Black Walnut Salve for Athletes Foot and Blisters

Make Black Walnut Salve to Cure Athletes Foot and Blisters

Probably the most useful of the general salves to keep on hand. Black Walnut Salve is traditionally used to help with blisters caused by heat or fever, itching, rash, dry or inflamed skin and works well on athletes foot. Black walnut hills have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.

I recently went on a 20-mile hike and my big toes did not fair well. By the end of the week, each big toenail had a blister under it that required popping. It wasn’t particularly painful, just a nuisance (one of my toenails is coming off – TMI?) and this black walnut salve has been useful for keeping the area hydrated and free of infection.

Black Walnut hulls are anti-fungal, antiseptic, astringent, and have antiviral properties. The husk, shell, and peel induce sweating, especially if used when the walnuts are green. While still unripe, the nut also has worm destroying properties.

Olive oil has antibacterial properties and is closer in chemical structure to your skin’s natural oil than any other naturally occurring oil. It makes a great foundation for a salve to help your body, face, feet, and hands.

Cocoa butter is often recommended for treatment of skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. When applied topically, it creates a barrier between sensitive skin and the environment and helps retain needed moisture.

Make Black Walnut Salve

You will need:

A small saucepan, non-aluminum
2 unripe black walnuts
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons cocoa butter or shea butter
2 tablespoons softened beeswax

Grind and pound the pithy, outer green husks of two unripe walnuts in your mortar and pestle until it is mushy. Place it in your non-reactive pan (no aluminum).

Add the olive oil, and cocoa or shea butter to the walnut husks.

Put this on the stove, on low heat, for at least 1 hour, stirring frequently. Simmer your mixture, do not boil or overheat the oil to the point of burning.

To strain out the walnut husks, line a colander with a layer of folded muslin, cheesecloth or a coffee filter and pour the mixture through it. Once most of the oil has strained through, squeeze the cloth to extract as much salve as possible.

Put it back in the pan, on low heat, and add the 2 tablespoons of beeswax. Mix until the wax is completely melted. Test the salve by putting a small amount on a spoon and letting it cool. If the salve is too thin, add more beeswax. If it is too thick add more olive oil.

Place it in a small, wide mouth glass jar and store it in a dark, cool place like your pantry. This recipe makes 3 ounces of Black Walnut Salve and is easily doubled or tripled.

To Use Black Walnut Salve

Apply liberally to the affected area morning and night.

BONUS: Garden and Lawn Worm Destroyer! Use the husks and leaves of the black walnut tree. Mash and simmer them in warm water for 30 minutes, making a strong decoction. Strain after cooling and use it to destroy worms. The liquid can be poured on lawns and grass walks without injuring the grass itself, or placed in a spray bottle, diluted 50% and used as a bug spray.

Other posts that will help you prepare your herbal medicine cabinet include 25 Uses for Epsom Salts, Make Fire Cider Vinegar, Honey Onion Cough Syrup, 7 Herbal Remedies for your 72-hour kit.