Salve Making

I love making recipes that come from my garden, and most of the time it is something that we can eat. However, I have been learning about things like salve making and tea blending. I have been learning a lot through workshops and others sharing their knowledge. For Christmas I made this salve as a gift to my family. Although I don’t know all the properties for the plants, I know these plants are used to help nourish the skin, provide hydration and has antibacterial properties.

If you wanted to make this ahead of time, you would need to plan ahead and pick your plants in the spring. You can dry them and store them until you are ready to use them. If you don’t have a place that you can harvest these plants, you can go to your local apothecaries, tea store or grocery store that carry some of these plants. I found a place called Famous Foods in Vancouver that carries many of these plants.

To start making your salve, you will need some dried or fresh plants.

Plantains – pick in spring or early summer. (Before they flower)

Yarrow – pick when it is in full bloom in summer. You can pick both leaves and flowers.

Rose petals – when the roses are half open to full bloom in summer.

Pick, rinse well and dry in the sun or dehydrator. Make sure there is plenty of air flow to prevent mold. Once dried, you can store it in a paper bag or jar.

Bees Wax – use pure beeswax. It is best if you can find pellets but blocks work well too. (Bought online or locally https://www.mainstreethoney.com/collections/pure-beeswax)

Oil – You can use olive oil or almond oil. It is preferred to use extra virgin olive oil but you can still use regular oil.

Salve ratio

Infused Oil

Cold infusion – 1:2 dried herb: oil

Finely chop herbs (or use a blender) and add to the oil. Stir/shake jar daily making sure no herbs are exposed. This will prevent the infusion from getting moldy. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for the medicine to extract into the oil.

Heat infusion –

½ cup of crushed dried plantain

½ cup crushed dried rosebuds/rose petals, yarrow

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 ounces of beeswax

Or follow the ratio

1:5 beeswax: infused oil or 3 ½ tbsp (50 ml) beeswax to 1 cup of oil

Shelf life – typically will last a year

Instructions:

(from Revered Roots)

Break the beeswax into similar sizes so it melts easily and consistently. Add the beeswax to a double boil and let it melt. Then add the infused oil and stir. When adding the oil, it will change the temperature of the melted beeswax and coagulate, making it look like egg soup. Stir occasionally until the wax is fully melted. With a spoon, scoop out a little and let it cool. This will let you know if you need to adjust the firmness. Add drops of essential oil if you prefer extra scent with added healing properties. Once it has reached your desired consistency, pour into clean containers and let cool. Label and share the gifts. Typically, the product will last one year.

In the springtime, collect herbs and plants to use. Dry well and store.

Begin by crushing or chopping the dried leaves well.

Add the dried leaves to a jar and add the oil.

Simmer the oil in a double boiler. Make sure it stays at a low temperature to ensure the oil doesn’t boil.

The longer you simmer the oil. The more infused the oil will be. You will start seeing the oil change color.

Allow the oil to cool overnight. Strain the oil using a coffee filter or a cheese cloth.

Here is a comparison of the infused oil vs the original color of the oil.

To prepare the salve, you will need pure beeswax. You can purchase this in blocks or pellets.

Begin by melting the beeswax in a double boiler. Place the beeswax cubes/pellets in a glass jar and place in some water. While the beeswax is melting, prepare your jars or containers that you will be using for the salves. You want to make sure they are clean and dry.

Make sure to keep mixing to help the beeswax dissolve evenly. Alternatively, you can grate the beeswax into smaller pieces to help it melt evenly. While melting the beeswax, you can heat up the infused oil.

When the beeswax is fully melted, pour it into the warmed infused oil. Stir well and place back in the double boiler if you see the wax coagulating. Be sure to wipe away the water on the outside of the jar when pouring the beeswax so that no water gets into the salve.