Preservation of lotions and salves

[AnnettStudent]

I made a lotion and kept it in my cool storage room but it did eventually grow mold. I had put vitamin E in it. And I’ve heard that putting lavender into lotions and salves will keep them from growing mold. So I’m trying to get an idea of how to better preserve lotions and salves, or to at least prolong their shelf life.

1. Any suggestions on what to use and how much to use (ratio or parts) to help lotions and salves last longer?

1a. What is the shelf life of your suggestion (if you know)?

[IdahoHerbalist]

How long did yours last with the Vit E?

Without any preservation I would expect 3-6 months in the cooler depending on the mix.

With preservation, 6+.

I do not know how much is needed to adequately preserve.

[IdahoHerbalist]

I worked HARD today. I wore gloves a lot. I dug in the dirt. I harvested licorice and marshmallow.

My hands are really rough and dry.

My wife just handed me a salve to use. We got this salve from a friend YEARS ago. It has never been refrigerated.

It has never had any mold, not once.

Licorice root, comfrey, chaparral and chickweed are the ingredients. I am guessing the chaparral is what is preserving this.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

No bug with good sense would want to get anywhere near chapparal. :barf:

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

The lotion I made lasted maybe 4-6 months in the fridge.

I have a lotion of olive oil, beeswax, lavender, marshmallow, comfrey, calendula that I kept in my cool storage room in the basement and it got mold within 5 or 6 months.

I have a lotion of almond oil, beeswax, and infused lavender water that grew mold after 5 months. I also made a lotion using coconut oil instead of almond oil and it did not grow mold at the 6 month mark. Both were stored in the basement cool room.

I have a comfrey, marshmallow, calendula, olive oil, vit E lotion that is still good and has been kept in the fridge since 7/9/16.

I have echinacea, plantain, malva, dandelion root, olive oil, beeswax, vit E that has been in the fridge since 9/12/16. It gets dark on the top and so I’ve skimmed the dark off and used the portion below. Mold grows from the outside in, right? So, it’s not harmful to do this?

How much vit E would you recommend to a 1 c oil, 1 oz. beeswax, 1 c infused water?

[IdahoHerbalist]

The dark stuff is called oxidation. It will not harm you but is not very potent as the oxygen has broken down the material.

I do believe that mold can form from any point in a material where the conditions are right for it to grow. The good thing is there will be many clues, including visual and scent, that will clue you in to its presence. Since oxygen is a primary for many molds, yes, you will typically see mold on the surface.

I do not know exactly how much E to add. We put a few drops into the herbal oils at or workshops. Have not gotten any feedback from folks on the efficacy though.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

I attended a workshop and the lemon balm lotion began oxidation around 6 months in the fridge. If I remember right, you did not put vitamin E in it.

[Michelle KochStudent]

It’s the same thing that makes your guacamole turn brown two hours after you make it, and the reason we squeeze some fresh lime or lemon into it (besides making it taste good).

You could try adding ascorbic acid to your lotion. (I wouldn’t use fresh lemon juice, that would probably grow mold).

[IdahoHerbalist]

Lavender is another good preservative that smells good. I have an infused oil that is still usable after many years.

[Martha StanleyStudent]

Here is a very thorough look at preservatives.

Excellent article.

And for waaay more info with lotsa big words, go to this page.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Thank you Marthabees. This looks great.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Recently I talked with a woman who said she makes her salves with tinctures and therefore they have a very long shelf life. She said she started making salves seven years ago and the seven year old ones are still good. Is this a real thing? Would the medicine still be good? If so, how do you make a salve from a tincture?

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

annett wrote: Recently I talked with a woman who said she makes her salves with tinctures and therefore they have a very long shelf life. She said she started making salves seven years ago and the seven year old ones are still good. Is this a real thing? Would the medicine still be good? If so, how do you make a salve from a tincture?

I often use tinctures in my salves. Just use a tincture instead of the tea when you get to that step.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Oh, so easy. Thanks:)

[IdahoHerbalist]

Don’t use tincture 1:1 for the tea though. That would be strong and expensive. You need to dilute the tincture in the water.

What do you think, Patrick, 10 doses or so?

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

IdahoHerbalist wrote: Don’t use tincture 1:1 for the tea though. That would be strong and expensive. You need to dilute the tincture in the water.

What do you think, Patrick, 10 doses or so?

That’d be about right.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

What do you mean by 10 doses? And is that 10 doses per cup of water? Just want to be clear here:)

[IdahoHerbalist]

Yes, 10 doses per cup of water.

Remember we teach that a dose is 10 to 30 drops. It could be more if the person you are working with is tolerant to medications.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Thanks!

[Linda RoystonStudent]

If you make a lot of salves or lotions like I do and buy large quantities of various oils to make them out of try this information from the herbalist Jim McDonald’s web site to keep them from getting rancid in storage. It works great! Here is the link:

[IdahoHerbalist]

Isn’t the fat something we want that is nourishing and helpful? Nothing mentioned about what is left behind either.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Wow! Super! Thanks MsLinda.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

MsLinda wrote: If you make a lot of salves or lotions like I do and buy large quantities of various oils to make them out of try this information from the herbalist Jim McDonald’s web site to keep them from getting rancid in storage. It works great! Here is the link: http://herbcraft.org/slipperyelm.html

That’s very interesting. Jim McDonald is a great fellow. I have that old book myself. I should spend more time reading it…as soon as I get ten minutes. 🙂

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[KelleyStudent]

I often use some balm of gilead (poplar bud infused oil) in my creams, lotions, serums and salves. Not only is it fabulous for skin but also the stuff never goes bad. Heavenly fragrance too.

[KelleyStudent]

By the way, for those of you who know and love Jim McDonald, he had a massive heart attack in May, and his surviving was considered a miracle. He is healing but has a long way to go and he and his family would welcome your thoughts and prayers.

[IdahoHerbalist]

You are talking about the flower buds of Poplar, right? What about cottonwood buds?

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

When I have added tinctures to infused oil and beeswax for salve making the tincture likes to bead and not mix well. Is there a trick to it? Should I use a hand blender? I don’t want a lotion, just a salve though. Any suggestions?

[Patricia TaylorStudent]

I use Rosemary Antioxidant as a preservative for my salves. I use 25 drops to 1 1/2 cups of oil. I haven’t had any go bad (rancid) since I started using it. I get it from Mountain Rose Herbs. I think I first read about using it while reading on Mtn Rose Herbs blog, but I could be wrong about where I read it.

[Author]

Posts