Salve: Tamanu Oil

As you research different healing oils or salves you will notice that although some target very specific problems, many have similar properties.

If the descriptions for Sea Buckthorn Salve, Tamanu Salve, and the Tamanu Sea Buckthorn Healing Oil seem very similar, that's because they all contain really great natural, but very different, bioactive ingredients that promote healing.

SEA BUCKTHORN OIL: Sea Buckthorn oil contains approximately 190 bioactive substances. It has a beneficial effect on the skin because it is a strong antioxidant and is rich in Omega fatty acids, beta-carotenes and vitamin E.

The moisturizing oil easily penetrates deep into the skin and has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbiological activity that helps promote healing and reduce scarring. It also may help kill the Demodex mites that can cause rosacea.

TAMANU OIL: Tamanu oil has been used in traditional medicine for ages, specifically for its ability to speed the healing of wounds by fighting bacteria and increasing cellular regeneration.

It also has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibiotic, and antioxidant properties. What really sets tamanu oil apart from other oils is its unique chemical composition. It contains a unique fatty acid called Calophyllic acid, a natural antibiotic called Lactone, and a natural non-steroid anti-inflammatory agent called Calophyllolide.

Although salves are semi-solid at room temperature, they soften quickly once applied to the skin, making them very portable and less messy than oils.

To help you choose between the two salves, here are a few suggestions based on our experience and customer feedback.

Sea Buckthorn Salve

• Acne
• Rosacea
• Psoriasis
• Dermatitis
• Scars
• Minor burns

Tamanu Salve

• Wound healing
• Healing new scars
• Fading stretch marks
• Soothing and healing itchy, irritated skin
• Minor burns
• Tamanu oil helps soothe and heal surgical scars. If using for fresh surgical scars please check with your healthcare provider.

What about the Tamanu Sea Buckthorn Healing Herbs Oil?

The oils plus the infused botanicals are highly emollient, chocked full of antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties that make it great for any kind of tissue in need of repair.

Some differences between healing salves and healing oil:

• Absorption Time
  • Since herbal salves are made up of oils and beeswax, they will often sit on top of the skin and take a bit longer to penetrate the layers of the skin
  • Sometimes you want penetration to take longer and last longer, like with a simple scrape--so use a salve
  • Sometimes you may want faster relief, like when you have a burn--so use an oil
    
    
• Continued Hydration
  • When you do not cover a scar, cut, or scrape it dries out and scabs over. A scab is not always a good thing because, especially if it forms too quickly, it can act as a barrier to healing
  • You want to keep a cut moist to help prevent a scab from forming
  • While both the oil and salve will keep the area moisturized, a salve will provide a moisture barrier that lasts longer than an oil
  • If you choose to use only an oil, then use it more often to dab the area to keep it supple until new skin begins to grow

This product may be new to Chagrin Valley’s product line, but it is not new to me.

I formulated the recipe for our Tamanu Sea Buckthorn Healing Herbs Oils about five years ago. I wanted to create a concentrated oil using my two favorite healing oils that I could use in conjunction with our salves for healing surgical scars, burns, skin rashes and other irritations.

I tend to use both the healing oil and the salve. Sometimes I use the salves for the first few days or a week (depending on the problem) and then switch to the oil. For some surgical scars, I used both the oil and a salve every day for weeks.

**This information is not meant to replace proper medical treatment. As always use good judgment. If a wound or burn is large or there is any concern about infection or the rate of healing please consult your healthcare professional. Infected wounds can lead to very serious systemic conditions.

For more information see our "Help Me Choose Salves" page

Organic Unrefined Sea Buckthorn Oil

Wonders of Tamanu Oil

Help Me Choose An Herbal Salve

What Is a Salve?

A salve is a topical ointment used to nourish dry skin and soothe and help heal minor irritations. It is semi-solid at room temperature but softens once applied to the skin.

Chagrin Valley salves are made with USDA Certified Organic ingredients. There are no artificial ingredients, no petroleum products, no synthetic preservatives or emulsifiers, and no synthetic fragrances. Organic herbal salves work because they rely on the medicinal properties of nature.

The magical part of our salve comes from the healing oils and/or the herbal infused oils we use to make them.

As a skincare company we are not trying to treat medical conditions, the best we can hope for is to help ease some of the symptoms associated with them. Our recommendations are based on customer experience--not everything works for everyone and what works well for one person might be ineffective for someone else.

