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Let’s talk plantain salve.  And, also, why I call it Nature’s First Aid.  Because you’ll see a plethora of herbs called that, but plantain leaf is specifically that for me.  Plantain leaf is one of those humble, but extremely helpful, herbs that may be nuisance looking, but are an literal powerhouse right under your nose.  They’re considered invasive in many, if not all places here in the United States, but like many other of my invasives, I LOVE THEM.

Really any recipe plantain leaves are used in, I’m in.  Let’s do it.

What is Plantain Leaf?

Plantain leaf is two main varieties, Plantago major and Plantago laceolata, two of the most common varieties of the Plantago spp. I see here in Ohio.  These two varieties are also commonly known as:

wide leaf plantain (white man’s foot)

narrow leaf plantain (buckhorn, ribwort)

Plantain is low growing with leaves that are ribbed with anywhere from 3-7 ribs usual and single plants grow in a rosette pattern.  When torn, the leaves and stem are stringy and fibrous.  The leaves are smooth and have wavy edges.

They normally grow along walkways and paths, as they like disturbed soil and, for some reason, to be trampled repeatedly.  In all of our frequently “cow paths” we have around the farm, or where we’ve moved soil, plantain is plentiful and I am oh so happy about it! 

In summer, plantain has flower shoots with seeds.  The husks of those seeds are psyllium husk, a highly soluble fiber source!  Heard of metamucil?

How Do I Use Plantain Leaf

In my home, we mostly use plantain leaf to support wound healing.  Any scrapes, cuts, or bumps get slathered in plantain salves as it protects the area, keeps it clean, and also has a mild analgesic effect for soothing the ouchies.

Plantain is also overlooked for GI issues.  It has shown promising effect in supporting things like reflux and ulcers when taken as a tea, juice, or tincture.  Since it’s considered a safe and non-toxic herb, you really don’t have to worry about side effects.  Do some research on this if you’re interested to see if it would work for you!

Ways to use Plantain Leaf:

Plantain Salve Topical Skin Treatment (minor wounds & rashes, skin irritations, bug bites & stings)

Plantain Tincture

Plantain Tea

Plantain Juice

Spit Poultice (for treating minor wounds in the field)

Plantain is known to contain allantoin, which promotes skin regeneration.  Comfrey also contains this, but plantain can be used without the safety concerns comfrey leaf brings to the table.  Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties make plantain a wonderful choice for first aid care. 

There are a plethora of other uses and properties of plantain, and I’m sure I’m doing this plant a disgrace by not mentioning every single one, but I also want to keep this blog post to how I personally use it and not have it be a running list of what this plant could possibly do for you.  It can be so overwhelming to read an herb profile and see that it does basically EVERYTHING, so like…. how should I use it?!

What is a Salve?

A salve is a semi-solid topical cream.. ointment… salve used for the skin.  As opposed to a balm that is completely solid, a salve is somewhat softer and you’re able to pick it up with your fingertip rather than have to push a piece of balm up with your nail and warm in in your hands.  It’s more ready to spread.  I don’t know how else to describe it.

I have found that I work by the rules of ratios with balms and salves and make my salves at a 1 part beeswax to 9 parts liquid infused oil.  If I use hard oils like tallow, shea butter, cocoa butter, kokum butter, coconut oil, etc… I adjust the beeswax amount again.

For balms, I do 1 part beeswax to 4 parts liquid infused oils, also adjusting this for solid oils.

I find that a salve works best for using plantain since it spreads very easily at this ratio and works as a liquid bandage that I can apply gently.  No kid is going to want you to scrape a balm across a freshly scraped knee.

Ways to Make an Herbal Oil Infusion

There are multiple ways to make an herbal oil infusion to then craft into salves and balms right after or even later.

Oil Infusion Machine

The first way is with an oil infusion machine, like my Levo Lux I have.  Simply dry the herbs on the counter, in your dehydrator, or in the machine itself, then add olive oil, set it to 165F for 2 hours.

You will then drain the oil and make sure to press the herbs and get the remaining oil out.  This is an insanely easy way to make infused oils, albeit an investment.  Below is a short reel I made making plantain salve start-to-finish using my new oil infusion machine!  Highly recommend if the budget allows.

Redneck Double Boiler

The second way is to make a homemade double boiler using a jar, set into a lined slow cooker or sauce pan on your stovetop.  

Fill your jar with clean plantain leaves, that is either fresh or dried.  I pack a pint jar pretty full… not like full Hulk smash the leaves in, but gently pack it to get tons of herbs for a really potent infusion.  If you’re doing a fresh infusion, I would recommend keeping the oil heating in the double boiler for a few days to evaporate most of the water from the leaves.

Place a towel in the bottom of your pot or slow cooker, and then set to very low heat.  When using olive oil, I like to keep the heat around 165F the entire time, which occasionally requires me to turn down or turn up the heat and I do have to check it semi-frequently.  If you overheat the oil, it’s not that huge of a deal, but I’m picky and I like things to be perfect when it comes to my oil infusions so they work their darned best!

