Goldenseal salve, if it is all natural, is a plant-based salve typically consisting of the fresh or dried root of the herb goldenseal, a natural fat such as coconut oil and beeswax. Commercially manufactured goldenseal salve might contain other ingredients such as artificial colors, dyes, perfumes and preservatives. The definition of a salve, also called an ointment, is a preparation that can be applied directly to the skin to treat various ailments such as swellings, burns and eruptions. It can easily remain on the skin because of its very thick consistency.
The herb goldenseal has many medicinal properties; it is considered a tonic, a laxative, a diuretic and a detergent. Its qualities that are most important when choosing it to make a salve include its anti-inflammatory, soothing and antiseptic properties. When needing to treat conditions such as open sores, inflammation, ringworm, eczema and other skin problems, often an antiseptic salve or one for acne is prepared.
Generally, commercial goldenseal salve contains very little of the actual herb because it tends to be extremely expensive, so to get the most benefit from the salve, it is recommended to prepare it at home. Another advantage to making an all-natural goldenseal salve in the home is the freedom to combine the herb with other medicinal plants known to work well with it, such as myrrh. One way help reduce the cost of making the salve is to gather the herb from the wild, if it grows in the area, or to cultivate it.
Preparation of goldenseal salve in the home is not difficult and requires only three ingredients: beeswax, the root and a natural fat such as olive oil or cocoa fat into which the root is extracted. Sufficient beeswax is added to the prepared oil to obtain a thick consistency characteristic of salves. Areas of the skin to be treated with goldenseal salve should first be clean and dry. It is then liberally applied to the skin and sometimes covered with a clean cloth to prevent staining of clothes.
Some of the conditions that have responded very well with the use of goldenseal salve include ulcers and unexplained skin eruptions. Those who choose to use this home remedy for skin conditions should carefully monitor improvement to ensure that they are dealing with a problem that they can safely and successfully treat with this method. If sores continue to enlarge or deepen, a medical doctor should be consulted to ensure that a more serious condition such as skin cancer is not present. Generally, improvement in the skin should be noticeable within only a few days of treatment with goldenseal salve.