If you have sensitive skin or are new to salves we recommend a patch test before general use.

Chagrin Valley organic salves are combinations of healing herbs, botanicals, and therapeutic soothing oils. Some salves contain pure essential oils for their healing and/or aromatherapeutic properties.

We use our organic salves externally for minor skin irritations, insect bites, cuts, abrasions, healing scars, muscle and joint pain, stuffiness, chest congestion, stress relief, and more.

Although it is not a salve, we have included our Healing Herbs Oil in this section. It is basically a salve without the beeswax.

All Purpose Healing Salves

Calendula Salve

Calendula salve is a super soothing organic salve contains the healing herbs of Calendula, Chamomile, and Lavender.

Sea Buckthorn Salve

Sea Buckthorn Rosehips Salve is an organic salve, made with antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbiological Sea Buckthorn, oil helps encourage tissue regeneration.

Healing Herbs Oil

Healing Herbs Oil is a combination of two incredible oils that promote healing The oils plus the infused healing botanicals are highly emollient, chocked full of antioxidants, and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Salves for Rashes

Tamanu Salve

Tamanu Oil Salve uses the healing powers of Tamanu Oil that were discovered thousands of years ago when native Polynesians learned how to extract the thick green oil from the tamanu nut and called it a “sacred” gift of nature.

Chickweed Salve

Chickweed Salve is a great organic salve for itchy skin containing the healing herbs of Chickweed and Plantain.

Best Uses:

• Relieves itching**
• Soothe and calm itchy, inflamed and irritated skin conditions
• Helps dry skin and healing skin
• First aid for relief from insect bites and stings

**Salves and ointments should not be used on open or weeping skin with Poison Ivy or Poison Oak. The irritating oil (urushiol) in Poison Ivy and Poison Oak can be spread by oil based products.

Once the area has dried, salves can be used to aid healing or relieve itching.

Salve for Itching & Bug Bites

Chickweed Salve

Chickweed Salve is a great organic salve for itchy skin containing the healing herbs of Chickweed and Plantain.

**Salves and ointments should not be used on open or weeping skin with Poison Ivy or Poison Oak. The irritating oil (urushiol) in Poison Ivyand Poison Oak can be spread by oil based products.

Once the area has dried, salves can be used to aid healing or relieve itching.

Antibacterial, Antifungal Salve

Goldenseal & Myrrh Salve

Goldenseal and Myrrh Salve uses the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties of lavender, goldenseal and myrrh to aid the healing process

Salves for Minor Burns

St. Johns Wort Salve

St. John's Wort Salve is a rich organic salve, containing the healing and soothing herbs of St John's Wort, Calendula, Chickweed, and Plantain, to help dry and damaged skin. Ida developed this salve to use during her radiation treatments for breast cancer.

Sea Buckthorn Salve

Sea Buckthorn Rosehips Salve is an organic salve, made with antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbiological Sea Buckthorn, oil helps encourage tissue regeneration.

Tamanu Oil Salve

Tamanu Oil Salve uses the healing powers of Tamanu Oil that were discovered thousands of years ago when native Polynesians learned how to extract the thick green oil from the tamanu nut and called it a “sacred” gift of nature.

Healing Herbs Oil

Healing Herbs Oil is a combination of two incredible oils that promote healing The oils plus the infused healing botanicals are highly emollient, chocked full of antioxidants, and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Salves for Rosacea

Sea Buckthorn Salve

Sea Buckthorn Rosehips Salve is an organic salve, made with antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbiological Sea Buckthorn, oil helps encourage tissue regeneration.

Healing Herbs Oil

Healing Herbs Oil is a combination of two incredible oils that promote healing. The oils plus the infused healing botanicals are highly emollient, chocked full of antioxidants, and have anti-inflammatory properties.

See more products for Rosacea

Salves for Scars

Tamanu Oil Salve

Tamanu Oil Salve uses the healing powers of Tamanu Oil that were discovered thousands of years ago when native Polynesians learned how to extract the thick green oil from the tamanu nut and called it a “sacred” gift of nature.

If using Tamanu for fresh surgical scars please check with your healthcare provider.

Sea Buckthorn Salve

Sea Buckthorn Rosehips Salve is an organic salve, made with antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbiological Sea Buckthorn, oil helps encourage tissue regeneration.

