Herbal Muscle Salve

This amazing herbal muscle salve is packed with herbs and essential oils to help relieve tired and sore muscles and joints, promote circulation and reduce inflammation.

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Keyword: Clove, Herbal, Salve

Prep Time: 5

Setting Time: 4

Total Time: 4 5

Servings: ounces

Author: S Jones

Equipment

Glass Jar
Double Boiler, or Microwavable Jug
Strainer, or Unbleached Coffee Filter, or Cheesecloth
Stirrer
3 x 2 Ounce Tins

Ingredients

Infused Oil

¼ cup Helichrysum flowers, dried
¼ cup Gotu Kola, dried
¼ cup Ginger Root, dried
¼ cup Arnica, dried
½ cup Avocado Oil

Salve

Instructions

Making Infused Oil

Add the helichrysum flowers, goto kola, ginger root, and arnica in a glass jar.
Pour the avocado oil into the glass jar to completely cover the herbs. Make sure the oil goes about an inch over the herbs.
Use a double boiler or a pot and a little bit of water to heat the infused oil on your stove. Use a low setting for about 4-6 hours. Allow it to cool.
Alternatively, you can keep the jar of oils and herbs in a dark cupboard for 4-6 weeks if you don’t want to use the heat method above.
Place a coffee filter or a strainer on top of another glass jar and strain the herbs from the oil.
The infused oil is now ready to use.

Making the Salve

Combine the beeswax and infused oil a microwavable jug.
Heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each heating session, until the beeswax has melted. The double boiler method works for this as well.
Gently add the essential oils and stir well.
Pour the oil into three x 2 ounce tin containers.
Allow them to sit uncovered for 4-6 hours or overnight until they harden up.
This homemade herbal muscle salve should last about 6 to 8 months. If it smells rancid or off, it is time to make a new batch.
To Use: Using clean hands, rub a small amount of the salve onto your fingers, then rub it in the intended site.

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Notes

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. You can use olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil etc.
If you want this to be a vegan recipe, swap out beeswax pellets for candelilla wax.
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.