This homemade St. John’s Wort Salve is a wonderful herbal remedy to have on hand to help ease muscle pain and joint inflammation as well as nerve pain and for helping to soothe minor skin irritations.
St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is known as a weed in many places. It has beautiful yellow flowers that have five petals and lots of yellow stamens with little black dots or spots on the edges of the petals. Though you will need to look closely to see these black dots.
This sprawling plant tends to spread by rhizomes and by seed, usually in full sun.
If you are looking to forage this plant, one characteristic is that if you crush a flower, a dark red pigment will release and stain your fingers.
Also, if you hold the leaves up to the light, you will see little pin-sized dots all over the oblong leaves.
St. John’s Wort Salve Uses
- Help ease nerve pain, sciatica, back pain and sore muscles
- Use to soothe minor skin irritations such as bruises, minor cuts, burns, dry skin and rashes
- Good for moisturising the skin and promoting skin health
Carrier Oils
When making a salve, choosing the correct carrier oil can improve the impact of the salve as each carrier oil has its own set of distinct properties. Blending a couple of carrier oils can also help maximise their benefits.
With this salve recipe, there are multiple carrier oils that could be used including:
- Avocado Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Argan Oil
- Rosehip Oil
- Hemp Oil
- Safflower Oil
You can learn more about carrier oils here.
Before Using this Salve
Before using this rub, you will need to understand a few things.
- Don’t use on skin with open wounds or cuts.
- Test on small area of skin before using. If there’s any irritation, dilute with more carrier oils.
- Wash hands well after using.
- If you are on medication, check to make sure that St. John’s Wort won’t interfere with it.
Using this Salve
Using clean hands, rub a small amount of the salve onto your fingers, then rub it in the intended site.
- For inflamed or red or irritated skin, massage a small amount onto the affected area
- For nerve pain, muscle pain and sciatica, apply a thin layer of the salve to soothe the area
- To help aid in healing of rashes, apply a small amount onto the area
- For minor cuts, and scrapes, apply a small amount onto the area
More Natural Remedies You Might Like
- Dandelion Salve
- How to Grow a Salve Garden
- Garlic Salve
- Star Anise Salve
- Goldenrod Salve
- Arnica Salve
- Yarrow Salve
- Calendula Facial Cleanser with Honey
- Herbal Antibiotic Ointment
Ingredients for Making St. John’s Wort Infused Oil
To make St. John’s Wort infused oil, you will need:
- St. John’s Wort
- Carrier Oil
To make St. John’s Wort Infused Oil, follow these instructions.
Ingredients for Making St. John’s Wort Salve
To make around 4 ounces of salve, you will need:
TIP – When using beeswax in your products, just note that it does harden very quickly as it cools. This means that it can be quite difficult to remove from the dishes and cutlery that is used. For this reason, I have dedicated bowls and cutlery that is only used for making homemade products, especially ones that contain beeswax.
Making St. John’s Wort Salve
Combine the beeswax and the infused oil in a microwaveable container and heat for 30 seconds at a time in the microwave until the beeswax is completely melted. Stir in between each heat burst.
This process could also be done in a double boiler.
Let it cool slightly before adding the essential oil if using and mix through.
Pour the mixture into small glass jars or tins.
Let the salve cool and set.
The salve is now ready to label, date and store.
Storing This Salve
Place the salve in dark glass jars or metal tins to protect it from exposure to light and air. I have also used tubes for easier application.
Store in a cool, dark place.
When properly stored, this salve should last up to six months.
Notes
- If you are picking fresh leaves to use in this salve, make sure to harvest them from a pesticide free area.
- Harvest only when you are 100% positive you have the correct plant as there are many lookalikes which are inedible or poisonous.
- Vitamin E is optional, and is often added to salves as an antioxidant to prevent rancidity, as well as for its amazing skin-healing properties. Add 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil to help preserve your salve even longer!
- You can use any type of carrier oil for the infused oil. This recipe uses avocado oil.
- If you want this to be a vegan recipe, swap out beeswax pellets for candelilla wax.
- Try adding essential oils or other infused oils for a more powerful salve
- I live in a hot climate, so this is made with 3 tablespoons of beeswax to stop it from melting during hot summers, thus making this a harder salve. Use less beeswax if you want a softer balm. To test the consistency of the salve, place a small amount on the back of your hand and see what it does. If it’s too soft, add more beeswax; if it is too hard, add more oil.
St. John's Wort Salve
Equipment
- 2 Oz Tins
Ingredients
St. John's Wort Infused Oil
- St. John's Wort
- Carrier Oil Such as avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, sweet almond oil or jojoba oil
St. John's Wort Salve
- 1 ½ Cups St. John's Wort Infused Oil
- 4 TBSP Beeswax
- 20 Drops Essential Oils Optional
Instructions
St. John's Wort Infused Oil
- First you will need to infuse the flowers and leaves in the carrier oil. If using fresh flowers and leaves, let them dry for at least a day or two before infusing.
- Place the dry flowers and leaves in a glass jar adding until the jar is just over half full.
- Pour over the avocado oil or other carrier oil until all the dried flowers are covered.
- Put the lid on the jar and store in a dark cupboard for two to four weeks, shaking every couple of days to keep everything submerged.
- Strain the mixture with a strainer, cheesecloth or an unbleached coffee filter.
- The infused oil is now ready to make into a salve.
- If you want to speed up the infusion process, slowly heat the oil in a slow cooker on low heat for 24 – 48 hours.
St. John's Wort Salve
- Combine the beeswax and the infused oil in a microwaveable container and heat for 30 seconds at a time in the microwave until the beeswax is completely melted. Stir in between each heat burst.
- This process could also be done in a double boiler.
- Let it cool slightly before adding the essential oil if using and mix through.
- Pour the mixture into small glass jars or tins.
- Let the salve cool and set.
- The salve is now ready to label, date and store.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.
Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls