The Story of the Black Salve

The Black Salve

The Black Salve is an herbal folk tradition that has a long and interestng history. The salve has been used by both doctors and folk healers and its use can be chronicled back as far as 200 years. There is also a hisotry of its use by North American Indians. It is possible that this is where the origins of the black salve may be truely found although there are a number of folk traditions that hold that the salve came from Ireland. Whatever the origin, the black salve is controversial because it has been used by many as a cancer cure.

The jar in the picture above was given to Laurence Layne by John Schneider, grandson of E. B. Green, who used the jar to mix his black salve in.

Read an article by Michael Tierra on the history of the black salve.