Drawing Salve

Drawing salve is known by many names, including drawout salve and bear salve. In some cases, drawing salve is also known as black salve; however, there may be a slight difference in ingredients between drawing salve and black salve. Typically black salve contains the herb bloodroot, while drawing salve does not.

Black salve is a popular herbal remedy that many people include in their natural first aid kids to treat a number of conditions.

Drawing salve is a black ointment with a distinctive odor. Its primary ingredient is ichthammol, which is derived from the distillation of oil shale. Ichthammol is mildly corrosive. It softens and weakens the skin. It also draws increased blood flow to the area it is applied, causing infection, foreign bodies and toxins to rise to the surface.

Other common ingredients found in drawing salve include herbs like echinacia and calendula, homeopathic ingredients like arnica, and essential oils like bergamont oil and vitamin E. The ingredients of drawing salve will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Both black salve and drawing salve have been used for more than a hundred years in the United States, and most likely arose from a common origin. The origins may extend back to Native Americans, who created a salve out of black ash and bloodroot. Native Americans used the black salve as a means of drawing infection out of the body.

There are a number of conditions that drawing salve can treat. Below are listed a few, along with instructions for use.

Everyone gets a splinter at some point – whether from an errant bit of wood, a metal shaving or a thorn or burr from a plant. Often, these splinters wind up deep within the skin, and simple removal with tweezers isn’t a possibility. In this case, drawing salve may be just the ticket to get that splinter removed. To treat a splinter:

1. Soak the area with the splinter in warm water for ten minutes (or apply a damp warm compress to the area if soaking is not a possibility).
2. Clean and dry the area surrounding the splinter.
3. Apply drawing salve in a thin layer over the splinter.
4. Place a bandage over the salve.
5. After 24 hours, remove the bandage and check to see if the splinter has risen to the surface.
6. If the splinter is close to the surface, carefully remove with sterile tweezers. Clean the area thoroughly.
7. If the splinter hasn’t risen close enough to remove with tweezers, clean and dry the area and reapply the drawing salve as directed above.
8. Once the splinter has been removed, treat the area with either alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

Boils are caused by a bacterial infection under the skin which leads to a surface inflammation. Drawing salve reportedly has antibacterial properties that can help draw the infection to the surface. To treat a boil with drawing salve:

1. Apply a warm, damp compress to the boil for ten minutes.
2. Thoroughly clean and dry the boil.
3. Apply drawing salve in a thin layer over the boil.
4. Cover the salve with a bandage and leave it for 24 hours.
5. After 24 hours, clean off the salve and check the boil for change. If necessary, repeat all of the above steps.
6. If the boil persists, or if you develop a fever, see your doctor.

There are a number of biting and stinging insects, such as mosquitoes, bees and spiders. Bites and stings from these insects can lead to a whole host of symptoms ranging from mild itching to pain and swelling. In cases of severe swelling, see your doctor. If the pain and itching is mild to moderate, drawing salve is a great alternative to antihistamines to remove the sting and itch of bites. To treat insect bites and stings:

1. Check the area of the sting/bite to see if there is an embedded stinger. If there is, gently scrape the area with an edge such as a credit card to remove the stinger. Don’t use tweezers, because squeezing with tweezers may cause even more venom to be released.
2. Thoroughly clean and dry the area.
3. Apply a thin layer of drawing salve over the sting or bite and cover with a bandage.

Drawing salve is available at health food stores. It is typically sold in tubes or tubs. You can also find drawing salve online at a number of e-commerce sites.

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