DIY Homemade Arnica Salve

This arnica salve is a must-have addition to your first aid kit. Where there is pain, inflammation and bruising, this arnica salve is the perfect natural pain relief you are looking for. Being useful for soothing bruises, sprains and strains, sore muscles, tension headaches and more, this salve can help speed up healing while easing the pain.

Arnica Salve

Living on a large property, there are always sore muscles, bumps, bruises, muscle and joint pain from the work that is being completed. As we prefer to use natural remedies for pain relief, we love using ones such as this arnica salve. It is one of our favourite remedies for reducing inflammation, swelling, muscle and joint pain and other farm-related injuries where the skin in not broken. It helps with stimulating blood circulation, which helps accelerate the healing process and regeneration of damaged skin tissue.

Yarrow is another herb that can help with bleeding, reducing inflammation and speeding up healing. For a more powerful salve, try using a mix of dried arnica and yarrow flowers when making the infused oil. Learn more about growing yarrow here. St. John’s Wort is another plant that could be added to this salve.

Arnica Plant

The arnica plant has lovely yellow daisy-like flowers that bloom for a few weeks during spring. Reaching a height of anywhere between 20 to 60cm, it has hairy leaves and a strong stem. The blooms are harvested when they are full and picked by hand. The leaves, roots, stem and the flowers of this perennial plant are used medicinally.

Important Arnica Notes

For those who are allergic to plants in the Asteraceae family – plants such as ragweed, marigolds, chrysanthemums and daisies, you may find that you react to arnica as well. Proceed with caution!

This plant can also trigger an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, especially if used in excess or on broken skin. So use sparsely and make sure the arnica is diluted properly. Also, stop using any form of arnica at least two weeks for surgery as it may cause extra bleeding before and after surgery.

Some people may also experience health issues such as diarrhoea, vomited, stomach pain and mouth irritation when using arnica orally.  

Children, pregnant and lactating individuals should not use arnica in any form.

Carrier Oils

When making a salve, choosing the correct carrier oil can improve the impact of the salve as each carrier oil has its own set of distinct properties. Blending a couple of carrier oils can also help maximise their benefits. 

With this salve recipe, there are multiple carrier oils that could be used including:

• Avocado Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Argan Oil
• Rosehip Oil
• Hemp Oil
• Safflower Oil

You can learn more about carrier oils here.

Before Using this Salve

Before using this rub, you will need to understand a few things.

• Don’t use on skin with open wounds or cuts.  
• Test on small area of skin before using.  If there’s any irritation, dilute with more carrier oils.
• Wash hands well after using.

More Salve Recipes

• Make Healing Calendula Salve
• DIY Sore Muscle Rub
• DIY Rose Salve
• Herbal Muscle Salve
• Charcoal Drawing Salve
• Rosemary Salve
• Comfrey Salve
• Violet Leaf Salve
• Plantain Salve

Making Infused Oil

To make the infused oil, you will need: 

• ½  cup arnica flowers – dried
• 1 cup Avocado Oil

First you will need to infuse the arnica flowers in the avocado oil. To do this, let your fresh leaves dry for at least a day or two before infusing. 

Place the dry leaves in a glass jar and cover it completely with avocado oil. 

Put the lid on the jar and store in a dark cupboard for two to four weeks, shaking every couple of days to keep everything submerged.

Strain the leaves with a strainer, cheesecloth or an unbleached coffee filter. The infused oil is now ready to make into a salve.

If you want to speed up the infusion process, slowly heat the oil in a slow cooker on low heat for 24 – 48 hours.

For more information on making infused oils, check this out.

Making Arnica Salve

To make 6 ounces of this salve, you will need:

• 1 cup Arnica infused oil from above
• 2 TBSP beeswax pellets

Combine the beeswax and the infused oil in a microwaveable container and heat for 30 seconds at a time in the microwave until the beeswax is completely melted. Stir in between each heat burst.

This process could also be done in a double boiler.

Pour the mixture into small glass jars or tins.

Let the salve cool and set.

The salve is now ready to label, date and store.

Storing This Salve

Place the salve in dark glass jars or metal tins to protect it from exposure to light and air. I have also used tubes for easier application.

Store in a cool, dark place.

When properly stored, this salve should last up to six months.

To Use this Salve

Using clean hands, rub a small amount of the salve onto your fingers, then rub it in the intended site.

• For dry or chaffed skin, massage a small amount onto the affected area
• For minor bumps and bruises, apply a thin layer of the salve to soothe the area
• Rub on tired muscles or shoulders for muscle relief
• Use on sprains to help with pain relief and healing
• To help heal bumps and bruises
• The anti-inflammatory properties can help bring relief to painful joints
• For tension headaches, by rubbing over shoulders and neck

Notes

• If you are picking fresh leaves to use in this salve, make sure to harvest them from a pesticide free area.
• Harvest only when you are 100% positive you have the correct plant as there are many lookalikes which are inedible or poisonous.
• Vitamin E is optional, and is often added to salves as an antioxidant to prevent rancidity, as well as for its amazing skin-healing properties. Add 1 teaspoon of  vitamin E oil to help preserve your salve even longer! 
• You can use any type of carrier oil for the infused oil. This recipe uses avocado oil. 
• If you want this to be a vegan recipe, swap out beeswax pellets for candelilla wax.
• Try adding 12 drops of peppermint or lavender essential oil for a more powerful salve.
• I live in a hot climate, so this is made with 3 tablespoons of beeswax to stop it from melting during hot summers, thus making this a harder salve. Use less beeswax if you want a softer balm. To test the consistency of the salve, place a small amount on the back of your hand and see what it does. If it’s too soft, add more beeswax; if it is too hard, add more oil.

 

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.