It’s a weed . . it’s a banana . . . no . . . it’s . . . plantain – the most useful “weed” in your backyard!
If you’ve ever secretly wanted to be Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, give this a try: The next time your little one comes to you with an owie – say a wasp sting on her eyebrow for example – kiss it until the stinging stops. Then go on your way, completely forgetting about it until she wakes up from a nap looking like she went three rounds with Rocky Balboa.
Oops. So, in this purely theoretical situation, here’s what you would do next:
Head out into the backyard and begin gathering “medicine” with your little one. Relish the way she takes it in with wide eyes. Now pick a leaf, pop it into your mouth, and chew – then stick the green wad right on the sting.
What, no???
Well, for the record, it works. But if you want something a bit more, uh, not gross, you can use the plantain salve recipe below.
Plantain Leaf – A Versatile “First Aid” Ointment
If you only know one plant in the wild, it should really be plantain – the herb, not the banana.
It grows all over the country, and prefers packed dirt. If you have a dirt driveway, or if you hike on a hard-packed trail, you’ve certainly seen it. Good thing it lives just about everywhere, too, because you can use it for absolutely everything!
Plantain is sometimes called the “band aid” plant because – thanks to the presence of iridoids – it has a very soothing, anti-inflammatory effect on skin. (1) It also contains aglycone and aucubigenin – which have documented antibacterial activity – and allantoin, which supports skin healing. (2) (3)
Plantain is considered helpful for:
- Bee/wasp stings
- Mosquito bites and other bug bites
- Poison ivy/poison oak/sumac (here are some other home remedies that can ease discomfort)
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Sunburn
- Diaper rash
The salve recipe below also makes a lovely all-purpose moisturizer and lip balm.
Backyard Treasure Hunting: How to Find Plantain
Years ago, when the theoretical situation above was a little less theoretical, I filmed the video below with my daughter identifying broadleaf plantain (Plantago major).
Narrowleaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata) can also be used in the recipe below – you can find instructions for identifying it here.
If you don’t have access to an area that has not been sprayed with pesticides, you can buy dried plantain. Or if you prefer not to make your own, you can find plantain salve with goldenseal here.
DIY Plantain Salve Recipe
Equipment
- mason jar with lid
- Crockpot
- cheesecloth
- turkey baster
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh plantain leaves that were gathered from an area that has not been sprayed with chemicals OR 5-8 rounded tablespoons dried plantain leaves
- 1 cup carrier oil such as olive, coconut, or avocado
- 1 ounce beeswax pearls by weight, or about 3 tablespoons
- 36-72 drops tea tree or lavender essential oil
Instructions
If you're using fresh leaves, start with step one. If you're using dried leaves, start with step four.
- Harvest your leaves on a dry, sunny day. Pull off any parts that look sick or diseased and brush off dirt with a dry cloth if needed. Arrange leaves in a single layer on a clean, dry surface (best lined with a towel even though I forgot to take a photo after putting it down) and allow them to air dry for 2-3 days. When the leaves are dry and crisp, start step 3.
- Chop the leaves or place them in a food processor and pulse a few times until they are coarsely chopped.
- Place ground leaves in a clean, dry pint mason jar and cover with oil. The oil should completely cover the leaves.
- Cover the jar with a lid. Place a kitchen towel in the bottom of your crockpot and place your jars inside. Add enough water to cover about half the jar and set to low heat. I recommend the lowest setting possible, which is the "keep warm" setting on the slow cooker I use. Leave the slow cooker uncovered and allow the oil to infuse for 2-6 hours, adding water if needed to keep the slow cooker basin from drying out. Give it a shake (to help the plantain infuse faster) if you think about it whenever you walk by. (In the photo there are two jars because I was making a double batch.)
- Remove the jar from the crockpot and strain the oil through cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve. Let the oil sit for several hours. If there is any water in the oil (from the plantain leaves) it will collect in the bottom of the jar. If there is any water in the oil, use a turkey baster (if you have one) to siphon the infused oil off the top, leaving the water behind. If you don’t have a turkey baster, carefully pour the oil off the top.
- Give the cheesecloth a good squeeze to extract as much of the plantain-infused oil as possible.
- Now that your plantain oil is ready, gently heat the beeswax in a double boiler. When it is melted, add the plantain oil while taking care not to pour in any water that may have collected at the bottom of the jar. Stir until thoroughly mixed. If you're adding essential oils, wait until the mixture has cooled a bit and then stir them in.
- Pour your salve into a clean, dry container and allow to cool. Now you're ready for the next bug attack, bee sting, or brush with poison ivy!
Video
A Note On Shelf Life
Water can cause infused oils to spoil, which is why my method calls for gently drying the plantain leaves before adding them to the carrier oil.
According to renowned herbalist Susun Weed, “Infused oils in an olive oil base resist rancidity at cool room temperature for several years.” (4)
Frequently Asked Questions
There are two main factors that affect the color of the finished salve. They are:
Carrier oil color – Dark green carrier oils will yield a darker salve, while lighter ones will yield light green or yellow. Coconut oil tends to yield light yellow or white.
Heat setting – When the plantain oil is infused with no heat or very low heat it tends to yield a different color than medium heat. This also applies to the amount of heat that is used when blending the infused oil and wax.
Yes! I suggest replacing a tablespoon or more of dried plantain with either calendula, dandelion or comfrey.
It can be used with cloth diapers but may decrease absorbency over time. If that happens the diapers will need to be stripped.
