DANDELION SALVE RECIPE FOR MUSCLES
As the days grow ever longer and we slowly creep out of the cold winter months, we have spring to look forward to. With the spring, comes the lovely blossoms of vibrantly colored flowers...and weeds. But, as my wise husband, Tyler reminds me, “a weed is only an unwanted plant”. Who decided that roses get to be “flowers” and dandelions must be outcasted as “weeds”? We have already discussed the utter awesomeness of the dandelion plant. You can read more about that here: https://www.healinghutclinic.com/single-post/2017/04/07/The-Tenacious-Love-of-Dandelion
Whoever came to the weed conclusion, has seriously put Americans at a disadvantage. So many are unknowingly and voluntarily eradicating dandelions without even realizing the health benefits, which inlude
Soothing skin irritations
Easing pain caused by sore muscles and arthritis
Supprting liver and kidney function
Providing anti-inflammatory properties
There are a lot of ways to take advantage of these beneficial properties: you can roast the roots to make coffee grounds, you can brew a delicious dandelion tea, or you can make a soothing dandelion salve. As you may have guessed from the title, today’s article is going to focus on option three.
START WITH A DANDELION OIL:
1 cup dandelion blossoms
1 1/2 cups olive oil (or other liquid oil like almond oil or apricot oil)
Allow the dandelions flowers to dry overnight to remove a bit of the moisture content, then add the wilted flowers and olive oil to a small saucepan and gently bring to a very slow simmer. Allow the flowers and oil to gently simmer for 2-3 hours.
Strain out the flowers, and store the finished oil in a cool, dark place.
(Alternatively, you can do a solar infusion and simply add the flowers to the oil and allow them to sit in a sunny window for 2-4 weeks. This will give you the same result (a dandelion-infused oil), but just takes longer)
THEN, GO FOR THE DANDELION SALVE:
1/2 cup dandelion oil
2 tablespoons beeswax pellets
10 drops marjoram essential oil (optional)
10 drops white fir essential oil (optional)
In a double boiler*, gently heat the dandelion oil and beeswax pellets. For a firmer salve, slightly increase the beeswax. For a softer salve, slightly decrease the beeswax.
Stir over low heat until the beeswax is fully melted.
Remove from the heat, and allow to cool for several minutes, then add the essential oils. I added marjoram and white fir essential oils to this recipe because they are known for their ability to soothe muscles and joints. However, you can omit them if you like, or substitute other oils instead (such as lavender, peppermint, etc). Pour into small glass jars or tins, and allow the dandelion salve to set up for several hours.
Store in a cool, dry place and rub onto joints and muscles after those long homestead work days.
*If you don’t have a double boiler, simply place an oven-safe bowl or cup in a small saucepan filled with water, and melt the beeswax/oil mixture in the bowl or cup.
DANDELION SALVE NOTES:
One of the most inportant considerations to keep in mind while picking dandelions for any use, is to pick them from a familiar area that your KNOW FOR A FACT has not been contaminated with any poisons such as weedkiller or RoundUp. You don’t want any of that in your on your body!
