Rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants, polyphenols and flavonoids, a close cousin to the famous skincare ingredient – calendula – is gaining a reputation of its own.
Though the therapeutic properties of dandelion are often most closely associated with roasted dandelion root tea, the entire plant is chock-full of beneficial components.
Both dandelion flower and leaf extracts, for example, protect against UVB-related photoaging and senescence (aging at the cellular level). (1) This is likely due to the high antioxidant content, which helps counteract free radicals.
Though dandelion-infused oil can be used directly on skin, many people prefer to thicken it into a salve that’s both portable and deeply moisturizing. The easy dandelion salve recipe below soothes skin irritations while nourishing dry skin, making it an all-purpose healing balm that’s perfect for use as a:
- face moisturizer
- chapped-lip balm
- owie salve
- bug bite balm
- burn salve
- diaper rash balm
- gardening salve
- balm for rough elbows and cracked heels
Essential Oils That Complement Dandelion
For an all-purpose healing balm, I like to use kid-safe essential oils like lavender, frankincense, chamomile and tea tree.
For a relaxing muscle rub, black pepper, copiaba, and lavender essential oil are good choices, too.
Homemade Dandelion Salve Recipe (Healing Salve)
Ingredients
- 4 ounces dandelion oil (By weight)
- ½ ounce organic beeswax pellets (By weight. About 2 tablespoons)
- 25-50 drops essential oil, optional (As mentioned above, lavender, frankincense, chamomile and tea tree are good choices for an all-purpose healing balm, and black pepper, copiaba, and lavender essential oil are good choices for a relaxing muscle rub)
Instructions
- Gently heat the beeswax in a double boiler. (If you don’t have a double boiler you can use a stainless steel bowl set inside a pot of boiling water.)
- When the beeswax is melted, add in the dandelion oil. Allow it to warm up for 30-60 seconds, then stir until the beeswax and oil are thoroughly mixed, then remove from heat and stir in essential oils if using.
- Pour your salve into a clean, dry container or glass jar and allow to cool – I used three of these 2 ounce tins. Now you’re ready for the next bug attack, bee sting, scrape, etc.
Notes
Safety Considerations
According to the Botanical Safety Handbook, dandelion is a Safety Class 1A herb – the safest rating possible. There are no known contraindications for pregnancy, nursing, or use with children.
As always, please check with your healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy.
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Sources
1. Yafan Yang and Shuangshuang Li (2015) Dandelion Extracts Protect Human Skin Fibroblasts from UVB Damage and Cellular Senescence
Brianel
Thanks for sharing this great natural salve. Dandelion is a powerful herb and combined with those essential oils, it should really be potent.
Chris
Can you infuse Emu Oil with Dandelion oil?
Phyllis P. Corella
Picked my dandelion heads last week, dried them for five days and infused them in avacado oil. They are now sitting in a warm double boiler. I plan an keeping the flowers in for a few days longer and then straining and combining with beeswax. Will keep you posted. Thanks for the recipe.
Lillian Sylvester
Hi approximately how much would I need picked ? ?
Cyndi
Depends on how much oil you want to make! You only need to cover the wilted dandelions with oil to infuse the oil. A few handfuls of dandelion would be enough to make 4 oz of infused oil.
Anya
Is the hard copy book available of Kitchen Apothecary in stores or purchasing on line?
Heather
Hi Anya, no it is just available in ebook format. 🙂
Toni
Hello – how do you make your dandelion oil – or do you buy it …
Heather
Hi Toni! Here’s my post on how to make dandelion oil
Susan
Heather, where do you find the e-book “Kitchen Apothecary”? I signed up for your newsletters and am receiving them but I can’t find the “e-Book.” I do enjoy your website. Thank you.
Heather
Hi Susan, when you sign up for my newsletter you’ll be taken to a page with an orange button that says “download guide.”
Tina Waddoups
Oh, I missed the download guide button too. I have made several of your salves, oils and lotions from wild gathers, and other organic choices. They really work. Thank you. The Magnesium oil, and lotion set some friends and myself free from terrible night pains. Again thank you, keep up the good research.
Barbara
Hi Heather,
Can Calendula be infused in by the refrigerator for four weeks?
Would it be okay to add vitamin E to the oil?
Thank you,
Barbara
Tammy
Do you mix all the essential oils, or just pick one to mix in? Thank you
Heather
You can use one or many, but the total amount of drops used should be 25-50
Rita
Thank you for the recipe.
Roxanne Dorge
Can you combine salves? Like do a plantain and a dandelion together?
Heather Dessinger
Yes, definitely!
d
I would like to have the Kitchen Apothecary: 25+ Natural Remedies Using Ingredients From Your Pantry –
Deborah
Didn’t realise dandelion flowers were so useful. Have only used the root for liver support so far. Thank you.
Katleen Van Loosveldt
Lovely recipe! Can’t wait to test it!
Samantha Stevens-Clay
Made this, it came out hard as a brick so I had to add more oil. (this was probably my fault because I found it hard to weigh the oil out on my scale). Now for what you really want to know…does it work on sore muscles. Yes it does! (I added black pepper to mine). I’m doing the million step challenge for Diabetes UK. I got in 30,000+ steps today and my legs, hips and feet were howling. I rubbed the salve on it all and then I felt good enough to go up and down the stairs. (I could barely move before!) So I highly recommend making this.