Making a Plantain Salve for Bug Bites

This post isn’t sponsored by them, but I will receive a small commission if you buy the Bug Bite Thing from my Amazon affiliate link: amzn.to/3IC0SXY) The salve is a backup for when I don’t use the Bug Bite Thing on time.
In today’s video I’m going to take you on a journey with me as I forage for plantain and make a plantain salve for bug bite relief and to help heal scratches. I start by making a plantain infused oil (which is a two day process) and then melt it together with beeswax to create a salve. I’ve been using this along with my Bug Bite Thing, which I discovered this year (I’ve written a review on it, I love it so much.
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🧭 It’s my mission to move forward toward a more connected way of living-connected to myself (mind, body, emotion and spirit), connected to others, and connected to the earth and our natural world. And in sharing my journey, I hope to inspire you to do the same.
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QUESTION: What’s your best home remedy for bug bite itch relief? Let me know where in the comments below!
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About: In this video, Kristen Stephen shares about her first time creating a plantain salve, which she uses to help heal scratches, and for bug bite itch relief.
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Who is Kristen Stephen?
I’m Kristen, and I recently moved to Western North Carolina with my dogs Maggie and Frida, from Colorado where I lived for 6.5 years. Although I loved living in the Colorado Rockies, my heart was yearning for a slightly warmer climate, with more rain and more productive land, so I decided to move to Western North Carolina.
On my channel I’ll be sharing with you my journey toward living a life that’s more in-balance with the natural world around me. A life where I live with the seasons and get the majority of my food locally-whether I get it from local farmers, from what I’m able to forage, or from the food I produce on my homestead.
I’ll also be sharing my projects, whether they be artistic-painting, drawing, photography, and sewing; or constructive-repurposing items, refinishing old furniture, building and repairing-because I love to create.
So welcome to my channel. I’m so glad you’re here and I look forward to getting to know you in the comments section :)
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Kristen Stephen is an agent of Kristen Stephen International, LLC, a for-profit Colorado limited liability company. This company does not offer medical, psychological, legal or financial services of any kind. Should you be experiencing any kind of emergency, please seek professional help or call 911. Services of company are for entertainment and educational purposes only. By watching this video, you agree to the Terms of Service located at: kristen-stephen.com/terms-of-...

[@KristenStephen]

One year update: I was able to store the remainder of the oil in the fridge for a year, without it going rancid. I just used it again to make plantain salve lotion bars, which are a little more portable, so I've been carrying one with me. It's helped a lot with my bug bites! The lotion bar video can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHrImKF5l6uhppY

[@CabinGRL]

Great step by step video on making Plantain Salve! Thanks! 😊

[@KristenStephen]

Of course :) glad you enjoyed it!

[@BushcraftingBogan]

I made some for the first time this spring. I backpack, bushcraft and spend many nights fishing. Ive come home with some itchy, sensitive bites and welts. The salve takes care of it in less than 24 hours. I admit that I went in skeptical but I came out convinced. This stuff is a must have. Ive distribited it to all my kids and grandkids.

[@KristenStephen]

That’s super cool to hear!! I actually just gave some to a friend. Perfect summer gift! I’m pretty sensitive to mosquito bites, but the salve helps me so much. I used to be covered in scabs all summer, but not anymore!

[@karinjudge7277]

I'm going to try this ! Btw your hair and style is super cute. Reminds me of the 70's shag. :)

[@KristenStephen]

It was super easy and a lot of fun to make! Enjoy! And thank you! I cut my hair myself! There's an awesome tutorial on KZbin that I follow :)

[@rodgerrugeresiliencecoach772]

This helped me after I became a mosquito buffet!!! Really took the edge off the bites which were overwhelming. Thanks Kristen! ❤️

[@KristenStephen]

Woohoo! So glad it helped. I keep a bar with me all the time. It’s not a magical fix, but it certainly does help

[@makeoversbymeme2077]

A buffet 😂😂 yeah, I hate itching all over. Glad you had a remedy 😊

[@tlr7360]

Thank you so much for sharing your info. I must say that I was taken aback that sanitization did not seem to be a priority- not used nor mentioned at all. When making items such as this, it is very easy for them to become contaminated thus, proper sanitation is imperative. Please understand that I am not knocking your video in any way, as I truly enjoyed it. Take this as helpful critique. Thank you!

[@KristenStephen]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ShellyEdwards-ul9zf]

Thank you I have plenty of plantain 😊

[@KristenStephen]

You're welcome! Enjoy :)

[@Olivianakirembe-sr4kl]

sis thanks very much for teaching us

[@KristenStephen]

Of course! I hope you have fun making it :)

[@Olivianakirembe-sr4kl]

What can we say just great

[@KristenStephen]

Thanks for watching!

[@yasinakduru]

Thank you for video 👏

[@KristenStephen]

You're welcome 😊 Thanks for watching!

[@sandollarj504]

Great video thank you for this.. I sent it to my daughter in Vermont the have an abundance of plantain. Hope all is well love your videos look forward to the next one.

