Make Your Own Healing Salve From Plantain, Coconut & Olive Oil

Try to make your own salve with this ingredients. Check out the article we found over at Health Impact News.

by Orissa Mora-Kent
Health Impact News

Whether you are looking for a safe salve for diaper rashes, or something to rub into working hands that could use a little TLC from all those winter-weather cracks, or an active playful child who has knees and elbows, this salve is for you.

It’s good for use on insect bites, scratches, rashes, nicks, cuts, dry skin, you name it – and even works as an earthy lip-balm.

Why Plantain?

Studies have shown that plantain has anti-inflammatory effects, and it is also rich in tannin (which helps draw tissues together to stop bleeding) and allantoin (a compound that promotes healing of injured skin cells).

Plantain can be found growing in most urban yards, but if it’s not growing where you are or you don’t have a pesticide-free source, dried pesticide-free plantain leaves can be purchased online.

How to Make Plantain-infused Olive Oil

Tools:

• Wide mouth jar

Ingredients:

• Olive Oil
• Freshly picked pesticide free plantain leaves

Preparation:

Select a wide mouth jar. Sanitize and dry thoroughly.

On a warm, sunny day after the dew has dried pick enough plantain to fill selected jar. Ribwort plantain (Narrowleaf plantain) was used for this preparation but Plantago major (Broadleaf plantain) could also be used. Choose plantain from an area that you know has not been sprayed with pesticides. Brush off any dirt but do not wash. If the leaves you pick are not already completely dry, place plantain leaves on a plate in the fridge overnight to remove all moisture from leaves. (If using fridge, remove leaves from fridge the next day and chop finely.) Stuff chopped plantain into selected jar, leaving 1″ of headspace at the top. Fill jar with olive oil. Fasten lid securely and then label with date of preparation.

Store filled jar in a warm, sunny spot in your home where it can receive the most direct sunlight. If preparing during warmer seasons, jar can be set outside in direct sunlight.

Shake jar once daily for one month. Then using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, strain infused oil and discard plantain leaves into compost bin or trash bin.

You now have your own batch of plantain-infused olive oil for using to make healing salve. This infused-oil will keep for up to one year.

Now you are ready to make batches of homemade salve to use in your own household and also to give away as gifts.

Making the Salve

Tools:

• small pot
• tablespoon
• teaspoon
• 1/2 cup
• whisk
• silicone spatula
• 2 ounce tins for storing salve (this recipe requires 3 tins)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup plantain-infused olive oil

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 1/2 teaspoons bees-wax pellets

10-20 drops essential oils of choice (ex. Lavender, Cypress, White Fir, Cedarwood)

Preparation:

In a small pot combine plantain-infused olive oil with coconut oil and warm until coconut oil has melted. Turn off heat and add beeswax pellets. Whisk until all pellets have melted in oils. Now add essential oils.

Pour liquid into tins, using a spatula to scrape down sides of pot to not waste any oil. Set tins somewhere they can cool. Note: this recipe results in a smooth salve, if a harder salve is desired – increase beeswax pellets.

Next Article: Make Your Own Natural Coconut Deodorant For Your Health

Read full article: How to Make Your Own Healing Salve with Plantain-infused Olive and Coconut Oils