If you’ve spent any amount of time wandering through the forests, swamps, and blasted hillsides of Appalachia, you’ve probably noticed one thing: everything wants to hurt you. Even early in the game, a couple of bad encounters can leave you limping and scrambling for a way to recover. While Stimpaks are the classic solution, Healing Salves are a super handy early-game option that many players overlook. They’re cheap, reliable, and perfect when you’re still learning the ropes or saving your better meds for tougher fights. Below is a simple, friendly guide on how to craft Healing Salves in Fallout 76, along with a few tips I’ve picked up after many hours of scavenging and experimenting. Why Healing Salves Are Worth Using Healing Salves don’t restore health as fast as Stimpaks, but they’re incredibly easy to craft and perfect for keeping your supply stocked. When I first started playing, I always felt like my pockets were full of random plants and junk I didn’t know what to do with. Eventually, I realized those ingredients were exactly what I needed for dependable, low-cost healing. And as you gather more Fallout 76 items, you’ll start to notice that ingredients for these salves pop up naturally all over the map. Once you know what to look for, you’ll rarely run short. Ingredients You Need for a Healing Salve Healing Salves are crafted at a Chemistry Station, and the basic recipe requires just a handful of ingredients. You’ll first need to learn the plan, which can often be found early in the game depending on your exploration path. After learning it, here’s what most Healing Salve recipes call for:
Bloodleaf
Water (usually Dirty Water, unless you’ve boiled or purified it)
Soot Flower
Fire Cap (depends on the variation)
The exact mix can change slightly based on the region you’re exploring, but these ingredients are extremely common. Bloodleaf and Fire Caps are easy to spot once you know their silhouettes, and Soot Flowers practically blanket some areas. One small tip from experience: if you see plants, grab them. They don’t weigh much, and you’ll always need crafting materials sooner than you think. Where to Find the Ingredients If you're not sure where to start gathering, these locations are some of the most beginner-friendly: Bloodleaf thrives near bodies of water. Think rivers, ponds, and streams. I tend to collect tons of it while I’m casually traveling, especially around Flatwoods or the rivers near Vault 76. Soot Flowers are scattered across grassy areas and forests. They’re bright enough to spot from a short distance, and once you’ve seen one, you’ll start seeing them everywhere. The Forest region is basically full of them. Fire Caps appear in moist or shaded areas. If you’re exploring caves, rocky cliffs, or marshier parts of the world, keep an eye out. Sometimes I pick up more Fire Caps than I need just from wandering around the Mire. If you prefer a more organized style of gathering, you can loop through a couple of reliable spots. But honestly, since these plants respawn over time, you’ll almost always have enough without going out of your way. Crafting the Healing Salve Once you’ve collected everything and learned the necessary plan, head to a Chemistry Station. You can find these at many public locations or build your own at your camp once you’ve unlocked it. At the station, go to the Healing category and select the Healing Salve recipe. The cost is minimal, and you can craft several at once if you’ve stocked up between trips. They don’t weigh much either, making them a great backup option. While Healing Salves aren’t as powerful in a pinch as Stimpaks, they’re excellent for topping yourself off after a fight, healing between events, or saving your higher-tier supplies for emergencies. One of the best habits I developed early was using Salves when not actively fighting and saving Stimpaks for moments when I really needed a quick burst of health. Smart Ways to Keep a Steady Stock A consistent supply is less about grinding and more about knowing your habits. Here are a few simple strategies:
Do a quick ingredient sweep around your camp every time you respawn or finish a session.
Make plant-rich areas part of your usual travel routes.
Build a water pump or purifier at your camp to guarantee water materials.
Keep an eye on ingredient respawn timers. You’ll learn more by playing than by reading charts, but revisiting old locations every so often helps.
Once you get into the routine, Salves become one of those things you always have without thinking about it. I didn’t realize how convenient they were until I stopped needing to ration Stimpaks so carefully. When to Use Healing Salves vs Stimpaks A common question newer players ask is when they should use each healing type. The general rule I go by:
Healing Salves: For exploring, light combat, and topping off health when you’re not under pressure.
Stimpaks: For events, bosses, PvP, or anything that hits hard and fast.
Salves give you a slower, steady heal. Stimpaks give you that instant shot of survival. Once you get used to keeping both on hand, you’ll naturally switch between them without thinking too much. A Note on Shops and Player Trading Some players like buying crafting materials instead of gathering them, especially when they’re working on bulk crafting or prepping for tougher zones. You’ll find plenty of player vendors scattered across the map, and many people sell plant materials or ready-made meds at fair prices. If you’ve ever checked out a Fallout 76 items shop, you might notice that certain plants or chem ingredients show up there as well. I’ve personally stuck to gathering most materials myself, but buying supplies can save time if you’re in a crafting rush or working on multiple builds. As for U4GM, I’ve seen it mentioned around the community from players talking about different places they get resources or gear. Whatever method you prefer, just make sure it's something you’re comfortable with and fits your playstyle. Some people enjoy farming, some enjoy trading, and others just want to craft their meds and jump back into the action. Extra Tips I Wish I Knew Earlier
Tag ingredients for search. The game highlights materials in the world once you tag them. It makes gathering much easier.
Experiment with other chems. Once you’re familiar with crafting, you’ll unlock more healing items and buffs.
Use your camp wisely. Building a Chemistry Station early saves a ton of time and lets you craft Salves whenever you need them.
Keep your inventory clean. Plants don’t weigh much, but junk piles up fast. Scrap often.
Healing Salves may seem simple, but they’re one of those quiet ingredients of a smoother early-game experience. Once you get used to making them, you’ll move through Appalachia feeling a lot more confident, prepared, and ready for whatever the Wasteland throws at you.