09/22/2024
Product feature of the day:
Skinned Knee Salve!
This is the salve that started it all. My four-year-old son loves to run on concrete, and scrapes his knees up a lot. As everyone knows, skinned knees are the one ouchie that bandaids just don't stop the pain for, and Neosporin not only doesn't help the pain but also can actually slow wound healing [1]. Worse, topical antibiotics can add to the growing issue of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on your body, which means that when you really really need the professional stuff, it may not work [2].
I looked for a better solution, and found it in the natural remedies that our professional pharmaceutical companies rely on and often exploit.
Skinned Knee Salve is made with ethically sourced herbs infused for 12 weeks in a blend of cold-pressed olive oil and sunflower oil, locally sourced beeswax from Brawe's Bee Farm, and essential oils. And folks, it really works. This gentle but potent salve soothes pain, protects the wound, and speeds up healing noticeably.
Here's the breakdown:
Personally foraged:
+ Purple dead nettle [anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial]
+ Plantain [soothes irritated skin]
Garden-grown:
+ Lavender [anti-inflammatory, analgesic, scent helps calm upset kiddos]
+ Chamomile [anti-inflammatory, soothes itchiness and irritation, scent helps calm upset kiddos]
+ Calendula [speeds healing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory
+ Lemongrass [soothes irritated skin, antimicrobial]
Sourced from Mountain Rose Herbs:
+ Comfrey [stimulates skin cell growth, anti-inflammatory]
+ Yarrow [slows bleeding, antimicrobial, stimulates collagen and tissue formation]
Essential oils:
Lavender [analgesic]
Rosemary [anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, wound closing]
Chamomile [analgesic]
Important notes: Use only on shallow wounds! The allantoin in comfrey stimulates the regeneration of surface skin faster than subcutaneous skin, so use on deep wounds (more than 1/4 inch or so) risks encapsulating bacteria and causing infection. The Deep Wounds Salve is a better option for those injuries. Also, studies are mixed on the safety of comfrey in infants and toddlers - some say yes, some recommend avoiding. My own takeaway has been avoiding if your child has any risk of liver problems, otherwise, occasional topical use is no issue.
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[1] Wang G, Sweren E, Liu H, Wier E, Alphonse MP, Chen R, et al. Bacteria induce skin regeneration via IL-1β signaling. Cell Host Microbe. 2021 May 12;29(5):777-791.e6. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2021.03.003.
[2] Williamson DA, Carter GP, Howden BP. Current and emerging topical antibacterials and antiseptics: Agents, action, and resistance patterns. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2017;30(3):827–860. doi:10.1128/CMR.00112-16
