Charcoal Drawing Salve

Drawing • Soothing • First Aid

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YieldAbout 3oz

Time15 minutes + infusing the oil

UseSplinters, bug bites & stings

ToolsDouble boiler, salve tins or glass jars

TextureFirm, smooth salve

StorageCool, dry place with a lid; lasts 2–3 years

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. It's a small batch recipe because a little goes a long way, but you could easily double it to give away as gifts to friends and family.

Charcoal drawing salve for splinters and bug bites — Apply to Splinters & Bug Bites

Ingredients

8 tbsp plantain oil (see Notes to make your own)
2 tsp shea butter
1 tbsp activated charcoal
2 tbsp beeswax pastilles
15 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops tea tree essential oil
Optional: 1 tbsp kaolin clay

Plantain infused oil in a glass jar — Plantain Infused Oil

Directions

Make your plantain oil first, using the slow or quick method in the Notes.
In a double boiler, combine the plantain oil, shea butter and beeswax. Gently melt over low heat until it's just melted.
Remove from heat. Add the activated charcoal (and clay, if using) and stir well until fully mixed in.
Add the essential oils and stir to combine.
Pour into salve tins or glass cosmetic containers. Leave the lids off while the salve cools, then put the lids on once hardened.

To Use

Dab a little onto the splinter, bug bite or sting.
Cover with a bandaid and leave it on overnight.
In the morning, check whether the splinter has come out or the bite or sting has calmed down. If not, repeat.
It usually draws things out within 24 hours. If it doesn't, you may need to see a medical professional.

Notes

Plantain, the herb: this is made with plantain the herb, not the tropical fruit. You can order dried plantain leaves from Mountain Rose Herbs.
Slow plantain oil (6 weeks): fill a mason jar half full with dried plantain and cover with oil to the top. Olive or apricot oil works well. Lid it and keep it in a warm, dark place for 6 weeks, shaking daily. Strain through cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean glass jar.
Quick plantain oil (4–6 hours): fill a mason jar half full with dried plantain and cover with oil. Pour into the top of a double boiler and heat low and slow for 4–6 hours. Don't let the oil simmer or bubble. It should smell herby, not burnt. Strain into a clean glass jar.
No lavender? If you're allergic to or don't like lavender essential oil, swap in frankincense essential oil.
Extra drawing power: add 1 tbsp kaolin clay, which also helps pull things from the surface layers of the skin.
A little goes a long way, so small batches make sense. Stored with a lid in a cool place out of direct sunlight, salves can last 2–3 years.