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Sources:
1. Villasenor, Irene (2007) Bioactivities of Iridoids. Retrieved from http://www.eurekaselect.com/66121/article/bioactivities-iridoids
2. Drugs.com: Plantago. Retrieved from https://www.drugs.com/npp/plantain.html#ref2
3. Winston, David (2003) Herbal Therapeutics: Specific Indications for Herbs & Herbal Formulas (8th Edition)
b.j.
I must have a half acre of plantain in my yard! I keep meaning to go pick it and dry it… My four year old niece knows this weed well, and runs out and picks some herself whenever she gets a cut or scrape! It’s also a very healthy tea and goes well in salads or soups.
Marti Bacon
What does The Plantain Plant look like?
Nancy
Can you use the narrow leaf plantain
Heather Dessinger
Yes.
Rajean
I picked my plantain leaves this spring, dried and infused them into olive oil. I just made my salve. Thank you for your recipe. I have also made the dandelion salve.
Kristi Schuster
I had just learned about this wonderful plant from an older gentleman that was working on our house. He was stung by a bee and asked me if I had some, I wasn’t sure . He found some chewed it and placed on the sting. Not only did it soothe him but kept the swelling down as well. I made some for all of my family and some friends too. 🤗
Stephanie Cain
After infusing the olive oil, should the fried plantain be wilted? Mine is still crunchy. Did I do something wrong? Thank you!
MKB
Same thing happened with my plantain. I thought maybe the warm setting wasn’t enough, so put it back in for a couple hours on low…still crunchy though. I just jarred up the oil so hopefully it infused well and works!
Angela chartier
I made your plantain salve last spring using dried plantain. I had already been using plantain for spit poultices so was happy to find your recipe. Holy smokes it worked so well for bug bites it even tamed my over reaction to fire ant bites. Everyone I shared it with loved it. Thanks for your generosity in sharing your recipe and the ins and outs of making it.
Heather Dessinger
So happy to hear that, Angela! Thanks for taking the time to let me know. ❤️
Cgoss
What is the shelf life of this product?
Heather
According to renowned herbalist Susun Weed, “Infused oils in an olive oil base resist rancidity at cool room temperature for several years.”
nate
could I use dry leaves so there is no water or would it damage the quality?
Heather
Yes, you can!
Cheryel
How much?
claudia
Hi there. I have dried leaves- how many would I use?
Rachel Johnson
After I added the oil in with the beeswax, it looked really chunky like they were a bunch of beeswax flakes in there. Did I do something wrong? Will it still work?
Nancy Snow
I have several acres and plaintin grows everywhere. But, I have animals. Is it safe to harvest them or replant some?
Nanci
I’m making ointment now by use of the crock pot. Do i put the lid on cockpot or leave it off? Thanks for the recipe
Jeanne Dollar
My lid never fits over the jars without touching when I use the crock pot infusing method, so I always throw a flour sack towel over the top to retain the heat.
I hope that helps.
Lea
Hi!
Do you know if you can use dwarf plantain as you would this type you have pictured?
Jess
How much salve does the recipe yield? I’m prepping for my nature class and trying to figure how much I need
Heather
About 12-14 fluid ounces.
Mendy
My kids and I were just talking about making a plantain salve–thanks, Heather! I wondered if it would work just to sit the jar in sunny spot for a day or two. Would the sunlight deteriorate the properties of the plantain? Thanks for being such a great resource!
Heather
Hi Mendy, there are different opinions on this. Some say that the UV light will negatively impact the therapeutic properties, and some say they won’t.
Ilse de Vries
This is my usual method for making an infused oil. Though you need much more time then just 2 days. I take 4-6 weeks minimum. Preferably I used dried plants, put the plant parts in a jar and then cover it with oil (I like almond oil) until there is just a thin layer of oil (maybe 1 to 2 cm) above the plant parts. I don’t put it in direct sunlight, but I like to do this in summer when it’s warm even when not in direct sunlight.
If you use this method the amount of plants does not matter, just use what you have and add oil until it is just covered. After you let it sit and occasionally swirl it around a little you can strain it.
Then for a salve just use 1 part beeswax to 6 or 7 parts of the oil to make a salve (depending on how liquid/solid you want it)
Jacqueline
I use plantain on a daily basis. I have found that the medicinal properties are released or activated at about 170 degrees. 💜💚
M. J.
I’m a bit nerdy: how do you get your infused plantain to 170 degrees? My crockpot doesn’t have a warm feature so I’m wondering how to proceed. Instant Pot? Cooktop and thermometer? Also, I have read another herbalist say it’s best to harvest leaves before they flower. Too late for that this year if it matters.
Natalie
So interesting! Your daughter Katie is so adorable!
Heather
Thank you, Natalie! 🙂
Anabelle
Do you cover the crock pot with the lid or leave it open?
Heather
Thanks for asking – I leave it open. I’ll update the instructions to reflect that 🙂
Keely
Lid on creates too much heat…I found out the hard way!
Paula
What a cute helper! She was awesome.
Heather
Thanks, Paula!
Angie
I am so excited to try making this. I have a bag of dried plantain leaves that I purchased through Mountain Rose Herbs, used for another project, and have some left over. Would the amount to use be the same? They are very finely chopped and dried.
Also, do you have a good source for the beeswax?
