Go Back
–+ servings
Plantain Salve

Plantain Salve

Ashley Adamant
Plantain salve is the perfect addition to your herbal first aid kit to handle all of lifes little cuts, scrapes and stings.
4.56 from 34 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 days
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 days 1 hour
Course Herbalism
Servings 4 -6 Salve Tins

Equipment

  • Double Boiler (or saucepan and heatproof bowl)
  • Salve Tins (or small mason jars)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups fresh plantain herb
  • 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups Olive oil or other neutral oil
  • 1 ounce Bees Wax

Instructions
 

  • Harvest fresh plantain from a clean, uncontaminated area. As with any wild plant, always be 100% positive on your identification before harvesting.
  • Chop the plantain leaves and use them to fill a pint mason jar most the way to the top.
  • Cover the fresh herb with a neutral oil, such as olive oil or grapeseed oil.
  • Place the mason jar on a trivet in a double boiler or crockpot and add water to the pot.
  • Gently heat the water until it's 110 to 120 degrees and turn off the heat.
  • Periodically turn on the heat to maintain this warm infusing environment for 24 to 48 hours. (Never leat the heat on overnight or for long periods, and be careful not to overheat and cook the plant material.)
  • Once the fresh plantain has infused into the oil, strain out the plant material.
  • Place the strained plantain infused oil into a heatproof bowl and then put that bowl above a pot of gently simmering water (again, creating a double boiler).
  • Add the beeswax and gently heat the oil just until the beeswax melts.
  • Stir to ensure the beeswax is evenly distributed and then pour into prepared salve tins (or small mason jars).
  • Allow the salve to cool completely and set up before using (usually around 30 minutes).

Notes

Note: If using dried plantain herb, you can use this same quick warm infusion method, or you can use a longer room temperature infusion for 4-6 weeks in a cool dark place. When using fresh herb material, you must use the warm infusion method because the fresh herbs will spoil in a long slow infusion.
Be sure to spot test before using, as there's always the possibility for allergic reaction.
As always, please consult your doctor or herbalist before starting any new treatment. I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!