Making Aromatherapy Salves

Many have used and even created their own healing salves using herbs and other botanicals. What many miss is essential oils can be used in addition to the herbs, or simply alone. Most salves are easy to create because they need but a few ingredients:

• Oil base
• Stiffener such as pure bees wax
• essential oils of choice

Using essential oils instead of herbs has the added perks of 1) allowing you to forgo the messy step of straining off plant material and 2) may, depending on essential oil(s) used, provide wonderful scent. Sometimes color as well. The base oil you choose can be simple, such as sweet almond or jojoba, or a bit more specific to the condition you wish to treat, carrot oil for aging skin, etc. Next comes the stiffener to give the salve some congealment. Usually pure and natural bees wax is used. Using too much is a problem many seem to have, so be careful. Cocoa butter is a bit easier to work with because it is not as hard as the bees wax. It also has healing properties of its own, not to mention a delicious scent. As a very last resort, petroleum jelly could also service. Unlike creams, which absorb into the skin rather quickly, salves are more of a sealant, sitting on top of the skin and depositing their healing qualities over and extended time. This makes products like Vick's Vapor Rub work so well. You can create your own comparable products using eucalyptus essential oil.

The essential oils to use are extremely diverse and will be based on your needs and pocketbook, rose for an anti-aging slave or geranium for a plumping lip salve. Massage oil blends many times can be used in salves, just as perfume blends may be as well. For beginners, keeping it simple is best.

Making your own salve is quite easy. Simply take a small double boiler and heat your oil and stiffener until completely melted and combined together (I have traditionally used an extremely small enamel pot which has worked well). Let the oil mixture cool just a bit and then add your essential oil (about 10 drops to every 4 tablespoons of oil mixture). Stir and then pour into a clean container. Dark glass is best. Place in the refrigerator to cool. How easy! The essential oils require no prolonged steeping, like in the case of herbs, and also no straining, which can cause a portion of your salve to be thrown away.

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