Technical blog: balms and liniments, phase 1

We started phase one of balms. We used plantain which has antiseptic properties and is good for bug bites (1,000 and counting on my right shoulder blade alone). The plantain was harvested during a waxing moon. When the moon is waxing, it is pulling the nutrients up into the leaves (along the same lines as the tide following the moon, too). We didn’t harvest any plants that had started to flower since this means that the plant is devoting its resources to flowering and less in the leaves.
We cleaned it by wiping off excess dirt. We didn’t wash it because that removes surface organisms that are helpful and opens the door for mold even wider. Then we chopped it into little pieces, roots and all, crammed it into a bottle, and covered it with oil (we used sunflower, but you can use other pure vegetable oils). We’re letting it sit for 7-14 days. Probably closer to 7 since we all have a million bites.
Liniments are even easier. Same process, but we only used the leaves. We crammed a jar full and then covered it with rubbing alcohol. We shook it for 2 minutes. After that, you shake it for a minute a few times a day for 7-14 days and it’s ready to go.