Heather
5 rounded tablespoons of dried herb would be roughly the same as 1 cup fresh. You can use more to make it more concentrated if you’d like. I buy my beeswax locally, but you can often find organic beeswax on Amazon. I’ll try to link to a source when the baby naps today 🙂
cathy
Is there any other wax to use? I’m highly allergic to bees n honey
labella
Cathy, i don’t ever use beeswax. It has a different consistency but otherwise an identical product. And, using coconut oil causes the end result to be solid under 76 degrees.
Cynthia
So to use coconut oil, I can just use that instead of the olive oil, skip the beeswax, and follow the recipe and instructions, and have a nice salve?
Jeanne Dollar
You can use Candelilla wax instead of the beeswax. It’s vegan and is great to use if you’re making the product to share with a vegan friend or customer. 🙂
Ilse
Or use cocoa butter maybe. It’s really nice for the skin.
Emily Phillips
Does it matter if you use narrow leaf plantain? I can find it readily but must go about 30 miles north to find a lot of broadleaf.
Gudrun B
hi, growing up we only used the narrow leaf plantain, we totally ignored the wide ones! since i am in the US i have a hard time finding the narrow leaf 🙂
i think they are interchangeable (but you will need to collect more)
i was just about to rip a lot of mine out – they are taking over! and i found some narrow leaf and transplanted it to my back yard so i can have both; i use the narrow for tea as anti cough medicine – guess the broad should work as well.
Cameo
Some studies show the narrow leaf to be more potent 🙂
Jennifer Etherton
If you add more wax, could you make chapstick shaped bug balms that hold their shape?
Rachel
I have LOADS of plantain in my yard. I recently “harvested” a bunch of it and have dried it fully. Could I infuse oil with the fully dried leaves and have it be as effective?
Heather
Yes you can! 😀
Jessica S.
Plantain is wonderful stuff!! I make my own salve w/ it. It is the best thing for mosquito bites that I have found!
Cheryl
Thanks for this post!! I had no idea about this plant and that you could make salve out of it. It seems that you would want to know for sure that it hadn’t been sprayed with any type of chemicals or pesticide. I don’t think I have any of this around the house… but I’m going to be on the lookout! Thanks again!
Ruth Birnbaum
I don’t believe that I’ve ever seen that here in hot, sunny Arizona. Does anyone know if it grows here?
I would love to have that around for mosquito bites.
Gudrun B
looks like every where i searched i find the same -unfortunately for you- Plantain, broad and narrow leaf are a common weed in the North Temperate Zone.
nancy carlson
You can find it in South GA. My suggestion would be to look in gravely areas. Might not find any, but books aren’t always right! You might want to look for seeds on the net. I did a search on ebay and found several.
Grace
WOW! That’s fabulous to have a homemade ointment..I should find if there are plantain leaves around here..
Thanks!
mayra
So excited to do this! I immediately checked to see if we had any….none here but maybe at a green house (surely not everyone sees it as a weed) or say, Palo Duro Canyons (nearby for me)? Where ever I go, can’t wait to get some and make this! Thanks for sharing!
Tracy
I have often wondered why one can’t leave the leaves that are ground very fine right in the balm. Seems to me medicinal quality would be stronger. Is it just esthetic? Or is there another reason why u would remove the leaves.
Lydia @ The Thrifty Frugal Mom
I just was at a picnic last night where a little girl got stung by a wasp and one of the moms knew about the plantain trick….it was totally new to me! Love this salve idea.
Becky
Oh My GOODNESS.
I am almost unable to believe this… I was just asking myself again today – ‘what could this be?’ the plant that seems to have taken up residence in my herb garden and which I do not know, yet…
(By the way, your embed link is acting up for the video or my browser is being a dink) but I copied the id and went to youtube to watch your video – so darling!! Love how you work with your ‘co-host’! Very nice example of how to be in the world. 🙂
Then I nearly fell over. I have an herb garden full of burdock, Clary sage, mullein, comfrey, borage and all kinds of culinary herbs and mints and it was FULL of this thing I’d never seen – huge specimens. (But then my mullein is over 7 feet tall!)
Now I will have to take a picture and send it to you – I think it’s plantain! I had thought it was burdock at first but it did this funny skinny tall seed head… and the purple stems are no burdock. Now I’m just laughing. There was so much I had to cut it back to leave room for some of the other guys – I’m pretty certain that must be what it is – and an interesting smell, too… Awesome! 🙂 Wish I’d known to use it the other night when I had an accidental encounter with a nest of tiny predatory wasps! They may be small but they pack a wallop of a sting if you disturb their little nest! OUCH!
Love the video! You’re doing great stuff here. 🙂
Gudrun B
your herb garden sounds wonderful!!!! minus the wasps 🙂
once you know plantain you will always recognize it! and it multiplies like crazy!
Jen
Could you use coconut oil instead of olive oil? Coconut oil has anti bacterial quality. Maybe it would work well in the salve.?
Heather
Yep!
Amber
Do you have to use the beeswax? Can you just stop at that point and use the solution if you don’t want it to be a salve?
Heather
Yes, you can skip the beeswax if you’d like.
Kerri
Can you use Shae butter instead of wax?
Barbara Smylie
Do you sell this stuff and how much? I live in Washington State and I have NEVER seen any in Washington nor Idaho boarder. Please, let me know ASAP. Thanking you in advance.
