Skin & Salves · 2026

Medicinal herbs for skin & healing

The plants behind every soothing balm — what each does for skin, and how to turn them into a salve at home.

Homemade calendula salve with fresh calendula flowers on a wooden table
01

Calendula

The skin herb. Base of countless soothing salves for dry, chapped or irritated skin.

02

Lavender

Calming for the skin and the senses. A few drops of infused oil soothe minor irritation.

03

Yarrow

Field first-aid: traditionally crushed onto small cuts and scrapes to help them close.

04

Plantain

The path weed. A crushed fresh leaf is the classic go-to for insect bites and stings.

Simple calendula salve: infuse dried petals in olive oil (low heat, 1 hr), strain, warm with a little beeswax until melted, pour into a tin. Cools to a salve. Not medical advice — patch-test and see a professional for serious skin issues.

Grown & used, on video

Grow your own skin shelf

Calendula, lavender and yarrow are all in Nicole Apelian's Medicinal Garden Kit — non-GMO seeds plus her remedy guide with the salve recipes.

See all 10 herbs to grow →

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The Backyard Remedy Handbook

Ten medicinal herbs and the simplest way to turn each into a tea, salve or tincture — one printable guide. We'll email it to you.

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