In the high desert mountains of northern New Mexico, there’s a tried and true medicine that has been used for generations—shared among neighbors and kept alive in kitchens and gardens. It’s called encerado—a traditional healing salve made with trementina, or pine pitch.
The word encerado comes from the Spanish word for “waxed,” and it refers to a balm made from beeswax and infused oils, often featuring the rich, resinous pine pitch harvested from our local forests. It’s one of the most beloved folk remedies in our region. Probably most famed as healing balm to help draw out splinters, it can be used for just about everything: cuts, scrapes, sore muscles, dry skin, and even spiritual protection.
A Balm with Roots
While recipes vary, encerado is always deeply tied to the land and there’s really no “right way” to do it. Some blends include osha, arnica, yerba del manso, or chaparral—depending on the yerbero, season, and location. Our version stays true to the spirit of this tradition, while reflecting herbs we grow and wild harvest: yarrow and comfrey, slow-infused in olive oil and blended with wildharvested pine pitch and beeswax.
Yarrow is known for its ability to stop bleeding, fight infection, and support wound healing. Comfrey, sometimes called “bone knit,” supports tissue repair and soothes inflammation. And trementina—thick, sticky, and aromatic pine pitch—is at the heart of it all: a natural antimicrobial and drawing agent with deep roots in curanderismo.
Honoring the Old Ways
Using encerado isn’t just about herbal support, it’s about connecting with the way the earth heals—from the inside out. When a piñon tree is wounded, this precious healing sap oozes out to protect and heal the tree. This is why it’s import not to harvest trementina from live trees—they need it! So we’re always sure to harvest only from dead and downed piñon trees.
This salve carries the scent of pine and beeswax, of stories told over stovetops and healing done with hands and hearts. Whether you’re using it for chapped skin, a stubborn bug bite, or just as a daily ritual of care, encerado is more than a balm—it’s connecting with the old ways and reclaiming the medicines of our ancestors.
