Yarrow Salve Recipe

Yarrow Salve Recipe:

This salve is a great addition to any first aid kit. Yarrow is typically used for minor topical injuries including cuts, scrapes, burns and rashes. A plant ally when bleeding occurs and relief for itchy bug bites and stings.

Total yield ~ 7 ounces of multi-purpose herbal salve 

  • Six ounces of infused yarrow oil (see oil infusion directions)
  • 1 ounce of beeswax
  • Optional essential oils
  • A double boiler OR a pot and a pyrex measuring cup
  • An old  cheese grater or a heavy cleaver
  • Kitchen scale
  • Two spoons
  • Jars with lids 
  • Disposable rags or paper towels
  1. First fill your pot part-way with water and put it on the stove on medium-low heat.
  2. Stick one of your metal spoons in the freezer.
  3. Grate beeswax and weigh out one ounce on your kitchen scale.  We have found that buying an old grater from a thrift store and reserving it just for grating wax works well, as it is almost impossible to clean all the wax off.  If you are using a cleaver, carefully chop/shave off small chunks of wax.
  4. Add MOST of the wax to the double boiler, reserving an eighth or so.  If you don’t have a double boiler, you can set your pyrex measuring cup in the heating water and pour your oils into the measuring cup.  Be mindful to not allow water to splash into your oils. Stir occasionally with your room temperature spoon. While the wax is melting, set out your jars with the lids off.  
  5. Pour six ounces of yarrow infused  oil into the melted wax, mixing occasionally.  It will look like scrambled eggs.  You might be tempted to increase the heat but do keep it medium low to preserve the medicinal properties of your oil.
  6. Once the wax has fully incorporated into the oil, take your cold spoon from the freezer and dip it in and immediately remove it from the mixture.  The salve that is hardened on the spoon is the consistency that your final product will be. If it is not firm enough for your liking, add a tiny bit more grated wax.  Keep testing till it reaches your desired consistency.  
  7. If desired, add 1-2 drops of essential oil to the melted liquid.  Immediately set the lids on the jars.
  8. Leave your jars undisturbed for an hour or more to let them harden.  
  9. Clean up! Before the salve hardens on your tools, use disposable rags to thoroughly wipe out your pots and stirring utensils before washing with soap and water. Don’t get wax in your sink or it can clog the drain and also can be very difficult to clean up once it is hardened.
  10. Label your jars with the name of your salve, the ingredients, and the date it was made. 
  11. Celebrate what you created with the help and the magic of plants!!!Happy Medicine Making,The Oshala Farm CrewWhen the salve mixture is ready, turn the heat off. Lift out the pot or measuring cup from the water bath.  Using a rag or towel, wipe off the moisture from the outside so no water will drip into your jars.  Carefully pour your hot mixture into your jars.  You can transfer into a measuring cup with a spout for easier pouring if desired.

Yarrow Infused Oil Directions

Infused oil soaks up many of the medicinal constituents a plant has to offer. Use oil as is or use as in ingredient  to make salve, lotions, balms etc.

You can make infused oil  using time or heat.  Our preferred method is time but you can use heat if you don’t have time!

Time method 

Dried Yarrow available here

Raw organic olive oil

Jar with lid

Mesh strainer

Cheese cloth/muslin cloth 

  1. Fill jar half to ⅔ way with dried yarrow leaves and flowers
  2. Pour olive oil into jar filling to the neck leaving at least ¼ inch and close with lid
  3. Label with date jar
  4. Shake daily or at least every few days for  4-6 weeks
  5. Strain herb from oil using a mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or muslin fabric.  Squeeze fabric to get the  excess oil and collect  all the goodness out
  6. Pour herb free infused oil in a clean labeled jar

Use this oil to make herbal salve

Heat method 

Dried Yarrow available here

Raw organic olive oil

Jar with lid

Crock pot 

Mesh strainer

Cheese cloth/muslin cloth 

  1. Fill a  canning jar half way with Yarrow herb available here
  2.  Pour olive oil up to neck of the jar
  3. Put lid on jar for set up process
  4. Place the jar with the herbs and oil inside the crock pot. 
  5. Pour water inside the crock pot, surrounding the jar to create a water bath.
  6. Take the lid off the jar while heating, making sure no water gets into your herbal oil jar
  7. Set on low/ keep warm setting with lid off for 12-24 hours. You want to heat the oil at the lowest temperature possible.
  8. If water runs low, add more water to the crock pot
  9. Strain herb from oil using a mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or muslin fabric.  Squeeze fabric to get the  excess oil and collect  all the goodness out or use tincture/oil press 
  10. Pour herb free infused oil in a clean labeled jar