Dandelion salves for skin healing are one of the easiest salves to make. And, most of the time, the dandelions are right in your own backyard! During springtime, dandelions are EVERYWHERE. Picking dandelions fresh from somewhere you trust is the best way to get your hands on some dandelions and make yourself some dandelion salve for skin healing.

Why Dandelions?

What is the point of using dandelions? Everyone sees them as weeds. There are landscaping companies that have programs set to destroy dandelions. We have traveled too far from our natural roots. You can use all the parts of dandelions. The flowers, the leaves, the stems, and the roots. There are many different ways to use each section of the plant, and some remedies use all the sections. They grow in huge bunches, are good for the bees as the first food they get in spring, and are easy to harvest.

The medicinal properties of dandelions:

• Full of nutrients
• Digestive aid
• Antioxidants
• Fights Inflammation
• Liver Help
• Treat constipation

These are not weeds; they are medicine. We need to keep dandelions going strong not only for human usage but also for bees and wildlife. Dandelions are the first flower that bees will get when spring comes knocking. When you are picking dandelions for all your herbal needs, make sure to leave enough for the bees!

How to make dandelion salve:

What you will need:

• Dandelions (obviously)
• Oil (I use a mix of olive oil and avocado oil)
• Beeswax
• Essential Oils (for extra skin nourishing + aroma)
• Mason Jars
• Containers for the finished product
• A double boiler situation (😂)

First step of dandelion salve: Drying

Wash before starting. If you are picking your own dandelions or you bought them fresh, they will need to be dried before infusing. You can infuse them fresh, but it is much harder and has a higher chance of creating mold.

You can hang dry them for a few days, lay them flat for a few days, or use a dehydrator on low.

Second step of dandelion salve: Infusion

There are two ways to make a dandelion infusion. There is a quick infusion or a longer traditional infusion, which takes 4-6 weeks.

Quick Infusion:

Fill a glass bowl with your dried dandelions. Flowers, leaves, roots, or stems. Top it with a mix of avocado/olive oil. Place the glass bowl inside of a pot with a small amount of water, and put a little over the glass bowl. Let it infuse for 45 minutes or so. After the time is up, you will strain the herbs out. The oil you have is now your dandelion-infused oil that you can use for your dandelion salve!

Traditional Infusion:

Put your dried dandelions in a quart mason jar, fill with the mix of oil, put a lid on it, and let it sit for 4-6 weeks. When the 4-6 weeks are up, you can strain, and you have your dandelion-infused oil.

Third Step: Making the salve

For this step, you will need your infused oil and beeswax. Plus, your double boiler.

1. Add 1 cup of your infusion oil to the glass bowl, add 4 tablespoons of beeswax pellets or shaved beeswax to the oil, and stir until completely melted.
2. Pour into your salve containers, add a few drops of essential oils, and let solidify.

I like to top my salves with a dried dandelion, like the image below: Make sure your dandelion is completely dry before adding to the salve. Let the dandelion salve start to solidify, but not completely before adding the dried dandelion.

You can store this dandelion salve for over a year. Put it on dry skin, irritated skin, sore muscles, arthritis pain, and even your lips!

This batch will make about four two-ounce containers.