Plantain Hand BalmPlantain Hand Balm

This really simple hand balm is great at fixing chapped hands. It uses the properties of all the ingredients – Plantain, Almond Oil and Beeswax to produce its healing and skin recovering properties.

Plantain has emollient (helps to soften and smooth the skin) as well as vulnerary (helps to heal wounds) properties. Greater Plantain Plantago major is preferred, but Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata (which I used in this balm as we have a profusion of it around this year) has similar properties. Almond Oil has long been used as an oil for the skin, John Gerard describes it in his herbal, first published in 1597, “makes smooth the hands and face of delicate persons, and cleanses the skin from spots and pimples”. Beeswax is mildly antiseptic, and antibiotic as well as being an emollient. So it is an ideal combination with plantain to create a hand balm.

I’ve been using this on my hands for about a month now and really noticed the difference. Especially with all the additional hand washing we are currently experiencing.

I’ve had first hand experience of plantain’s vulnerary properties which promote faster healing and reduction in infection. A messy cut I got on my knuckle healed very rapidly and with no visible scaring. I just applied juice of plantain to it shortly after getting the cut.

Not only is this hand balm good for your skin, it also smells divine and is super simple to make at home, or in the woods.

Don’t forget to ensure all your picking is done legally, you can check out our blog on foraging and the law here.

Print

5 from 2 votes

Plantain Hand Balm

This hand balm brings together all the properties of Plantain, Beeswax and Almond Oil and is fantastic for your skin.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Active Time30 minutes mins

Steeping time1 day d

Total Time1 day d 1 hour hr

Keyword: Botanicals, Hand Balm, Hand Cream, Natural Healing, Plantain

Yield: 15 Small Balms

Cost: £3.50

Materials

• 1 handful Plantain Leaves rinsed
• 200 ml Almond Oil
• 2 bars Beeswax Approx 30g

Instructions

• Pick your plantain leaves. Make sure you don’t pick all from one plant but gather a few leaves from each one, so as not to affect the plants too much.
• Cut the leaves into small chunks
  
• Put them into a pan with the almond oil
  
• Leave this over night in a warm place to infuse. I’ve used beside a fire, on top of the wood burner with a cake rack and on the side of the Aga previously. You want it infusing not cooking.
  
• The next day strain it through a muslin or sieve and really push through the liquid. When it starts to run to a dark green liquid that sinks below the oil stop squeezing.
• Return the oil to the pan – try to leave the liquid below the oil behind at this point – and add both beeswax bars.
• Put these on a low heat and wait until they melt.
• When they are melted pour into your chosen containers. – I’ve used silicone truffle cases here.
• Once they are set use, and give to friends and family.
  

Notes

Coconut Oil can replace the Almond Oil, which in turn means you need a lot less Beeswax, as the setting point of the Coconut Oil is so much lower, giving you a darker colour overall. 

This photo was the first balms I made using Coconut Oil and a very small amount of Beeswax, before they had set. They melted in the warmer temperatures though, and could have done with a little more Beeswax. I used a maximum of 1/4 of a bar in this.