Golden Spiced Salve Recipe
Every year about this time, I start wanting to use all the warming herbs and spices in everything. It usually starts happening right around the day that the weather starts to feel a bit crisp and our first fall rain arrives. It's like an instant transition for me. I go from tank tops and flip flops to cozy sweaters and knee-length socks and chunky scarves and homemade quilts and spiced chai lattes and baked goods with all of the flavors of pumpkin spice lattes. The cozy season sets in deep over here. I generally start to move away from the citrus-scented products of the summer toward the more sweet, spicy notes of the fall. My remedies start to take on a warmer tone. And I start to use a lot of turmeric…and I already use quite a bit of it throughout the year!
One of my go-to anti-inflammatory, warming and pain-soothing topical use formulas is a golden spiced salve that incorporates turmeric. I originally published the recipe in an issue of AromaCulture Magazine (no longer available), and I thought I would share it here for you too.
Ingredients
2 ounces of your favorite carrier oil
I like to infuse mine with skin-friendly herbs that also have analgesic properties, but you could also use a plain carrier oil if it's all you have on hand. I do recommend using something with a somewhat neutral or golden color, though, to enhance the golden color of the finished salve. Sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, and jojoba all work really well.0.5 ounces of beeswax
1/2 teaspoon of organic turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon organic cayenne powder
12 drops lavender (angustifolia) essential oil
6 drops of ginger (Zingiber officinale) essential oil, distilled from the fresh root
6 drops of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil
Note: This recipe calls for about a 2% dilution of essential oils. The overall blend is pretty strong as it is with the turmeric and cayenne added. If you are working with a more acute kind of ailment that has more pronounced pain, you could double the amount of each essential oil to increase the dilution to a total of 4%. This would be suitable for adult short-term use for an acute issue. The recipe as-is would be well-suited for something that needs more regular care.
How to Make the Salve
Set up a double boiler on your stove using a small saucepan and a glass, Pyrex (or other heat safe) measuring cup. (The measuring cups make great double boilers for herbal products because they have a pouring spout that makes it easy to transfer your blend to the container when you take it off the stove, but you could also use a mason jar.)
Make sure your saucepan has about an inch of water in it. Add the beeswax, carrier oil, and powders to the measuring cup and place the cup inside the saucepan. Heat over a medium-low flame, stirring as needed, until the beeswax has melted completely.
Once melted, turn off the heat and use a potholder to remove the measuring cup from the saucepan. Stir in your essential oils, then pour the blend immediately into a sanitized tin or jar.
Allow the tin to sit in one place on the counter until the mixture has cooled into a solid.
This recipe makes one 2.5 ounce tin of salve and will keep for about a year if stored away from light and heat and accessed with clean, dry fingers.
Safety Notes and Other Tips
Since this product contains cayenne powder, you will want to avoid applying it to areas where there is broken, sensitive or damaged skin. Also avoid contact with mucous membranes. The cayenne will sting if it comes in contact with any such areas.
This is a warming product. It would be best suited for things that indicate a lack of heat; think of things like a lack of circulation, blue or cold hands and feet, dull, aching pain, or bruising. This recipe is not a good choice for things that are already showing signs of heat and inflammation, such as a rash or any place where there is redness.
If you prefer softer salves, you can increase the amount of carrier oil in this recipe to 2.5 or even 3 ounces. I recommend trying the recipe as it is written the first time, then adapting for future makes. You can also melt the salve back down and stir in a bit more carrier oil if you need to.
To use the salve, massage a small amount into the skin wherever there is pain or inflammation that would be relieved by a heating pad. If you use a lot of the salve, it can stain the skin, so make sure to only use the amount you need to find relief. Wash your hands after application. Avoid allowing the salve to come into contact with clothing, since the turmeric could potentially stain it.
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Erin! I am the main instructor here at Floranella. I am a clinical herbalist, aromatherapist, artisan distiller and organic gardener based in the Pacific Northwest. Here at Floranella, I teach people how to work with plants safely and effectively from the garden to the apothecary. Thanks for being here! I’m glad you stopped by.
