Homemade Cottonwood Salve (Part 3)
Cottonwood Salve for Preschool Children and older: Making the Salve (Part 3 of 3)
This is part 3 of our series on making cottonwood salve from the buds of these trees that are found frequently in Colorado’s front range. In part 1, we gathered cottonwood buds. In part 2, we soaked the buds in oil.
Follow the instructions below for the final steps in making your dry skin salve.
Homemade Cottonwood salve: Part 3
Process cottonwood bud oil into a useful salve: Watch this video for specific information on how to complete the process of making your cottonwood bud salve.
Pour the oil that has been sitting for at least 6 weeks through a strainer.
Measure the amount of oil by liquid volume. Use about 1 oz of beeswax (or other thickener) to one cup of oil.
Put oil in the pan over very low heat (just warm enough to melt beeswax).
Add beeswax (or other thickener like shea butter, cacao butter, or coconut oil).
Heat until beeswax is dissolved.
Optional: Add a drop of Vitamin E (acts as a preservative) and add a couple of drops of essential oil (acts as a preservative that also makes salve smell good. 10 drops for 8 oz jar).
Test the thickness of the salve in your container. Let it sit for a few minutes to test consistency. If you want it softer, add a little more oil. If it needs to be harder, add more beeswax.
Pour salve into salve container. Cover, label, and enjoy! Great for dry hands, diaper rash, and rough dry skin.
Thorne’s Boulder Preschool and Lafayette Preschool do fun activities like this often as a part of our hands-on, nature-based curriculum.
Thorne Nature Preschool is enrolling now for the fall and we have a few spaces remaining. Ages 3-6, locations in Boulder and Lafayette. Half and full-day options available. Thorne is a Colorado Universal Preschool provider.