I use an infrared thermometer to shoot the temperature every time I walk by and adjust from there.  Slow cookers will work, just learn if yours runs hotter or cold… mine boils water on warm sooooo… and leave it uncovered.  You can also put the herbs and oil directly into the slow cooker insert if you have one dedicated to herbal infusions.  I’d hate your plantain salve to smell like last week’s beef roast.

Once the infusion is complete, which is 24+ hours of infusing in my opinion, you can strain.  Be sure a squeeze the leaves to get all the oil off and in your jar!

Slow Infusion with Dried Leaves

The third way HAS TO BE DONE with dried leaves.  Otherwise, you run a very high chance of mold.  

Add dried leaves, that have been crushed up, to a jar.  Cover with olive oil, add a lid, and set in a sunny window for a minimum of 6-8 weeks, but longer never hurts.

After infusion time, strain and use as normal for salves, balms, or whatever you need.  This is my least favorite method because I like to have my stuff right MEOW, but I also have a jar of dried dandelion flowers and dried mullein leaves sitting right beside me as I write this.  So I do use all three methods, it just depends what I’m feeling.  But now that I have my herb oil infuser, I doubt I’ll use these last two much anymore.

How to Use Plantain Salve

Obviously, wash the area before applying the salve.  Dry well and then apply liberally.  It works as a “liquid bandage” and can be applied to any minor wounds, insect bites stings or rashes, and possibly remedy quite a few skin ailments, including itchy spots.

Let’s make a simple plantain salve!

Equipment You Might Want

Double boiler or sauce pan with a bowl

Oil Infusion Machine

Spatula

4 oz jars or 2 oz tins (something to store your salve in)

Ingredients

2 cups fresh picked plantain leaf

1 ounce beeswax

9 ounces olive oil

10 drops Tea tree essential oil

Step 1:  Make the Oil Infusion

Using a method from the blog post above, make your plantain leaf oil infusion.  Strain the leaves out.  Store the infused oil in a sealed jar in a dark, cool place.

Step 2:  Make the Salve

Craft a double boiler by using a saucepan with some water in it, and add a glass bowl on top.  Or if you have an actual double boiler, use that!  

Measure out 9 ounces of infused plantain oil and 1 ounce of beeswax.  Heat in the double boiler until the beeswax has completely melted.

Step 3:  Add Essential Oils

If desired, remove the oil and beeswax from the heat and check that the temperature is below 130F, but I am more for 120F.  I always go off the “flash point” temperature of an essential oil, which is their “burn off” temperature per se, but the temperature they become vapor and flammable, but it serves as an easy temperature point to find online and a good guide to preserve the oils in your salve without them burning off and being completely undetectable in the end.  

Add up to 10 drops of tea tree essential oils to your salve and stir.

Step 4:  Pour & Store

Pour into clean containers and allow to cool and harden at room temperature before adding lids.

Store, sealed, in a cool dark place for 1-2 years.  Salves last a while in storage, but will lose potency over time, which is why I gave the 2 year mark.

To use:

Use on minor wounds, cut, scrapes, and abrasions; minor rashes or skin irritations; bug bites and stings.  Apply liberally and reapply as often as needed.

Plantain Salve Recipe: Make Nature’s First Aid

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cooling Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 ounces

Author: Ruby – Red Feather Farm

Equipment

• Double boiler or sauce pan with a bowl
• Oil Infusion Machine
• spatula
• 4 oz jars or 2 oz tins (something to store your salve in)

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh picked plantain leaf
• 1 ounce beeswax
• 9 ounces olive oil
• 10 drops Tea tree essential oil

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Step 1:  Make the Oil Infusion

• Using a method from the blog post above, make your plantain leaf oil infusion.  Strain the leaves out.  Store the infused oil in a sealed jar in a dark, cool place.

Step 2:  Make the Salve

• Craft a double boiler by using a saucepan with some water in it, and add a glass bowl on top.  Or if you have an actual double boiler, use that!
• Measure out 9 ounces of infused plantain oil and 1 ounce of beeswax.  Heat in the double boiler until the beeswax has completely melted.

Step 3:  Add Essential Oils

• If desired, remove the oil and beeswax from the heat and check that the temperature is below 130F, but I am more for 120F.  I always go off the “flash point” temperature of an essential oil, which is their “burn off” temperature per se, but the temperature they become vapor and flammable, but it serves as an easy temperature point to find online and a good guide to preserve the oils in your salve without them burning off and being completely undetectable in the end.
• Add up to 10 drops of tea tree essential oils to your salve and stir.

Step 4:  Pour & Store

• Pour into clean containers and allow to cool and harden at room temperature before adding lids.
• Store, sealed, in a cool dark place for 1-2 years.  Salves last a while in storage, but will lose potency over time, which is why I gave the 2 year mark.

To use:

• Use on minor wounds, cut, scrapes, and abrasions; minor rashes or skin irritations; bug bites and stings.  Apply liberally and reapply as often as needed.