A salve is a medical
ointment
A topical medication is a medication that is applied to a particular place on or in the body. Most often topical medication means application to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes to treat ailments via a large range of classes ...
used to soothe the surface of the body.
Medical uses
Magnesium sulphate paste is used as a drawing salve to treat small boils and infected wounds and to remove 'draw' small splinters. Black ointment, or
Ichthyol
Ammonium bituminosulfonate or ammonium bituminosulphonate (synonyms of ichthammol, CAS# brand name: Ichthyol) is a product of natural origin obtained in the first step by dry distillation of sulfur-rich oil shale (bituminous schists). By sulfon ...
Salve, also called Drawing Salve, has been traditionally used to treat minor skin problems such as
sebaceous cysts, boils,
ingrown toenails and splinters. The main ingredients are often
ichthammol
Ammonium bituminosulfonate or ammonium bituminosulphonate (synonyms of ichthammol, CAS# brand name: Ichthyol) is a product of natural origin obtained in the first step by dry distillation of sulfur-rich oil shale (bituminous schists). By sulfon ...
,
phenyl alcohol
Phenol (also called carbolic acid) is an aromatic organic compound with the molecular formula . It is a white crystalline solid that is volatile. The molecule consists of a phenyl group () bonded to a hydroxy group (). Mildly acidic, it r ...
, or
Arnica montana, and may contain herbs such as
echinacea or
. The name comes from archaic belief that an irritant can "draw out" evil
humors. (This should not be confused with
black salve which is dangerous.)
Agricultural uses
In the days before
dipping, a greasy salve was rubbed into the wool of sheep in the autumn as a precautionary measure against parasites - as referenced in social literature about ancient farming areas in England.
[Pontefract, E. & Hartley, M. ''Wharfedale'' (1943 reprint) Dent & Sons]
See also
*
Bag balm
References
Ointments
Magic substances
{{treatment-stub