Black drawing salve is a natural remedy I first heard about when visiting a local Amish community to pick up produce and eggs. I saw one of the farmer’s sons applying what looked like tar to his arm after getting a large splinter from a fence post.
I asked what he was putting on his arm and was told that it was a drawing salve to help pull out the splinter and make sure the area didn’t get infected. I was fascinated and wondered if it would work and if it would stain the skin.
The farmer assured me that it didn’t stain the skin and that they used it all the time in their community to help with wound healing and drawing out things that were stuck in the skin. He said that it was even effective on some spider bites for drawing out the venom.
I asked if there was a place to buy it, and was told that they made it themselves but the farmer offered to write down the recipe for me.
Black Salve Recipe
We’ve been making variations of this recipe ever since. It takes a while to make but is very effective and well worth the time. We especially use it for splinters and pieces of glass that get stuck in the skin.
I have not tried it personally for this, but black drawing salves are also said to help remove moles and skin tags.
Salve Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons comfrey, calendula and plantain infused olive oil (see instructions below)
- 2 teaspoons shea butter
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 Tablespoons Beeswax
- 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
- 2 Tablespoons Activated Charcoal Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Kaolin Clay
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 20 drops (or more) Lavender Essential Oil
Salve Instructions
- Before making the salve, it is important to infuse olive oil with comfrey, calendula and plantain. You will need 1 tablespoon of each of the herbs, finely powdered in a food processor or blender, and ½ cup olive oil. It can be infused in one of these two ways:
- Powder the herbs and place in a small jar. Pour oil over the herbs. Leave in jar for 3-4 weeks, shaking daily, and then strain through a cheesecloth for use.
- Heat the herbs and olive oil in a double boiler. Leave on low/medium heat for about an hour until oil gets strong smelling and darker. Strain through cheesecloth for use.
- Personally, I keep a big jar of olive oil with plantain, comfrey and calendula in my herb cabinet and let it constantly infuse for use in salves and lotions. When the oil is used, I discard the herbs and begin the process again.
- Combine infused olive oil, shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, vitamin E oil and honey in a glass jar in a small pan of water.
- Heat the water to a simmer and carefully stir mixture in the jar until all ingredients are melted.
- Remove from heat and add activated charcoal, kaolin clay, and lavender essential oil and mix well.
- Quickly pour in to small jars or tins and let sit until hardened (several hours).
- Store in airtight container and use as needed on cuts, splinters, etc.
How to Use Black Salve
Make sure area has been cleaned well. Put a generous amount of black salve on the wound or splinter and cover with gauze or a large bandaid.
Leave at least a few hours or overnight to allow it to draw out the infection or object. Some things (like glass… in my experience) may take a day or two and several applications to draw out an object.
This salve is a wonderful natural remedy but it is not a replacement for medical care when needed. Consult a doctor before using if you have any health conditions or concerns.
Ever made a salve? How did it work? Share below!
I don’t get on with coconut oil, should I substitute jojoba oil or use more shea butter? I want the consistency to be right.
Coconut oil is a unique texture so it can’t be substituted 1:1 with a liquid carrier oil. You could maybe try using another 2 TBSP liquid oil, like grapeseed or olive oil, and using an additional teaspoon of beeswax. You’ll probably need to experiment a bit to see what works for you.
Hi,
Wondering if this works for cystic/hormonal acne? if yes, how would you recommend to use?
Thank you
I personally found that zinc, selenium and pantothenic acid internally helped get rid of mine years ago, as there is often an internal cause, so most external remedies won’t be entirely effective.
Yes, a lot of people use it for that. You could apply it as a spot treatment as needed to the area. It may take some experimenting to see what works best for you. Let us know if you try it and how it goes!
I have looked for this recipe online for awhile and am glad to finally find it. My grandfather made his own black salve, but it smelled as if it had pine tar in it along with many of the other above mentioned ingredients.
