Balm of Gilead Salve (Cottonwood Salve)

Learn how to make Balm of Gilead Salve (also known as Cottonwood Salve) from the buds of the cottonwood tree. It’s beautifully fragrant and an excellent form of skin support – anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and analgesic!

I love this time of the year – aside from the weather cooling down here in my area, I enjoy the shorter days and change of colors on the trees. But more than that… I love to forage for cottonwood buds.

Every fall/winter, I make Balm of Gilead oil with one of my favorite botanical medicines – cottonwood buds.  I then turn that infused oil into Balm of Gilead Lip Balm, Balm of Gilead Salve, and massage oil.

If you have a cottonwood tree where you live, you likely are familiar with the incredible scent that the trees give off. The buds of the tree are available fall to late winter – it is those buds that exude a sticky resin that is referred to as “Balm of Gilead” (Cottonwood oil).

Before you can make the salve, you’ll want to make the Balm of Gilead infused oil – start by reading this post here for the particulars on making the oil so that you can turn that oil into salve.

How to Make Balm of Gilead Salve

If you don’t have cottonwood buds, then you can buy some online.  Look on Etsy, Amazon or Ebay for herb shops that forage and sell cottonwood buds to those looking to reap the benefits of infused oil and salve.

 

To make Balm of Gilead salve you will need:

• 5 oz Balm of Gilead infused oil
• 1.25 oz beeswax pellets                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Add the infused oil to a heat safe cup (a canning jar works well). Cover and set into your pan of water – do not allow the water to get into the jar.

On low/medium heat, allow the wax to melt. Remove from the heat and pour into tins – this batch above will make (3) 2 oz tins. You can pick up tins from Amazon.

If you would like to make labels, Avery 2″ kraft labels work beautifully on these tins and can be designed and printed on your home computer.

Don’t want to make this salve yourself? You can find it available here, for purchase.

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