Homemade Comforting Salve with Plantain and Dandelion Blossoms
Ingredients
- Infused Oil
- 1 cup plantain leaves
- ½ cup dandelion blossoms
- 2 cups olive oil
- ½ tsp lavender oil
- 2 capsules Vitamin E optional
- Salve
- 2 oz 4 Tbsp or 1/4 cup beeswax
- 2 cups infused oil from above
Instructions
- Gather plantain leaves and bright yellow dandelion blossoms.
- Wash plantain if needed.
- Thoroughly dry plantain leaves and dandelion blossoms by laying out on dry towel overnight. The leaves and blossoms should look wilted.
- Rub, rip and break up the plantain leaves and blossoms to bruise them and release their medicinal properties. This process is known as garbling.
- Place leaves and blossoms in crock-pot and cover with olive oil.
- Turn heat to Keep Warm setting (not the low setting). It's important to use low heat to keep the medicinal properties in tact and create a high quality product.*
- Let infuse for 24 hours.
- Using a fine mesh (eg. cheesecloth, coffee filter) strain the oil into a large measuring cup with a spout.
- Add lavender oil.
- Use oil as is to apply to skin or use this infused oil to make a salve.
- Infused oil can be stored, well sealed for 6 months to 1 year in a dark place.
- Salve
- Melt beeswax in a double boiler or over low heat, stirring constantly.
- Add infused oil.The beeswax will harden quickly in little lumps and clumps with the addition of cold oil. Keep heat on low and stir until wax has melted once again and dissolved into the oil.
- To test the consistency of the salve, place a dab of the oil/wax mixture on a plate. Allow to cool for 2-3 minutes. Feel the dab for consistency, if it is too hard, add more oil to the pot, if it is too soft, add more beeswax to the pot.
- Pour salve into clean, dry containers.
- Cool completely (overnight) before putting lids on.
Notes
* Low heat is important to keep the medicinal properties of the plants in tact and to ensure a quality product. If your crockpot does not have a Keep Warm setting, you can also infuse the oil by placing the mix in a double boiler and cooking on very low heat for 4 hours. Alternatively, place very thoroughly dried leaves and blossoms in a jar of oil, cover with cheesecloth or paper towel and leave on counter for 2 weeks.
You can reheat salve and add more oil or wax several times, even weeks later if you discover the consistency is not to your liking.
Beeswax is a wonderful product, but it is very difficult to clean off knives, bowls and pots, so do not use your best cookware! To clean, heat tools and wipe/scrape away wax with paper towels.
You can reheat salve and add more oil or wax several times, even weeks later if you discover the consistency is not to your liking.
Beeswax is a wonderful product, but it is very difficult to clean off knives, bowls and pots, so do not use your best cookware! To clean, heat tools and wipe/scrape away wax with paper towels.