During the 18th and 19th centuries, drawing solve was considered to be a cure-all for various ailments. During this time, many believed that physical afflictions were a spiritual matter. Taking advantage of the public's belief in religion, medical "magicians" created salves that could "draw out" any evil spiritual affliction. Black drawing salve was one of the most popular salve created. Today, this salve is still widely used around the globe.

Black drawing salves, not to be confused with black salve, contain ichthyol or ichthammol, which are types of ammonium bituminosulfonate derived from oil shale. Other ingredients may include echinacea, arnica montana, bergamot oil, calendula, and comfrey oil depending upon the brand of drawing salve that is purchased. Beeswax and Vitamin E are also often included in this mixture.

This type of salve differs drastically from black salve, which is made from the bloodroot herb. Black salve was once the only form of skin cancer treatment available, and can cause a great amount of skin damage. Black salve causes skin tissue to die, since it literally burns the skin. This is not the salve that is used to treat minor skin irritations.

Drawing salve looks a lot like tar, and it is used to relieve topical skin ailments. Whether or not drawing salve is safe is still debated. This ointment is not linked to any serious damage if it is used topically. Some natural companies claim that drawing salve is safe for internal use, though this is not the case.

Any kind of ointment should only be used topically unless otherwise directed by a medical expert. If you are considering using drawing salve, make sure to speak with your physician prior to use. This is important, since this type of salve can easily burn your skin. With the careful monitoring of salve usage, your physician will be able to tell you when to stop using this ointment.

This type of salve should only be used to relieve pain caused by bee stings, splinters, boils, thorns, and spider bites. On occasion an allergic reaction to black drawing salve may occur. If this salve has been used without the watchful eye of a physician, and a rash occurs, medical attention should be immediately sought.

When applying this ointment, be careful to keep it away from any clothing, since it can cause permanent stains. While this type of salve can be purchase on the Internet, it is recommended that you purchase it from a health store. This way, you can be sure that you are buying the right kind of salve, since there are many similar ointments on the market.