Lise
I live in western Washington and plantain DOES grow here. It’s weed most people try to get rid of, like dandelions. Both narrow and broadleaf grow wild here. Just check any field, roadside, lawn, driveway, etc. It pops up everywhere. Once you see it, you’ll see it is everywhere and all over the state. Where are you looking for it?
kelly o
you’ll see plantain wherever you see nettles and dandelions 🙂
im in washington, i see plantain everywhere! both broad and narrow leaf, both which are interchangeable with this recipe. im going to combine mine!
Sheri
I lived in Eastern Washington and it grew everywhere, very large specimens and small ones. They worked wonderfully on a rash my husband had, and bee stings. You name it my husband prob a my got it. He got into everything while working.
Cyndi
It grows every where in Washington state. U just need to know what your looking at.
Sharon
I live in Washington State. And I find plantain all over. Keep looking. Or are you sure you’re looking for the right plant?
Patti
I’ve gathered tons on the Washington/ Idaho border area near Palouse. Moscow and Pullman. It’s there all right! I live in southern Idaho and find it everywhere. Look in sunny areas.
Crystal
Hi Heather – do you think it would be ok to put the leaves in a food dehydrator in order to get the moisture out? We have been having so much rain (and more to come) that I am worried they will not get dry enough. I am excited to try this because my daughter has very bad reactions to bug bites and we have the plant growing all over in our yard! We live in the country too. 🙂 Thanks!!!
Heather
Hi Crystal, yes I think that would work. Ideally you want to keep the temp as low as possible and just let them dry 🙂
Gina
Would the salve work with a few lavender drops included? I’ve read lavender works for bug bites too. I’m currently processing the plantation with coconut oil in the crock pot and will be adding the tea tree oil. My guess is to add the tea tree when I add the bees wax. It’s not noted when to add it.
Heather
Hi Gina, yes you could use a bit of lavender in place of some of the tea tree. Ideally, you want to add the oils after everything has melted together and the mixture has cooled just a bit. So glad that you caught that wasn’t in the instructions – I’ll update now!
lauren
I think I’ll take your first idea and chew it up in my mouth, spit out the wad and place on the sting. sounds pretty perfect! Thanks
Brandy
I did this with a sting my son had. Worked well!
Mary
What does this salve do for psoraisis.
Heather
Some people say they have found it helpful for psoriasis.
Renee
I’m not sure if my oil looks right. I used olive oil and coconut oil separately. The coconut turned a light green, should it be darker? That sits for a few hours right? Then I’ll add the wax? Thank you
Heather Dessinger
The coconut oil is lighter in color to begin with so it’s normal that the final color will be a little lighter, too. The light green indicates that the plantain goodness has been infused. 🙂
Kristy
I never knew about this plant. I always just pulled them up and tossed them out. Now that I know I can make my own diaper cream with them, I’m excited!!!
susan williams
I currently live in Michigan, and have never heard of this leaf. Do you know where I could find it??
Tonya C.
Hi Susan, I’m in Michigan, too – the southwest part. I have both varieties in my back yard, though I’ve found the broad leaf type prefers the cracks in the sidewalk, and the narrow leaf type likes my lawn. You can easily spot them from the shoots that raise up. My Dad always called them “buckhorns”, and as the grass gets drier, the shoots are much easier to see. They’ll grow nice and tall even when the grass doesn’t.
Sylvia
ove this!! Will be making some!! I grew up picking this “weed” as a favorite snack for my bunnies & I know goats love it too. Probably no one knows if you can eat it, looks like a good salad green!!
Michelle
It is excellent in salads!! Makes a great tea (traditionally used as a cough remedy). Also, all kinds of birds love it!! Chickens, ducks, even peacocks! 🙂
Mary courtney
I have eat it ever since I can remember. My mother always picked it , wild lettuce, dandelion, sour dock, lambs quarter & a few others. She cooked them all together seasoned with bacon & a little vinegar. I do the same as soon as they all start coming up in the spring.
Tammy
Thank you for all your wonderful posts! I really enjoy your blog! What kind of crockpot do you have? I have been in search of a healthy crockpot. Thank you & best wishes to you & your family.
Mira
Hi Heather!
Thank you so much for this, I’m gonna make it asap to have something on hand at all times and sell in my online store!
In your email you said you now keep dermabond/superglue in your purse. Is there any more info you can give me on that? How to use it? Do you think one could prevent having to go to the ER? I don’t like bringing my daughter there…. but of course I would if I needed to!
Vicky
Hi, I’ve shared your post thinking that my young nieces with young children of their own would love to make this. An easy herb to start with.
I have one suggestion to add: I suggest you wilt the plantain leaves before infusing them in the oil. Your points out that the leaves should be very dry but the recipe seems to be using fresh leaves — that’s why there may be water in the oil after infusing. Just put the plantain leaves on some paper-plates or on a cotton towel on a cookie sheet for the first day, Then proceed. that will remove most of the water so you won’t have to worry about bacteria forming in the oil over time. Dry plantain is just as good (as long as you dry them without too much heat — don’t bake them!).
Another question someone had was putting the jar in a sunny window to infuse the oil. That would work fine, but longer than two days. For infusing without heat, I infuse for at least a few weeks, preferably a month, shaking the jar every day to make sure the plant material stays under the oil. If it sticks up through, press it down or add more oil to the jar.
Great recipe and thank you for sharing.
Auntie Vick
Holly
I should consult this with the vet, I don’t have kids just a big 70 pound dog, she goes bites all the time, never fleas though. I usually end up putting neosporin on her bite marks to help prevent itching. As much as I am in the garden, I never get bit, just scratches and torn skin.
