Salve, Butter, Balm or Cream...What is the Difference?

by Joan Morais

Now a days, all these terms are used regardless of the ingredients used but this is how I define them.

Salve- a healing ointment containing a carrier oil like olive oil and beeswax.

Balm-a healing ointment containing a carrier oil, butters and beeswax.Butter-rich butters and carrier oils.

Cream-contains water, carrier oils and an emulsifying wax, may also contain butters.

All-Purpose Healing Salve

Salve is an ointment used to speed up healing. Use this salve on bruises, cuts, scrapes, burns, rashes, chapped skin. Do not use on open skin.

1/2 cup of herbal oils (Calendula- 2 ounces, Comfrey-1 ounce, St. John’s Wort Oil-1 ounce) available at resource below

1/8 cup of grated beeswax
optional: few drops of lavender essential oil

How to make a Healing Salve

1. Place herbal oils in a double boiler (a smaller pot inside a larger pot, the larger pot contains a small amount of water)

2. Warm oil slightly, do not overheat oil as it will ruin the oil

3. Add beeswax to oils and melt

4. Pour immediately into jars and let set 5. If adding lavender essential oil, add 1 drop to each jar or up to 4 drops in pot of oils before pouring

5. Cover jars and store in a cool and dark place. Salves can last anywhere from two months to a few years depending on how they are stored.

Resources for supplies

Source: http://www.naturalskinandbodycare.com/2008/01/salve-balm-butter-or-cream-what-is.html