One of the downsides to herbal medicine is that it takes some time to produce these folk remedies. Sure, sometimes you can just step outside, pick a few leaves (in this case, yarrow), crush or chew, and apply. But that only works if you actually have the plant right there, and if it happens to be the right season. Otherwise, you're SOL.
Naturally, it just makes sense to have medicines prepared in advance. That's why they call us preppers. A yarrow salve is super simple to make. Even a sheeple could do it.
Infused oil. First, make the infused oil. Begin with about two cups of freshly harvested yarrow leaves and flowers. Yarrow that is in bloom has the highest concentration of active constituents in it (the stuff that makes us better). Make sure the leaves and flowers are completely dry. You may need to let them dry for a day or two before using.
Cut up the leaves and flowers and pack them into a one pint canning jar. Pour olive oil over the yarrow, covering it completely, and put the lid on the jar. Write the date on the lid and place the jar in a dark cabinet or closet for one month to let the yarrow infuse into the oil.
One month later, strain the yarrow-infused oil through a sieve or cheesecloth and store the oil in a clean jar out of direct light.
Salve. To make the salve, put into a glass canning jar slightly larger than the amount of infused oil you have, one ounce of beeswax per cup of yarrow infused oil. Pour the infused oil on top of the beeswax. Place the jar in a small saucepan with about two inches of water and put it on the stove on medium heat. Heat and stir until all the beeswax is melted.
Remove the jar from the pan and let it cool slightly. Pour the salve into small glass canning jars or tins (Altoids tins work well) and let cool completely. Label (after a while, all salves begin to look alike) and date. Use within six to twelve months.
Herbalists use yarrow salve to alleviate pain and discomfort associated with:
- stings and bug bites
- minor bleeding
- abrasions
- rashes, including diaper rash
- burns
As with any product, herbal or otherwise, test a little bit on the skin before using to make sure there is no allergy to it. Yarrow is in the ragweed family and may cause a reaction in those allergic to ragweeds.
For further reading:
https://montanahomesteader.com/medicinal-yarrow-first-aid-salve/
https://modernhomesteadmama.com/diy-yarrow-salve/
https://medievaldigger.wordpress.com/2017/07/12/making-a-strong-yarrow-salve/
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6 march 2023
