Easy Arnica Salve
Note: Arnica is not for internal use.
I have always been one to bruise easy. It wasn’t until I started studying herbalism that I realized how important it is to make sure that the bruises clear fully. A bruise results from a blow that ruptures the blood vessels in that area. Then blood pools under the skin. This blood can leave scar tissue that can cause problems later.
One HUGE tool I found it prevent bruising is arnica salve. Arnica is a member of the sunflower family and is native to North America. It is not for internal use. But it works wonders externally.
Working on a farm the injury quotient is higher. There was the time the goat rammed me when I wasn’t looking. Once I dropped a board I was carrying to to repair the chicken coop and it fell squarely on my thigh. Before I would always end up with huge bruises from injuries like this. Now when these types of injuries occur I hurry back to the house and apply arnica salve. When arnica salve is applied within minutes of the injury it does wonders to avoid bruise development. It is now a must in my first aid kit.
I begin with dried Arnica Flowers from Mountain Rose Herbs. You can grow arnica and some people recommend using fresh over dried but I prefer dried. When using dried there is automatically less moisture that could turn the oil rancid. I loosely filled a 1/2 pint jar with the flowers and then cover with a high quality olive oil. Cover and let infuse for 5 weeks.
An alternative would be to use a heat method. Fill the jar the same way but then put it in a crock pot about 1/2 filled with water. Set it for low and cook for 8 hours.
Strain the oil through a cheese cloth.
To create the salve measure out the infused oil. If it is room temperature place in a double boiler. A makeshift double boiler can be made with a pyrex measuring cup placed in a pan of water.
Then grate or shave the beeswax and weigh it out. You really do need a kitchen scale for this. Then measure and weigh the shea butter.
Put the shea butter and beeswax in the oil and heat until they are just melted. Pour into containers. I like 4 oz mason jars or 1 oz metal tins (be aware that if you are carrying a metal tin in your purse on a hot day it will leak. When the salve has cooled cap.
Easy Arnica Salve
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Arnica infused Olive Oil see note:
- 1/2 ounce shredded beeswax
- 1 ounce Shea Butter
Instructions
- Measure out the oil. If it is room temperature place in a double boiler. A makeshift double boiler can be made with a pyrex measuring cup placed in a pan of water.
- Grate and weigh the beeswax. A kitchen scale really is necessary for this step.
- Weigh the shea butter, see above.
- Put the shea butter and beeswax in the oil and heat until they are just melted. Pour into containers. I like 4 oz mason jars or 1 oz metal tins. Be aware that if you are carrying a metal tin in your purse on a hot day it will leak. When the salve has cooled cap.
