It’s another super hot day here in Oklahoma, and I’m having surgery on my left elbow and wrist on Monday (in only 4 days). I have a ton of things to get caught up on before that happens, so today’s priority has been making my last batch of S.S. (the Soothing Salve) for awhile.
I use a mix of Smooth Sumac leaves, Plantain leaves, and the aerial parts of Yarrow in Jojoba and Coconut Oil. First things first, make sure all my botanicals are fully dried. Dried herbs are preferred in an oil infusion because fresh ones still contain water that can separate the ingredients. Herbs are dried…check.
Next is to roughly chop the botanicals. More surface area allows for a more potent extract. Once chopped, I place them into my mini-crock and cover with equal parts Jojoba Oil and Coconut Oil. I set the temp to “Warm” and let it infuse. I prefer to keep the temp between 100-110° to prevent it from burning, so I check the temp frequently. I let it infuse for 24-48 hours.
For this batch, I started it 2 days ago and alternated the mini-crock settings from “Warm” to “Off” to ensure a fairly consistent temperature, and I stirred it regularly. Once I’m satisfied with the oil infusion, I strain it thoroughly and repeatedly, and then I measure the amount of infused oil. Now to add the beeswax. This is where personal preference comes in.
I prefer something more of a balm consistency rather than a thick ointment, so I usually add a specific oil-to-wax ratio. I like this particular salve to be more of a 1.5 parts wax to 4 parts oil ratio. Basically for this batch, I had 500ml of infused oil, so I added 163ml of wax. I heat them slowly, stirring often, until the wax is completely melted. Then comes the spoon test.
The “spoon test” is simple. Just dip a stainless steel spoon into the mix and set it in the fridge for about 5 minutes. Check the consistency and adjust as needed…more wax = thicker, more oil = thinner. If needed, heat the mix again and make adjustments. Mine was perfect, so it’s time to pour it into the tins before it cools. This batch made about 16 – 2 oz tins (with a little extra, but we’ll use that quickly).
I leave them uncovered on a cooling rack for at least 24-hours, especially in the current heat/humidity we are having (ugh)! As always, I keep one for our household to test the consistency, potency, and whatnot. If it doesn’t work for us, it doesn’t go to market! And with that, my last batch of S.S. is done for a few weeks! Yayyy!
I’m often asked why these 3 botanicals, and why I did/didn’t include this or that one. I’ve tested and tried numerous variations of herbs with similar properties, but this particular blend has been the most beneficial to me, as well as others that have helped me test it. Living in the country, I am frequently covered in mosquito and chigger bites, not to mention ticks, wasps, and other ornery critters. I also have a weakened immune system, so any little cut or scratch turns ugly within days.
💚 Plantain – draws out discomfort and calms surface irritation from bug bites, splinters, stings, burns, and more.
💚 Sumac – astringent and soothing properties for skin irritations and rashes, including poison ivy
💚 Yarrow – helps stop minor bleeding and supports skin recovery
We typically use this salve on all our itchy bites, cuts, and other surface injuries, not to mention for just very dry hands. It’s soft and gentle and Nakedly Fresh! Stay tuned for my store to be LIVE, and you can grab a tin for all your skin irritants.
~ Ang ✌️♥️
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