Pine Salve

Pine salve is a healing salve used for minor cuts and abrasions. It is made from pine resin, a base oil, and beeswax (as a binding agent). Pine resin has been used medicinally for thousands of years if not longer. there are many articles available on the internet about its uses so I will not elaborate on them here.

I decided to make some pine salve so I could compare it to the Sticky Salve I made a while back. I prefer using natural salves to modern triple antibiotic ointments, because when i make them I know exactly what is in them, and I can always make more of them when needed without supporting pharmaceutical companies. For anyone looking to be more self sufficient I definitely recommend looking into making some of this for yourself. 

The recipe is simple;

1/2 cup oil (I prefer olive oil myself)

1/4 cup pine resin

1/4 - 1/3 cup beeswax (roughly 1 ounce)

Heat the oil in a double boiler that is simmering but not quite boiling.

Allow the oil to come up to temperature for roughly 5 minutes, and then add the pine resin.

Allow the pine resin and oil to come up to temperature for roughly 5 minutes. Stir the mixture to make sure the resin and oil are thoroughly mixed, and the resin is completely melted.

If you are using pine resin that you harvested yourself then remove the mixture from the heat, and strain it through some cheesecloth to remove any debris, or contaminants. 

Return the mixture to the double boiler and allow it to return to temperature for roughly 5 minutes.

Add your beeswax, and allow it to melt.

Stir the mixture thoroughly, and remove it from the heat. Pour the mixture immediately into containers, and store in a cool dark place.

I used 2 ounce metal tins with screw on lids. This recipe makes roughly 6 ounces, so 3 containers was sufficient to store it. 

I carry one container of this with me in my pack whenever I'm out in the woods, and I keep another container at work for small cuts and scrapes. 

As always, this is not intended as medical advice, or as a replacement for medical treatment. Use these recipes at your own risk, and use your own discretion when trying them. 

If you've made or used this or something similar I would love to hear your feedback! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

Heavy

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