the wild apothecary
Charcoal Drawing Salve
Soothing • Skin-Loving • Gentle
Yield: 3oz
Tools: Double Boiler
Shelf Life: 2-3 years, stored properly in cool, dry place with a lid
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Texture:
About This Recipe
This is a great one to have in your herbal first aid tool box along with your other salves. Applied onto splinters, bug bites, and stings it helps to draw out the foreign object. Just use a little dab on the area, cover with a bandaid, and leave it on overnight. In the morning check the area to see if the splinter has made its way out or if the bite/sting area is calmed down. If not, then repeat the process. Usually this salve can draw things out within 24hrs. If not you may need to seek a medical professional. But for most cases of mild splinters and common stings this drawing works great.
This is a small batch recipe because you really don’t need a lot of this drawing salve. You could easily double it to give away as gifts to friends and family. This recipe makes about 3 oz.
Apply to Splinters, Bug Bites
Ingredients
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8 tbs Plantain Oil
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2 tsp Shea Butter
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1tbs Activated Charcoal (activated charcoal)
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2 tbs Beeswax
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15 drops Lavender Essential Oil
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10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
Plantain Infused Oil
Directions
The first step in this recipe is to make the plantain oil. This is made with plantain the herb, not plantain the tropical fruit. You can order dried plantain leaves from Mountain Rose Herbs.
You can use the slow method or the quick method.
Slow Method
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For the slow method fill a mason jar half full with dried plantain herb and cover with oil to the top of the jar. Olive oil or apricot oil is a great choice for carrier oil. Cover with lid and place in a warm dark place for 6 weeks.
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Shake daily. At the end of 6 weeks, strain the plantain oil through cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean glass jar.
Quick Method
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For the quick method fill a mason jar half full with dried plantain herb and cover with oil to the top of the jar. Pour the contents of the jar into the top of a double boiler and heat low and slow for 4-6 hours. Just be sure not to burn the herbs. Don’t let the oil simmer or form bubbles.
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At the end of the infusion the oil should smell herby but not burnt. Strain through cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean glass jar.
Drawing Salve
- In a double boiler combine the plantain oil you have infused, shea butter and beeswax pastilles. Gently melt over low heat and heat until it's just melted.
- Once the beeswax has completely melted, remove from heat. After removing from heat add in the activated charcoal (and clay if you are using it) and stir well, making sure it is well dissolved. Then add the essential oils.
- Once it is well combined, pour into your containers. I like to use salve tins or glass cosmetic containers. Leave the lids off while the salve cools. Once hardened, put the lids on.
- Once it is well combined, pour into your containers. I like to use salve tins or glass cosmetic containers. Leave the lids off while the salve cools. Once hardened, put the lids on.
Notes
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If you are allergic to or do not like lavender essential oil, it can be replaced with frankincense essential oil.
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A good addition to this drawing salve recipe would be a tablespoon of kaolin clay. It also has the ability to pull things from the surface layers of the skin.
To Use
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A little goes a long way and you only need a little at a time so for me it makes sense to make small batches of this.
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Apply onto splinters, bug bites, and stings it helps to draw out the foreign object. Just use a little dab on the area, cover with a bandaid, and leave it on overnight. In the morning check the area to see if the splinter has made its way out or if the bite/sting area is calmed down. If not, then repeat the process
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Salves can last 2-3 years if stored properly in a cool place out of direct sunlight with a lid.
