One of my favorite things about creating a customizable ointment recipe is how customizable it is. Once you’ve infused your herbs into oil, you can turn them into a healing salve for just about anything life throws your way. Over the years I have searched for different versions depending on the season, what is blooming or growing nearby, and what my family needs most at that moment.
As a family of people who work hard physically – whether it’s maintaining the garden, splitting firewood, building projects or just walking long days – we certainly appreciate a good muscle massage. I like to make a soothing version of this salve with comfrey and arnica oils, and I often add a few drops of peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils to give it a nice cooling effect. It has become a staple in our home, and I usually stash away a few extra cans for friends or neighbors who have overdone it in the yard.
Another mixture I like to have on hand is what I call my “all-purpose healing ointment.” It’s a mix of calendula, plantain and yarrow – herbs that I grow myself or source locally – and it’s perfect for dry skin, minor scratches, insect bites and even as a lip balm in the winter. This is the one I give as gifts most often because it is so friendly and universally helpful.
Here are a few ideas to stimulate your own creativity:
🌼 Soothing skin ointment – Use calendula and chamomile oil, add a little lavender essential oil
🌿 Muscle rubbing – Try arnica and comfrey, plus peppermint and eucalyptus oils
🍃 Insect bite or rash ointment – Plantain and chickweed, with a little tea tree oil
🌬 Breast rub – Infuse oil with thyme and mullein, add camphor or menthol for respiratory support
🐾 Paw or heel balm – Add a little shea butter to the base for extra moisture
Don’t be afraid to experiment with the herbs growing around you. Part of the beauty of making your own salves is that it encourages you to observe your landscape, learn from it, and let the plants guide you.
And honestly, there’s something very grounding about having a shelf full of handmade remedies made from herbs you’ve tended yourself or grown in the wild. These ointments become more than just medicine: they are small pots that provide connection, with the land and with each other