Drawing salve counterintuitive?

So if you use an herb that has ‘draw’ qualities in a salve along with other herbs that don’t, would the ‘drawing’ herb cancel out the other herbs by preventing them from sinking in?

I feel it depends on what herbs a person uses for drawing.

Can you give me an example?

I use plantain a lot though I don't feel it affects other herbs.

I think that depends on how you think herbs work. My theory is that the herbs get absorbed into your body, and then they provide instructions to your body on what to do, or they provide a substance that your body needs. So a drawing salve might give your body instructions on how to push something out of your body. It takes awhile for the salve to be absorbed and the information to be transmitted. So while your body is absorbing the instructions on how to push something out, it would also absorb the information from the pain-fighting herbs, or whatever other herbs are in the salve.

Do herbs work that way? I don't know. But it is my theory.

Anne Miller wrote:I feel it depends on what herbs a person uses for drawing.

Can you give me an example?

I use plantain a lot though I don't feel it affects other herbs.

An example would be like you said, plantain mixed with say comfrey. I just want to make sure the plantain doesn’t extract the comfrey. Another example would be more of an astringent ,like jewel weed mixed with usnea (old man’s beard). Would the jewel weed prevent the usnea from working due to it being astringent?

I agree with Jeremy, 100%. Much depends on how each herb/ ingredient work. For example, because of bentonite's & activated charcoal's action of drawing, it's generally advised not to take it, internally within an hour (before or after) taking other supplements or medications - particularly in cases of anemia, where someone is taking iron, because heavy metals are one of the key targets of activated charcoal and bentonite clay. I pick these two for my example, because they are the primary drawing ingredients I personally use.

In my drawing salve, I use very few herbs - and, I choose them very carefully, for this very reason. The primary active ingredients, beyond the beeswax, carrier oils, a.c. & bentonite in my salve, are double infusions of calendula & plantain, and a strong portion of frankincense. These three seem to (at least in my experience) work well, in conjunction with the drawing ingredients. My guess is because they get to work quickly and because they marry well, in the jar, long before they are ever applied to the wound, they work together, rather than at odds.

I've been making and using my drawing salve on myself and others, for quite a few years - probably at least 9 or 10. Invariably, after 10 - 20 minutes or so, there's a significant decrease in pain, and within 12 - 24hrs of application (often as little as 2), there's a noticeable drawing effect, as well as a noticeable healing effect. My husband has been prone to sebaceous cysts, his whole life, and they'd often take a month or two to heal, occasionally even needing to be lanced. When he finally agreed to try the drawing salve, his healing time was immediately decreased to less than a week, and if caught quickly enough, a mere day or two - and he hasn't needed any to be lanced, since.

Another question is would you be buying these salves or making them?

If buying salves I would put trust in the person making them.

I usually use herbs by themselves and have not mixed them.

I use plants I grow or essential oils.

I trust the folks who books have recipes such as Stephen Herrod Buhner.