If you have a yard, chances are you are growing the ingredients for a skin soothing herbal infusion without even trying! Plantain (Plantago major) is considered a weed, but it also contains natural constituents that are wonderful for your skin. Violet (Viola odorata) leaves are in the same category (not to mention that the flowers are delicious in salads or syrups!).
Violet is moisturizing, toning, healing, and great for sore nipples. Plantain is good for eczema, acne, minor cuts, stings, insect bites, poison ivy itch, and diaper rash.
The basis of a skin-nourishing herbal salve is an herbal oil infusion. Gather about 4 cups of plantain and violet leaves, making sure to choose ones that are fresh and green looking, with no major brown spots, rotten areas, or major insect damage. And make sure that they have not been sprayed with chemicals of any kind.
Rinse the leaves in cold water to remove any dirt, bugs, etc. Drain thoroughly, then gently pat the leaves to remove excess water.
Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at the lowest temperature for a couple of hours, until the leaves are dry and crispy.
Put the dried leaves into a glass quart-sized jar, then fill to the top with olive oil (preferably organic). Use a chopstick or blunt knife to poke the leaves down into the oil and release any air bubbles. Place a piece of waxed paper over the top of the jar and screw the top on tightly. Label it with the date.
Keep the jar in a cool, dark place for 4-6 weeks. It’s a good idea to place a dish under the jar in case of leakage. Turn the jar over from time to time to move the oil through the herbs.
Strain the oil through a sieve, lined with cheesecloth, into a glass measuring cup or top of a double boiler, squeezing out any last bits of oil from the herbs. You can throw the cheesecloth and drained herbs into your compost pile.
Add 1-½ tablespoons of natural beeswax for each ounce of oil (I used unbleached beeswax pastilles). Set the glass measuring cup in water (or the double boiler top over a water-filled bottom) and heat over medium heat until the beeswax is just melted.
Remove from heat. Add 1 teaspoon of Vitamin E oil. Stir unti well-mixed.
Pour into clean containers (I used tin, but you can also use glass jars), and allow to cool.
This salve can be used for all types of itches, irritations, insect bites, and minor cuts, as mentioned above. There are no known contraindications for using plaintain or violet leaves internally or externally, so this salve is safe for use as a nipple cream.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing this technique.
You’re welcome! This can also be made with calendula or comfrey, which are two other mild, but very effective herbs for skin care.
This is impressive. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome. It’s pretty simple, it just takes patience, which I find to be the difficult part
Beautiful and simple, thank you for sharing this. I have some lavender growing in my yard. Could I add it to this recipe?
Joseph
http://www.explorelifeblog.com
Thank you, Joseph. I think lavender would make an excellent addition to the recipe. It would add some antibacterial properties, plus make it smell wonderful. Great idea!
Thank-you so much for the step by step with pictures! Very clear instructions, and it looks like a wonderful salve.
You’re very welcome! I am glad that you found it helpful. Enjoy!
wow, that’s so cool!! well done!! now just to fine these “weeds” …
Glad you like the tutorial. If you have a yard, chances are you will find these weeds. And lots of them!
seriously cool. do u no any salves for strechmarks, acne scars or wrinkles?
You can try melting in some cocoa butter with the beeswax, and adding a few drops of sandalwood essential oil. Enjoy!
I have done this before but in a much simpler and shorter way – do the same method but skip the leaf process and just combine grapeseed oil with the beeswax and vitamin E oil – makes the best lip balm.
That sounds like a nice, natural basic lip balm. The various herbs add healing properties to make it suitable for use on the body.
@Kelsey
Yes, I am agree with it & may be help to save time during making of lip balm. But, I am still confuse to save this lip balm for long term. Can you suggest me some alternatives for it?
Natural lip balms can last for a couple of years. You can add a few drops of vitamin e, or rosemary extract as natural preservatives, too.
I found this very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
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Aren’t plantain leaves like banana leaves (large and broad)? I have a yard but cannot find the ones that you have shown in the picture. Are these leaves available in stores? Or should I buy the whole plants from Home Depot or Lowes?
Thanks for sharing the salve recipe – sounds very nice and I can’t wait to make some at home.