Holly
Oh, when you go south, there is a veggie called plantains, they look like banans, but clearly are not when pealed and eaten. they have a cross texture of potato and a sweet starch, these aren’t the tops of this plant and is totally different, correct?
Amanda @ Mommypotamus Support
Holly, Yes, the plantain that you’re referencing is different than the plantain in this article.
Fred Leeuwenburgh
As a child we lived in England and we lived rurally. I haven’t thought about this for some 50 years but when I was out “exploring the wilds” if I ever got stung by stinging nettles I would just find a plantain plant, pluck a leaf or two and mush them into/onto /all over the stung area. The pain and itch would go away and I would go back to “exploring”. Thanks for reminding me of the remedy and the fond memories.
Fred
dee m
Thanks so much.. I recently had a spider bite at the base of my neck.. I chewed a Plantain leaf and made a poultice, I did this 4 times a day for 4 days. It took the pain, itch and swelling of the bite away. By chewing, this allowed me to swallow a bit, the salvia breaks down the Plantains cell wall, our saliva contains many antibacterial properties. I am looking forward to making this. I always keep a good supply of Plantain in my herb garden. 🙂
Leigh @ The Kitchen Table Revolution
I had no idea that the plant that we called “liar’s plant” was such a powerhouse of an herb! As kids, we would sit in the front yard in a circle around a patch of liar’s plant with the “lawyer” asking each “defendant”, “how many lies have you told today?” A leaf would be pulled and the number of strings that showed themselves at the base of the stem would indicate the number of liars that the “defendant” had told. The one with the most lies would be “It” for the next round of hide and seek.
Now all grown and with children of our own, I am excited to run out to the yard and pick these plants with a more adult purpose.
Janet
This post made my day!! Too cute, thanks for sharing. 🙂
Tara
I have a few questions:
Can the salve be refrigerated? Going into summer I don’t have many cool places in the house to store the salve
Someone asked about not using the beeswax. What is the difference if only using the leaves infused in oil vs adding the beeswax, besides consistency? What would storage for the more liquid version be?
Heather
While it is infusing I recommend storing the oil at room temperature. Other than consistency, there is not much difference between the oil and the salve.
Tasja Williams
I just made this salve. I kind of forgot that it was in the crockpot so it was in there for about 2 days. I added some tee tree,rosemary and lavender oils. It turned out so lovely! Thank you for sharing this great recipe I will be sharing this with all my friends! You are awesome!
Karen
Do you have a printable version?
Heather
I don’t, sorry!
Eileen
Hi hearher. Ive just made my plantain oil with a little lemon balm leaves. What kind of essential oil would compliment it? Im making it for skin allergies
Camille
I’d love to find the answer to this too. I have allergies AND rosacea…
Kali Anne
Wow! I never knew this as any more than a weed! These grow all over around here! My son has horrible reactions to mosquito bites and I have everything needed to make this except the bees wax! (I think I want to do the version with some lavender and tea tree oil both though). So glad I came across this recipe. I can’t wait to give it a try.
Pam Lee
I thought that I had plantain in my yard but when I picked a leaf there were no strings & the centre was not purple & it has 6 veins. It was a young plant also. I live in Western Canada so do you think that it might be just a different variety? Love this idea & will continue my search for the proper plant. Thanks Heather!
lisa
I used the quick method and coconut oil/vitamin e. When I combined the oil with beeswax, the beeswax re-solidified. I reheated the whole thing in a mason jar in a pot of water to re-melt the beeswax. It worked perfectly. I was concerned it may stain because of the color but it does not seem to do so. I am storing it in the fridge to keep it solid. Thanks!
Amanda Baker
Thank you for this! I’d heard that plantain leaves were really good for a lot of things, but always assumed they were the ‘banana’ leaves or something. Thanks for the video clip. I shared it with my daughter (she’s 7) and we went to my parents house the next day and harvested some (doing the slow version). Then today, I was talking to my friend about plantain and the great benefits of it and when my got out of the car my daughter pointed it out immediately for her. Slowly but surely making changes for the better! (unrelated, but sharing because it makes me happy – my daughter LOVES lavender EO and knows it will help with bug bites and sores – she asks for it now anytime she’s hurt!)
Tara
I made the Quick Version Plantain Salve. I dried out the leaves for a few days so they were very dry and then followed the directions. I decided to combine both containers of oil so I doubled the bees wax (which I finely grated) and melted it. Once the bees wax was melted I added the plantain oil and some vitamin E (after it had cooled a bit) but the oil and bees wax are separated and not mixing. I’ve stirred them together but they are staying separated (oil on top, beeswax on the bottom).
What did I do wrong/what can I do to fix it? Please help!
Thank you.
Tara
Eva
I could start a business. I have it growing everywhere. We have just over eleven acres. I might try making the salve and hitting the local farmers markets when I set up and see what happens. Thanks!
Karen
You stated it can be used for acne. Has anyone used it for this? What is suggested way to use. Has anyone had success?
Nancy
I also want to know how you would use this for acne. Would it make an already oily face worse to put beeswax or oil on it? Would you wash it off like a mask or use as a moisturizer?
DJ
For acne, I would add some clove and Thyme to the oil. These are antibacterial and help prevent acne.
Sarah
Is this cloth diaper friendly?
Dr. Adam Kipp
Awesome!! I’ve given this recipe to numerous patients since reading this article. Thank you for sharing!
