Why Do You Need to Make Your Own Dandelion Salve?
What are the Benefits of Dandelion?
The past three days, we have finally begun seeing the promises spring and sunshine! I probably seem weird being so excited about sunshine as a sign of spring, but here lately, we have been experiencing a lot of rain and dreary weather. Still, one of the reasons I am so excited about spring is that I can start collecting dandelions again! In our family, there seems to be a lot of teasing that a few of us are more concerned with weeds than spring. In a way, this is very true! Especially when considering the benefits of dandelion and the multitude of uses.
Dandelions yield a number of amazing health benefits:
- Anti-microbial
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-oxidant
- Anti-Inflammatory
- Germicidal
- Detoxifier
- Works as a liver cleanse
- Assist with bloating
- Helps relieve constipation
- Assists with weight loss
- And so many other wonderful benefits
So, once it becomes apparent that dandelions are so beneficial, it can become difficult not to become excited about the appearance of these wonderful "weeds."
Acknowledging this, I admit, I will probably be delving into a variety of wonderful uses of this amazing plant, but to become better focused, I want to take a moment and cover the value of utilizing a salve and then providing an awesome recipe our family creates when the plants are in season. This amazing salve is an all-natural, cheap, beneficial, and easy to create salve wonderful for your "natural medicine" cabinet !
The reason for creating this salve is because it works for an amazing pain-reducing cream on joints and as a wonderful treatment for dry, cracked skin! Another interesting aspect I have discovered is when I use it (during the winter I experience extremely dry skin) most people are always complementing my "new perfume." In those moments, I only smile to myself because I am only using the salve for healing my skin.
Look at the Beauty of the Amazing Plant!
Discovering the Beauty of Creating Salves
Dandelion Salve is perhaps the first salve I ever made for my "home medicine cabinet." Why? Because it is so simple to make! I advise everyone who is considering the path to create their own natural products to begin with this amazing salve! Plus, once you make it, you have an amazing product for your family to utilize! Plus, toss it into gifts or stockings around the holiday! Why not be excited?
Dandelion Infused Oil
Truthfully, you are creating two products when you begin preparation! The first step is creating a dandelion infused oil, which also works wonderfully! It is a great massage oil for use on stiff joints and tired muscles! Similar to the salve, it can be used for dry and chapped skin (but I am not a fan of the oily residue that remains on my skin). It is a wonderful base in a multitude of DIY products (lotions, salves, lip balms, etc). The oil can help with detoxifying and cleansing pores on your body. The high dose of Vitamin C assists in accelerating healing processes, as well as reducing inflammation and helping reduce the appearance of scars!
Recognize, this is perhaps the longest part of the production process, and the oil will take two weeks to become infused! Having explored this, it is now a great time to begin exploring how to create this amazing oil!
- Gather the heads of dandelions, and since they are normally found out in the yard, you will need to wash them and then lay them on a towel and allow them to wilt overnight. (If you choose to purchase dried dandelions, then this step can be skipped!)
- Next, our family utilizes a quart (or even a half gallon) canning jar and fill it up with the dandelion flowers, then we pour olive oil over the top of the dandelion flowers, filling it up! (Almond oil, safflower oil, and others are excellent options)
- Place the cap over the oil and select a darker area to place your dandelion/oil combination for the next two weeks! This will allow the oil to become completely infused with the wonderful benefits of this plant!
- After two weeks, it's time to remove the dandelions from the oil. We normally utilize a cheesecloth or mesh strainer to separate the flowers from the oil to move it into a clean jar.
- Now it is ready for use, either alone or to move ahead to creating your salve (or other products)!
An important thing to remember is that you need to make sure to separate the dandelion and the oil after two weeks! The reason for this is that the dandelions can begin to mold, destroying the oil!
Dandelion Oil
What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered
— Ralph Waldo EmersonTime to Create the Salve
Now that we have the oil prepared, it's time to begin creating the salve! The following recipe will help create approximately 12 containers! Both the oil and the Salve have a year shelf life after creation, so keep this in mind!
Dandelion Salve
Ingredients
- 16 oz. Dandelion Infused Oil
- 2 oz. organic coconut oil
- 2 oz. beeswax (or if vegan candelilla wax)
- 2 oz. shea butter
- 15-20 drops skin safe essential oil, (we use lavender)
Instructions
- You need to use a double-boiler, but if you don't have one, place a glass bowl with about an inch of simmering water.
- In the top of the double-boiler, place in dandelion oil and beeswax (or candelilla oil) and heat until the wax completely dissolves, stirring occasionally.
- Add in the shea putter and stir until it completely dissolves.
- Remove the mixture from the heat, then stir in the essential oils.
- Pour the completed mixture into small jars (or tins) let allow it to set until salve is completely sets up. (If you want, you can place the containers in the refridgerator to harden up more quickly)
- Keep in mind, if the salve gets too warm, it will return to oil, so try to bear this in mind when storing the finished product!
Picking an Essential Oil
Best Essential Oils for Salve
There are a ton of options when using essential oils in this salve, our favorites are:
Lavender
Peppermint
Eucalyptus
Blue Chamomile
Roman Chamomile
Clary Sage
Rose
Sandalwood
Sweet Thyme
Rosemary
Vetiver
Black Pepper
Rose
Natural Salves
Do you make your own salves?
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.