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Green herbal mosquito bite balm in glass jars with a cork top on a wooden tray with a wooden backdrop.
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Herbal Balm for Mosquito Bite Recipe

This recipe uses plants such as comfrey, plantain, yarrow, and violet to help soothe and quickly heal mosquito bites.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time3 hours
Keyword: Bug Bites, Herbal Medicine, Herbal Remedy, Mosquito Bites, Natural Medicine

Equipment

  • 1 stainless steel pot
  • 1 sieve or cheesecloth

Materials

  • 1/2 cup plantain leaves lightly packed, or 1/4 cup dried
  • 1/2 cup yarrow lightly packed, or 1/4 cup dried
  • 1/2 cup comfrey lightly packed, or 1/4 cup dried
  • 1 handful violet leaves and flowers barely a handful
  • 3 drops benzoine tincture
  • 32 ounces safflower oil
  • 2½ - 3 tbsp beeswax 1-1½ ounces beeswax per 4 ounces of final liquid

Instructions

  • Gather your herbs and rinse them off in a colander (if using fresh).
    comfrey, yarrow, and plantain being rinsed with water in a blue colander.
  • Place the rinsed herbs into a stainless-steel pot, then add the safflower oil and water. Cover loosely with a lid, keeping it cracked to allow steam to escape and bring to a low simmer. Allow mixture to continue simmering on low heat for several hours. Be sure to check periodically to see if you need to add more water. We do not want anything to burn.
    Young girl pouring a plastic jug of safflower oil into a stainless steel pot.
  • After several hours of simmering, use a fine mesh strainer to remove the plants from the liquid. Add the beeswax to the liquid and stir until it is fully melted. It helps to shave the beeswax into small bits or cut it into smaller chunks allowing it to melt faster.
  • Carefully ladle the salve into some 4-ounce glass jars with lids. Be sure to have the jars sitting on a towel as you do this, just as you would if you were canning.
  • Allow the salve to cool completely.
  • Once the salve has completely cooled, melt some additional beeswax and pour it over the top of the medicine. This works to seal the medicine for long term storage. My mom would keep this medicine in the cabinet for several years without compromising the effectiveness.

Notes

  • You do not have to use safflower oil specifically; it is just what my mom always used.  Other options that would be good to use would be olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil.  
  • Be sure to list the ingredients on the jars.  I have never had anyone experience an allergic reaction to this medicine in the decades we have used it, however, this is best practice when it comes to homemade remedies, medicines, and salves. 
  • I have also put in other herbs such as rosemary which has yielded excellent results.