Easy Homemade Plantain Salve Recipe

An overhead shot of plantain salve in an amber glass jar. There is dried plantain beside it.

Nico

Commonly considered a weed, plantain can help reduce skin inflammation, soothe bug bites, and even heal minor burns. This plantain salve recipe is easy to make and makes a great addition to your summer herbal remedies.

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Prep Time 10

Infusion Time 42

Total Time 42 10

Servings: 3 jars

Course: Holistic Skin Care

Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients

1 cup Fresh leaves or 1/2 cup dried leaves here's an organic dried source
1 cup Carrier oil such as olive oil, sweet almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, or jojoba oil
1/4 cup Beeswax pellets here's an organic source
10 drops Essential oil of your choice (optional) like tea tree oil for antimicrobial benefits or lavender oil to make it smell nice!
5 drops Vitamin E oil optional, helps extend the shelf life

Equipment

Double boiler - If you don’t have one just use a small saucepan with a glass bowl on top.
A glass jar for extracting - I like these
Muslin cloth, fine mesh strainer, or cheesecloth - I like this unbleached cheesecloth
A spoon or a spatula for mixing
Amber glass salve container (or whatever shallow glass container you have on hand) - I like these amber glass salve tins

Method

If using fresh plantain leaves, chop them into small pieces. You can
use a knife, mortar and pestle, food processor, or whatever you have!
In a clean glass jar, add plantain leaves and cover them completely with your carrier oil. I usually use a pint mason jar and fill it 1/2 full with dried plantain.
Place the jar in a sunny windowsill for 4-6 weeks. Try to keep it out of direct sunlight. To make it easier, I tend to put all my infusions in the pantry and just leave them longer (around 8 weeks) so I don’t need to worry about moving them out of direct sun.
After 6 weeks, strain out the plant material using cheesecloth or a mesh strainer. Make sure to take time to squeeze out all the beautiful plantain-infused oil from the leaves.
In a double boiler or crock pot, melt the beeswax pellets fully. Once everything is melted, add in the infused oil and whisk until everything is incorporated. This should only take a few minutes – turn off the heat right after things are melted together. You do not want to zap the essential oils in the infused oil. After the heat is off, you can add your essential oils or vitamin E oil.
Stir well, then pour the mixture into a small jar or tin and let it cool completely. Don’t add a lid until the salve is completely cool – I like to wait 24 hours. Make sure to date and label it!

Video

Notes

I recommend going to the thrift store and buying a set of these supplies that you use for this recipe and any future recipes you make using beeswax. It’s very hard to fully clean melted beeswax from jars, bowls, and spoons, so I have a set of supplies that I use to make all of my beeswax-based body products.

How much plantain salve to use?

A little goes a long way! Apply a thin layer to affected areas as needed.

How long does plantain salve last?

Stored in a cool, dark place and away from direct sunlight, your homemade plantain salve should last 6-12 months. Adding a few drops of vitamin E oil can help extend its shelf life.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!