Calendula Healing Salve

This calendula healing salve is like having a pot of gold in your hand! I am not even exaggerating. It will prevent bacteria growth and speed skin healing.

Years ago, I read a wonderful book Homeopathy for the First Aider by Dr. Dorothy Shepherd. She was a homeopath that served in the military during WWII in England. She tells of using calendula flowers in buckets of water to soak bandages. In her hospital, it worked better to use the flowers in plain water than to boil the water to keep the bandages clean and free from bacteria. That put me on the hunt for more ways I could use calendula flowers. I knew of the healing power of the remedy calendula taken internally, so it made sense to look for other ways to use it.

The many uses

I came across a recipe for a healing salve using calendula oil. After trying that recipe, I tweaked it over the years to my liking. This is one DIY project I make often. I have given it as gifts and made sure all my adult children had a jar of it when they moved out. I even sell it in my office.

It’s so easy to make! The uses are endless. In my home, we have used it for a 3rd-degree burn where the skin had turned black (no scar), when a fingertip was chopped off, when a toenail was ripped off, and a 2nd-degree sunburn. Those are the crazy big things, but I also use it on every small thing that needs a bandage.

How to make it yourself

You’ll need dried calendula flowers, an organic high-quality oil, and time to start. Fill a clean pint jar with the calendula flowers, pour the oil in until it covers the flowers, put a lid on it, and put it in a dark place for about a month. The longer it sits, the more potent the oil will become. If you need the oil quickly, there is a less potent but faster way. You can put the oil and calendula flowers in a double boiler and steep them over low heat for several hours.

After either method, the oil needs to be strained. I use a paint filter bag from the hardware store.

To make the salve, measure 1 cup of the calendula oil into a double boiler. Add 1/4 cup of grated beeswax. In these pictures, I used beeswax from my son-in-law’s beehives. In the past, I have used block beeswax from the health food store or even beeswax pellets.

Heat gently over low heat until the wax is melted. The lavender is optional and you can use your favorite brand. I happen to like the NOW brand or Plant Therapy. You only need 5 drops. I promise. Add the oil after removing the liquid salve from the heat.

Pour into a clean glass jar. Store in a cool, dark place.

In my Legacy of Healing class, we spend an entire class on homeopathy and first aid. It’s a great place to learn more about homeopathy and its many uses in our homes.

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