Healing Herbs Oil

Healing Herbs Oil is a combination of two incredible oils that promote healing The oils plus the infused healing botanicals are highly emollient, chocked full of antioxidants, and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Salves for Eczema & Psoriasis

Tamanu Oil Salve

Tamanu Oil Salve uses the healing powers of Tamanu Oil that were discovered thousands of years ago. Over the years, it oil has been recommended for various skin issues such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, burns and dried cracked skin.

Sea Buckthorn Salve

Sea Buckthorn Rosehips Salve is an organic salve, made with antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbiological Sea Buckthorn, oil helps encourage tissue regeneration. 

Calendula Salve

Calendula salve is a super soothing organic salve contains the healing herbs of Calendula, Chamomile, and Lavender.

See more products for Eczema & Psoriasis

Salves for Muscle & Joint Pain

Warming Muscle Salve

Warming Muscle Salve is a penetrating organic salve made with pain relieving arnica, healing St. John’s wort and warming cayenne pepper.

Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, a natural anti-inflammatory that blocks a neurotransmitter that transmits pain signals from the nerves to the central nervous system.

When choosing which sore muscle salve to use, Warming Cayenne or Cooling Menthol, it is simply trial and error. The best question to ask yourself is... what helps alleviate your pain better, heat or cold.

When choosing which sore muscle salve is best for you, Warming Muscle with cayenne or Cooling Menthol, the best question to ask yourself is... what helps alleviate your pain better, Heat or Cold.

Cool Menthol Salve

Cool Menthol Salve is a great multipurpose organic salve that may help with heavy congestion, aching muscles and joints or mind and body fatigue. Menthol stimulates cold sense receptors in the skin and nose causing a cooling sensation when applied topically or inhaled.

Also try these organic products!

Sore Muscle Congestion Blend Bath Salt

Sore Muscle Congestion Blend Bath & Massage Oil

Sore Muscle Warming Lotion Body Candle

Salves for Cold, Sinus, Congestion & Energize

Breathe Easy Salve

Breathe Easy Salve has carefully selected organic essential oils that provide aromatherapy for stuffiness from dry heat, colds or allergies.

Cool Menthol Salve

Cool Menthol Salve is a great multipurpose organic salve that may help with heavy congestion, aching muscles and joints or mind and body fatigue. Menthol stimulates cold sense receptors in the skin and nose causing a cooling sensation when applied topically or inhaled.

Also try these organic products!

Breathe Easy Shower Mist

Breathe Easy Aromatherapy Essential Oil Roll On

Congestion Relief Bath & Facial Tea

Sore Muscle Congestion Blend Bath Salt

Sore Muscle Congestion Blend Bath & Massage Oil

Salve for Tattoo Care

Calendula Salve

Calendula salve is a super soothing organic salve contains the healing herbs of Calendula, Chamomile, and Lavender.

Salves for Cuts & Scrapes

Goldenseal & Myrrh Salve

Goldenseal & Myrrh Salve uses the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties of lavender, goldenseal and myrrh to aid the healing process

Sea Buckthorn Salve

Sea Buckthorn Rosehips Salve is an organic salve, made with antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbiological Sea Buckthorn, oil helps encourage tissue regeneration.

Baby Me! Baby Bum Salve

Baby Me! Baby Bum Salve gentle healing herbs, antifungal wildharvested myrrh, and anti-inflammatory evening primrose oil provide effective gentle protection and help soothe and calm baby's sensitive skin.

Salve for Relaxation

Sweet Dreams Salve

Sweet Dreams Salve is an organic salve with tranquil organic aromatherapy and an infusion of comforting herbs to soothe your nerves and calm your thoughts. 

Here are a few more organic products that help promote relaxation:

Tranquil Spirit Aromatherapy Essential Oil Roll On

Lavender Rosemary Shower Mist

Tranquil Spirit Bath Salt

Sweet Dreams Stress Relief Bath Tea

Tranquil Spirit Bath & Massage Oil

Salve for Diaper Rash & Cradle Cap

Baby Me! Baby Bum Salve

Baby Me! Baby Bum Salve gentle healing herbs, antifungal wildharvested myrrh, and anti-inflammatory evening primrose oil provide effective gentle protection and help soothe and calm baby's sensitive skin.

