choice for children. Calendula may also be used in the healing stages of second- and third-degree burns to stimulate regrowth of skin and to decrease scar formation.

References

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