The Basics of Soapmaking, Part 3 - Herbal Soaps and Remedies

By DoItYourself.com Staff

Intro to Processes - Safety and Materials - Herbal Soaps

Like essential oils, herbs can also be not only a pleasing aesthetic to our soap, but can have healing benefits as well.

Herb Properties Chart

Herb	Uses
Alfalfa	Rich in protein and vitamins. Good for arthritis, vitality and energy.
Aloe Vera	Healing properties. Use for sunburns, healing wounds, arthritis, acne, athlete's foot, eczema, psoriasis and poison ivy.
Barley Grass	Will color soap green. Packed with vitamins
Basil	Acne, arthritis, uplifting.
Bay Laurel	Arthritis.
Bayberry	Varicose veins, wounds.
Beech	Poison ivy and related rashes, burns.
Burdock	Acne, arthritis, burns, energy, poison ivy, skin inflammations, psoriasis.
Calendula flowers	Good for sensitive skin and baby skin.
Catnip	Mood elevator.
Chamomile	Mild sedative, inflammation, bruises, calming.
Chaparral	Acne, arthritis, astringent, boils, psoriasis, skin problems.
Chickweed	Acne, boils, inflammation, psoriasis, skin problems, wounds. High in vitamin C.
Cinnamon	Anti-depressant, will also color your soap.
Clover	Mild sedative, good for acne.
Cloves	Powerful aroma.
Comfrey	Similar properties to aloe vera. Good for boils, eczema, inflammation, psoriasis, wounds.
Cornflower	Insect bites.
Dandelion	Acne, age spots, boils, eczema, psoriasis, skin problems. High in nutrients.
Dill	Fragrant.
Echinacea	Acne, boils, insect bites.
Elderberry	Vitamins A, B, C, anti-inflammatory.
Elecampane	Skin rashes.
Eucalyptus	Antiseptic, insect repellant.
Fennel	Energy, insect bites.
Frankincense	Antiseptic, aches and pains.
Ginger	Fragrant, energy, opens pores. Use sparingly. Pairs well with lime.
Green Tea	Antioxidant, sun protection, antibacterial.
Heather	Sleep aid.
Hops	Sleep aid, anti-anxiety, antibacterial. **People with pollen allergies may be sensitive to hops.
Hyssop	Eczema, inflammation, insect bites, skin problems.
Jasmine	Fragrant, coloring, calming.
Jojoba	Psoriases, dry skin.
Juniper	Acne and athlete’s foot, stress relief.
Kelp	Packed with vitamins and minerals. Good for eczema, psoriasis, skin problems. Adds a "down by the sea" scent to soap.
Lavender	Fragrant, stress relief, relieves aches. Lavender flowers add a beautiful look and texture to soap, also giving it a punch of color.
Lemon Balm	Sedative, anti-fungal, sleep aid.
Lemongrass	Fragrant, stress relief, antibacterial.
Licorice	Age spots, arthritis, energy.
Marigold	Wounds and bruises.
Marjoram	Sleep aid, sprains, arthritis.
Meadowsweet	Arthritis.
Mullein	Boils, poison ivy, skin problems, warts, diaper rash.
Myrrh	Antibacterial, fixative.
Nettle	Insect bites
Nutmeg	Fragrant, anti-anxiety (not for pregnant women. Nutmeg will add color to your soap and also give it a spicy kick. This is a great topper for pumpkin soap. Use in its powder form.
Oats and Oat grasses	Acne, boils. High in silica. Adds color and texture.
Orange	Anti-anxiety, anti-depressant.
Oregano	Dry itchy skin.
Passionflower	Anti-anxiety, sleep aid.
Parsley	Arthritis, bruises, insect bites. High in nutrients.
Patchouli	Calming.
Plantain	Insect bites, itching, poison ivy, wounds. Excellent for all skin ailments.
Peppermint	Fragrant. Itching, antibacterial.
Poppy	Sleep aid, calming.
Red Clover	Acne, arthritis, boils, psoriasis, skin problems.
Rose hips	Nourishing, Vitamin C, anti-depressant. Bruises, insect bites, poison ivy.
Rosemary	Fragrant, insect bites, arthritis, adds texture.
Safflower	Anti-anxiety, arthritis, psoriasis.
Sage	Prevents excess sweating. Insect bites, skin problems, wounds.
Sandalwood	Calming, aphrodisiac
Sarsaparilla	Acne, age spots, boils, eczema, psoriasis, anti-inflammatory.
Spearmint	Fragrant.
Tarragon	Sleep aid, calming.
Tea Tree	Acne, antifungal.
Thyme	Fragrant, antiseptic, antifungal, mood lifter, eczema.
Valerian	Acne.
Violet	Acne.
Walnut	Eczema, skin problems.
White Oak Bark	Acne, skin problems, varicose veins, astringent, tonic.
Witch Hazel	Insect bites, varicose veins.
Yarrow	Skin problems. Contains steroids.
Yellow Dock	Acne, boils, energy, itching, poison ivy, psoriasis, skin problems.
Yucca	Arthritis. Contains steroids.

Herbs in Your Soap
The amount of herbs used depends on their state. One tablespoon of fresh herbs equals one teaspoon of dry herbs. This conversion will come in handy if you're following a recipe that calls for fresh, and you only have dried. For each pound of soap you can add a quarter-cup of fresh herbs, but pay attention to the form you're adding. Whole cloves may be a tad "scratchy" as opposed to crushed cloves. You can also crush your herbs by throwing them in a food processor.

The Time is Right
There is a time for everything, and the time to add herbs in soap varies. If you're using the cold process, add herbs after trace. If using rebatch or melt and pour, add herbs right before you add the soap to molds. You can even add herbs after you've poured your soap (except with CP) or even after the soap has become thicker.

Note: Check www.rxlist.com for potentially hazardous herbal combinations.