Plant Medicine | Arnica Healing Salve

The use of herbal medicine dates back more than 50,000 years ago and still continues today. Herbalism is the study or practice of medicinal or therapeutic use of plants whether it be in teas, skin care & cosmetics to prevent or alleviate pain, restore balance and heal. 

In our products, we try to use different skin loving ingredients to nourish the body. These may be clays, botanicals, oils and butters that can help soothe irritated skin, muscles & joints. Our beautiful Arnica Salve is one product that we pour extra love into, to provide you all with a simple yet effective pain relief product.

I have struggled with scoliosis and arthritis in my wrist from a few bad accidents during horse back riding when I was younger. Pain relief was something I was always in search of. Advil, Tylenol or Aleve always helped with the headaches however, I never could rid the discomfort in my joints & muscles, especially during the colder months. I then found an arnica cream. IT WORKED WONDERS! I finally found a product that was natural and it worked. So why not create our own?

Arnica: is a perennial and belongs to the sunflower family. It contains an anti-inflammatory compound believed to relieve pain, joints & muscles aches and bruising. 

Calendula: has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It is great for soothing skin, healing wounds and relieving rashes & eczema.

St. John's Wort: is used for minor wounds, burns and abrasions. It has anti-bacterial properties and can help fight inflammation. 

These three amazing plants all have healing powers, so why not put them all together?! We infused these 3 plants in Olive Oil for 4 weeks by using the heat of the sun (Solar Infusion). You can heat and infuse by using a double broiler method but we love using the solar infusion method to get all the goodness of the sun in our products! Our Salve contains nourishing oils & butters, a light peppermint scent and most importantly the powers of the plants we infused. This product takes time, energy and patience, but it’s well worth the wait!  

Tips when making an infusion:

1. Always use dried herbs. Using dried herbs prevents mould and bacteria growth, which results in a spoiled infusion. 

2. Do your research! Some plants can have bad side effects, especially when used topically. Always make sure what you are infusing is safe to use on skin and you have no known allergies. 

3. Leave your infusion in a tightly sealed jar in the sun for 4-6 weeks to allow the oil to be infused properly. Don't rush the process. 

4. Use an tightly sealed jar and avoid moisture from getting into the jar. Always label your jars stating what oil you used, what botanicals or herbs and date it!