DIY Black Drawing Salve

I first learned about DIY black drawing salve as a natural remedy during a visit to a local Amish community while picking up produce and eggs. One of the farmer’s sons was applying something that resembled tar to his arm after getting a large splinter from a fence post.

Curious, I asked what he was using, and he explained it was a drawing salve to help remove the splinter and prevent infection. This piqued my interest, and I wondered about its effectiveness.

The farmer assured me that the healing salve wouldn’t stain the skin, and it was commonly used in their community. They relied on drawing salve to accelerate wound healing and extract foreign objects stuck in the skin. He even mentioned it could be effective on certain spider bites to draw out the venom.

Although he didn’t know where to purchase it, he kindly offered to jot down the recipe for me.

Benefits of Black Drawing Salve

I’ve been experimenting with different versions of this recipe since then. While it takes some time to prepare, it’s highly effective and worth the effort. We primarily use it for splinters and small glass shards that get embedded in the skin. Although I haven’t tried it myself, black drawing salves are also reputed to help remove moles and skin tags.

The herbs’ healing properties help soothe skin irritations and insect bites. It’s a great addition to your natural first aid kit, especially for bee stings.

How to Create Herb-Infused Oil

Before making the salve, it’s crucial to infuse olive oil with comfrey, calendula, and plantain. I grind them into a powder right before use to enhance their potency. Use 1 tablespoon of each herb in 1/2 cup of olive oil. Here are two ways to make an infused oil:

Powder the herbs and place them in a small jar. Pour olive oil over the herbs and let it infuse for 3-4 weeks, shaking daily. Strain the herbs using cheesecloth and keep the infused oil.
Heat the herbs and olive oil in a double boiler on low to medium heat for about an hour until the oil becomes fragrant and darker. Strain the herbs using cheesecloth once done.

I usually keep a large jar of olive oil infused with plantain, comfrey, and calendula in my herbal apothecary, letting it continuously infuse for use in salves and lotions. Once the oil is used, I discard the herbs and start the infusion process again.

With your infused oil ready, you can now create homemade drawing salve!

Black Drawing Salve Recipe

This homemade drawing salve is based on an old Amish recipe that aids in removing embedded splinters and promotes faster skin healing. It works well for bug bites, skin tags, and more!

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 5 mins
Active Time: 15 mins
Cooling Time: 2 hrs
Yield: 6.5 ounces
Author: Katie Wells

Instructions

Combine infused olive oil, shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, vitamin E oil, and honey in a heat-safe glass jar placed in a small pan of water.
Heat the water to a simmer and carefully stir the mixture in the jar until all ingredients are melted. You can also use a double boiler for this.
Remove from heat and add activated charcoal, kaolin clay, and lavender essential oil. Mix well.
Quickly pour into small glass jars or tins and let them sit until hardened (several hours).

Store in an airtight container and use as needed on cuts, splinters, etc.

The Ingredients and Their Benefits

The base of this drawing salve utilizes an herbal-infused oil. While it takes a few weeks to prepare, it’s excellent for skin health. I keep a jar of the comfrey, plantain, and calendula oil in my pantry for various home remedies and skincare projects. This blend of herbs aids in speeding up healing time and reducing inflammation. Plantain also has mild drawing properties to remove impurities and skin irritations.

Shea butter moisturizes and adds thickness alongside the beeswax. Vitamin E oil acts as an antioxidant, preventing the oils from going rancid. Kaolin clay (similar to bentonite clay) serves as an adsorbent for toxins and possibly bacteria, making it another drawing ingredient in black salve.

Raw honey is naturally antimicrobial and effective for various skin irritations. You can even use raw honey directly as a burn salve! The activated charcoal, which gives the salve its black color, is renowned for treating food poisoning and decontaminating due to its absorbing properties. It’s also effective at pulling out splinters or ingrown hairs.

Lastly, I add lavender essential oil for its skin benefits and pleasant scent. Tea tree essential oil also works well as an alternative.

Usage Instructions for Homemade Drawing Salve

Start by cleaning the affected area thoroughly. Apply a generous amount of black salve to the wound or splinter and cover it with gauze or a large bandage.
Leave it on for at least a few hours or overnight to allow it to draw out the infection or foreign object. Some things, like glass, in my experience, may take a day or two and several applications to remove.

This salve is a great natural remedy but should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice when needed. If you have a severe bug bite, wound, or other concerns, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional.

Have you ever made a salve? How did it work for you? Share your experiences below!