Best For:

• Our "go-to" salve to help with diaper rash
• Cloth diaper safe
• May help with cradle cap
• Great for minor cuts and scrapes

Also try our organic Baby Me! Baby Body Balm

Discover More Read Help Me Choose Organic Baby Skin Care

See our whole line of Organic Baby Skin Care Products

Salve for Sore Nipples 

Nipple Balm Salve

Nipple Balm Salve is a safe, soothing organic breastfeeding balm for mom. The skin on your nipples is very sensitive and the early days of breastfeeding can sometimes mean sore, chapped or cracked nipples.

Also great for runner's (jogger's) nipples. Both women and men can experience sore or uncomfortable nipples due to chafing or repetitive friction from contact between skin and clothing, especially during prolonged periods of exercise. Nipple salve can be applied before exercising to help decrease friction and after to help soothe irritation. 

Salve for Dry Cracked Feet

Minty Feet Salve

Minty Feet Salve rejuvenates sore, tired, dry feet and helps soothe and help heal dry, rough, cracked heels and feet.

Other Organic Foot Products to try:

Coconut Lime Hand & Foot Polish

Salts & Herbs Foot Soak

Loofah Pumice Foot Soap

*Statements concerning the use and effectiveness of our salves have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve is a USDA Certified Organic Company

The most important consideration in any business is its customers. Today's world of misleading claims, false advertising, and simple deception, often leaves consumers trying to discover the truth about personal products and their ingredients.

• We want our customers to know that we are committed to transparency in everything we do.
• We want our customers to know that when we say "organic," we mean it.
• We believe that in becoming a USDA Certified Organic company, our customers do not have to wonder if we really use certified organic ingredients or if our organic products are truly organic.
• So we choose to be a certified organic company and abide by the strict standards required for organic certification.

Some of my favorite products are made with ingredients that just do not exist as certified organic. Why? At this time there are no standards created for ingredients specifically used in the personal care product industry. Organic certification of personal care products is based on the organic food standards set by the National Organic Program of the USDA.

But since we are a certified organic company, we are required to submit documentation that even our "non-organic ingredients" were produced without the use of toxic pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), sewage sludge, or irradiation.

Why Did We Become a Certified Organic Company?

What Do All of the Organic Labels Mean?

Organic Soap Labeling

We often receive questions as to whether our soaps, shampoos, and other natural products are safe to use during pregnancy.

We recommend that expectant and nursing mothers check with their midwife or physician before changing a skincare routine with our organic products, or any other line of products.

Read the label on a bar of commercial soap. Read the label on your jar of moisturizer.

Now read the ingredients in a Chagrin Valley product.

We use quality natural and USDA Certified Organic ingredients. No synthetic additives, colorants, fragrances, preservatives, or chemical derivatives are used.

There is nothing in our all-natural basic soap or other products that could cause a problem in pregnancy.

Topically applying the herbs present in many of our soaps is also not a problem. Your skin will absorb much less herb from the soap than if you would sprinkle them on your food.

Essential Oils

The issue that seems to be of most concern is the use of essential oils during pregnancy.

There is a lot of confusing, ambiguous, and inaccurate information concerning the use of essential oils in pregnancy.

The question of safety and safety testing has a lot to do with several factors.

• The type and composition of the specific essential oil. Essential oils differ greatly in strength and composition.
  
  
• The quality of the essential oil. Many "cheap essential oils" are not pure and maybe cut with synthetic chemicals.
  
  
• The actual “dose” of herb/essential oils. Most of the clinical research on essential oil safety is based on information for internal (actually ingesting) large doses of herbs, essential oils, or herbal "medicines." Obviously there have been no tests done on pregnant women.
  
  
• How the essential oil is being used. The concentration of essential oils that are absorbed through inhalation, as in aromatherapy, and massage is much lower than if you were actually ingesting the oil.

But also, aromatherapy and massage therapy use much higher concentrations of essential oils than you find in soap or even in eating the herb. With aromatherapy, you are inhaling the high concentrations which get absorbed via the lungs and in massage therapy, the essential oils remain on your skin and are absorbed.

Our scented soaps are gently scented with essential oils, but the choice is between you and your health care professional. The most critical time is the first trimester.

Just about every one of our products, like lip balms, whipped butters, soaps, shampoos, and deodorants has a "no added scent" version.

When there is a growing baby to consider, if you are at all uncertain as to the safety of an essential-oil containing product, or any ingredient, please consult your doctor, midwife, or health care professional!

When it comes to safety during pregnancy it is understandable that many massage therapists and aromatherapists decide to err on the side of caution in recommending the avoidance of certain essential oils.