Glad you liked the article! Plantain leaves that grow in yards and parks in North America are fairly small – they are a different species than the ones you eat. They are quite prolific, and are considered weeds. You can buy the dried leaves from Mountain Rose Herbs.
I really like the idea of using the Pyrex measuring cup. I’ve melted the wax into the oil in the top of a double boiler before, but then pouring the mixture into the containers is tricky. This method is much more streamlined and involves less cleanup. Thanks so much for posting it.
Susan Lynn Peterson
author: Western Herbs for Martial Artists and Contact Athletes
Hello. This is very lovely page. I have also wordpress blogging about garden pharmacy. Very nice job you did. thanks for everyone with you.
This is a great post! I love the step by step and am going to mark this for Christmas. Of course, I’ll place an order with you also.
Thanks so much, Tammy. It’s fairly easy. And you have all summer to collect the plant materials. And orders are always welcome
Thank you for your continuing support!
By the way, your last post was a huge hit! You really sparked a great conversation. Your son should take a permanent role as your content advisor
This sounds wonderful, I thought about using plantain in a salve, maybe along with calendula or comfrey but violet leaves sound great. Plus it’s really convenient that they like to hang out next to each other in my aunt’s yard!
They are wonderful for the skin, plus it’s a great way to appreciate and benefit from summer’s bountiful harvest of violets!
I just found your site through a google search. Thanks for the wonderful instructions on making a salve. Got lots of plantain here in Florida.
Could you tell me where to buy those tins you are using? Do you sell them?
Thanks for your comment, Rosemarie. I think you’ll enjoy making your own salve. And I do offer the tins for sale in my Etsy supply store, Herban Supply. Here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/herbansupply
Beautiful pictures!
Thank you very much, Marla! I am a big fan of your work. I found out about your classes after I moved here (from CT). I hope to make a trip up there at some point so that I can participate in one of them!
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT U GOT THAT WORK LIKE NOW MY GRANDSON IS COVER ALL OVER BEEN TO DOCTER GOT SHOT AND MED NOTHING WORKING . THKS SO MUCH
Hi Tobi, Thanks for your comment. Not being familiar with the specifics of your grandson’s condition, I can’t really recommend anything. But if the condition continues and his pediatrician can’t help, I recommend that you take him to a naturopathic doctor who may be better able to get to the root of the problem. Best of luck
I have fresh herbs growing in my yard: oregano, mint, marjoram, lavender, rosemary, basil, etc. Would any of these have specific properties that would be helpful in a salve? I think you mentioned lavender having antibacterial properties earlier. Would you use leaves or flowers or both? Added to the oil infusion or afterward? Also, what’s the benefit of drying the herbs before adding them to the oil? Just wondering. I loved your post. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, Tiffany! I’m glad you liked the post. You can use the leaves and flowers from your lavender plants (they do have antibacterial properties, plus make the salve smell wonderful). Rosemary also has antibacterial properties, a nice scent and it also has antioxidant properties, so it will help keep your salve fresh longer than if you don’t add it. Marjoram also has antioxidant properties, plus has been used in traditional healing for bruises. Mint is antibacterial, has mild pain relieving properties, and I worked with a pediatric anesthesiologist who gave her patients cottonballs dipped in mint essential oil to relieve their post-operative nausea. Basil is also antibacterial, and oregano is antiseptic.
So, you can use any combination of your herbs and have a nice all-purpose skin salve that will smell wonderful.
I dry the leaves before infusing them, both to reduce the possibility of mold forming in the oil, and because most herbs become more potent after they dry. The drying helps to break open the plant’s cell walls, allowing the medicinal constituents to be more easily extracted.
Have fun experimenting!
love it, (=
Thanks so much!
Hi I have never made a salve before but and i am thinking of giving it a go! Is there any thing i should be aware of before i start?
Also can i add sage, Lavender, and rosemarry leaves to the mix. if so do i put it in the oil with the oil?
Regard
Mercyasher
Yes, you can definitely add those herbs to the mix. Just crush up the leaves and add the to the oil. Let this sit for 6 weeks, then strain through a cheesecloth before you make your salve. Have fun making your first salve!