Ingredients
Method
- Combine dried herbs in a jar with a lid or a heat safe glass bowl.
- Add the almond oil, tallow, and coconut oil.
- Warm over low heat for 30-60 minutes (place jar in a pan with 1" of water or place bowl on top of a saucepan with 1-2" of water).
- Remove from heat, place lid on jar and set in a sunny window sill for 1-2 weeks. *
- Once herbs are done infusing, strain oil into a clean jar, disposing of spent herbs.
- Add beeswax and heat over low heat until the beeswax is melted.
- Remove from heat and add essential oils, if using.
- Pour into jars or tins and cool before placing lid on.
- If filling several jars or tins, place extra containers in fridge until needed.
- *You can also do the quick infusion of heating over low for 3 hours, straining, adding beeswax, etc.
How to Use:
- This will keep for 1-2 years, depending on how it’s stored.
- Keep out of direct heat and sunlight.
- Make sure you have clean hands when using it.
- If it starts to smell rancid, discard.
- Use on dry skin, rashes, bug bites, shallow cuts, blisters, etc.
- Apply as you would a lotion and massage into affected area. A little goes a long way.
Notes
Ingredient Breakdown
Chickweed – Traditionally used for its soothing, anti-inflammatory action on irritated, itchy, or inflamed skin. It's cooling and has a reputation for drawing out heat and irritation, which makes it popular in salves for rashes, eczema, and bug bites.
Comfrey (root or leaf) – Comfrey is prized for its allantoin content, a compound known to encourage skin cell regeneration. This is why it's a classic in "healing" balms — it's often used for scrapes, bruises, and closed wounds (avoid on deep open wounds since it can heal skin over too quickly and trap bacteria).
Marshmallow root – A demulcent herb, meaning it's rich in mucilage that soothes and softens skin. It helps calm inflammation and is often included for dry, chapped, or irritated skin, adding a slippery, moisturizing quality to the infused oil.
Calendula – One of the most classic wound-care herbs. It's antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, and supports tissue repair — great for minor cuts, diaper rash, dry skin, and general healing support.
Almond oil – The carrier oil that all these herbs infuse into. It's light, rich in vitamin E, and easily absorbed, nourishing the skin without feeling heavy or greasy.
Tallow – A traditional skin-nourishing fat that's been used for generations in folk skincare. It's rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, and its fatty acid profile closely resembles the lipids naturally found in human skin — which is why it absorbs so beautifully and helps restore moisture without clogging pores. It also adds a rich, protective quality to the balm, helping seal in the other healing herbs while soothing dry or damaged skin.
Coconut oil – Adds antimicrobial properties (lauric acid) plus a bit more richness and firmness to the balm, and helps with spreadability.
Beeswax – The structural ingredient that thickens the infused oils into a balm consistency, while also forming a protective barrier on the skin that helps lock in moisture without completely blocking the skin from breathing.
Together, this combination gives you an anti-inflammatory, soothing, and regenerative balm — good for minor cuts, scrapes, dry or irritated skin, rashes, and general first-aid use.
Notes: comfrey shouldn't go on deep or heavily broken skin, and it’s a good idea to do patch-testing since some people are sensitive to comfrey or calendula (it's in the ragweed family).