About Healing Ointments

Healing ointments, or salves, have been used for centuries to soothe skin, ease pain, calm anxieties, reduce itching, relax tight and sore muscles, and treat a variety of complaints. Ointments are typically fatty or greasy substances that may be applied topically. Modern science has been able to synthesize some traditional herbal healing substances, such as willow and echinacea, for mass production in commercial healing products. Homemade healing ointments are less expensive and remain popular in folk medicine.

History

Healing ointments are common in history dating back to ancient times. Ancient Egyptians recorded, on stone tablets, their treatments involving ointments and oils mixed with herbs and other natural substances such as aloe to soothe burning. Some religious rituals, such as baptisms and anointing of the sick, reflected contemporary beliefs in the preventive and curative values of healing ointments. Native Americans used fish oil or the fat from bears, eagles and raccoons as a base to deliver herbal ointment healing to their bodies.

Types

Different types of healing ointments are available to treat a variety of different symptoms. Antiseptic and antibiotic ointments can help keep a wound germ-free while delivering medicine to soothe and heal burns, cuts and scrapes. Corticosteroid ointments may be effective against canker sores, a painful and unsightly mouth condition that typically afflicts teenagers and young adults. Aloe-based ointment remains a popular topical application for sunburns and minor household burns. Always check with your health care professional before relying on a herbal preparation to treat a medical problem.

Features

Healing ointments are typically prepared by blending healing, soothing, cooling or warming ingredients in a fatty base. The fatty base makes it easier to apply the ointment and reduces the likelihood that you'll aggravate the wound by scratching, pulling or drying out the injured site. Native Americans soothed sore muscles with a healing ointment made from crushed peppermint or sage leaves infused into bear fat. Today's healing ointments are packaged for convenience, in tubes and small jars that you can easily access or even carry in a purse or pocket.

Benefits

Different elements of healing ointments may offer different benefits. Healing ointments blended from a base of pure beeswax or extra virgin olive oil typically won't plug up the skin's pores, so skin is allowed to breathe. This may speed up the healing process. An ointment derived from the powerful oil and bark of the camphor tree immediately numbs the site to which you apply it, bringing fast pain relief. The components of peppermint-based muscle rub ointments penetrate the skin and warm the muscles, causing them to relax, which relieves soreness.

Cautions

Your skin may be sensitive to one or more of the ingredients in healing ointments, even those made from all-natural materials. Even a commonly used preparation that contains aloe vera has been known to trigger illnesses in some people, according to the medical herbalists at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Some people may suffer a rash, diarrhea, stomach cramps or bronchial congestion when using aloe products. Always apply a small amount of the ointment to an inconspicuous area, such as under your arm, and wait 30 minutes to see if you experience a reaction.