Some Herbalists and Aromatherapist believe that essential oils that are normally safe to use, are safe during pregnancy, while others will recommend avoiding all essential oils during pregnancy.

Some essential oils that are normally quite safe have hormone-like effects and some even stimulate uterine muscles, both of which would be contraindicated during pregnancy.

Please do not ask us if one of our products is safe to use during pregnancy--we will simply refer you to this page.

We do not provide a list of essential oils considered safe during pregnancy because the information available is very contradictory. One aromatherapy source will list an essential oil as problematic while another one states it is fine.

The information is also changing constantly. Please do your own research and consult your doctor, midwife, or health care professional for the most up-to-date information.

Sensitive Skin Can Strike During Pregnancy

Even if you have never had sensitive skin in the past, you may notice that a product you have been using for several years now irritates your skin.

The stretching belly is often the most sensitive spot. Other potential problem areas include the hips, thighs, and bottom where the skin may become dry and flaky.

Although the exact cause is not known, raging hormones do make you more sensitive to a wide range of things, and also your skin is thinning and stretching as you, and your baby, grow.

These changes can behave in unpredictable ways. For example, if you have eczema you may suffer from major flare-ups or complete remission during pregnancy.

Keep your body well moisturized and avoid products that contain synthetic additives, colorants, fragrances, or preservatives. Any of these can exacerbate sensitive skin problems.

Before trying a new product, you can always do a patch test to test for sensitivity.

And again, we recommend that expectant and nursing mothers check with their midwife or physician before changing a skincare routine with our products, or any other line of products.

Pregnancy & Children: We do not provide information on the safety of essential oils during Pregnancy or for use in Children because the available information is very ambiguous and often contradictory. If you’re interested in using essential oils during pregnancy or with young children please do your own research and consult your doctor, midwife, or health care professional before use.

Will Your Products Heal My Rosacea, Eczema or Psoriasis?

We often receive emails and phone calls from customers with chronic irritated or inflamed skin problems.

While we cannot promise that our products will help heal your inflamed or irritated skin conditions, we have received a lot of feedback from customers telling us that our products have helped ease or soothe symptoms associated with irritated skin problems.

We have learned that for some people simply switching to a natural product may help.

We believe that natural ingredients are usually milder and gentler on the skin. I often say that what is NOT in our products, that is often the most helpful.

Pure essential oils, herbs, and other natural ingredients have been used for centuries. Their folklore and uses have been passed down through generations.

Please note that our products are NOT drugs or medicines meant to treat or cure illness, which would require FDA testing and approval. Our products are intended to help ease symptoms associated with irritated skin. Always consult your health care provider if you are concern about a skin issue.

If you have sensitive skin issues, always try an allergy patch test before using a new product.

Your skin is as unique as you are.

If you think about it, your skin type is not even the same for all of the areas of your body.

The skin on your face is different from the skin on your hands, which is different from the skin on your back which is different from the skin on your feet ...etc.

Although your skin type is determined by genetics, it will also be affected by other factors and can change with time.

Understanding your skin type is a good starting point before trying or switching to natural products.

There are typically five types of healthy skin: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive.

NORMAL SKIN

This skin is balanced, neither too dry nor too oily. It has regular texture, no imperfections and a clean, soft appearance, and does not need special care.

OILY SKIN

Oily skin is the result of excessive secretions of sebum, an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands. Oily skin tends to attract more dirt and dust than dry skin and may be prone to blackheads, acne, and excessive shine. It is frequent in adolescents and often seen with acne or blemish-prone skin. 

DRY SKIN

For some people dry skin is caused by external factors such as the weather, low air humidity, sun, or hot showers, and it is often temporary.

However, for others it may be a lifelong condition. Dry skin is a result of a decrease in natural oil production which often results in skin that is flaky and has a rough appearance. Dry, cracked skin is often prone to skin disorders, such as eczema.

SENSITIVE SKIN

Truly sensitive skin easily reacts to external stimuli. The skin is often fragile, thin or fine-textured, dry, and prone to allergic reactions. 

Sensitive skin often feels uncomfortable, tight, red or itchy. It is a delicate skin that needs a lot of TLC. 

COMBINATION SKIN

Combination skin is just what is sounds like, it has characteristics of both dry and oily skin. The area with more oil is usually the T- zone (forehead, nose, and chin), while the skin on the cheeks is normal or dry.

For more information on skin type and help with product recommendations for your individual needs, please read our blog, What's Your Skin Type?