Recipe for How to Make Sage Salve - Hawk Point Hobby HomeStead (2024)

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This recipe for how to make sage salve is an easy-to-make useful herbal salve. Making salves from herbs and other medicinal plants and weeds is a fun beneficial activity. This salve made from sage has many possible benefits. The only use I ever knew from sage was for dressing at Thanksgiving! It is amazing what wonderful properties that herbs really have.

Recipe for How to Make Sage Salve - Hawk Point Hobby HomeStead (1)

Benefits of Sage for the Skin

This article describes the many benefits of sage for the skin.

As discussed in the article, sage is good for relieving several skin conditions, such as chapped skin, acne, eczema and psoriasis. The oil from sage has an astringent property and is often added to face and body washes. The article also discusses that sage can possibly improve skin’s appearance by stimulating cell renewal and increasing blood circulation and that the herb is rich in calcium and vitamin A needed for daily cell regeneration and can delay the onset of wrinkles! Sage can also possibly improve the appearance of varicose veins and can reduce cellulite. Sage can also be used for wound treatment and can possibly reduce UVA damage to the skin.

Sage Salve Benefits

As discussed in the article above, sage salve would be an great salve to have on hand and even in your first aid kit as it is a multi-purpose healing salve with antiseptic properties, anti-inflammatory properties and is great for insect bites and minor scrapes. It can also be used as a chest rub to clear congestion, especially when mixed with tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil. It would be great to have for those colds that come in the winter months.

Sage salve is also just good for your skin and helps with dry skin, sun damage and is a wonderful moisturizer. It will soak right into the skin tissue and make it feel great.

How to Make Sage Salve

To make salves, balms, lotions and lotion bars, you need to start with an infused oil.

How to Make an Infused Oil

The first step to make an oil infusion is to dry the herbs. You can let the plants air dry by spreading them in a single layer on a dish towel or paper towel and let them dry for several days. The other option is to use a dehydrator set at a low setting.

I used my dehydrator to dry the sage leaves and the flowers

Recipe for How to Make Sage Salve - Hawk Point Hobby HomeStead (2)

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The next step is to make an infused oil with the dried flower or herb by steeping the flower or herb in a carrier oil. Different kind of oils can be used includingsweet almond oil, sweetgrass oil, olive oil,sunflower oil, jojoba oilor coconut oil.

Add the dried sage leaves and flowers to a glass jar. The amount of oil you want will depend on how much lotion that you want to make. You will add about twice as much oil as your dried flowers or herbs. For example you can add the flowers or herbs to a pint jar about halfway and then fill the jar almost to the top. If you want less, you can fill the jar about 1/4 up with herbs and then 1/2 way with oil. Also, you can make more than you plan to use for now and save the additional oil for later.

Recipe for How to Make Sage Salve - Hawk Point Hobby HomeStead (3)

There are several options for making the infused oil:

Slow option: Just add the lid to the jar and put it away in a cabinet for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake the jar every once in a while. You can also put the jar in direct sunlight for a couple weeks to infuse the oil.

Fast double boiler method: Place the jar in a saucepan of a couple inches of hot water and heat the water on low for about 2 hours

Fast crockpot method: Add your dried herbs or flowers and oil to the crockpot, make sure that the oil covers the herbs. Heat the oil slowly and keep the crockpot on warm. Try to keep the temp between 120-130 F. Let it heat for several hours.

Making the Sage Salve

The next step is to strain the dried sage from the infused oil.

Recipe for How to Make Sage Salve - Hawk Point Hobby HomeStead (4)

Once you have the infused oil, add the desired amount to adouble boiler, then add the beeswax and shea butter. My measurements are 1 cup infusion oil to 2 Tbspbeeswax and 1 Tbspshea butter. I used 1/2 cup infusion oil to 1 Tbsp beeswax and 1/2 Tbsp shea butter for the sage salve that I made. It made 2 2-oz tins. A lot of recipes for salves that I have seen use measurements in grams and oz. I feel it is easier with simple measurements and the salve turned out great.

