Chickweed is one backyard herbal remedy that’s good in salad and doubles as a skin salve. You’ll often spot its white flowers poking up through the grass in early spring.

The Benefits of DIY Chickweed Salve We can harness the benefits of chickweed all year long in salve form. While it doesn’t work exactly the same as chickweed salad, a salve is beneficial in its own right.

A chickweed salve can help: – Draw out skin impurities, like pimples – Pull out splinters, like this black drawing salve – Ease aching joints – Soothe itchy, dry, and irritated skin conditions

DIY Chickweed Salve Recipe This soothing salve features chickweed for sore joints and a variety of skin complaints. I also added some lavender to calm and clarify damaged skin.

Equipment – Double boiler – glass measuring cup – metal tins or glass jars

Materials – 1/2 cup dried chickweed herb – 1 cup coconut oil or olive oil – 1/4 cup beeswax pellets – 20 drops lavender essential oil optional

Instructions – In the top of a double boiler or a heat safe glass bowl combine the chickweed and oil. – Place the bowl on top of a pot filled halfway with water, or the double boiler if using. Gently simmer the water on low heat for 3 hours, refilling the water as necessary.

Instructions – In the top of a double boiler or a heat safe glass bowl combine the chickweed and oil. – Place the bowl on top of a pot filled halfway with water, or the double boiler if using. Gently simmer the water on low heat for 3 hours, refilling the water as necessary.

Pour the strained oil into a measuring cup. If more oil is needed, add it. Return the beeswax-oil mixture to a clean double boiler or bowl. Refill the bottom pot with water and stir until wax dissolves. Remove from heat, add essential oil, and pour salve into containers.