I first heard about DIY black drawing salve as a natural remedy when visiting a local Amish community to pick up produce and eggs. One of the farmer’s sons was applying what looked like tar to his arm after getting a large splinter from a fence post.
I asked what he was putting on his arm and was told it was a drawing salve to help pull out the splinter and make sure the area didn’t get infected. I was fascinated and wondered how well it would work.
The farmer assured me the healing salve didn’t stain skin and they used it all the time in their community. They used drawing salve to speed wound healing and draw out foreign objects stuck in the skin. He said it was even effective on some spider bites to draw out the venom.
While he didn’t know where to buy it, he did offer to write down the recipe for me.
Black Drawing Salve Benefits
I’ve been making variations of this recipe ever since. It takes a while to make but is very effective and well worth the time. We especially use it for splinters and pieces of glass that get stuck in the skin. I haven’t tried it personally, but black drawing salves are also said to help remove moles and skin tags.
The healing properties of the herbs help soothe skin irritation and insect bites. Keep some in your natural first aid kit for bee stings too!
How to Make Herb Infused Oil
Before making the salve, it’s important to infuse olive oil with comfrey, calendula, and plantain. I powder them in a coffee grinder right before using them to increase their potency. I use 1 Tablespoon of each herb in 1/2 cup olive oil. Here are two different ways to create an infused oil:
- Powder the herbs and place them in a small jar. Pour olive oil over the herbs and let it infuse for 3-4 weeks, shaking daily. Use a cheesecloth to strain out the herbs and reserve the infused oil.
- Heat the herbs and olive oil in a double boiler. Leave on low/medium heat for about an hour until the oil gets strong smelling and darker. Once it’s done, use a cheesecloth to strain out the herbs.
Personally, I keep a big jar of olive oil with plantain, comfrey, and calendula in my herbal apothecary and let it constantly infuse for use in salves and lotions. When the oil is used, I discard the herbs and begin the process again.
Now that you have your infused oil, you’re ready to make some homemade drawing salve!
Black Drawing Salve Recipe
This homemade drawing salve is an old Amish recipe to help remove stuck splinters and speed skin healing. Great for bug bites, skin tags, and more!
Yield: 6.5 ounces
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Combine infused olive oil, shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, vitamin E oil, and honey in a heat safe glass jar in a small pan of water.
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Heat the water to a simmer and carefully stir the mixture in the jar until all ingredients are melted. You can also use a double boiler for this.
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Remove from heat and add the activated charcoal, kaolin clay, and lavender essential oil. Mix well.
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Quickly pour in to small glass jars or tins and let sit until hardened (several hours).
Store in airtight container and use as needed on cuts, splinters, etc.
The Ingredients and What They Do
The base of this drawing salve uses an herbal infused oil. It does take a few weeks to make, but it’s amazing for skin health. I keep a jar of the comfrey, plantain, and calendula oil in my pantry to use for different home remedies and skincare projects. This blend of herbs helps speed healing time and reduce inflammation. Plantain also naturally has mild drawing properties to remove impurities and skin irritations.
Shea butter is moisturizing and helps add thickness along with the beeswax. Vitamin E oil is an antioxidant and helps slow down oxidation which causes the oils to go rancid. Kaolin clay (similar to bentonite clay) acts as an adsorbent for various toxins and maybe even bacteria. It’s another one of the drawing ingredients in black salve.
Raw honey is naturally antimicrobial and great for a variety of skin irritations. You can even use straight raw honey as a burn salve! One of the most important ingredients in this recipe, and what gives it its black color, is activated charcoal. Charcoal is widely used to treat food poisoning and to decontaminate thanks to its absorbing properties. It’s also great for pulling out splinters or coaxing out ingrown hairs.
And finally, I add some lavender essential oil for its skin benefits and to give the salve a nice scent. Tea tree essential oil also works well as a substitute.
How to Use The Homemade Drawing Salve Recipe
- Start by cleaning the affected area well. Put a generous amount of black salve on the wound or splinter and cover it with gauze or a large bandaid.
- Leave for at least a few hours or overnight to allow it to draw out the infection or object. Some things (like glass… in my experience) may take a day or two and several applications to draw out.
This salve is a wonderful natural remedy but it’s not a replacement for medical care when needed. If you have a bad bug bite, wound, or other issue you’re unsure about, it’s best to consult with a professional!
Ever made a salve? How did it work? Share below!
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