Recipe for How to Make Sage Salve - Hawk Point Hobby HomeStead (5)

Stir the mixture until the beeswax and shea butter melts.

Recipe for How to Make Sage Salve - Hawk Point Hobby HomeStead (7)

When the beeswax and shea butter are melted, pour the mixture, which will be in liquid form, into 2- ouncetins or glass jars.

Recipe for How to Make Sage Salve - Hawk Point Hobby HomeStead (8)

You can also add a couple drops of essential oils of your choice. I did not add any to my sage salve. I wanted to be able to smell the earthy scent of the original sage and the salve does have a hint of sage smell. I could have added a sage essential oil, but felt that might be too strong.

Let it sit for awhile until it sets up.

Recipe for How to Make Sage Salve - Hawk Point Hobby HomeStead (9)

Enjoy!

Enjoy making and using this salve made from natural ingredients and medicinal herbs. It is very easy to make small batches of these salves. I plan to continue to explore making salves, balms, lotions, and other similar items from plants and flowers found in nature and also from herbs and flowers that I grow.

I have made a salve from purple nettle and lotion bars from rose petals.

See my website atwww.HawkPointHomestead.comto learn more and for additional made from nature recipes, such as my flower jellies including mydandelion jelly recipe,redbud jelly recipe,lilac jelly recipepeony jellyandapple blossom recipe.

The website also includes canning recipes and other favorite great recipes, plus posts about other homestead-type activities, such as gardening and raising chickens.

For updates, please follow my Facebook page atHawk Point Hobby Homestead.

Some links are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Recipe for How to Make Sage Salve - Hawk Point Hobby HomeStead (10)

Sage Salve Recipe

Yield: 4 2-oz tins

This recipe for how to make sage salve is an easy-to-make useful herbal salve.

Ingredients

  • Dried Sage Leaves and a Carrier Oil, which can include sweet almond oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, or olive oil, to make your infused oil
  • 1 cup of the infused oil
  • 2 Tbsp. beeswax
  • 1 Tbsp. shea butter
  • Optional: Essential oil of your choice

Instructions

  1. Create the sage-infused oil with the dried sage and the carrier oil- See Notes
  2. Heat the infused oil in a double boiler
  3. Add the beeswax and shea butter
  4. Heat and stir until the beeswax and shea butter are completely melted
  5. Pour the liquid into 2 oz tins or jars
  6. Optional: Add essential oil of your choice, such as lavender
  7. Let the salve set up

Notes

There are several methods for creating the infused oil which are described in the article.

This recipe makes 4 2-oz tins. I cut the recipe in half and made 2 2 -oz tins.

Recipe for How to Make Sage Salve - Hawk Point Hobby HomeStead (2024)

FAQs

How do you make sage salve? ›

Melt coconut oil and cocoa butter in a small saucepan over low heat. When the oil is hot to the touch, add sage and rosemary. Let the mixture steep over low heat for 10 minutes, then turn the heat off and leave the pan on the stove to steep, uncovered, for another 1-2 hours, depending on desired potency of scent.

How do you make healing salve at home? ›

  1. 4 cups Olive Oil ( I buy the big jar of olive oil at Costco)
  2. 1 1/4 cup Dried Herbs (I use 1/2 cup calendula, 1/2 cup plantain, 1/4 cup comfrey leaf)
  3. 4 – 6 oz Bees Wax (depending how thick you want it)
  4. 1 Tablespoon Vitamin E Oil (helps salve from going rancid)

What are the ingredients in salve? ›

Salves are solid combinations of oils and a wax such as beeswax or soy wax. Creams and lotions, as you're likely familiar with, vary from thicker to more light in texture, and combine oils with water to create a hydrating topical treatment.

How do you make balm and salves? ›

Method
  1. First you will need to make an infused oil. ...
  2. Take 100ml of your infused herbal oil.
  3. Warm in a bain-marie, add 15g beeswax until it has melted.
  4. Take it off the heat.
  5. Whilst it is still warm add any essential oils you want to.
  6. Pour this into some salve jars.
  7. Allow to cool and then add a lid, label and store.

