How I Make Herbal Salve at Home

I keep a tin of salve in the kitchen, one in the bathroom, and one in my van, one on each bedside table, one in my purse, and of course in all our first aid kits. We go through it constantly — dry skin, minor cuts, chapped lips, rough hands from outdoor work. It's one of those things that once you start making it, you wonder why you ever bought the store version.

This is the basic recipe I use. It's simple, it works, and you can adjust it based on what herbs you have.

• 1 cup dried herbs (I use a mix of calendula, plantain, and comfrey — more on this below)
• 1 cup olive oil (or a mix of olive and coconut oil)
• 1 oz beeswax (about 2 tablespoons grated or pellets)
• A few drops of lavender essential oil (optional)
• Small tins or glass jars for storing

Calendulais my go-to for skin healing. It's gentle, anti-inflammatory, and I grow it every year specifically for this. The flowers are what you want — dried completely before using.

Plantain(the common weed, not the banana) is one of the most useful plants in the yard. It draws out splinters and soothes insect bites and stings. I dry the leaves in summer and keep a jar of them all year.

Comfreyis good for bruises and sore muscles. I use it in the salve I make specifically for my husband's hands after a long week of physical work.

You can use just one herb or a combination. Start with what you have.

There are two ways to do this.

Slow method (best):Put your dried herbs in a clean jar and cover completely with oil. Seal the jar and set it in a sunny window for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking it every few days. Strain out the herbs through cheesecloth.

Quick method:Put herbs and oil in a small saucepan over the lowest heat possible. Keep it warm — not simmering — for 2 to 3 hours. Strain through cheesecloth.

The slow method gives a richer infusion. The quick method works when you need it sooner.

Measure your strained herb-infused oil into a small saucepan. Add the beeswax. Heat over low heat, stirring, until the beeswax is completely melted.

To test the consistency: put a small spoonful on a plate and let it cool for a minute. If it's too soft, add a little more beeswax. If it's too hard, add a little more oil.

Once you're happy with the consistency, add the lavender essential oil if using, then pour into your tins or jars. Let cool completely before putting the lids on.

A year or more if stored in a cool, dark place. I write the date on the bottom of each tin.

Because I know what's in it. No petroleum, no synthetic fragrance, no ingredients I can't pronounce. Just oil, beeswax, and plants I grew or foraged myself.

It costs almost nothing to make once you have the supplies, and it works better than most things I've bought.

This is the kind of thing I want my kids to know how to do. It's not complicated — it's just knowledge that's worth passing on.