The stuff that dreams are made of is to grow and create your own medicine, isn’t it? We enjoy a variety of methods for utilizing our organic homegrown cannabis, but making topical cannabis salve is at the top of the list. Cannabis salves may assist with inflammation reduction, discomfort relief, joint pain management, and more! It’s also simple to make your own cannabis salve and easy to customize it to your specific needs.
If you have eczema or psoriasis, or suffer from chronic pain as a result of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, you might be wondering if cannabis can help.
What is Cannabis Salve
Perhaps it’s time to reconsider things. What’s the difference between a salve and a balm, for example? A salve is an ointment that you apply to your skin, such as creams or ointments. Salves are often thick, shelf-stable treatments made with nutritious oils like coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, or similar ingredients.
Coconut oil is the most common carrier oil used in our marijuana salve formula. It has a lot of saturated fat that binds effectively with cannabinoids. It’s also really hydrating. We also added a squeeze of olive oil to improve absorption and smoothness for improved comfort. To discover more about alternative carrier oils, check out our homemadecalendula oil essay – where I go through the pros and drawbacks of a dozen different options!
Salves are often prepared with waxes or butters to keep the ingredients together and make them semi-solid at room temperature. Beeswax is a popular choice because it’s readily accessible, simple to work with (particularly when purchased in pastilles), and provides flawless results. See the list of ingredients below for suggested vegan alternatives.
When cannabis is incorporated into a salve as an ingredient… Voila! You’ve got yourself a cannabis salve. The most popular method of adding cannabis to a salve recipe is to first make a cannabis-infused oil and then combine the oil with the remaining salve ingredients.
Using Decarboxylated or Raw Cannabis in Salve
If you’re unfamiliar with the phrase, decarboxylation is the conversion of THCA and CBDA to CBD and THC, respectively, by heating cannabis at the proper temperature and time. CBDA and THCA are changed into CBD and THC, respectively, as a result of decarboxylation. When cannabis is smoked or vaporized, decarboxylation occurs naturally; however, it must be done differently when using cannabis in oil or salves — for example, by baking it in an oven.
The therapeutic effects of decarboxylated THC and CBD have been well-documented. Both are anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, high in antioxidants, relax muscles, and inhibit tumor development. This is especially true when they’re used together, known as the “entourage effect.” THC is a strong pain reliever (pain alleviator). CBD has even more far-reaching healing uses, including epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. However, we should certainly utilize decarbed cannabis in this salve recipe to obtain those advantages!
On the other side of the fence, newer studies suggest that raw THCA and CBDA may have benefits. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, THCA is thought to aid in the treatment of muscular spasms, arthritis, and cancer. CBDA is also claimed to help reduce inflammation and tumor progression.
In addition to CBD and THC, cannabis contains hundreds of other chemicals that may provide unique, interactive, or synergistic effects. Phytocannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes are just a few of the substances found in cannabis that might produce individual, collaborative, or synergistic advantages. It’s worth noting that THC is psychoactive while CBD is not; however, when making a topical cannabis salve for single-dose use only, this matters very little.
Finally, given everything we’ve said, we favor a combination of decarbed and raw organic cannabis (which contains both THC and CBD) to produce a full-spectrum, well-rounded, ultra-healing finished product.
What Can Cannabis Salve Be Used For?
Cannabis salve is effective in treating a wide range of medical problems! Coconut oil and olive oil, on their own, are high in nutrients, so you’ll have enough moisture in your salve to heal dry, cracked, or irritated skin. If you add a few drops of essential oils to your salve, you may get the benefits of aromatherapy as well.
Depending on the kind of cannabis you use, your homemade cannabis salve’s healing abilities may vary somewhat. Cannabessalve can be utilized to cure or alleviate the following conditions:
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Rashes, itching, or other skin irritation
- General inflammation
- Sore joints
- Arthritis
- Muscle aches
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Irregular cell growth (e.g. skin cancer cells)
RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
- 2 teaspoons organic beeswax
- 2 teaspoons organic cacao butter
- 8 teaspoons floral cannabis-infused oil
- 1 mL cannabis concentrate optional
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a double-boiler over medium heat, combine the beeswax and cacao butter and allow to melt.
- Once melted, stir in the floral cannabis-infused oil and stir until well combined.
- If using, add the cannabis concentrate, stir until well combined, and then remove from the heat.
- Carefully transfer the hot liquid to a small glass jar or storing vessel of choice.
- Allow the salve to cool to room temperature and then cover with the lid.CBD concentrate
- Store in a cool dark place until ready to use.