Make an all-natural herbal salve that can soothe minor grazes, scratches, insect bites and patches of dry skin. Please note that this article does not replace medical advice. This recipe is designed to increase comfort, not to replace medical treatment. You should always speak to a healthcare professional if you are concerned about any injury or skin condition or to discuss the use of herbal products.

Making your skincare or healing remedies carries many benefits. You are in full control of the content so you can be hundred percent sure that there are no nasties in your little jars of goodness. Soon, you will learn which ingredients work best for you and your skin type and will be able to tailor your skincare precisely according to your personal needs.

If you are anything like me, initially, you will probably experiment and try many different formulations. There are hundreds of wonderful natural oils, extracts and kinds of butter to choose from. Gradually, you will find your favourites and will be able to whip up your perfect go-to body butter, face mask or balm in no time.

Today I will teach you how to make Lavender and Sage Salve. Salve is an ointment that is used to promote the protection or healing of the skin. It is usually rich, thick and will form a thin film or barrier on the skin. We will use almond oil, castor oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter as our base ingredients. We will enrich it with sage essential oil, lavender essential oil, and blackseed oil.

Lavender essential oil has calming and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to soothe insect bites and minor grazes. Sage is a powerful herb that has antiseptic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. In skin care, it is excellent for treating cold sores. Among oils, castor oil has a uniquely thick, viscous consistency and has been shown to have profound calming and anti-inflammatory effects on sensitive skin.
To Muslims, Black Seed Oil doesn’t need much introduction; as a prophetic remedy, it is said to ‘treat every ailment in the world’. Pressed from the seeds of Nigella Sativa, it has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and contains a large number of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial fatty acids.

How to make all natural Lavender and Sage Salve:

Ingredients:

1. 80g almond oil
2. 40g unrefined beeswax (pellets are more convenient than large chunks, but both will work)
3. 40g unrefined cocoa butter (can be substituted with another hard plant butter such as shea butter or mango butter)
4. 40g castor oil
5. 15ml (1tbsp) cold-pressed black seed oil
6. 15ml (1tbsp) lavender essential oil
7. 2.5ml (1/2tsp) sage essential oil

Instructions

1. Put beeswax, cocoa butter and two-thirds of the almond oil in a saucepan and melt on low heat. Stir occasionally and don’t be tempted to increase the heat to speed things up. Overheating wouldn’t do your oils any good. If your cooker doesn’t have a shallow setting, you may want to use a bain-marie (hot water bath). Beeswax melts at around 65° C so melting it will take a while.

2. Once fully melted, remove from heat and mix in the rest of almond oil and castor oil. Addition of the fresh oils will thicken your mixture slightly. If it is still boiling and runny wait for a few minutes before the next step. Allowing the mixture to cool somewhat helps to protect the beneficial compounds in the black seed and essential oils.

3. Mix in black seed oil and lavender and sage essential oils. Stir very well to ensure all ingredients have been incorporated.

4. Spoon into suitable little containers and allow to cool before closing the lids.
Apply locally around scratches and grazes, on cold sores and insect bites. Try rubbing it on the dry skin around nails, toes, and heels.

Let me know if you try the recipe I would love to hear from you!