Nature of Well-being Summer 2019
Comfrey and Yarrow All-Purpose Salve Recipe
Using plants for healing is an ancient practice, and plants have provided the basis for much of modern medicine. There are many herbal remedies that can be made from plants found on Wellesley’s campus, although you should always be cautious when using herbal plant remedies. During the summer, Paulson Initiative and Botanical Garden interns attended herbalism workshops led byHeather Irvine, in which they made comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium) all-purpose salve with plants harvested from theEdible Ecosystem Teaching Garden. The salve can be used to treat very minor surface cuts and itchiness, but it can also treat minor burns, bruises, and muscle soreness. Click here to find a simple recipe to make your own all-purpose salve!
Ingredients
Comfrey leaves (enough to fill 3/4th of a pot)
Yarrow leaves and flowers (couple hand fulls)
Extra virgin olive oil
Beeswax
Supplies
Medium sized pots (2), Bowl, Jars, Spoon, Scissors, Jelly/nut bag, Labels/pen, Burner, Knife, Teaspoon
Instructions
Using scissors chop comfrey and yarrow into small pieces of about 1 cm long.
Melt 2 tsp of beeswax in a pot.
Add comfrey and yarrow into another pot, mix and pour in olive oil, covering surface of the leaves and flowers.
Simmer comfrey and yarrow mixture for 20 mins at a low temperature; do not let bubble or burn.
Wrap the jelly/nut bag around the opening of a bowl, pour in the mixture.
Remove the bag from the bowl by gathering the edges, gently squeeze out the rest of the liquid/oil into the bowl.
加入蜂蜡融化into the liquid and blend with a spoon. Melt more beeswax for a thicker salve consistency.
Pour mixture into jars, let cool to let the mixture hardens
Label jars.
Essential oils can be added for fragrance.