Benefits of Beeswax Salves by Oh Beeswax

 

More people are questioning what they put on their skin these days and with good reason. Skin reactions and worries about artificial ingredients have led many to seek natural skincare options. Among these natural choices, beeswax salves stand out as reliable skin treatments that have passed the test of time. These simple but powerful mixtures deliver the benefits laboratory-made creams often promise but rarely achieve: 

• deep nourishment
• skin barrier repair
• natural healing.

Products made with all-natural ingredients – especially those grown locally and made in small batches – carry nature’s full benefits. These sustainably sourced ingredients include:

• Olive oil infused with healing herbs
• Shea butter full of healthy fats
• beeswax straight from the hive locks moisture into your skin while still letting it breathe. 

This powerful combination of plants and bee-made ingredients is what makes the salves from Oh Beeswax – found at Herbs Etc in Michigan – so effective and popular.

 

The Buzz About Beeswax: A Key Ingredient in Salves

What Makes Beeswax Special?

Worker bees make beeswax to build honeycomb in their hives. It takes around eight pounds of honey to make just one pound of wax. This makes beeswax valuable for beekeepers and great for skincare.

Beeswax melts at high temperatures (144-147°F), which helps salves stay solid in many conditions. It mixes oils and herbs together so they spread evenly on your skin.

Skin Benefits That Go Beyond Surface Level

Beeswax makes a breathable shield that protects skin from pollution, wind, and dry air without blocking pores. It locks in moisture while letting the skin breathe. This helps heal chapped lips, cracked heels, and dry hands—especially during cold winters.

Unlike many filler ingredients in store-bought products, beeswax fights germs and reduces swelling naturally. Beeswax has natural compounds that help skin heal. According to the study A review of the use of beeswax in skincare published by the National Library of Medicine, “In skincare, its function ranges from its role as an occlusive, helping to create a semi-occlusive skin barrier that minimizes transepidermal water loss; as a humectant, locking in hydration; and an emollient to soften and soothe the skin. As a natural substance, its use has been shown to help alleviate symptoms associated with common cutaneous conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis, and overgrowth of normal skin flora.”

 

Why Beeswax Salves Work Better Than Typical Store-Bought Products

Most regular skin products from big box stores and pharmacies use water and need preservatives and fillers. Beeswax salves use herb-infused oils with beeswax as a natural preservative. This means no toxic chemicals or smells.

Oh Beeswax, based in Edmore, Michigan, makes all their products using beeswax they harvest from their own chemical-free hives. Their salves help with joint pain, nerve pain, and skin care.

Beeswax has many benefits:

• Moisturizing: Creates a protective barrier that keeps moisture in
• Healing: Natural germ-fighting properties help prevent skin infections
• Soothing: Won’t clog pores—great for sensitive skin
• Stabilizing: Keeps products fresh without fake additives

A good beeswax salve delivers healing herbs like comfrey, calendula, or St. John’s Wort directly to your skin. The result? Skin that heals faster, feels better, and naturally smells good.

 

A Look into Oh Beeswax’s Salves:

Comfrey Salve: Support for Bones, Bruises, and Strains

Key Ingredients

• Home-grown comfrey leaves soaked in organic olive oil
• Locally-sourced beeswax
• Vitamin E to keep it fresh
• A bit of lavender essential oil

Herb Benefits

• Comfrey has been used for hundreds of years to help bones and tissues heal. “Comfrey roots and leaves contain allantoin, a substance that helps new skin cells grow, along with other substances that reduce inflammation and keep skin healthy,” notes Mount Sinai. This makes it an excellent treatment for sprains, strains, and bruises. People call it “knitbone” because it was traditionally used to help broken bones heal.
• Lavender adds a calming effect and a pleasant smell.

Top Uses

• Sprains, strains, and sore muscles
• Bone or ligament injuries
• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Muscle pain
• Deep bruises and joint pain

How to Apply

Rub a thin layer onto clean, dry skin over the sore area two to three times daily. Let the salve soak in before covering it with clothes or wraps. Do not apply to open wounds, as it could cause infections.

Warning and Risks

Do not use comfrey salve on open wounds or broken skin. Comfrey contains compounds called pyrrolizidine alkaloids that may be harmful if absorbed through broken skin or used for long periods. Do not use it for more than 10 days in a row. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not use comfrey products.

Comfrey is not an herb you should consume. According to Healthline, “Professionals typically don’t recommend that you eat or take any form of comfrey by mouth, and most countries have banned oral formulations.” When taken orally, comfrey can be toxic to the liver and cause symptoms including:

• “jaundice
• pain in the upper right abdomen
• nausea
• weight gain due to fluid retention
• …liver failure,” states Healthline.

