Homemade Cottonwood Salve & Star Sticks
Looking for a simple, hands-on nature project to do with your child along Colorado’s Front Range? Start right in your own neighborhood, at a cottonwood tree.
In this guide, former Thorne Nature Preschool Director and Certified Clinical Herbalist Lorene Wapotich shares how to turn cottonwood buds into a soothing salve for dry winter skin. While bud harvesting is usually a springtime tradition, this year’s warm winter may have cottonwoods waking up early—so now is the perfect time to start paying attention.
And while you’re gathering buds, keep an eye out for a little bit of tree magic: we’ll also show you how to find “star sticks” hidden inside fallen cottonwood twigs.
How to Make Cottonwood Salve
Gather cottonwood buds.
Watch this video for more information on how to gather cottonwood buds.
Soak cottonwood buds in olive oil.
Watch this video for specific information on how to soak cottonwood buds in olive oil.
Process cottonwood bud oil into a useful salve.
Watch this video for specific information on how to complete the process of making your cottonwood bud salve.
Pour the oil that has been sitting for at least 6 weeks through a strainer.
Measure the amount of oil by liquid volume. Use about 1 oz of beeswax (or other thickener) to one cup of oil.
Put oil in the pan over very low heat (just warm enough to melt beeswax).
Add beeswax (or other thickener like shea butter, cacao butter, or coconut oil).
Heat until the beeswax is dissolved.
Optional: Add a drop of Vitamin E (acts as a preservative) and add a couple of drops of essential oil (acts as a preservative that also makes salve smell good. 10 drops for 8 oz jar).
Test the thickness of the salve in your container. Let it sit for a few minutes to test consistency. If you want it softer, add a little more oil. If it needs to be harder, add more beeswax.
Pour salve into salve container. Cover, label, and enjoy! Great for dry hands, diaper rash, and rough dry skin.
How to Find Star Sticks
While you’re gathering your cottonwood buds, keep an eye out for star sticks. The perfect star stick is a dry cottonwood twig that is down on the ground, not too old and not too new. Find a growth wrinkle on the twig (where there is a line like a plastic flex straw) and crack it in half on the growth wrinkle to reveal the star inside. It may take a few tries to find the perfect star stick, but once your child does, they will be mesmerized.
Follow this link for a Cheyenne and Arapaho folktale about cottonwood trees and the stars.