Last Updated on October 8, 2024
When it comes to the things you can do with baking soda, the list is quite endless. From being used as a cooking (baking) ingredient to a good cleaning solution, it is no doubt why many people speak highly of it. But if what you have planned is a drawing salve recipe with baking soda, you want to know exactly how to whip one.
There are many ways you stand to benefit from a traditional drawing salve using homemade ingredients, and you can be sure to find baking soda an essential addition. But before I share with you how I use baking soda to treat boils and injuries at home, let’s first talk about the medicinal benefits of baking soda.
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The Health Benefits of Baking Soda
As mentioned earlier, you can find it useful in many ways than to be included in a cooking mix. Some of the ways you can find baking soda to be useful for therapy include:
- Helps in the treatment of heartburn
- It can be used as an organic mouthwash
- It could be used as a natural teeth whitener
- Works as a natural deodorant
- Useful in relieving itching skin and sunburn
- It can be used as a natural air freshener
- Could help with dirty laundry and dishes
When it comes to the many things you could do with baking soda, you may want to put it to the test. But if your interest is in using it for skin therapy as a drawing salve, you can find out exactly how in the sections below.
What is Drawing Salve?
Drawing salves are usually herbal pastes prepared to be slightly corrosive. This way, they can draw out foreign substances from the body, such as boils and infections. While you can choose to buy any of the branded salves you’d find in the store or online, you could choose to make yours using simple home ingredients.
There are many different recipe options available for a drawing salve. But the best ones are effective in getting foreign objects such as thorns out of the skin. You want to know how to apply and massage into the skin, but first, let’s learn how to use baking soda in a drawing salve.
Drawing Salve Recipe with Baking Soda
When it comes to using baking soda in a drawing salve, you want to be particular about using the best quality. This preparation works better in removing splinters from the skin; it could also be a safe treatment for a boil and prevent infection on an injury.
To make the preparation, you only need baking soda and a few drops of water. Mix both ingredients until it forms a paste and applies to the affected site. You may have to cover with a band-aid for up to 24 hours for the preparation to work. By this time, the splinter should be extracted from the skin.
You may have to repeat the treatment if the splinter still doesn’t come out. Reapply the preparation on the site and cover for another 24 hours. It may be best to check with a physician if the splinter still doesn’t get out after several trials.
Drawing Salve VS Baking Soda Mix
When compared to the original black salve, you will find that the baking soda preparation does pack a hefty punch. But the difference is the black salve usually is corrosive to the skin, but you won’t suffer many complications with a baking soda mix.
If you are not sure a drawing salve would be a good idea for you or your kid’s skin, there are other ways to get out a splinter. You could try the sticky tape method for a short fragment close to the skin surface. Ensure to use sticky paper tape and pull in the opposite direction of the point of entry of the splinter. This should be able to get it out safely.
You will also find the use of baking soda to be a cheaper option compared to a black salve. This is because you won’t have to spend a few $$ on a fancy concoction you can whip up yourself. If you think baking soda may not be an effective treatment for you, there are other treatment options for skin infections.
You want to consider using products that do not contain any toxic chemicals. That’s if you choose to use a branded product on your skin.
What Ingredients Are in Drawing Salve?
Depending on the manufacturer, there are different ingredients found in drawing salve ointments, however, the most common ones are ichthyol, phenyl alcohol, arnica montana, and a few well-known herbs like echinacea, calendula, etc. These ingredients work well with vitamin E, antiseptic bergamot oil, and anti-inflammatory comfrey oil. Finally, we mustn’t forget to mention that beeswax is one of the most common bases for these ointments; therefore, animal lovers should pay attention to the declaration, because in that case, the product isn’t vegan.
What is The Active Ingredient in Drawing Salve?
Ichthammol is the most active ingredient in drawing salve. It is known for its unsurpassed anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and fungicidal properties which actually serve to soothe the skin, heal wounds and relieve itching. This natural substance softens the skin and increases blood flow, which as a result promotes faster healing of wounds and the ejection of pus or some irritants.
How Does Drawing Salve Work on a Cyst?
The drawing salve penetrates deep into your tissue thanks to one of its active ingredients, ichthammol, which softens the skin by weakening it while increasing blood circulation in the affected area.
It is particularly effective in the treatment of cysts because, as we have already stated, the drawing salve can increase blood circulation, which causes the formation of pus around the foreign body, or in this case the cyst. After a while, both the pus and the foreign body are ejected from the body, leaving a small wound that should heal quickly.
How Does Drawing Salve Work on Boils?
Boils are a specific type of infection of the top part of the skin, the most common causes of which are various bacteria or inflamed hair follicles. Most of them start as a small reddish lump that then turns into a large, festering ulcer or boil. Although in most cases the story ends with them bursting and draining on their own, some of them can remain cocooned under the skin for a long time, causing a lot of pain, severe inflammation, and illness.
As for using drawing salve to treat boils, it’s best to start while things are still in their early stages to speed up the natural boil development process. Basically, the point is that by using this natural ointment, you are helping your body draw out the pus faster than it would otherwise, causing the boil to spread and fill with infection more quickly. A combination of drawing salve with a warm antiseptic or antibacterial compress is recommended, it is proven to be very effective.
Does Drawing Salve Work on Warts?
It is not recommended to treat warts with drawing salve, rather consult your dermatologist, the process of their removal takes less than 20 minutes and is almost completely painless. Unfortunately, most people, without prior consultation, decide to use all kinds of DIY black drawing salve preparations whose corrosive agents can cause extensive damage to healthy and diseased tissue and cause recurrence or metastasis of skin cancer.
Is It Safe To Put Drawing Salve on a Spider Bite?
Yes, it is completely safe to use drawing salve to treat spider bites. In this way, you can very effectively get rid of the poison injected into your body by the bite. All you need to do is apply a small amount of the medicine topically to the affected area. It would be best to cover it with a plaster or bandage so as not to make a mess.
Will Drawing Salve Remove Blackheads?
Although many of you may think otherwise, since it has so many anti-inflammatory properties, it is not the smartest idea to use a drawing slave to treat any type of acne, including blackheads.
Unfortunately, there is not enough scientific research to confirm its effectiveness in the treatment of acne, so if you want to experiment on your skin, you can, but our friendly advice is to choose some other, more proven methods. Be careful, you can damage the skin barrier if you decide to test insufficiently researched substances on your skin. Instead, turn to products containing azelaic or salicylic acid and niacinamide as your first choice for treating comedones and blackheads.
Final Note
If you are dealing with a splinter in the skin, you could be uncomfortable until it is removed. And when it comes to effective treatment options, you want to consider baking soda and water.
Barbara is an environmental activist and sustainability advocate who loves living green and sustainable. She firmly believes in reducing her carbon footprint and has been making great strides towards achieving this goal. Barbara is a vegan and avid recycler and has been actively involved in community gardens and other green initiatives. She is passionate about spreading awareness about the importance of living in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner. Barbara is always looking for ways to make a difference in her community and beyond. She is a huge advocate for preserving nature and the planet for future generations.