Making Eczema Salve

One of my most loved products of all time, Rebel Herbal's eczema salve is a winner for any

itchy skin condition and also an excellent all-around skin conditioner and moisturizer.

It is rich and soothing, containing only organic oils and herbs and pure beeswax.

It is important to note that eczema is the external manifestation of an internal condition and nothing applied topically will eliminate it permanently. That being said, topical preparations can be very helpful in reducing symptoms associated with eczema. They can ease discomfort, itch, and pain, and help prevent infections until triggers are identified and the underlying condition is treated.

My recipe was originally created for my daughter when she developed eczema on her hands as an infant. I wanted something extra gentle and pure for her as well as something safe if she ingested some. (We know that babies don’t keep their hands out of their mouths!)

This formula became wildly popular with my local clientele almost overnight and has remained in my top 5 most popular products consistently for more than fifteen years.

The avocado and olive oils are infused with chickweed, calendula, chamomile, mullein, Saint John’s wort, and myrrh gum.

Chickweed is a very effective topical anti-inflammatory, reducing itching and cooling the skin.

Calendula is a skin-healer of the highest order and deserves to be included in almost all skin healing preparations! It is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, helping treat the condition while reducing the chance of secondary infections caused by scratching.

Chamomile soothes the skin and the nerve tissue below the skin’s surface, easing both pain and itching.

St. John’s Wort is clinically proven effective in the treatment of both eczema and psoriasis, reducing symptoms as well as prescription medications. It reduces redness and thickening of the skin and helps heal skin infections, crusting, weeping, and scaling.

Lavender and mullein help speed healing of the skin and are useful in preventing infection.

Myrrh gum is a super-healer. It is particularly effective in treating symptoms of eczema that have fungal origins and is excellent for infection prevention and treatment.

I am so happy that I can share the formula with you. I hope it will be a blessing in your lives the way it has been in the lives of so many of my friends, family members, and clients.

Here it is, with love: Pure. Natural. Herbal.

Ingredients:

1 cup Avocado Oil

1/3 cup Olive oil

¼ oz Chickweed

¼ oz Calendula Flowers

¼ oz St. John’s Wort

1/8 oz Chamomile Flowers

1/8 oz Mullein Leaf

½ tsp of Myrrh Gum Powder

1 ½ oz Beeswax

1.  Shred or finely chop all of the herbs and add them to the oils.  

**I use dry herbs except for the St. John’s Wort. It is dramatically more medicinally active as a fresh preparation. This means a little more work when the oil is finished infusing but does create a superior finished salve.

**This might look like not enough oil but the proper oil to herb ratio is 1-2 ounces of dry herb per cup of oil to achieve potent infused oils and salves.  

2.  Infuse at about 115-125 degrees (Fahrenheit) for 6-8 hours. 

**This infusion method is hot enough to allow the herb material to release its medicinal components and cool enough that those components do not burn off.  I use a programmable crock pot for my infusions but a warming drawer works well, as does a very low oven.

3.  I like to stir and mash the herbs in the oil every hour or so while they infuse to help them release their medicine.  

4.  Strain the herbs out of the oil.  (I like to use several layers of cheesecloth set inside a strainer basket)

5. Allow to sit for 24 hours so that any water left in the oil can rise to the surface. It can be removed with an eye dropper or poured off. Be careful to remove all floating water as it could cause your finished salve to mold. This step can be repeated if you’re not sure if you got it properly separated.

6.  Grate the beeswax finely 

7.  Mix the infused oil with the grated beeswax in a double boiler and heat until just melted.  

**I use a glass measuring cup set on top of a canning jar ring in a pan with enough water to come about 1/3-1/2 way up the measuring cup.  (You don't want the water to boil into the measuring cup or for the cup to tip over)  

8.  When the wax has melted completely, pour the finished salve into a small container (or containers) and allow to cool 

**Infused oil can also be used as-is after step 5.  (Without adding wax to make a salve)  Just store in a bottle with a pump top or narrow opening for ease of use.  

**The amount of beeswax can be adjusted slightly depending on how hard you like your salve. I usually add about 1 ¼ oz per cup of infused oil. You can add slightly more if you like a harder salve or live in a hot climate where the salve would be prone to melting. You can also add slightly less if you like a soft salve or will be storing it in a cool area where it will be prone to hardening.

**Avoid coconut oil in eczema preparations as it can be drying in the long run and works as a barrier oil rather than an oil that is absorbed deeply.

**Olive oil is beneficial in eczema symptom management but can slightly thin the skin with prolonged use if it is not mixed with another oil. (Although not nearly as much as cortisone creams do!) Adding avocado oil balances this out and protects the skin from damage.

**I don’t use any essential oils in my eczema salve because many people who have eczema are sensitive to EO’s. Also, keeping it essential oil free makes it safe for the very young. Do not replace any of the herbs with essential oils. You will not achieve the same result.

Useage: Apply the salve 2-3 times per day to ease eczema symptoms.

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.