Description

Hemp Arnica Muscle Salve for Aches and Pains

My Hemp Arnica Muscle Salve for aches and pains. It works especially well for neck pain, arthritic hands and fingers, achy knees and elbows, carpal tunnel syndrome and plantar fasciitis.  The salve is also really good for any spot where the pain is fairly close to the surface.  I infuse pain relieving herbs and  essential oils into the salve.

It takes me at least 6 weeks to infuse fractionated coconut oil with traditional pain relieving herbs. I use a slow solar method with fractionated coconut oil (MTC)  because of its long shelf life and resistance to rancidity. It also is easily absorbed and has a nice light texture.

I then use dark brown, unfiltered hemp seed oil, castor seed oil and jojoba with butters and beeswax to make the salve a nice, nourishing consistency.

Ingredients in My Pain Fighting Herbal Infusion

Arnica Flowers

Both Europeans and Native Americans came to the conclusion separately that Arnica can soothe muscles aches and help heal injuries including sprains and bruises. There’s some discrepancy in study results but some indication that Arnica can help with pain. A study published in the American Journal of Therapeutics found that “Cumulative evidence suggests that Arnica montana may represent a valid alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, at least when treating some specific conditions.”

Comfrey

In a clinical overview of the usefulness of topical Comfrey to help with pain, multiple trials showed topical comfrey to be effective and safe. It helped with pain, inflammation and swelling of muscles and joints in degenerative arthritis, acute myalgia in the back, sprains, contusions and strains after sports injuries and accidents.

Ginger Root

A study seeking pain relief for those with Osteoarthritis found that topical ginger was a promising and simple treatment for pain symptoms and physical limitations.

White Willow Bark

This natural “aspirin” contains salicylic acid which works as an anti-inflammatory to help with pain.

Peppermint

There’s lots of evidence that peppermint provides a strong natural analgesic to pain. My research did not give me an easy explanation of how this happens but I think it is due to the menthol interfering with the way pain is communicated to your brain. According to another study, it turns out that the smell of peppermint may also have a therapeutic impact on pain as shown in this study

Burdock

Burdock or Bardanae radix, contains arctigeninand and arctiin, components in Burdock plant species used extensively in traditional Asian medicine. North American Ojibwas probably used Burdock medicinally. In an overview of the anti-inflammatory effects the active components show promise as powerful anti-inflammatories.

Cayenne Powder

Cayenne and Turmeric contain Capsaicin.  In a paper entitled “Treatment of Low Back Pain: The Potential Clinical and Public Health Benefits of Topical Herbal Remedies” the authors write:

“Capsaicin is a powerful local stimulant that, with repeated applications, leads to persistent desensitization to pain. In some clinical practices, topical capsaicin is used extensively for the treatment of CLBP. The scientific rationale for its use is derived from the results of three randomized placebo-controlled trials; one of acute mechanical back pain and two of chronic nonspecific back pain. In each of these trials, the use of topical capsaicin produced statistically significant reductions in pain compared with the reductions in pain with the use of placebo. In a subsequent review … capsaicin produced a statistically significant 60% reduction in pain.”

Hemp Leaf Extract

There are many salves containing CBD oil  or THC oil, depending on the state. Both are probably effective anti-inflammatories yet remain federally suspect components.  For this reason I don’t presently include either CBD oil or THC oil in the salve.  However, Hemp Seed Oil is free from these concerns as is Hemp Leaves that do not contain THC. I use non-THC hemp leaves in my infusion.

Powerful Healing, Anti-inflammatory Essential Oils

Including Orange, Peppermint, Frankincense, Myrrh and Turmeric.

Directions

Massage salve into sore, achy muscles. When massaging, you can add oil to help spread the salve over a wider area.

Ingredients

Coconut Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Fractionated Coconut Oil Infused with Arnica Flowers, Comfrey, Ginger Root, St. John’s Wort, White Willow Bark, Peppermint, Burdock, Cayenne Powder and Hemp Leaf Extract, Beeswax, Castor Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Arnica Powder, Essential Oil Blend of Orange, Peppermint, Frankincense, Myrrh, Turmeric and Thyme, Jojoba and Vit E.

Alternatives to my Hemp Arnica Muscle Ache Salve

I also frequently use my Magnesium Oil Spray, which helps with aching muscles and cramps. I use it for night cramps. Hallie uses it for running cramps.