Herbal Salves and Ointments: Part 2

Herbal salves and ointments are often referred to as poultices, the main difference being that poultices are used mainly for treating more severe injuries or problems.

An effective multi-purpose herbal poultice or salve to use for treating scrapes, abrasions, cuts, wounds, swelling, and to provide pain relief for infected sores, broken bones and sprains, is a mixture of comfrey, goldenseal, slippery elm and aloe vera.

Another herbal salve that helps to heal broken bones faster, and can also be used to treat ligament, joint, or gout problems: white oak bark, comfrey, black walnut, mullein, queen of the meadow, marshmallow, lobelia, wormwood, scullcap. Mix these herbs with petroleum jelly, mineral water or aloe vera gel, before applying them.

A herbal salve or poultice will often be effective as long as you use at least one of the key ingredients. For example, goldenseal is used mainly to treat infections, comfrey works to relieve pain, repair cell and skin damage, and to reduce swelling, while aloe vera helps the herbs to penetrate the multiple skin layers. Aloe vera has healing and pain relieving capabilities as well.

Onion, on its own, can be used as an effective poultice for swelling, soreness and bruises.