Reed’s Topical Liniment is a fast-absorbing herbal remedy inspired by an 1881 apothecary formula. Rooted in 19th-century healing traditions, it uses time-tested botanicals to ease joint pain, sore muscles, bug bites, and minor wounds. Alcohol-based for deep penetration and quick relief—crafted for natural wellness seekers and vintage apothecary lovers alike.
 
A Recipe in Healing: Reed’s Herbal Liniment
Our apothecary has always been drawn to the history of healing in all its forms—especially the kind rooted in nature and historical traditions. So when we stumbled upon this 1881 recipe titled “A Tincture For Wounds,” We knew it was something special. The name itself wasn’t much to write home about—but the ingredients were what drew us in.
We’ve since renamed it to highlight its true character: a liniment, a term once common in household apothecaries but rarely heard today. Historically, liniments were fast-absorbing herbal blends, often infused in alcohol and crafted to address pain, tension, and impaired mobility. They were designed to penetrate quickly, bringing warmth and relief to sore joints and muscles.
 
A Glimpse into the History of Liniments
The craft of true herbal liniments is slow and intentional and requires a lot of patience.  For generations, healers would soak dried herbs in alcohol for weeks—sometimes months—allowing nature’s chemistry to unfold. These infusions draw out each plant’s most potent constituents, yielding a strong and versatile tonic.
By the 18th and 19th centuries, liniments had become essential in the medicine chests of midwives, farmers, and field doctors alike. Often labeled as “embrocations” or “rubbing oils,” these blends crossed class lines and borders. Whether nestled in a pioneer’s cupboard or tucked into the satchel of a Civil War medic, liniments provided critical relief from the toll of daily labor: sore muscles, inflamed joints, and minor injuries.
Some formulas became legends in their own right. Minard’s Liniment, for instance—crafted in the 1800s by Dr. Levi Minard of Nova Scotia—earned fame as “The King of Pain,” boasting ingredients like camphor, ammonia, and turpentine to stimulate circulation and numb deep aches. Others, like S.B. Goff’s Magic Oil, cast a wide net, claiming to treat everything from toothaches to cholera. Many carried the telling phrase “For Man or Beast”—a nod to their effectiveness across barns and back porches alike.
Most liniments were alcohol-based, not only for their rapid skin absorption but also for preservation in the days before refrigeration. The alcohol acted as a powerful solvent, extracting medicinal oils from herbs like myrrh, arnica, and camphor. Many also functioned as counterirritants—deliberately producing warmth or tingling on the surface to “distract” from deeper pain. 
 
Traditional Practices Across Cultures
• Powdered Myrrh - Used for over 5,000 years, myrrh was prized in ancient Egypt for embalming and purification rituals. Greek physicians like Hippocrates and Dioscorides recommended it for wounds, ulcers, and inflammation. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it was used to invigorate blood flow and reduce swelling. Myrrh was also a staple in early American herbalism, favored by Samuel Thomson for its antiseptic and tissue-repairing qualities.
• Agarwood (Oud) - Agarwood’s use dates back to at least 1400 BCE, with mentions in Sanskrit texts and the writings of Dioscorides. It was burned as incense in temples across India, China, and the Middle East, and used medicinally to treat spasms, arthritis, and skin ailments. In Chinese medicine, it was known to calm the spirit and ease pain. Its resin was so valuable it was traded along the Silk Road like gold.
• Aloe Vera - Revered as the “plant of immortality” in ancient Egypt, aloe vera was used by Cleopatra and Nefertiti in their beauty rituals. The Papyrus Ebers (c. 1550 BCE) lists it for treating burns and skin conditions. It was also used by Alexander the Great to treat soldiers’ wounds and by Roman physicians for digestive and skin ailments.
• St. John’s Wort - Dating back to ancient Greece, this herb was used by Hippocrates and Dioscorides for sciatica, burns, and nervous disorders. In medieval Europe, it was hung over doorways to ward off evil and used topically for wounds and bruises. Its yellow flowers, blooming near the summer solstice, were associated with St. John the Baptist and believed to carry protective powers.
• Cape Aloe (Aloe ferox) - Native to South Africa, Cape Aloe was used by indigenous peoples and early settlers for burns, wounds, and digestive issues. The bitter sap was traditionally collected in animal-skin-lined pits and boiled into a resinous concentrate. It was exported to Europe as early as the 1700s and used in apothecaries for its purgative and skin-healing properties.
• Dragon’s Blood - This vivid red resin has been used since antiquity by Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Chinese alike. Dioscorides described it as a wound healer and coagulant. It was used in medieval Europe for respiratory and gastrointestinal issues, and in Socotra and the Amazon for skin regeneration. It also served as a pigment in art and a varnish for violins.
• Canadian Balsam (Balsam Fir Resin) - Harvested from the balsam fir of North America, this resin was used by Indigenous peoples for wounds, burns, and respiratory ailments. In the 1800s, it was also used in microscopy and optics due to its clarity. Folk medicine valued it for its antiseptic and pain-relieving properties, and it was often applied to cuts, sores, and even hemorrhoids.
 
Why Choose Dr. Reed’s Liniment?
“Though rooted in an original 1881 formula, this timeless blend of herbs continues to remain as useful today as it was over a century ago.”
The small glass bottle features an open top, making it easy to apply with a cotton ball, Q-tip, or clean fingertips depending on the area in need. Keep it on hand for those unexpected moments—it’s perfect for everyday use.
 
What can it help with?
• Minor cuts and scrapes
• Sore muscles and joint aches
• Bug bites and stings
• Blisters, bruises, and rough patches
• Gentle wound cleansing as an alternative to alcohol or peroxide
 
Its effectiveness comes from a carefully chosen blend of herbs with natural antiseptic and warming properties. We won’t promise it’ll fix everything—not all historical remedies were meant to be cure-alls, they were meant to support, soothe, and strengthen. And this one does just that.