Ribwort Plantain and Common Self Heal Bug Balm
This is the first herbal remedy that I’ve made that my husband has tried. He reported that when rubbed in it took about 20 minutes to completely kick in, but he had relief from his mosquito bites for four or five hours. He has a much stronger reaction to mosquito bites than I do. For me the itching is usually gone by the time I get home and remember to apply something, whereas his itching lasts for a week or more. So I was very pleased it worked for him.
I used it on fire ant bites—after using a poultice of chewed plantain leaves. Two of the bites had more intense itching than the other three and I did have to apply more poultices to get relief, however the three more mild bites were relieved by the balm alone after the initial poultice. Usually I also have pain for a day or two from the ant bites, but this time there was no pain. The bites also healed more quickly than usual.
There is a feeling of quiet satisfaction when you build a relationship with plants, harvest their gifts, pray incantations over them, and make medicine with them, to achieve the end result of helping to heal a loved one.
Making a self-heal and plantain bug balm involves two simple steps: infusing olive oil with the dried herbs and melting it with beeswax pellets. This natural salve helps soothe itchy bug bites and minor skin irritations.
1/4 cup dried plantain leaves (Plantago lanceolata or major)
1/4 cup dried self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) leaves and flowers
1–3 oz glass jar or metal tin
Cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer
To avoid mold in your final balm, ensure your herbs are completely dry before starting.
Combine your dried plantain, self-heal, and olive oil in a clean glass jar.
Place the jar in a cool, dark place for 4–6 weeks, shaking it every few days.
Before using the fast method, I made sure the plant material was completely covered by the oil and said some prayers over the mixture on my altar and thanked my plant allies again for their assistance.
Place the herbs and oil in a heat-safe bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (a makeshift double boiler).
Keep it on very low heat for 2–3 hours, making sure the oil does not boil.
Strain the oil through cheesecloth or a fine strainer into a fresh jar to remove all plant matter. You should be left with about 1 cup of rich, greenish yellow oil.
Gently melt the beeswax pellets in a double boiler over low heat.
Once the beeswax is fully melted, stir in the infused olive oil until fully blended (I did a whoopsie and melted the pellets in the oil, but it turned out fine 🤷♀️)
Immediately pour the liquid into your salve tins or jars.
Leave the balm undisturbed at room temperature for 15–20 minutes until it cools and solidifies.
Store your finished balm in a cool, dry place where it will stay shelf-stable for about a year.
I used my mezi matičkkama amulet bag to invoke Our Lady of the Root.
This recipe is to document my own research and is intended as inspiration, not medical advice. I am self-taught and in no way in a position to offer medical advice to others. I always respect the plants I work with and do research to make sure they are not harmful in combination with any prescription or otc medications I take or with my medical conditions and/or allergies. If you are foraging your plants, do not use unless you are 100% sure of your identification.
