How to Make An All Purpose Salve With Plantain Herb

I have plantain growing all over my yard and chances are, you probably do too!   I even remember it growing in my yard as a child.  I would often pick the flowers for a rustic bouquet.

One of my goals this year was to learn more about foraging and to start using the wild herbs and “weeds” I have growing in my yard.   Along with dandelions, red clover, cleavers and purslane (which we’ll take about in future posts,)  I have plenty of plantain.  I wish I had discovered years ago how useful plantain can be.

 A few months ago, my daughter came home from school with a bee sting.  It was red and swollen and it hurt quite a bit.  We immediately went out into the yard and picked a few plantain leaves.  She made a spit poultice by chewing the leaves and placing it on her bee sting.   She then covered the poultice with a cloth and after about 15 minutes, the pain was gone and a lot of the redness had disappeared.

I love the fact that in an urgent situation, finding and using plantain isn’t too difficult but it’s also nice to have a ready-made salve waiting for you in your medicine cabinet when you need it.

What Is Plantain Salve Used For?

A plantain salve is a great all purpose salve.  Plantain is probably best known for reducing pain and swelling in insect bites, but it can do so much more!  Plantain can also be helpful for burns, rashes and wounds.  It has the ability to draw things out, so it is useful for splinters and boils and it helps to reduce the itch in poison ivy and poison oak.   Apply as needed.

All Purpose Salve with Plantain Herb

Ingredients:

• 1 cup olive oil

• 1 cup dried plantain herb, chopped

• 1/4 cup (1 oz) beeswax

• 10 drops Tea Tree essential 0il

Instructions: 

Step 1:  Allow your fresh plantain to dry for a few hours until limp.

Since water can introduce moisture and bacteria to the salve, I allow my herbs to dry a bit before preparing them with the oil.  I also make sure that my glass jar and lid are completely dry.

Step 2:  Chop plantain by hand or in a food processor and place in a dry, half pint glass jar. Cover the herbs with an inch or two of oil, allowing room for the herbs to expand.  Cover tightly.

Step 3:  Allow your oil mixture to steep for 2 weeks in a warm, sunny spot.

 Step 4: Strain the oil using a cheese-cloth or muslin.

Step 5:  In a double boiler or using a heat safe glass measuring cup in a pan of water, heat 1 cup of the prepared oil and the beeswax until the beeswax is melted.  Allow to cool slightly before adding tea tree essential oil.   Pour immediately into tins or small glass jars. Label and date your salve.

Step 6:  Allow salve to cool completely and store in a cool, dark place.

Apply salve as needed. Reduces pain and swelling of insect bites and bee stings. Also useful for burns, rashes and wounds. Use as a drawing out salve for splinters and boils. It will help to reduce the itch in poison ivy and poison oak.

 Let me know:  Are you familiar with plantain?  Have you ever used it before?

–Jen

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All Purpose Salve with Plantain Herb

Apply salve as needed. Reduces pain and swelling of insect bites and bee stings. Also useful for burns, rashes and wounds. Use as a drawing out salve for splinters and boils. It will help to reduce the itch in poison ivy and poison oak.

Course

Home Remedies

Servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1 cup dried plantain leaves, chopped
• 1 /4 cup beeswax (1 oz)
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil

Course Home Remedies Servings Ingredients 1 cup olive oil 1 cup dried plantain leaves, chopped 1 /4 cup beeswax (1 oz) 10 drops tea tree essential oil

Instructions

1. Allow your fresh plantain to dry for a few hours until limp. Since water can introduce moisture and bacteria to the salve, I allow my herbs to dry a bit before preparing them with the oil. I also make sure that my glass jar and lid are completely dry.
2. Chop plantain by hand or in a food processor and place in a dry, half pint glass jar. Cover the herbs with an inch or two of oil, allowing room for the herbs to expand and cover tightly.
3. Allow your oil mixture to steep for 2 weeks in a warm, sunny spot.
4. Strain the oil using a cheese-cloth or muslin.
5. In a double boiler or using a heat safe glass measuring cup in a pan of water, heat 1 cup of the prepared oil and the beeswax until the beeswax is melted. Allow oil to cool slightly before adding Tea Tree essential oil. Pour immediately into tins or small glass jars. Label and date your salve.
6. Allow salve to cool completely and store in a cool, dark place.

Recipe Notes

Author:  jen @ www.myhealthyhomemadelife.com

 

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