I would think that would make the receipt better and it would stay in place better..
Great Article, however the “Original Black Salve/Cansema Recipe” is as follows;
1. Bloodroot – 50 grams
2. Galangal – 50 grams
3. Graviola – 50 grams
4. Chaparral – 50 grams
5. Glycerine – 35 ml
6. DMSO – 25 ml
7. Zinc Chloride – 200 ml grams
8. Distilled Water – 500 ml
What I’ve just noticed, while searching out the Black Salve Recipe on the Net….is that 95% of the Recipe’s are NOT correct to the “Original Formulation” that was been passed down through Native American Tribes. Blood Root is one of MAIN ingredients in a CORRECTLY made “Black Salve” and it, in itself can CURE Gangrene, along with a lot of other skin issues. Remember: If you’re using the “Black Salve” internally, you leave out the Zinc Chloride portion of the formula. Then in essence….you just made yourself the CURE-ALL elixir called, “Hoxsey’s Formula” or “Essiac Tea”, which BOTH have been SUPPRESSES by the FDA, AMA, Fed. Govt. & their ilk of Psychopaths. If folks want to learn how to make this CURE-ALL…step by step. I’d invite you to go watch a documentary called, “One Answer to Cancer”, which is a Phenomenal Grass-Roots documentary that will teach you how to make the amazing remarkable mixture. This film is meant to help educate you on the subject, with various testimonials from folks that have used the “Black Salve” with success, that will empower you, while YOU take your Health into your OWN hands…..& then maybe you’ll help others likewise, even our own pets.
Here’s a link to the film, enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llq5nP8Qn68
There are a million different black drawing salves. Your Indian recipe isn’t the only one (see: Europe). Take this recipe on this site for example: one recipe from one Amish family.
Hi. I am wondering if the Vitamin E oil is necessary. Thank you!
Do you think this would be safe to use on eyelids and around eyes? I helped put in a lot of fiberglass insulation a month ago & my eyelids and at corners are irritated, red and when I put skin cream on I can feel shards of the glass cutting me.
It’s actually available at Walgreens by that name Icthamol
It’s actually available at Walgreens by that name Icthamol
Can I make bigger batches of this black salve so I can share with family & friends?
Can I simply triple/quadruple the recipe or do things need to be changed up like in a recipe for a cake?
Thanks in advance~
Georgann
I am a hillbilly. Medicine too. Been wanting this recipe for a long time but never really pursued or experimented from the old Prid Salve label……thank you! I serve pro bona and also help vets, so it will do many good. Not the first recipe I have gotten here. I do add things, but this recipe is solid. True formula and pharmacal preparation.
Drawing ointments have been around for centuries, and BLACK SALVE uses Mother Natures awesome healing herbs BLOODROOT, GALANGAL, GRAVIOLA AND CHAPARRAL with ZINC CHLORIDE added to get the herbs into the problem area. It causes reddening and perhaps short term itching and aching at the site where it is applied.
BENEFITS : When applied externally it will draw out any diseased cells, and other fungi. This amazing remedy works well, and is inexpensive and not toxic.
I made this and I LOVE it! The most noticeable experience is when I put it on a big lump on my back. A cyst had gotten infected and was full of awful pus for about 7 (May to November) months until I put this on it and in a VERY short time (next day or so) it healed up and hasn’t been seen or heard from again. Amazing! Even my dermatologist was impressed. I use it on most cuts because it heals so well and so much quicker. I love this stuff. I didn’t make it as gooey as your photo…I guess I overdid the beeswax- but it still works just fine. Pulls the raspberry thorns out too.
I don’t see that this has been answered yet. Is it possible to find out how many ounces this makes. I have 2 ounce tins and was wondering how many of these I can fill with this recipe.
I know this is a fairly Old Post. I was just curious how much this makes as far as ounces. I read through all of the comments I seen this question a couple of times if it was answered I must have missed it. Thank you