I am so excited to share this simple recipe for how to make an herbal salve with you!! Last summer I had the opportunity to go to an herbal medicine making class. It was so eye-opening and educational to learn all about the many herbs that have healing properties and that can be found in your own backyard! This herbal salve includes comfrey, calendula, and plantain.
What is a salve?
Salves are semi-solid medicinal infused oils that are applied to the skin for their healing properties. They are comprised of herbs, an oil base, and beeswax. Herbal salves can be used for scrapes, burns, drawing out toxins or splinters, chapped lips, cuts, insect bites, dry skin, sunburn, bruises, stings, skin irritations, bones, or for healing and well-being.
An herbal salve is made by making an infused oil and warming the oil to melt the beeswax From there, you pour the combined oil and beeswax into your desired jars to let cool.
Why comfrey?
Comfrey leaves are to be used topically (not internally). They are incredibly beneficial when used on cuts or wounds, as they speed the healing process, particularly with broken bones (see my broken arm). Comfrey is also anti-inflammatory and high in allantoin.
Why plantain?
Plantain leaves are often confused with weeds. They can be found easily in any lawn — they can have a thin leaf or a thicker, fatter leaf (as above). They are very soothing for insect bites and can be used to heal small cuts and rashes. Their anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties make it perfect for healing skin ailments and wounds. Plantain is used to prevent pain, itching, and burning.
Why calendula?
Calendula flowers are wonderful for the skin — the prevent infection and promote healing and wellness. It stimulates collagen growth to prevent scarring and promote skin rejuvenation. Calendula is used for cuts, bruises, burns, and other skin ailments such as acne.
How to make herbal salve
First, you must find (or buy!) two ounces (2 oz) each of comfrey, plantain, and calendula. After you collect your plants, you must dehydrate them. You can do this with a dehydrator for 24-48 hours at 110 degrees. If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can spread them out on cookie sheets or large pieces of wood and let them dry for about a week.
We collected our plantain from the farm down our road. And our comfrey from a neighbor’s yard — what a blessing that he has a whole field of it! We had to order our calendula — so that was already dried.
Once you have measured two ounces (2 oz) each, you can mix them all in a blender — we use our VitaMix. This is to have the most service area possible while cooking, so the medicinal properties will come out of the plants!
After you mix — with your little helper of course — pour the dried herbs into a bowl and add in about a 1/4 cup of alcohol. This helps your salve have the nice green color of the herbs. If you want a yellow-cream looking salve, then omit the alcohol. We use vodka. Mix the herbs and alcohol with a spoon until it’s evenly coated.
Next, you’ll add 6 parts olive oil to your 1 part herbs (plus alcohol). So, since you have six ounces (6 oz) herbs, you’ll need to add 36 ounces (36 oz) olive oil! Try to buy the best, organic and cold pressed preferred, that you can find.
Finally, you can extract the herbs by heating the herb and oil mixture. I put my bowl on top of a pot of boiling water. Never put it on direct heat, and ensure that it is between 90 and 110 degrees so it doesn’t turn rancid. Heat for about 4 to 6 hours, stirring occasionally.
**You could also pour the unheated mixture in a large glass Ball jar and leave it in a dark place for 3-4 weeks and get the same desired effect.
Once your mixture is ready, and cooled down!, you can now sieve out the herbs into a clean bowl. This is a tough process, and you may need several hands to help when your hands get too tired! Pour the mixture into a clean pillowcase, and start pressing it out! This will take some time and a lot of squeezing!
Next, you add one part beeswax to your six parts oil. In this case, it would be six ounces (6 oz). However, I would add a bit less to have a creamier salve — I found that mine was a little too hard, so next time I’ll only add 4 ounces. Drop it into your smooth oil mixture and let it melt. Place the bowl onto your double boiler again and allow to slowly warm up again. It is best to buy pellets of organic beeswax so you don’t have to grate it by hand which can be a huge pain (and get beeswax everywhere!!)
You may add an essential oil, if you like, at this time. You can split your salve into parts to have different smells and properties. Lavender, frankincense, or lemon work best — but certainly others would be lovely too!!
Now you are ready to pour your herbal salve into containers! We love using it as chapstick, a face cream, and a healing ointment on cuts and bruises.
Carefully pour some into a measuring cup and pour the salve into your containers. You must work quickly because as the beeswax cools, it will become thicker! Our last chapsticks looked a little rough because they were starting to get clumpy!
But how beautiful are all of the little containers lined up — I gave these away as presents and have had great responses :) So fun to make a homemade gift for friends and family!!
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How to make herbal salve
Ingredients:
- 2 oz each: plantain, comfrey, calendula (to purchase or buy)
- 1/4 cup: 100 proof alcohol (I use vodka)
- 36 oz: organic, cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
- 4-6 oz: organic beeswax pellets
- small empty 2 oz jars or chapstick containers to hold salve
- essential oils, if desired
Directions:
- If you are collecting your herbs yourself, you will need to dry time. You can do this with a dehydrator for 24-48 hours at 110 degrees. If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can spread them out on cookie sheets or large pieces of wood and let them dry for about a week.
- Blend all of the herbs together in a blender — we use our VitaMix.
- Pour the dried herbs into a bowl and add in about a 1/4 cup of alcohol. Mix the herbs and alcohol with a spoon until it’s evenly coated.
- Add 36 oz olive oil to your herbs and alcohol.
- Heat the herb and oil mixture using a double boiler for 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally, ensuring it DOES NOT stays between 90 and 110 degrees — do not let it bubble or overcook!! (You could also pour the unheated mixture in a large glass Ball jar and leave it in a dark place for 3-4 weeks and get the same desired effect.)
- Cool down your mixture and sieve out the herbs. Pour the mixture into a clean pillowcase press it all out into a fresh bowl.
- Add your beeswax to your oil mixture and heat over a double boiler, ensuring not to go above 150 degrees! You can add the full 6 oz, or less if you’d like it softer.
- Add an essential oil, if you like, at this time. We suggest lavender, frankincense, or lemon, but any Young Living essential oil would do!
- Carefully pour into a measuring cup and pour the salve into your containers. You must work quickly because as the beeswax cools, it will become thicker!
Enjoy your homemade salve!! We love to put on little scrapes or bumps as our “boo-boo” ointment. Enjoy the yummy smell and goodness from the Earth!!
You may also like:
How to make echinacea tincture
Making a postpartum herbal bath
How to make your own toothpaste
Making your own homemade deodorant
Essential oils for my broken arm
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This post is part of the Every Parent’s Guide to Natural Parenting and Earth Month Blog Hop!! Check out Hen Family’s Natural Pest Remedies for the Garden — these are perfect for keeping your garden and lawn are chemical free so you can go out and collect your own plantain and comfrey!! Check out the Earth Day Blog Hop for many more posts on Natural Food and Garden!
This is a great recipe. I’ll definitely be pinning it to make later. Wonderful idea for a gift too!
So nice, thank you! Are these (ounces) weighed or measured? I was assuming beeswax is weighed, but wanted to be sure.