I try to avoid Neosporin because its made with petroleum jelly and is far less effective as the natural options.
My preferred healing salve (or “boo-boo cream” according to the kiddo) is helpful on cuts, bruises, stings, and skin irritations. It also safer and helps diaper rash and baby skin irritations – just don’t use with cloth diapers or line them first with gauze.
It’s easy to make and some of the ingredients even grow in your front yard during the summer. The picture is Plantain, which grows in most parts of the US and is great for the skin. Most people just know it as a common garden weed. You can actually pick it, squeeze it and apply it directly to bites and rashes!
This salve is naturally antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and astringent. It also doesn’t contain petroleum! I always keep this on hand while gardening for skin irritations and bug bites. There is a Calendula salve on the market as well, but typically contains petrolatum and/or tocopherols!
You Will Need:
- 2 cups of olive or almond oil
- 1 tsp echinacea root (optional)
- 2 tablespoons comfrey leaf
- 2 tablespoons of plantain leaf (herb-not banana!)
- 1 tablespoon of calendula flowers
- 1 teaspoon yarrow flowers (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of rosemary leaf
- 1/4 cup beeswax pastilles
- 1/2 tsp grapefruit seed extract to preserve
I don’t use Vitamin E because it is typically from a soy based source and many people are allergic.
How To Make Healing Salve:
Infuse the herbs into the olive oil. There are two ways to do this. You can either combine the herbs and the olive oil in a jar with an airtight lid and leave 3-4 weeks, shaking daily OR heat the herbs and olive oil over low/low heat in a double boiler for 3 hours (low heat!) until the oil is very green.
Strain herbs out of the oil by pouring through a cheesecloth. Let all the oil drip out and then squeeze the herbs to get the remaining oil out.
Discard the herbs.
Heat the infused oil in a double boiler with the beeswax until melted and mixed.
Pour into small tins, glass jars or roll-up tubes and use on bites, stings, cuts, diaper rash or other wounds as needed.