You've probably seen the photos. They're usually blurry, posted in private Facebook groups or obscure natural health forums, showing what looks like a literal hole in someone’s shoulder or nose. It’s gruesome. People call it "the eschar." This is the reality of black salve drawing—a practice that occupies a strange, terrifying corner of alternative medicine.
Black salve isn't some new-age trend. It's been around for a long time. Honestly, it’s one of the most polarizing substances in the world of "natural" healing. While some swear it’s a miracle cure for skin cancer or deep-seated infections, the medical community views it as a dangerous, corrosive paste that doesn't "draw" anything out so much as it simply melts whatever it touches. It's a chemical burn in a jar.
What is Black Salve Drawing, Anyway?
The core idea behind black salve drawing is the belief that certain herbal pastes can "pull" or "draw" toxins, tumors, or infections out of the body through the skin. It’s a seductive idea. The thought that you can just apply a cream and have the "bad stuff" exit your body sounds way better than surgery.
But the chemistry tells a different story.
Most black salves, especially those based on the "Hoxsey" formula or similar variations, contain two primary active ingredients: zinc chloride and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). Zinc chloride is a synthetic corrosive. It’s an escharotic, meaning it kills living tissue on contact. When you put it on your skin, it doesn't distinguish between a cancer cell and a healthy cell. It just starts dissolving the protein.
The bloodroot adds to the effect. It contains alkaloids like sanguinarine, which are also toxic to cells. Together, they create a thick, black, necrotic "scab" called an eschar. This is where the term "drawing" comes from—as the dead tissue starts to pull away from the healthy flesh around it, it looks like something is being extracted. In reality, your body is just trying to slough off a massive chemical burn.
The Myth of the "Selective" Paste
If you talk to proponents of black salve drawing, they’ll often tell you that the salve is "selective." They claim it only attacks "abnormal" cells and leaves the healthy stuff alone.
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That’s just not true.
Biology doesn't work that way. Zinc chloride is an indiscriminate destroyer. There is no molecular mechanism in a simple paste that can identify the DNA mutations of a basal cell carcinoma while ignoring the healthy fibroblasts next door. When people see the salve "working" on a specific spot, it’s usually because that’s where they applied the highest concentration or where the skin was already compromised.
I've seen cases where people applied it to a small mole they were worried about, only to end up with a hole the size of a quarter. The "drawing" action is actually the inflammatory response of your immune system trying to deal with a localized area of dead tissue. It’s painful. It’s messy. And it’s incredibly risky.
The Real Danger of Home Treatment
The biggest issue with black salve drawing isn't just the scarring—though the scarring is often permanent and disfiguring. The real danger is what happens underneath the surface.
When a surgeon removes a skin cancer, they use something called "clear margins." They look at the tissue under a microscope to make sure they got every single microscopic tentacle of the tumor. Black salve doesn't do that. It might kill the top layer, but if the cancer has spread deeper or horizontally under the skin, the salve won't reach it.
The skin might heal over the top, making you think you're cured, while the cancer continues to grow underneath. By the time it resurfaces, it’s often much harder to treat.
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Documented Cases and FDA Warnings
The FDA has been playing whack-a-mole with black salve manufacturers for decades. They’ve officially listed it as a "fake cancer cure." In 2020 and 2021, the agency issued multiple warning letters to companies selling these products online, often labeled as "drawing salves" for "moles and skin tags" to bypass regulations.
There’s a well-documented case from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology involving a woman who used black salve on a suspected basal cell carcinoma on her nose. The salve "drew out" a large chunk of tissue, but it didn't kill the cancer at the root. She eventually required extensive reconstructive surgery because the cancer had spread further than if she had just had a simple excision at the start.
The Painful Process of "The Eschar"
How does it actually feel? Most people who've gone through the black salve drawing process describe it as an intense, throbbing burn.
- Application: The paste is applied and covered. Within hours, the area turns red and inflamed.
- Necrosis: Over the next 24 to 48 hours, the tissue turns black. This is the eschar forming.
- Suppuration: This is the "oozing" phase. The body tries to push the dead mass out. It’s often smelly and requires constant dressing changes.
- Separation: After a week or two, the edges of the black mass begin to lift. This is the moment people capture in those "drawing" photos.
- The "Pit": Once the eschar falls out, it leaves a deep, raw hole.
The healing process for that hole can take months. Because the damage is so deep, the body fills it in with thick, fibrous scar tissue. If this happens on your face, the contraction of that scar tissue can pull your eye down or distort your nose.
Why Do People Still Use It?
It's easy to dismiss people who use black salve as "anti-science," but that’s a bit of a simplification. Honestly, most people turn to black salve drawing because they’re scared.
They’re scared of surgery. They’re scared of the medical system. Sometimes, they’re scared of the cost of a formal biopsy and Mohs surgery, especially in places without universal healthcare. There’s also a deep-seated desire for "autonomy"—the feeling that you are taking your health into your own hands rather than being a passive patient in a cold, clinical environment.
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The "drawing" terminology is also very powerful. We have an intuitive sense that "pulling out" a poison is better than "cutting into" the body. It’s ancient logic. It’s the same reason people still use detox teas or foot pads. We like the idea of purging.
A Better Way to Handle Skin Concerns
If you have a spot that you’re worried about, I get the urge to just fix it yourself. But black salve drawing is a gamble with your face and your life.
Modern dermatology has come a long way. If you’re worried about scarring, Mohs surgery is specifically designed to remove the absolute minimum amount of tissue while ensuring the cancer is 100% gone. The scars from a professional procedure are almost always smaller and smoother than the crater left by an escharotic paste.
If you're absolutely set on "drawing" something out—say, a splinter or a small, non-cancerous boil—there are safe, FDA-approved drawing salves. These usually contain ichthammol. Ichthammol is totally different from black salve. It’s made from sulfonated shale oil and works by softening the skin and increasing blood flow to the area, which can help a splinter work its way out or a minor infection come to a head. It does NOT kill tissue. It doesn't cause an eschar.
Moving Forward Safely
If you’ve already used black salve and you’re reading this because you’re staring at a black spot on your arm, stop applying more. Keep the area clean. Don't pull at the eschar; let it fall off naturally to minimize the depth of the scar.
Most importantly, once it’s "done," go see a dermatologist. Tell them what you used. They won't judge you; they’ve seen it before. They need to check the edges of that "pit" to make sure there isn't any residual cancer left behind.
Next Steps for Skin Health
- Check the ingredients: If a "drawing salve" contains Zinc Chloride or Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot), it is a corrosive black salve, not a gentle drawing aid.
- Document the spot: Take a clear photo of any mole or growth before doing anything to it. This helps a doctor later if things go south.
- Seek a professional biopsy: A biopsy is the only way to know if a spot is actually dangerous. Treating a benign mole with black salve is causing massive trauma to your body for no reason.
- Use Ichthammol for minor issues: For splinters or small "clogged" pores, stick to 10% or 20% Ichthammol ointment, which is safe and non-corrosive.
Black salve drawing might look like it's working because it's so dramatic. But drama isn't the same thing as healing. In the world of skin health, the quiet, precise, and scientifically verified route is almost always the one that leaves you whole.