Lee
hi there! i have been working with plantain for a few months now, and i love it! my only question is can i keep the little bits of fresh plantain in my salve? vitamin e is a good preservative so i was going to up the amount i use, do you think that would keep it from molding or going rancid? thanks so much! : )
Ingrid
Hi, I am from Manitoba Canada. My Mom would use fresh Plantain leaves on infected areas and it would draw the infection out amazingly well.
She used it on; boils, cuts/sores that had gotten infected, and slivers/embedded foreign objects which needed to be drawn out.
Does anyone know if it retains its drawing properties when prepared in this way? I only know how to use it fresh and really miss having it available in the winter.
lee
hi ingrid! i have made an infused plantian oil with olive oil, and another one with almond oil. i put drops of it in my salves, and i’ve even used the oil straight on cuts or bug bites. so i say yes, it does retain it’s drawing out properties! : ) anything i put that oil on…BOOM! it heals!
pam
How can I make it with golden seal added? And what does it do? Thanks Pam
Kyla
Hi there I want to make these recipe but i don’t have beeswax, What else can be used aside from beeswax? tnx 😀
rebecca
Where can I find the tiny mason jars shown in the final photo ?
Cathy
They have them at hardward stores and even Walmart. Look in the canning section
Chris Harrington
Ok so I decided to try this, as fresh plantain has helped greatly with some mosquito bites. I have infused plantain ( I dried them for about a week or so), dandelion leaves, witch hazel (it was liquid and i diluted it) about a 1/3 cup) in organic avacado/coconut oil (about 2/3 avocado to 1/3 cocunut) I have used the slow process for this, its sat in my window sill for about a month (stirred every day once or twice). I have strained the leaves out and pressed all the goodness out of them. The oil that is left is super green and smells heavy, but there is a dark ring at the bottom (is this water?) Or is this some of the herbs?
Heather Dessinger
My guess is it’s the witch hazel, which cannot blend with the oil unless an emulsifier is used.
Veronica
Food City or Walmart
donna
you can also find them online at walmart.com and when you order them they will deliver them to your local store thus saving you the shipping cost and then you can just pick them up. I do this all the time
Penny
I picked up a bottle of sunflower oil mixed with my olive oil (it is a blend). Would that work? I am unfamiliar with sunflower oil in a role such as this.
Tom
I read that sunflowers absorb toxins in the soil, so I would only use organic. I personally wouldn’t use refined oil, either, sticking with a cold-pressed one to retain the properties of the oil.
I love coconut oil and I want to make this plantain oil the cool, slow way, but coconut oil is solid here in this season, so I will blend a little olive oil with some melted coconut oil so it will be liquid at room temperature.
Doug
If you are going to use any oils, make sure the oil is ‘cold pressed’ or ‘organic’. If the oil is not identified as any of these, it is most likely that the oils are extracted from the product using a solvent, most commonly hexane. The manufactureres are not required to list this extraction process and they are not required to test the concentration of any remaining hexane in the product. At low levels, this solvent is not supposed to pose a health risk, (whatever 😉 but if a person is going to go through the trouble to be more ‘organic’ with the health remedies, my personal opinion is it makes sense to ensure the ingredients are as healthy as possible as well.
Naomi
HWhat type of olive oil do you use?
Sadaf Maqsood
Hi,
I wanted to make this salve, but I have dried plantain leaves.so I was wondering , will I still use one cup of plantain? Can you please tell me what proportion of oil and plantain leaves should I use.
Penny
I always dry my leaves out for several days to ensure there will be no water moisture in the final product. I simply fill my jar with the leaves, loosely, and then cover them with olive oil. I don’t measure it anymore.
nadia
Hi, is there a way to substitute the fresh plantain leaves with dried ones, or a powder? I have no access to any plantain leaves, so wondered if dried / powdered version would work? Thanks
Diane
Yes, use dried calendula flower petals. Calendula has very good healing properties and I make a salve out of it in the same way this recipe for plantain does.
Patti
When you pick any type of leaves for an herbal use, make sure you do not pick next to a roadside or where vehicles maybe parked. The chemicals from pavement or asphalt & the residue of carbon monoxide & etc. from vehicles, run off during a rain & will be absorbed into the plant.
Vicki Koenen
Cann you freeze them?
Evelyn
Because my yard and attached field is full of clover and, because I hate to wear shoes, I get stung on the toes every summer by bees. My yard has lots of this wonderful plant and I grab it and chew it up and put it on my toe and attach a bandaid and wear it for about 12 hours and it takes, not only the sting away but also the terrible itch that accompanies the sting.
Heather
Hi Hedy, unfortunately I do not have any experience with growing this plant indoors.
Kathleen
Oh my word, this would be a great use for the SEA of plantain growing in our yard! 🙂
Marisa
If I use tea tree oil, should I really use 1/2 – 1 teaspoon? It just sounds like it would be a lot and might be harsh on skin. Thanks!
Heather
It’s a relatively low dilution when you factor in the 1.5 cups carrier oil plus beeswax.
Kristen
How long does the quick salve last? It’s been raining here a lot Andy picked some fresh leaves from the years without letting them dry. I of course plan on letting the water separate out, per the directions. Just wondering how long it will last in a small jar.
Kristen
And I* not Andy lol. Oops!
Darin
Does it matter which kind of plantain you use? I have some broadleaf, but mostly lanceleaf.
