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5 from 4 votes

Spicy Pain Salve Recipe

This DIY salve recipe features pain-blocking cayenne, warming ginger, plus herbs to help your aches and pains.
Active Time1 hour
Infusing Time14 days
Course: Salves & Balms
Keyword: arnica, cayenne, cypress essential oil, ginger
Yield: 4 ounces

Materials

For the oil infusion:

  • 1/4 cup dried arnica
  • 1 tbsp dried dandelion flowers, or more arnica
  • 1 tbsp dried comfrey root or leaf
  • 1 tsp cayenne powder
  • 1 tbsp ginger powder
  • 1 tsp myrrh powder (optional)
  • 1 cup oil of choice (rice bran, sweet almond, sunflower, etc)

For the salve:

  • 3.5 oz (100 g) infused oil, from above (or abt 1/2 cup)
  • 0.5 oz (14 g) beeswax pastilles (or abt 2 loosely filled tbsp)
  • 48 drops cypress essential oil (2% dilution rate)

Instructions

To infuse the oil:

  • Combine the herbs and oil in a heat-safe jar, adding a little extra oil if needed to make sure the herbs stay covered.
  • Place the jar of oil/herbs down into a small saucepan containing a few inches of water. (Enough water to cover a good portion of the jar sides, but not too much so it starts to float.)
  • Heat the pan over a burner set to low to medium-low heat for 2 hours.
  • The water should be warm enough to indirectly heat the oil, but if it starts simmering and bubbling, it's too hot and should be turned down.
  • After around 2 hours, remove from heat, cool to room temperature, and cap with a lid.
  • For a more effective infusion, place the jar in a sunny window for 2 weeks before straining and using.

To make the salve:

  • Weigh out infused oil & beeswax into a heat-safe container such as a mason jar. 
  • Set the jar in a small pot of water on a stove top burner set low to medium-low, and allow to slowly melt together. 
  • Once completely melted, remove the jar from the pot. 
  • Add the cypress essential oil, then pour into tins or jars.
  • Let cool, cap, and label.
  • Store in a cool dry place; shelf life is around 9+ months.