[@KristenStephen]

Thank you! It was fun to make and it’s being used daily-plenty of bug bites and even a few stings 😂 🤦‍♀️ thanks for watching!

[@timbutler5033]

You explain things better than most of videos on KZbin I love it. Also can you use a slow cooker or crock pot instead of leaving the stove on for two days?

[@KristenStephen]

Thanks Tim! That’s good to hear! :) A crock pot would probably be perfect if you figure out how to keep it around 120 degrees. And like I said, I didn’t do it perfectly-I didn’t keep the stove on at night, so it cooled off while I was sleeping-and it still turned out well. I think the main goal is to cook all the water out of the oil, without overheating the plantain. A year later, after keeping the oil stored in the fridge, it’s still not rancid! So perfection isn’t necessary :)

[@timbutler5033]

Does it matter what kind of olive oil you use or can you just use any kind?

[@KristenStephen]

@@timbutler5033 Hey Tim! I just used what I had around, which was organic, extra virgin, but it doesn't really matter.

[@timbutler5033]

Thank you, this is incredibly helpful. I'm definitely subscribing to your channel

[@KristenStephen]

@@timbutler5033 Thanks Tim! :)

[@tfcig2019]

Could use a grater from Dollar store, devoted to beeswax/soap (to prevent excessive cleaning).

[@KristenStephen]

Thank you! That’s a great idea. I actually started using my kitchen peeler and it worked great!

[@makeoversbymeme2077]

This was awesome ❤ could I replace beeswax with Shea butter ?

[@KristenStephen]

Thank you! I’ve never tried that, but I think you could, it just wouldn’t be as solid at room temperature, especially in the heat. Maybe you can keep it stored in your fridge? That might be extra soothing!

[@michelleasunnydays140]

could the leaves have been added to spagetti sauce after beeing cooked down or are they without vitamins or too full of oil..after boiling.

[@KristenStephen]

They were pretty oily afterward, but I didn’t try eating any, and I can’t remember how mushy the leaves seemed (I made the oil last year). I wouldn’t know about about nutritional content, but you could probably add a little to a sauce for flavor, at the very least. It would be a fun experiment:)

[@GlitzyWitch]

Coupd you warm it in a old style slow cooker to dave on gas? I did do a dandelion salve using fresh flowers, left it for 2 weeks and it was ok, it didn't go rancid

[@KristenStephen]

Hey Mandy! A slow cooker would probably be perfect if you figure out how to keep it around 120 degrees. And like I said in the video, I didn’t do it perfectly-I didn’t keep the stove on at night, so it cooled off while I was sleeping-and it still turned out well. I think the main goal is to cook all the water out of the oil, without overheating the plantain. A year later, after keeping the oil stored in the fridge, it’s still not rancid! So perfection isn’t necessary :)

[@michelleasunnydays140]

could the leaves be ground in a food processor to make a poultice still also?

[@KristenStephen]

That’s an interesting idea! I wonder if you could do that and then freeze the poultices, and defrost them when needed. It would be fun to experiment with!

[@wcysbresson]

Hi! What setting on the stove; like medium low? Thanks!

[@KristenStephen]

You’ll have to test it out with your particular stove, but the goal is to keep it around 120 degrees. I’d start with medium, check the temperature, and adjust from there.

[@QamilSahiti]

👋👋👋👋👋

[@KristenStephen]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-sd3yb1sp5h]

Would castor oil be a better oil to use?

[@KristenStephen]

I’ve never used castor oil before, so I don’t know the answer to that. You’ll have to google that one. For products like this I’ve used olive oil, apricot kernel oil, coconut oil and sunflower oil, all with good results.

[@halcyonyorks4454]

Does it ease, or stop, itching?

[@KristenStephen]

For me personally, it doesn’t completely stop the itching, but it does help to calm it down. I’m pretty sensitive to bug bites though. I was stung by a few yellow jackets last summer and regularly applying this salve helped a lot with the itching that resulted from the stings.

[@halcyonyorks4454]

@@KristenStephen Thank you.

[@KristenStephen]

@@halcyonyorks4454 Of course! :)

[@annamulett3376]

Can this be used on dogs ?

[@KristenStephen]

I'm not sure. You might want to look up all the ingredients separately to see if it's safe/helpful for dogs. I tried washing my dogs with a gentle human soap once and it made them super itchy, so I know their skin is different than ours.

[@juboo1234]

Good instructions Absolutely intolerable music

[@KristenStephen]

Not intolerable to everyone 😂 diversity in taste is a good thing that should be celebrated. Just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean it’s bad. That’s just your own personal opinion

[@angiemorris1345]

YOU DID NOT DRY THAT LEAF WELL IT WILL SPOIL QUICKLY

[@KristenStephen]

I didn’t dry it at all, which is why I cooked it over the stovetop. I mentioned that in my video. I’ve had that infused oil in my fridge for two years now and it hasn’t spoiled or gone rancid yet. The product itself I left out of the fridge and it never spoiled either.