Heather Dessinger
Either will work!
Billie
I found a recipe for plantain salve using lard. Would this be okay to use instead of beeswax?
Heather
Well, it would have a significantly shorter shelf life and different texture, but it’s possible 🙂
Elaine
It does have a strong organic smell that is diminished by the addition of essential oils.
cathy
i was just wondering how long it normally takes to set I made a double batch
Darlene
Do you put the lid on your crockpot or leave it uncovered?
Heather
Uncovered 🙂
Candis
Hi. I wanted to suggest another way to infuse fresh plantain. Using one of those small crock pots, prepare the plantain as shown above, then put it and the olive oil in the crock pot covered. Heat on a low temperature for at least an hour then turn off. Later come back and wipe the moisture off the lid. The next day repeat the procedure. Keep up this heating and cooling until no more moisture condenses on the lid and you’ll have a moisture free infusion. This system also works with comfrey.
Shirley
I am so looking forward too making this. After it is made how long of a shelf life does it have. I have psoriasis, so I would need for it to last until late spring early summer. Would it have a shelf life for a year.
Rachelle
I just made this and am wondering it’s a bit stinky not too bad but a little spinachy did yours smell I’m not sure if it was the oil I used or the variety of plantain narrow leaf or the fact that they got pretty warm in the crockpot? My mom had some salve a friend gave her and it had no odor. Just not sure if I need to start over or if it’s ok.
Debby
I know this is an old post, but I am wondering if anyone can tell me, what can I do with the plantain leaves afterwards? I feel bad throwing all of this out and I am not sure if maybe I could reuse again….
cathy stecroix
you can use it as a poultice for severe cuts or rashes
jenna
Can I wash the plantain after picking? We have so many critters & neighbors who let their cats/dogs run loose in our area, I’m sure they’ve peed on the leaves.
Muddy Crow
Probably, but pat it dry gently first. If there’s water on the bottom of the infusion use a dropper to remove it without disturbing the infusion.
Muddy Crow
If one chooses to add the optional ingredient of Tea Tree Oil, this salve is no longer Excema friendly as TTO aggravates the condition.
Sheri
Would this salve work on fever blisters since it has antiviral properties?
Laura
I’m trying this, but cooked my oil with the lid on the crockpot. I had it on warm for about 11 1/2 hrs and then just let it cool overnight. Now I’m worried I overlooked it. What do you think?
Shelly
Yes, you can damage the constituents of the Herb. It is better to put the Herb in oil, leave unsealed so the water can evaporate out. Place in the oven with JUST the pilot light on for 3 weeks. stirring daily. cover the jar from the pilot light. The pilot light is perfect to allow the constituents to macerate into the oil. squeeze out the plantain using cheese cloth and store in the fridge. Store salves in fridge as well. It has been my experience that most slow cookers get way too hot. If you have a yogurt maker that works better if you do not want to keep removing your oil from the oven to cook. I have a double oven, so I use the bottom one for herbs. If you do use a crockpot, keep the lid off, and do not seal your jars.
(ND Doctoral Candidate)
Donna Zellmer Hutchinson
I live in Iowa and have it growing in my backyard. It seems to only be growing where the sun shines on it. I do not have it growing around the bases of my trees. I would say it needs plenty of sunshine.
Jean Beardsall
I have used plantain on a serious burn for a man who’s burn wouldnt heal in spite of doctor’s medicine. He’d been home from work for 2 weeks. After I put plantain on his arm it healed in 2 days. I use it as a digestive as well.
donna a
Does it make any difference between the slow or quick versions of infusing the oil? I want to get the most benefit out of the plantain and am not sure which method to employ.
cathy stecroix
hi Heather, can you use emulsifying wax instead of bee’s wax in the salve if so how much would you use
thanks cathy
Shanlu
What would the shelf life be using coconut with and without Vit. E??
I think coconut lasts about a year?? So add the Vit E and it adds????
Sarah Smith
My oil is really dark greenish brown, not bright green like in the photo. Did I overcook it? Should I start over?
Shelly
Whenever you use fresh herbs in oil, you never seal the lid. you need the water to evaporate out of the oil over a good 3 week period. 1. placing the fresh herbs in the oil covering as you have stated, place in the oven with the pilot light on. put a bag over the NON sealed jar. the water will evaporate out over a 3 week period. make sure you stir your oil everyday. If you do not allow the water to evaporate out, your oil can easily become rancid as oxygen is trapped in the oil. All fresh herbs should be covered from the pilot light except Hypericum, (St. Johns Wort) as the light can diminish the constituents of the Herb you are using. Always store the oil in the fridge as well as all salves that you make. (ND doctoral candidate)
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Mae (Grandma Griz)
Hi Heather, thank you for the e-book!
When I make the plantain salve I also add an equal amount of yarrow, double the healing/ soothing properties, I also add eucalyptus, lavender and vit E .works great on bites, cuts, scrapes, sunburn and itchies.
Karen
What kind of olive oil do you use? Is there a special brand? Also, I noticed online there is yellow and white beeswax…which one do you use?
Raleyn Sullivan
in the directions it says not to blend too much or you will get small bits in the oil… is this bad? also can I add Yarrow, Queen Anne’s Lace, Marigold, CBD, or other herbs?
Sharifa
Hi,I just want to know if I can use Pomace Olive oil for this salve? Also can I do half plantain and half calendula flowers?
Thank you for a lovely website.