What is the best ratio for salve? ›

Mixing Your Salve

I typically make my salve with an oil to beeswax ratio of 3:1 or 4:1, which results in a thick but still easily spreadable texture. For example, in my latest batch I had about 100 mL of melted beeswax so I added about 300 mL of oil.

What's the difference between sage and rubbing sage? ›

Appearance. The aromatic leaves are silvery gray in color. Dried sage is usually sold ground or rubbed. Ground sage is made by grinding the entire leaf into a fine powder while rubbed sage is made by rubbing dried whole sage leaves to create a light and fluffy mix.

What oil is best for homemade salve? ›

Common essential oils used in homemade salves and balms include: lavender, sweet orange, roman chamomile, peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus, geranium, sandalwood, cedarwood, jasmine, rose, lemongrass, clary sage, frankincense, ylang ylang, vanilla, and rosemary. Use one scent alone, or try mixing two or three.

What is the difference between a balm and a salve? ›

Salves tend to be more oily and thinner in consistency, while balms are more thick and waxy. Salves can be better for moisturizing dry skin or treating specific conditions, while balms are better at sealing in moisture and creating a barrier against environmental irritants for general skincare.

How long does homemade salve last? ›

Then pour the mixture into individually-sized, dry, sterilized glass jars or tins and allow them to cool. Finally, place the lids on the containers, label, and store in a cool, dry place. Like the herb-infused oil, salves have a shelf life of 6 months – 3 years depending on the oil used.

What is the salve that draws out infections? ›

ICHTHAMMOL (ik THAM awl) is a topical drawing salve. It is used to treat insect bites or stings and minor skin infections. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

Can you make a salve without beeswax? ›

It's definitely salve season, and we set out to make one without using beeswax. Veggie-ful Green Salve uses Carnauba Wax instead of the usual Beeswax, which makes it a vegetarian salve. You may recognize the name Carnauba from wax used on cars!

How many drops of essential oil to add to salve? ›

Stir in your essential oils, using up to 9 drops total per ounce of salve. Allow the salve to cool, with the lid on so the oils don't evaporate out.

Why is my homemade salve grainy? ›

After a butter is melted, it can develop tiny crystals as it cools and sets. These crystals usually melt again on skin contact. While they don't detract from the butter's beneficial properties, the gritty texture they create is usually undesirable.

How do you make balm for joint pain? ›

Method
  1. ♦ Melt .8 oz of Beeswax in a double boiler* on medium heat - heat slowly *(pot of water on the stove with a glass or stainless steel bowl fitting over the mouth of the pot)
  2. ♦ Stir in 3.2 oz Fractionated Coconut Oil once all of the Beeswax has melted.
  3. ♦ Combine all Essential Oils in a small glass bowl.

Can you rub sage on your skin? ›

Sage relieves and Improves Annoying Skin Conditions. Sage assists in improving acne, athlete's foot and chapped skin, and relieving symptoms of eczema and psoriasis. Oil from the leaf is often added to face and body washes, deodorants and anti-fungal creams due to its astringent properties.

What is sage salve used for? ›

This Sage Salve is excellent for when you have wet, hacking coughs with lots of painful crackling and copious mucous. The added benefit of sage's antimicrobial action keeps secondary infections, like bronchitis, at bay.

How do you prepare sage for medicinal use? ›

Take a 250ml jar and fill it half way with dried sage and top with 40% alcohol (vodka is a good neutral choice). If you using fresh, chop the sage and fill to 3/4 of the jar and top with alcohol. Label with the current date and also add a date 4 weeks in the future (this is when you will strain the tincture to use).

How do you apply sage to your skin? ›

Massage: To create a Sage infused massage oil, add a few drops to a carrier oil or base massage oil and gently massage into sore areas. Skin Serum: To treat various skin complaints add a few drops to a carrier oil and apply to affected areas.

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