The Cultivated Apothecary: Week 1 Edition 2 Comfrey Salve
Comfrey Salve Recipe
Comfrey Salve
For this recipe I started with about 1 1/2 cups of infused comfrey oil that I made in a 1-quart crockpot (see DTube video link below)
- 1 1/2 cups of infused comfrey oil
- 2-4 ounces of beeswax (I started with 2-ounces and ended up adding a total of 4-ounces. More beeswax makes the salve harder, so if you want a creamier salve only use 2-ounces of beeswax.
Cut about 6-10 comfrey leaves on a dry day- you want the leaves as dry as possible.
Clean the leaves to remove debris and insects. Cut leaves into small pieces or put through a food processor.
Dehydrate leaves until they are completely dried out and crumble in your hands.
Add to crockpot and cover completely with olive oil; or another carrier oil of your choosing.
Turn crockpot on low, keeping the temperature of the oil between 85-95 degrees at all times. DO NOT let the oil boil.
The oil will need to cook anywhere from 6-10 hours.
Once the oil has turned a bright or dark green, it is done.
Strain the oil through cheesecloth.
Clean out crockpot to remove any excess comfrey leaves. DO NOT use water. Keep the crockpot dry.
Add the strained oil to the crockpot again.
Add in the beeswax; which will melt immediately.
Pour into prepared and cleaned jars or containers.
This recipe made two half pint and two jelly jar size mason jars; which is plenty for my homestead. Store in a dark and cool cupboard.
Uses For Comfrey Salve
- Wound care
- Healing scars
- Dryness and cracked skin
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- An analgesic
- For treatment of sprains and fractures
- Good for swelling and bruises
▶️ DTube
▶️ IPFS
I would add, in addition to a the temp you mentioned for the crockpot, to also keep the dehydrator under 145F. Above that will destroy a lot of the properties you want to transfer to the oil.
I am loving this series @goldendawne!
EXCELLENT addition @goldenoakfarm!!
Mine is auto-set to 130-degrees so I never paid mind to that point.
I'm a big fan of comfrey @goldendawne so a big thank you for this. We can buy Comfrey tea, cream and tincture but would be nice to make the salve and oil! I can attest to the healing power of this knit-bone herb; was given a comfrey tablet by a homeopath when my son fractured his femur, shortened the healing process by a whole week. When I fractured my ankle I religiously drank the tea (the one we get has the harmful alkaloids removed) & doctor could not even see the fracture when they x-rayed it after 6 weeks, it really works. I chop up the leaves and cook it like spinach or add it to soup, it's delicious!
I take it that you use the low setting on your crockpot for making the comfrey oil? I will be trying this salve next. Just made some yarrow salve. Building up my arsenal of medicinal products made from the garden...
Yes on low. You don't want to burn the oil. And if you do, the smell will definitely let you know.
howdy @cecicastor..that is so wise and so cool for you to do that.
howdy there @goldendawne! this is so interesting to do and the benefits are remarkable as @smithlabs has already demonstrated. Thank you, great post!
Yes @smithlabs has been definitely been using some salves and remedies lately!
howdy today @goldendawne ..yes Ma'am he has a great deal of knowledge in that area like you do and really utilizes the power of the herbs for everyday uses. you both are awesome teachers!
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Loving this series of posts!