Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do you really go out and collect all those herbs from the wild?
A. Yes, I certainly do. I pick in all the little nooks and crannies that have weeds growing in them. There are many places to pick herbs. There is such an abundance of plants in the wild, yet many people are simply not aware of them. I pick in the most pristine areas. I collect only the choicest plants. I make the products like you would make them if you had the time and inclination.
Q. Why is the Salve sometimes grainy?
A. The Shea Butter we used to get would, over time, come out of solution and re-form into its own shea molecules. This is a problem in all natural salves and creams using high amounts of shea butter that don’t use chemical emulsifiers. The crystallized shea butter will eventually melt on the skin, but it feels gritty and unpleasant.

I f you have any old salve that you notice seems dried out or has tiny granules in it, rejuvenate it by microwaving for short spurts until the salve is melted without burning through the jar. Or you can dig the salve out and melt over a double boiler. Pour back into the container and place it in the freezer, to resolidify quickly. This will fix the problem and hopefully prevent it from happening again.

I n 2010 we found a newly developed “high-melt point” shea butter that seems to solve the problem. Let us know if you are still having issues.
Q. Why is the Wild’erb Salve so hard?
A. I made it into a stiff salve so that it would not be so greasy when you apply it. If you can mush into a salve there is too much oil in it and it will be greasy when you put it on. It’s easy to get it out of the jar. Just poke it with the back of your nail. Push away from you so you don’t get it underneath your nail; it softens right up when it gets on the skin. Warm it between your fingers before applying. If you soften up a small amount of it with your fingernail or a knife, it will stay soft. Or store in a warm place to keep it soft. It’s the nut butters that make it stiff at room temperature.
Q. Does someone else fill your lip balm tubes?
A. No, we do it ourselves. We fill the lip balms and other products by hand, after melting down the ingredients.
Q. Why doesn’t the shampoo lather?
A. Our shampoo does lather beautifully! This is a sulfate-free shampoo. You have to do a pre-wash. Here’s how to use it: Put a small amount in the palm of your hand. For short hair, a dime-sized dab; for long hair, adjust the amount. Scrub hair and scalp thoroughly, even though there may be very little lather. Rinse and repeat with even less shampoo. You should get a nice head of lather that you leave on for a few minutes before rinsing. Our shampoo is very concentrated. Use just enough to cleanse the hair.
Q. What makes your soap different from other soaps?
A. The Wild’erb Soap is made from the herbal oil. It lathers even in hard water. It rinses off without residue, even from the hair, so it’s a great shampoo bar as well. I put a natural hardener, sodium lactate, into the formula to create a hard bar that won’t dissolve in the shower. The soap is then dried for several months before wrapping, allowing it to harden even more. It’s formulated using our Wild’erb Skin Care Blend. Our Soap is very gentle on the skin and can be used on the face as a moisturizing beauty bar. For best results, follow with either the Wild’erb Cream, Ointment, Salve or Oil after washing.
Q. What about for pets?
A. The Wild’erb Skin Care Products are very popular with pet owners. Washing your pet with the Wild’erb Soap and/or Shampoo can be beneficial, followed by applications of Wild’erb Oil, Salve and Ointment: all effective moisturizers for your pet’s dry skin. Your pet deserves the special skin care provided by our unique line.
Q. Do you use a preservative?
A. The use of proper preservatives is essential in skin care products. Otherwise we risk the health and safety of our customers. After many years of research, I decided to use a parabens-based product called LiquaPar Oil. It is a variation of parabens that kills all the microbes yet is gentler on human skin. I only have to use 0.4%. It is an unfortunate necessity. Using this miniscule amount of LiquaPar Oil I have been able to prevent any growth in my products for at least a three years. This is extremely important since our products are used up so slowly.
Q. What is your seasoning for?
A. Just about anything: chicken, fish, beef, pork, wild game, soups, stews, casseroles, sauces, marinades, spreads, dips. Great on eggs. Sprinkle on buttered toast. Make a savory oatmeal. Carry it with you on camping trips. It makes everything taste good.
Q. Can I get samples?
A. Most of our products have trial sizes. Or try the smaller, travel sizes of all the products in the Wild’erb Sampler. All the body products, the seasoning and the tea are in this green organza bag with a beautiful ribbon. Try and compare all the products, decide what you like the best and get a larger size of your favorite products later.