Nerve Salve: Herbal Comfort for Tingling and Sharp Pain

Key Ingredients

• Calendula, catmint, plantain, St. John’s wort, and comfrey
• Olive oil and local beeswax as the base
• Mix of basil, cypress, lavender, marjoram, and peppermint essential oils

Herb Benefits

• Calendula: This herb reduces swelling and helps heal damaged skin. It’s gentle yet powerful for soothing irritated tissues. According to VeryWellHealth, “Research has shown that calendula may treat diaper rash, wounds, vaginal yeast infections, and other conditions. Calendula has also been used as a pain and inflammation reducer…”
• St. John’s wort: Also known as hypericum, Klamath weed, and goatweed, St. John’s wort has been used for centuries to calm nerve pain. It contains compounds that may reduce shooting pain and tingling sensations. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), “Topical use (applied to the skin) of St. John’s wort is promoted for various skin conditions, including wounds, bruises, and muscle pain.”
• Plantain (not the banana-like fruit, but the leafy plant) pulls toxins from tissues and cools hot, irritated skin. “Plantain has long been considered by herbalists to be a useful remedy for cough, wounds, inflamed skin or dermatitis, and insect bites. Bruised or crushed leaves have been applied topically to treat insect bites and stings, eczema, and small wounds or cuts,” states Peace Health.
• Catmint relaxes muscles and eases tension around nerves.

Together, these herbs work to calm irritated nerves and reduce pain signals.

Top Uses

• Nerve pain after doing the same motion over and over
• Shooting pain along arms or legs
• General muscle aches where cooling relief feels good

How to Apply

Warm a small amount of salve between your hands and rub along the nerve path or sore muscle until fully soaked in. Do not apply to open wounds, as it could cause infections.

Warnings and Risks

• Using St. John’s wort can make your skin very sensitive to sunlight. Avoid sun exposure on areas where you’ve applied this salve. 
• Do not use if you’re taking prescription medications without talking to your doctor first, as St. John’s wort can interact with many drugs. 
• Do not use on deep wounds or serious injuries. 
• If nerve pain is severe or lasts more than two weeks, see a doctor, as it may be a sign of a serious condition.

All-Purpose Healing Salve: Daily First-Aid Hero

Key Ingredients

• Calendula, St. John’s wort, plantain, chickweed, Oregon grape, and yarrow
• Shea butter, jojoba oil, and beeswax for a rich texture that’s not sticky
• Lavender and tea tree essential oils for extra cleansing

Herb Benefits

• Yarrow has been used by many cultures to stop bleeding and fight infection. It helps blood clot and has natural germ-fighting properties. According to Mount Sinai, “Traditionally, it was used in 3 ways, [including] Applied to the skin for wounds and minor bleeding.”
• Chickweed cools hot, itchy skin conditions, such as poison oak and poison ivy, and helps reduce redness and irritation. “Chickweed is sometimes used topically to alleviate itching secondary to insect bites. It contains relatively high amounts of vitamins, which may partly explain its use as a topical treatment for skin irritations and itching,” states Peace Health.
• Oregon grape root contains berberine, a compound that fights bacteria and fungi on the skin’s surface. According to Healthline, “Some evidence suggests that Oregon grape reduces the severity of symptoms associated with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.”
• Calendula (as mentioned earlier) helps skin heal and reduces swelling. “Topical preparations containing calendula, chickweed, or oak bark have been used traditionally to treat people with eczema,” notes Peace Health.

This combination of herbs makes this salve perfect for everyday skin problems and minor injuries.

Top Uses

• Small cuts, scrapes, and bug bites
• Dry patches, rough elbows, or cracked heels
• Eczema
• Poison Oak and Poison Ivy

How to Apply

Put a small amount onto the area that needs help. Apply again as needed to keep skin moist and calm. 

Warnings and Risks

• Some people may be allergic to plants in the daisy family (which includes yarrow and calendula). 
• If you have hay fever, asthma, or allergies to plants, test on a small area first. 
• Tea tree oil can cause the side effect of skin irritation in some people. Stop using if you notice redness, itching, or burning that wasn’t there before. 
• Due to the St. John’s wort content, this salve may also make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. 
• Keep out of your eyes and wash your hands after applying. 
• Not for internal use.

Choosing the Right Oh Beeswax Salve for Your Shelf

Problem	Best Salve	Main Benefit
Bone or ligament stress	Comfrey	Deep tissue comfort, healing from the outside in
Tingling or sharp pain	Nerve	Pain relief
Daily skin problems	All-Purpose	Treats wounds, moisturizes skin

Where to Buy Oh Beeswax Salves in Michigan

Visit Herbs Etc in Mount Pleasant or shop on our website. Each 2-oz tin is poured, labeled, and delivered to Herbs Etc from Edmore, Michigan, within days of being made, ensuring it’s fresh and strong. Herbs Etc offers the Comfrey Salve, All Purpose Healing Salve, and Nerve Salve in our online store so that you can get these locally grown salves anywhere in the United States.

 

Important FDA Warning

These products have not been approved by the FDA. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not evaluated these salves to confirm they work or are safe. These salves are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The herb benefits described are based on traditional use and not on modern clinical studies. If you have a serious skin condition, allergies, or other health concerns, talk to your doctor before using these products. Stop using and see a doctor if you get a rash, redness, or other bad reaction. Always test a small spot of skin first if you’ve never used the product before.