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Are you new to making your own herbal remedies? This salve is for you! It is the easiest recipe out there and I’ve included step-by-step instructions with pictures.
If you don’t know what a salve is, think of a chap stick consistency. It is oil that often is mixed with beeswax to make it solid. I’ve made salves with different herb-infused oils for cuts, bruises, stings, bug bites and chest colds. Sometimes I will also add essential oils for scent or for their medicinal qualities.
Today, though, I’m keeping it super simple. So simple, in fact, that you don’t even need beeswax! I’ve used coconut oil, instead, which is solid at room temperature and is wonderful for your skin. The coconut oil is moisturizing, anti-fungal, antiviral and antibiotic. I’ve infused it with calendula, which soothes irritated skin. Some of this salve will be kept as is for rashes and other skin irritations, but some of it will be an ingredient in the homemade diaper cream I’m creating.
What you need:
- 1 1/2 cups virgin coconut oil (organic, if you can get it)
- 1 cup calendula petals/blossoms (or other herbs, such as lavender, rose petals, comfrey, etc.)
- a canning jar, with lid
- a saucepan with a dish rag in the bottom
- a bowl with a tea towel (or a clean, old t-shirt would work)
What to do:
- Over very low heat, melt the coconut oil in a sauce pan (it doesn’t take much, so don’t leave it unattended!). Remove it from the heat as soon as the oil is clear and liquid.
- Put the calendula in the jar and pour the melted coconut oil on top. Put on the lid.
- In a clean saucepan, put a dish rag in the bottom and set the jar on it. Add water to the pan until it’s 3/4 of the way up the jar.
- On low to medium low heat, warm the pan, but don’t let the water simmer. Leave it for several hours (2 to 6, depending on how strong you want the infusion).
- Once the oil is done, drape the tea towel in and over the edges of the bowl and pour the oil and herbs in.
- Pull up the edges of the tea towel and squeeze all of the oil out of the herbs.
- Pour the oil into a clean jar or small tins and let cool. With the white plate under it, you can really see that gorgeous golden color that the calendula gives the oil. It is ready to use once it is solid, again!
Keep your infused oil away from light and heat to help maintain the medicinal properties of the calendula. You can apply it to any skin irritation or injury as often as you want. Enjoy!
*This post is part of Your Green Resource and the Weekend Whatever! Check them out! 
Do you use coconut oil for skin care? What is your favorite use?
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I think this cinches that when we move, I HAVE to plant calendula!
You do! We planted just one plant last year and I couldn’t keep up with all of those beautiful blossoms! It is so easy to grow and you can do so much with it.
Thank you for this. I am new to your blog, but I can already tell that I am really going to like it!
So could you infuse it with anything? I’ve always wanted to do a rosemary/ mint something? I had a shampoo that was rosemary and mint one time and it was AMAZING. Just wondering if you had tried it with anything else? I can’t wait to grow some herbs this year – I will definitely have to plant some calendula!
Absolutely! You can infuse the oil with any herbs you want. Comfrey for bruises, plantain for stings and bites, lavender for scent and healing… whatever you want. Rosemary and mint would smell delicious and the rosemary is full of antioxidants that would be great for your skin. I’ll be doing a post soon on my favorite herbs to grow and calendula is one of them. Rosemary and mint are on that list, too!
Welcome, Lindsey! I’m so glad you found us!
I’ve never used calendula before, think I’ll need to check it out!
It really is a wonderful herb and it’s sooo easy to grow! It also looks adorable in a pretty pot.
[...] Summer fun can quickly lead to injuries. For scuffs, cuts, bruises and even broken bones, we use comfrey. Comfrey is an herb that “knits” the injury back together. My dad used it for a broken toe and it healed in record time. I have used it for a sprained hip and it worked when nothing else did. We use it all the time on everyday bumps, bruises and scrapes. The only caution is that if you have an open wound, don’t use it until you are certain that there is no infection and that you don’t have any debris left in the wound. It heals skin so quickly that it could trap dirt and germs in the wound, if you haven’t cleaned it well. We have dried comfrey for making poultices for serious wounds, but we also keep comfrey salve on hand for quick applications on minor injuries. You can buy the salve ready-made, or use dried comfrey to make your own! [...]
Would this be a good thing to try as an alternative to neosporin?
With additional herbs, absolutely! Neosporin is intended to prevent infection with antibiotics, so I have made a salve using herbs with antibiotic properties, such as St. John’s Wort, Golden Seal and a drop of Tea Tree Oil or Lavender Essential oil (I use lavender, since it also soothes burns). I also included the calendula for it’s soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Thanks so much for the question!
Thanks, Justyn! My husband requested that I buy neopsorin when I went out today and I just couldn’t do it
I figured coconut oil would be helpful for healing cuts etc., but I wasn’t sure what (if anything) to infuse it with. Thanks so much for the info!
You’re so welcome! I also have a salve with just comfrey to help heal wounds quickly, but you do want to be sure that there isn’t any bacteria in the wound before using comfrey. People have been known to trap debris and bacteria in cuts and cause abscesses. Once I’m sure a wound is clean, though, we use comfrey salve on it.
[...] also use coconut oil for external uses, such as an easy salve, a base for homemade sunscreen and in the tub for dry skin. It’s a great moisturizer and it [...]
I do too , I love it! It’s been a year since I switch to homecooking everything and good sun protection and etc.
I want to learn how to make my own sodas, I got gingerale soda down pat and root beer.
I’ve been wanting to make gingerale and root beer!! Do you have recipes you could share??? I have a really strong craving for root beer every once in awhile and would love to be able to make a healthy version.
[...] all my herbal books and got some ideas compiled. In this post you’ll also find the link to my easy and crazy-popular recipe for a salve, which is fabulous for any skin [...]
For the coconut salve, can I use rose petals from outside?
Absolutely! I have read that the best way to do it is to dry them first (just spread them out in a dry place for a few days or put them in a dehydrator) so that they don’t add water content to the oil. Fresh herbs/petals can add water that will mold, but once they are dried, they won’t do that.
Thank you I went to pick some today out of my yard and they are drying on the table, going to make this salve this weekend!
Love this website!
Fun!! I’m betting it will smell heavenly!