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Last week, within the span of one day, three of my kids needed a band-aid for some reason. With five kids who like to climb, jump and live in their treehouse, this is a common occurrence, so I decided to find a natural salve option to use instead of conventional ones like Neosporin.

A Healing Salve…

I’m not a fan of Neosporin because its made with petroleum jelly and there are natural options that work just as well.

My homemade healing salve (or “boo-boo lotion”, according to the kids) is helpful on cuts, bruises, stings, poison ivy and skin irritations. It also helps diaper rash and baby skin irritations- just don’t use with cloth diapers or line them first.

It’s easy to make and some of the ingredients even grow in your front yard during the summer… One of the herbs I use is Plantain, which grows in most parts of the country and is great for the skin. Most people just know it as a common garden weed. It also calls for optional yarrow, which helps with itching and rashes.

This salve is naturally antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and astringent. It also doesn’t contain petroleum! I never goes bad, so I make it in big batches, but you can reduce the size if needed. I always keep this on hand while gardening for skin irritations and bug bites.

All ingredients and tins and lip chap containers to store it in can be found online. (Storing in a lip-chap container makes it portable and easy to apply. )

Print Pin 4.75 from 8 votes Healing Salve Recipe This natural healing salve is a chemical free alternative to antibiotic ointments and has herbs to help prevent infection. Prep Time 5 minutes Cook Time 20 minutes Infusing Time 3 hours Servings 2 cups Author Katie Wells The ingredient links below are affiliate links. Click here to read my affiliate policy Ingredients 2 cups olive oil (or almond oil)

1 tsp echinacea root (optional)

2 TBSP comfrey leaf

2 TBSP dried plantain leaf

1 TBSP calendula flowers (optional)

1 tsp yarrow flowers (optional)

1 tsp rosemary (optional)

¼ cup beeswax pastilles Instructions Infuse the herbs into the olive oil: Either combine the olive oil and herbs in a jar with an airtight lid and leave 3-4 weeks, shaking daily

OR heat the olive oil and herbs over low heat in a double boiler for 3 hours (low heat!) until the oil is very green. Make the salve: Strain the herbs out of the oil by pouring through a cheesecloth. Let all the oil drip out and then squeeze give the herbs a squeeze to get the remaining oil out.

Discard the herbs.

Combine the infused oil and beeswax in a double boiler.

Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the wax is melted.

Pour into small tins, glass jars, or lip chap tubes and use as needed. Notes Use on cuts, bruises, stings, poison ivy, and skin irritations. It also helps diaper rash and baby skin irritations -- just make sure to line cloth diapers first.

Ever made your own salves? Share below!