Organic Topical Pain Salve

This salve may help with skin that is sore and abraded. The herbs used can lessen pain and minor bleeding and encourage healing.

Comfrey, Symphytum officinale, is also known as “knitbone” because it has been traditionally used to encourage bone healing. It contains allantoin, a substance that can help new skin cells grow, reduce inflammation, and hasten wound healing.

Rosehips, Rosa Canina, are loaded with vitamin C. Among their many uses is a traditional treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Studies attribute this to their high anti-inflammatory content and fatty acids that suppress COX expression.¹ In the treatment of osteoarthritis rosehips facilitate bone remodeling and their high vitamin C content promotes the formation of procollagen that is necessary for growing connective and bone tissue. Rosehip seed oil can help prevent sun damage and fine lines from oxidative stress.

Tansy, Tanacetum vulgari, has been used for migraines, nerve pain, and joint pain. It is active against HSV-1, the cold sore virus ². The main compound in its essential oil is camphor, a topical pain reliever.

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, is native to Europe - Achilles used to treat soldiers' wounds and this led to its other names of woundwort and herba militaris. The strong antioxidative properties of yarrow make is useful for reducing skin ageing while its antimicrobial properties make it soothing for irritations. The alkaloid achillene is astringent and stops bleeding. This makes yarrow helpful as a poultice for varicose veins and for wounds.

Eucalyptus reduces inflammation and is a main ingredient in analgesic creams and ointments aimed at relieving muscle and joint pain.

Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It has photoprotective qualities that are very beneficial for skin that is exposed to the elements. It helps preserve the oils used in salves by preventing oxidization.

Beeswax is an excellent moisturizer and protectant that helps balance the natural flora of the skin.

¹Sánchez-de-Diego C, Jiménez-Moreno N, Ancín-Azpilicueta C, Rodríguez-Yoldi MJ. Therapeutic Applications of Rose Hips from Different Rosa Species. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 May 25;18(6):1137. doi: 10.3390/ijms18061137. PMID: 28587101; PMCID: PMC5485961.

²Vilhelmova N, Simeonova L, Nikolova N, Pavlova E, Gospodinova Z, Antov G, Galabov A, Nikolova I. Antiviral, cytotoxic and antioxidant effects of Tanacetum vulgare L. crude extract in vitro. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2020;62(1):172-9. doi: 10.3897/folmed.62. e49370.