How to Make Balm of Gilead
Balm of Gilead is prepared with cottonwood buds infused in oil. The oil is mixed with beeswax to make a salve that's used to alleviate skin conditions and minor aches and pains.
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Servings: 20 Salves
Equipment
- 1 pair disposable gloves
- 1 gallon-sized ziplock bag
- 1 small saucepan (or a small crockpot)
- 20 1-ounce tins
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottonwood buds
- 2 cups grapeseed oil
- ⅔ cup beeswax pellets
- shea butter (optional)
- vitamin E oil (optional)
Instructions
Cold Fusion Method
- Place cottonwood buds in a quart-sized mason jar and cover with oil. Make sure buds are fully submerged.
- Cap the jar and place in a sunny window to allow the resin in the buds to infuse the oil over 6-8 weeks. Shake the bottle daily, or when you remember to extract resin from the buds.
Hot Infusion Method (for those who don't like to wait)
- Add 1 cup of cottonwood buds to a small crockpot and cover with 2 cups of carrier oil. Heat the oil over the lowest setting (warm) anywhere from 4 hours to a few days. If the oil gets too hot, turn it off until it cools down, then turn it back on.
- When the oil is infused, strain using a fine mesh strainer or a soup bag. Measure the oil, then pour into a small saucepan or an ibrik. For every 2 cups of oil, add ⅔ cups of beeswax pellets. Feel free to add ½ ounce of shea butter and a teaspoon of vitamin E oil or essential oils.
- Melt the wax into the oil over very low heat. Stir to incorporate, then pour a small amount into the measuring cup or another container to determine consistency once it hardens.
- If you prefer a thicker texture, add more beeswax to the ibrik. If you want a softer texture add more oil. Once satisfied with the consistency, pour into canisters and allow to harden before screwing on the caps.
Notes
- If you lack patience, like me, you can use some of the oil as needed while allowing the rest to infuse longer.
- If you have extra oil, it can be stored in these little bottles and used in the same way you'd use the balm.
- 1 cup of infused oil mixed with ⅓ cup of beeswax makes approximately ten 1-ounce canisters of salve.
- I like to use these glossy labels with the 2" wide canisters.
- Store balm in a cool location to keep it from liquifying.
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