Plantain Salve
A simple salve made from dried plantain leaf, a herbal first aid hero to soothe a range of minor skin complaints such as cuts and scrapes, insect bites and stings, slivers/splinters, and hot, dry or irritated skin. Yields 240ml / 8oz total.
Equipment
- Small saucepan and a Pyrex jug OR double boiler
- Sieve, muslin or a nut milk bag to strain herbs
- 500ml / 16oz glass jar with tight fitting lid (to store infused oil)
- 8x 30ml / 1oz glass jars with screw top lids (for the salve)
- Thermometer
- Glass stirring rod (if using essential oils)
Ingredients
- 500ml / 16oz sweet almond or olive oil
- 2 scant cups dried plantain leaf Plantago major or Plantago lanceolata
- 28g / 1oz beeswax pastilles plus a little extra is handy in order to adjust consistency to your liking
- 75 drops total lavender, tea tree or manuka essential oils optional
Instructions
Plantain infused oil
- Add dried plantain leaf to a pyrex jug and stand over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Cover with oil and leave to heat for 3 hours. Use the thermometer to ensure the temperature is kept low, around 40˚C (104˚F).
- Remove from heat and strain the mixture through muslin, keeping the dark green infused oil and composting the remaining herbs. Your infused oil is now ready for use.
Plantain salve
- Measure out 250ml / 8.5oz of the prepared plantain oil, and pour back into the pyrex jug. Stand the jug in a saucepan of barely simmering water again on the stovetop. Once the oil is warm, add beeswax and let melt entirely.
- Remove from heat and add essential oils if using, stirring with a glass rod to evenly disperse them.
- Work quickly and pour the liquid salve into pre-sterilised individual glass jars, then allow to cool before capping, labelling and dating.
- To apply, rub a small amount into the affected area with clean hands 2-3 times daily. Important - this is for minor cuts and scrapes, splinters, insect bites and stings, dry and irritated skin. If applying to broken skin, the wound must be thoroughly cleaned before applying, as a salve will form a protective layer, trapping in dirt.
Notes
- You can alter the consistency of the salve if you prefer - the additional beeswax is for this purpose. Once you have melted the wax into the infused oil, take out a teaspoon full and pop in the freezer. Once cold, test the consistency - if you want something a little firmer, add more wax to the double boiler, if you'd like it softer, add more of the infused oil. It's an art not a science!
- Alternatives to sweet almond oil include olive oil and fractionated coconut oil.
- Carnauba wax can be used in place of beeswax for a vegan option. Because carnauba is exceptionally hard, you’ll need to blend it with a soft butter, something like mango or shea butter.
- The essential oils are optional, but those listed are particularly indicated for skin support.
- This salve will last for 12 months.
- Recipe has been costed using sweet almond oil. Olive oil will bring the price down further. Excludes the optional essential oils and glass jars which can be up-cycled as long as sterile. Also assumes you are able to wild harvest plantain leaf (quite do-able!), otherwise you'll need to account a little more to purchase the dried herb.
- This a home remedy for minor cuts and abrasions only, seek medical attention for anything deeper.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!