You have a splinter you cannot reach with tweezers. Or a bug bite that keeps bugging you three days later. Your grandmother probably would have reached for a drawing salve.
Drawing salves have been in home first aid kits for generations. Most people today have never used one, and many are not sure what it actually does. Here is what drawing salve is, what is in a good one, and how to use it the right way.
The short answer
Drawing salve is a thick balm you put on a splinter, bite, or sting and cover with a bandage. It softens the skin and keeps clay and soothing herbs in contact with the area, which helps a splinter work its way to the surface.
In this guide
What Is Drawing Salve?
A drawing salve is a thick balm you apply to the skin over a splinter, bite, or sting. The name comes from the idea that it "draws" things toward the surface of the skin.
Traditional drawing salves were made with pine tar, clay, or herbs like plantain. Modern pharmacy versions often use ichthammol, a dark, tar-like ingredient with a strong smell.
Drawing salve is not "black salve"
Black salve contains bloodroot or zinc chloride, which can destroy healthy skin. The FDA has warned against it. A true drawing salve is gentle and should never burn or break down your skin. Puller Outer contains no bloodroot and no zinc chloride.
How Does Drawing Salve Work?
Most drawing salves work in two ways.
1. They soften the skin
A softened, moist area lets a splinter shift closer to the surface, where it is easier to grab or work out on its own.
2. Many use clay
Bentonite clay is very absorbent. It swells as it takes in moisture and stays in close contact with the skin under a bandage.
The herbs add the rest. Herbalists have long used plants like plantain, chickweed, and calendula on skin that is irritated, itchy, or picked at.
What Is in Puller Outer, and Why
I formulated Puller Outer as a twist-up stick instead of a jar or an oil. Clay needs a firm base to stay in place, and a stick lets you apply it without getting it under your fingernails.
The main drawing ingredient. Absorbent and traditionally used in poultices.
The classic "backyard poultice" herb, traditionally placed on bites and stings.
Traditionally used on itchy, irritated skin.
One of the most trusted skin-soothing herbs. Also the star of our Calendula Skin Rescue oil.
Rich in mucilage, a slippery plant gel that softens skin.
Traditionally applied to the skin as well as taken internally.
Aromatic herbs with a long history in skin care.
A staple of natural first aid kits.
Supporting herbs from our 9-herb infusion.
Base: sunflower oil, beeswax, and vitamin E.
Every herb is infused into the oil by hand in small batches. I have been formulating herbal products since 2014, and this is the one my own family reaches for first.
How to Use Drawing Salve on a Splinter
Clean it. Wash the area with soap and water and pat it dry.
Apply. Swipe a thin layer directly over the splinter.
Cover it. Put a bandage on top. This keeps the salve in contact with the skin, which is where it does its work.
Repeat. Reapply 2 to 3 times a day.
Check it. Most shallow splinters move closer to the surface within 24 to 48 hours. When you can see the end, pull it out gently with clean tweezers.
Deeper splinters can take longer. Be patient and keep the area covered.
How to Use Drawing Salve on Bug Bites and Stings
Bee sting? Remove the stinger first
Scrape it out sideways with a fingernail or the edge of a credit card. Do not squeeze it with tweezers, which can push in more venom.
Then, for any bite or sting:
- Wash the area and pat it dry.
- Apply a thin layer of drawing salve.
- Cover with a bandage if the bite is open or scratched.
- Reapply 2 to 3 times a day as needed.
A bandage also helps you stop scratching, which is half the battle with a bite that will not quit.
When to Skip the Salve and Call a Doctor
Drawing salve is for minor, everyday skin troubles. Get medical care instead if you notice:
- Spreading redness, warmth, swelling, or pus
- Red streaks moving away from the area
- Fever or chills
- A splinter under a fingernail, near the eye, or made of glass or metal
- A deep puncture, especially if your tetanus shot is not current
- Any sign of an allergic reaction to a sting, such as swelling of the face or throat, hives, or trouble breathing. Call 911.
If you have diabetes or poor circulation, check with your doctor before treating any skin wound at home.
Try it
Puller Outer Drawing Salve
Small-batch drawing salve made with bentonite clay and 9 herbs, in a mess-free twist-up stick that fits in a first aid kit, glove box, or backpack.
Shop Puller Outer, $29 or build a bundleFrequently Asked Questions
How long does drawing salve take to work on a splinter?
Most shallow splinters move closer to the surface within 24 to 48 hours with a bandage and 2 to 3 applications a day. Deeper splinters can take longer.
Is drawing salve the same as black salve?
No. Black salve contains bloodroot or zinc chloride and can damage healthy skin. The FDA has warned against it. Puller Outer contains neither.
Is drawing salve the same as ichthammol?
Ichthammol is one ingredient used in some pharmacy drawing salves. Puller Outer uses bentonite clay and herbs instead, with no tar smell.
Can I use drawing salve on kids?
Puller Outer is for external use and family friendly. Patch test first, and check with your pediatrician for infants or if you have concerns.
Do I need a bandage?
It works best covered. A bandage keeps the salve in contact with the skin and keeps little hands from scratching.
For external use only. Patch test before first use. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.