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Green mosquito herbal balm

Mosquito Bite Salve

This recipe uses plants such as comfrey, plantain, yarrow, and violet to help soothe and quickly heal mosquito bites.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Resting Time 4 hours
Total Time 6 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 8 4 - ounce jars
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup plantain leaves, lightly packed or 1/4 cup dried
  • 1/2 cup yarrow leaves and flowers, lightly packed or 1/4 cup dried
  • 1/2 cup comfrey leaves and flowers, lightly packed or 1/4 cup dried
  • 1 handful calendula flowers dried is fine, too
  • 3 drops benzoin tincture
  • 32 ounces oil of choice olive oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, etc.
  • 1 ounce beeswax per 4 ounces of final liquid

Equipment

  • 1 Stainless Steel Pot
  • 1 1 Sieve or Cheesecloth

Method
 

  1. Gather your herbs and rinse them off in a colander (if using fresh)
  2. Place the rinsed herbs into a stainless-steel pot, then add the safflower oil and water. Cover loosely with a lid, keeping it cracked to allow steam to escape and bring to a low simmer. Allow mixture to continue simmering on low heat for several hours. Be sure to check periodically to see if you need to add more water. We do not want anything to burn.
  3. After several hours of simmering, use a fine mesh strainer to remove the plants from the liquid. Add the beeswax to the liquid and stir until it is fully melted. It helps to shave the beeswax into small bits or cut it into smaller chunks allowing it to melt faster.
  4. Carefully ladle the salve into some 4-ounce glass jars with lids. Be sure to have the jars sitting on a towel as you do this, just as you would if you were canning.
  5. Allow the salve to cool completely.
  6. Once the salve has completely cooled, melt some additional beeswax and pour it over the top of the medicine. This works to seal the medicine for long term storage. My mom would keep this medicine in the cabinet for several years without compromising the effectiveness.
    7. Be sure to list the ingredients on the jars.  I have never had anyone experience an allergic reaction to this medicine in the decades we have used it, however, this is best practice when it comes to homemade remedies, medicines, and salves. 
    I have also put in other herbs such as rosemary which has yielded excellent results.
    I love laying a cheesecloth (muslin) over a colander, and squeezing out as much of the juice from the herbs as I can. You can compost the last of the herbs.
    The cooking time is a guideline. Just simmer on very low heat - you do not want a roaring boil. You do not want the herbs to burn.