Comfrey salve has a variety of uses, and we love to keep it on hand. This tutorial will show you how to make your own comfrey salve!
Last year I was at a friend’s house, and we were talking about herbs. Somehow comfrey came up, and I casually mentioned that I had always wanted to have a comfrey plant so I could make my own comfrey salve. My friend said, “You want some comfrey? I’ll dig some up for you!”
She went to get a shovel, and dug up two good-sized comfrey plants from her herb garden. I took it home and planted it in my herb garden, and it looked pretty sad for the first week or so. But eventually it began to look happy again. 🙂
I didn’t do anything with the comfrey last year, but when I saw how beautiful and lush it was this year, I determined that I had to do something productive with it.
I decided to make salve, since that’s what I was originally hoping to do with it.
Making salve is actually a really simple process. You start by making an herbal oil.
How to Make Herbal Infused Oil
First you pick some of the leaves. I just picked what looked like a good amount to fill a quart jar.
Shake the leaves clean, and make sure there aren’t any bugs on them (I chose leaves near the top of the plant, which seemed like they were cleaner).
Fresh-Wilt the Herbs
Place the leaves on a basket or screen in a single layer (in a warm area) out of direct sunlight. I put mine on metal cooling racks. Let them wilt for several hours until they look limp.
Chop the leaves and put them loosely into a wide-mouth quart jar.
Cover with olive oil. Turn the oven on low and heat on lowest setting for an hour.
Cover the jar with a cloth (I used a cotton tea towel)
Allow the oil to steep for two weeks.
How to Make Comfrey Salve
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Strain the oil and squeeze out the leaves.
Combine the following ingredients in a pot on the stovetop:
- 2 cups comfrey oil (which you made above)
- 1/4-1/2 cup grated beeswax or beeswax pastilles (I ended up using about 1/2 cup)
- 1 tablespoon vitamin E oil
- 20 drops of lavender essential oil
Heat the oil mixture over very low heat until the beeswax melts.
Test the Consistency
Once the beeswax has melted, dip some out with a spoon, and put the spoon into the freezer for about 5 minutes. Then test the consistency. If it’s thick enough for salve, you can pour the oil mixture into jars. If not, add a bit more beeswax.
Keep testing the salve until you like the consistency.
Once you have it just right, pour it into jars:
As the oil cools, it will firm up. You can see in the photo below, the bottom part of the jars show a lighter colored mixture. That’s the salve cooling off.
At last, it’s almost totally firm (it doesn’t take long):
Allow the salve to totally cool before putting the lids on.
Comfrey Salve
You now have your own beautiful comfrey salve!
Label your jars and store in a cool, dry, dark place (it will last longer that way). Or, if you prefer, you can pour your oil into tins (in the step above), and then you won’t need to worry about light causing them to deteriorate faster.
The salve will last for months (some people say years). If it starts to smell rancid, you’ll know it’s time to throw it out.
Printable Recipe
Comfrey Salve
Ingredients
- 2 cups comfrey oil
- 1/4-1/2 cup grated beeswax or beeswax pastilles (I ended up using about 1/2 cup)
- 1 tablespoon vitamin E oil
- 20 drops of lavender essential oil
- small jars or tins with lids
Instructions
- First, make the comfrey oil. Pick some of the leaves off your plant. I just picked what looked like a good amount to fill a quart jar. Shake the leaves clean, and make sure there aren't any bugs on them (I choose leaves near the top of the plant, which seem to be cleaner). Place the leaves on a basket or screen in a single layer (in a warm area) out of direct sunlight. I put mine on metal cooling racks. Let them wilt for several hours until they look limp.Chop the leaves and put them loosely into a wide-mouth quart jar. Cover with olive oil. Turn the oven on low and heat on lowest setting for an hour. Cover the jar with a cloth (I used a cotton tea towel). Allow the oil to steep for two weeks (I keep mine in the pantry).
- Now you're ready to make the salve. Strain the oil and squeeze out the leaves.Combine the strained comfrey oil, beeswax, vitamin E oil, and lavender essential oil in a pot on the stovetop. Heat the oil mixture over very low heat until the beeswax melts.
- Once the beeswax has melted, dip some out with a spoon, and put the spoon into the freezer for about 5 minutes. Then test the consistency. If it's thick enough for salve, you can pour the oil mixture into jars or tins. If not, add a bit more beeswax. Keep testing the salve until you like the consistency.
- Once you have it just right, pour it into jars. As the oil cools, it will firm up. This doesn't take long. Allow the salve to cool completely before putting the lids on.
- Label your jars and store in a cool, dark place. Properly stored, the salve will stay good for months or even years. If it starts to smell rancid, then you'll know it's time to throw it out. (I've had salve that lasted for up to two years!)
Comfrey has been used for centuries for healing bruises and broken bones. You can use it for burns, diaper rash, eczema, cold sores, psoriasis, varicose veins, bruises, etc.
Have you ever made your own salve?
Disclaimer: The information in this post is not meant to be medical advice. I’m not a doctor. This is just something we enjoy using in our home. This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here. Sharing here.Â
My former vegetable garden has been taken over by my comfrey. My granddaughter plays sports and ALWAYS has bruises. I am going to make some for her! I bet the Vitamin E oil also makes the skin soft; I always add it to my sugar scrubs. Thanx so much!
That’s a great idea! We love this salve for so many things!
What a helpful guide to making comfrey salve! I don’t have any in my garden, but have been wanting to grow it. Will definitely be making this when I have some around! Thanks so much!
So glad it was helpful!
I have tried this a recipe similar to this. Only difference was you needed to heat the oil at 100 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour. My oven doesn’t go lower than 170, so I tried doing it on the stovetop inside a pan of water and gauged the water temp via a candy thermometer. After 4 days only it was smelling fermented! What’s wrong?
I’m not sure, I’ve never had that happen.
The lavender is not an important ingredient is it? I don’t use fragrance if I can help it.
Feel free to leave out the lavender essential oil! While it is beneficial, it would be fine to leave it out.
Beautiful post Joy. I love making salves also and appreciate that you included a picture of comfrey. Methinks I have one growing behind our roses! Thank you for sharing on the Art of Home-Making Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth!
Thank you, JES! Oh, that would be so nice if you have some comfrey growing already! And thanks so much for hosting such a great link-up!
I can not wait to make my own. I grow comfrey because my grandma did. Now I am going to make it earn its keep. Thank you for sharing.
I hope you enjoy making and using it, Becky! It’s easy and fun! 🙂
Also, do you have some sort of book you use for recipes and a natural guide? Or a couple books you really rely on? I’d like to go even motte natural than we do but I don’t have any friends who can offer me any guidance.
The books I refer to most often are shown in this blog post: http://www.artfulhomemaking.com/natural-remedies-for-illness/ Hope that helps!
Where can I find a comfrey plant??? I’m so glad you posted this recipe!!!
I’m sure you can buy them somewhere…I had never seen one for sale, which is why I was so thankful my friend shared hers with me! 🙂
I am currently making Eden’s salve from Bulk Herb Store. I have made it once before, and I LOVE IT! It’s a perfect salve for itchy bug bites and small cuts.
I infuse my oil for just 3 days in the crock pot on warm. She also suggests for every 1 oz. of oil to add 1 drop of grapefruit seed extract – as a preservative.
Have you made that one?
How fun! I’ve never made the Eden’s salve before, but we’ve purchased the salve already made in the past.
I always wondered how to make your own Salve… Great post! Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
Thank you, Sarah!