Backroads mom

Dandelion salve is a great way to start your foraging experience. They are easily identifiable plants and have great medicinal qualities! They are abundant and easy to pick and use!

Dandelion salve is great for sore muscles and aches and pains.

It also makes for a wonderful moisturizer.

Enjoy this recipe and have fun experimenting with dried herbs and oils!

How to Make Homemade dandelion salve!

Equipment

• Equipment
• A double-boiler, or make-shift double boiler (such as a glass pyrex bowl or stainless steel bowl perched on top of a saucepan with water below)

• Glass storage jars or salve tins

Ingredients

• 1 cup dandelion oil OR plain oil such as sweet almond oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, or other carrier oil of choice)
• 3-4* tbsp Beeswax pastilles, or approximately 1 once if you’re using shaved, block, or other forms of beeswax. *If you opt to also add shea butter, use only 3 level tbsp of beeswax pastilles. However if you skip the shea butter, use 4 tbsp beeswax. (vegan option: replace with the same amount of soy or candelilla wax

• 2 tbsp Shea butter (optional)
• 20-25 drops of your choice of essential oil. Use up to 12 drops essential oil per ounce of base oil, or 96 drops per cup (maximum) if using plain carrier oil. I suggest starting at half that and scaling up based on personal preference/aroma)
• Vitamin E oil, lavender geranium rose hip and many others can add wonderful properties to your salve.

Instructions

• Have storage jars ready and waiting.
• Add water to the bottom pan of your double-boiler. Now add 1 cup dandelion oil (or plain oil), and 3-4 tbsp of beeswax (see sliding scale notes above).
• Heat the mixture on the stovetop over medium-love heat – only until the beeswax melts, and stirring frequently. 
• As soon as everything melts and is thoroughly combined, remove from heat. 
• Add essential oils once removed from heat. They’re highly volatile and prone to dissipating.
• While it is still hot, carefully pour the liquid salve into your chosen containers. (If it starts to solidify while you’re still filling containers, simply put it back on medium-low heat until it liquifies again.)
• Set the full dandelion salve containers aside (lids off) and allow them to fully cool.
• The dandelion salve will harden as it cools, and then it is ready to use. Use either clean fingers or a salve spoon to collect a small amount of salve, and apply to your skin as needed. A little goes a long way!
• Store your salve containers in a cool, dark location. Homemade dandelion salve can “stay good” for several years. However, it’s medicinal potency may decrease with extended time and age.

How to make dandelion oil for your salve.

Equipment

• Mason jar
• Cheese cloth
• Dandelion flowers
• Carrier oils of your choice

Start collecting dandelions from a safe area of your yard in early spring.

Only use dandelions in an area free from pesticide and animal droppings.

Dry the dandelions for a few days until they are brittle.

Then use a mason jar and fill it with your dried buds.

Fill with your choice of carrier oils.

I like to use coconut and avocado oil.

Fill with the oils, making sure to completely emerse the plant material. Place the jar in a dark place up to a week! Make sure to stir occasionally.

After a week use a cheese cloth to strain all the oil away from the plant material into a clean jar. Make sure to squeeze as much of the oil out as possible.

What you have left is a wonderful base oil rich in antioxidants from your foraged flowers. It’s ready to use in your homemade salve or soaps!

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