Chris
What about using lard and paraffin wax???
Janice
Can I put this in the freezer to help it last longer?
Lucille Laderoute
Do I have to have the Plantain leaves dried or can I use them fresh and also use the seeds on the stems. I will just have to strain them
Heather
I recommend drying them before using to minimize the risk of spoilage.
Nora
I do believe I have found an old family recipe. All my years growing up, there was this green jar, with a stinky green salve in our home. It was amazing on splinters. Apply salve to splinter and cover with a bandaid. In the morning the splinter would be on the bandaid. This Jar was the last known jar of “Aunt Tilly’s salve“. My folks knew no one who might have its recipe. It smelled like tar, was probably rancid, but never harmed any of us and worked better than anything available from the drug store
Emjay_flowers
Prid ointment available OTC is black and tarry looking with that kind of smell. But it works.
Melonie
Does it matter if you use young leaves or the more mature ones?
Milenda
For eczema usage and solid ointments like this, I pour it into a cleaned deodorant container that has been lowered to bottom. This way I can just twist the bottom to bring it up, and it applies easily.
Danielle
Can you use Jojoba oil?
Barb
Glad i found your site. I tried using plantain this weekend to great effect so i will be trying out your recipe for salve next. I just posted it on my farm page as well.
Carrie
Is there something you can use besides beeswax?….asking due to allergies….cant use coconut oil or bee stuff.
Heather Dessinger
Carnauba wax will work. It’s harder than beeswax so you’ll want to go easy when you measure. In other words, slightly under-measure the amount recommended for the beeswax and it should work well.
Erin Baklinski
Hi Heather,
What are the benefits of dandelion in a healing salve? I’ve heard of dandelion before, but not exactly what it is good for!
Heather Dessinger
So glad you asked! I wrote about the benefits of dandelion salve and how to make it here.
Erin Baklinski
Thanks! That’s a lot of good information.
Wendy Howe
what is the purpose of the EO in the salve?
Kat Davis
i learned about plantain 40yrs ago when I bought my Nebraska farm from an old gal from Georgia. Her method: fry fresh chopped plantain leaves in cooking oil(nothing fancy here just plain old oil) until leaves are crispy.(smells good enough to eat) put in a jar strained or unstrained. lasts for years although Lovella made a fresh batch every year. You can upgrade oil if you like, use low or no heat, but the truth is this generous plant is not that picky and will offer relief under many conditions of preservation. I just used the bottom of a jar put up who knows when to remove an embedded thorn overnight with a saturated cotton ball tied fast. Worked just like it should.
Blender
Plantain herb is wildy growing around here. My aunts and grandma used to make this for us while growing up. My mom being the youngest never learnt any useful skills, LOL. I am going to make it and thanks for the wonderful video.
Emjay
Anyone who follows Doc Jones, the Idaho veterinarian/herbalist (homegrownherbalist.net), will have heard him say plantain can be used as a first aid for poisonous spider and snake bites – chew it, use the wad as poultice every few hours, and swallow the juice. He sells a snake/venomous spider preparation using plantain and a few other herbs. I personally probably would use plantain as an immediate first aid if I had it nearby until I could get to a hospital that stocks antivenom.
Emjay
Another note: I have an explosion of plantain in my yard here in Houston TX and in pots now loaded with seed spikes, but my leaves all have just 5 veins, and the stems are green to the ground – only a few have red/purple at the stem base. The best way I’ve found to positively identify it is by noting the spikes; it will disappear in winter, which is why I transplanted some into large pots so I can identify it in spring before it sends up its spikes.
Jane
thank you for sharing your knowledge, it is a great gift
Nancy
What if I have more wax than plantain oil mixture
Mia
Greetings,
Great video
Louise
If there is water in a dry herb infusion, it’s likely it is from leaving the lid on the mason jar. The moisture in the air in the jar as well as possibly in the leaf will create water. Leave the lid off the jar completely. I was several years in to infusing oils when I learned this, and have avoided it ever since by simply leaving the lid off.
Cindy
I want to make this recipe with dried leaves. What measurement would I use?
RJ
Olive oil also has natural compounds which occur commercially in ibuprofen😊
Karin Lipke
Thank you for the identification video. Very helpful.
Agatha
Thanks for the info I will definitely give it a try
Lori
I made a gallon jars mostly plantain with calendula and comfrey. Question, I have a lot of oil so I need to break it down. I plan to use some of it for a drawing salve too. How much beeswax to 1 cup of the finished oil? I don’t have a scale and don’t wish it to be too hard or too soft? I’m working on it this morning and realized I have no way to know the ratio? Help please!!
Kamey
I was wondering instead of the oil process you used could I use infused plantain oil instead? Like the plantains sit for about a month in olive oil , could I use that or should I stick with the method you show?
Tiana Arrowood-Patitz
Can you use plantain extract already in a bottle from the store like Herb Pharm instead of using the leaves? Would I still use olive oil? How could I use the extract in this recipe, please help! Thank you!
Carolyn heil
I have been making plantain salve for years a bit differently by squashing the leaves of plantain, cedar, and sometimes heal-all in a small jar and covering them with coconut oil then I wrap a piece of cheese cloth over the top of the jar and secure with a rubber band
The jar is set in the sun for a moon cycle-28 days, bringing it in in the evening or if it is raining.
then stain, add some vitamin E as a preservative and put in tiny empty jam jars. to help preserve this salve it is stored in the refridgerator.