Soothe Thy Skin Healing Balm

A sacred herb that blooms at the peak of summer, St. John’s wort embodies sunshine, movement and expression. This valuable and versatile plant is a potent wound healer, used in many remedies to reduce pain, inflammation and speed healing. In addition to its topical strengths, a few of its many uses include improving liver detoxification and balancing the nervous system to ease depression.

The humble plantain is a common companion in most places people tread, and offers us potent medicine if we remember to pay attention. Cool and moist, the leaves are excellent to soothe inflamed, irritated skin conditions, poison ivy rashes, bug bites and stings. Plantain also helps speed wound healing when used on the skin. Taken internally, it heals irritation and inflammation of the mucous membranes in the digestive, respiratory and urinary tract.

If sunshine itself was a flower, it would be calendula. Calendula’s bright, joyful blossoms soothe skin irritation and inflammation of various kinds both inside and outside the body. Sticky, golden tinted fingers are a common sight here at Raven Crest as we hand harvest the resinous blooms daily through the summer and autumn. A gentle and mild bitter, Calendula brings light and movement to the liver, lymph, skin and digestive system.

Comfrey is a premier herb for relieving pain and irritation, while promoting the healthy, rapid regrowth of skin. Classically it is used externally to help heal bruises, strains and fractures and true to the root of its latin name ‘symphysis’, it aids in the speedy re- growth of bones.

Yarrow is a powerful healer, one of our most helpful herbs for treating wounds. Its legendary powers are attributed to quickly stop bleeding and help speed the repair of damaged tissue. Yarrow's classic aromatic signature helps to break up stagnation in the body, making it useful for supporting respiratory health during illness.