Healing Cannabis Salve

**NOTICE** You can find the most UPDATED RECIPE at my sister-site, SimpleApothecary.com. It includes information on adding lecithin as well as using hemp CBD instead of cannabis. 

I would like you to imagine for a moment the feeling of intense physical pain somewhere in your body. Pain that has no relief, stabbing and throbbing constantly, leaving you exhausted from the sheer sustained force against your body. Some of you may not even have to imagine this, you may be feeling it at this very moment.

Now imagine relief.

For many, cannabis has become a pain reliever like no other. A plant whose active properties actually match up to receptors in our brains, can provide relief where the artificial and sometimes dangerous chemical concoctions created by pharmaceutical corporations cannot.  In my post, Why I Use Cannabis, I talk about my personal journey to finding relief through medicinal cannabis. One of my cannabis related tools I most treasure and value is my Healing Cannabis Salve.

Every region has their own version and number of healing plants available, provided abundantly by Mother Earth for the diseases and afflictions once most common to each region. Over time we have globalized, with massive and long migrations made more and more frequently, our world population becoming larger while at the same time becoming less diverse. Our bodies cannot keep up with a modern diet filled with processed and prepared foods, where it’s common for even whole foods such as produce and meat to lack vital nutrients due to commercial farming practices. Top all of this off with our constant exposure to chemicals in everything from our cars to our toothpaste, and I believe that is why we are beginning to see an overabundance of diseases such as cancer and diabetes, and disabilities such as autism and microencephaly.

There are no long-term studies for usage of medications such as oxycontin, vicodin or others. We are only now realizing that our long-term exposure to chemicals are causing problems in generations of families, not just individuals. I may be a bit paranoid, but I wonder sometimes how much pharmaceuticals might be able to do the same.

Not to mention the addiction rates for opiates.

Nowadays the most potent medication I’ve been on is the occasional aspirin when I have not had all of my usual alternative options available. This usually is when I’m at work and I don’t have complete access to my home apothecary. However, I can honestly say that keeping a small jar of the Healing Cannabis Salve at my disposal at all times, even makes the taking of aspirin a rare event. What I’m talking about is a topical salve that makes it ideal for localized pain and inflammation relief; as in, you can rub it on exactly where it hurts. THC, the active ingredient of cannabis, moves across the skin barrier but is thought to not be able to get across into the blood stream. On a side note: Studies in the industry are supporting this idea, but unfortunately widespread testing and research is stymied due to ongoing federal restrictions.

Salves are a very ancient and time-honored part of apothecary’s all over the world. A salve is a medicinal ointment that is rubbed onto the skin. It usually offers healing and soothing relief to things such as topical wounds and irritations, as well as problems with internal pain and inflammation.

My Healing Cannabis Salve came about after my worst bout with back pain yet. My back had been out for almost a month and I had not had any relief since it began. It didn’t matter what position I was in, what I was doing (or not doing), or what I was taking, I was in constant and intense pain. I had begun to hear about topical products being available at the time in dispensaries, but my county is so restrictive of medicinal cannabis and dispensaries that I was unable to try any. Pain has a funny way of encouraging you to try something different though…

I had begun making an alcohol based tincture to ingest after learning more about different methods of using cannabis to treat pain. It was difficult to smoke enough cannabis to get any kind of pain relief, and even then it was usually fleeting. Smoking is one of the most inefficient methods of using cannabis, but it is probably the most common introduction to it as it is cheap and easy. The inefficiency can also be a positive at times as the dosage is so small and easily controlled, and the shorter length of effect can actually be beneficial for some. Smoking cannabis for my depression works just fine. Smoking cannabis for my pain does not.

One particular evening I had had enough, when even the tincture didn’t do the job completely. I decided to try mixing my tincture with some olive oil and applying it topically. I rubbed it in and waited and within minutes, I began to have actual relief. No joke. 

From there I began to do research on making topical medicinal cannabis preparations. There wasn’t a ton of information on the internet at the time as all of us old stoners were still convinced the government was watching with eagle eyes. I think it took the next generation to make cannabis lose many of it’s taboo qualities, allowing it become a much bigger talking point in mainstream society than ever before. I mean it must have worked. I’m writing this post for a homesteading blog that includes medicinal cannabis as a part of a natural and organic lifestyle for pete’s sake.

Through experimentation and trial and error this is now my go-to recipe. It is infinitely adaptable in terms of additions. I have made a variety of versions, some focused on cuts and scrapes by including plantain, lavender and thyme oils, while others focus on more internal pain and soreness by including wintergreen, cinnamon and habañero oils, an icy-hot of sorts. This recipe is for the basic Healing Cannabis Salve that works for nearly everything, from cuts and scrapes to pain and swelling, and from your cramped feet to your chapped lips.

P.S. If you are on the quest to eliminate chemicals from your daily life as well, please check out my small-business, Simple Apothecary! I create handcrafted remedies for the body and soul, including a topical hemp CBD salve with synergistic essential oils. 

 

Ingredients

Cannabis. I am not always picky about what type of cannabis I use. I’ve made this with excellent quality flowers and hash, and I’ve made it with bottom of the barrel trim. There is an element of overall quality tied into using better quality cannabis, but not as much as you might think. The other non-cannabis ingredients are so reasonably priced that I wouldn’t want to discourage you from making a batch of salve with that not-so-great bag of stash from 3 years ago. It won’t be as strong, but you could consider adding additional healing herbs and essential oils to supplement whatever healing qualities of the cannabis are left.

Coconut oil. I am a coconut oil fan, but I am not absolutely obsessed. I know it has limitations, however I also know it has many healthful uses. The fact is coconut oil has antibacterial, healing and soothing qualities. Plus it smells nice, am I right?? You do have to be careful on what coconut oil you choose however! Some have been so processed you might as well use petroleum jelly. However, if you use a completely virgin and unprocessed coconut oil for your Healing Cannabis Salve, be prepared for a slight grittiness that eventually disappears as you rub it in. It took me several batches to realize this was the problem! I like to use an organic virgin cold-processed coconut oil. It has been minimally processed, but leaves a very smooth and pleasing salve with a mild coconut scent.

Avocado oil. I am obsessed with avocado oil, I can’t lie. I use it on my food, I use it in my salad dressings, I use it in my topical products. If I’m pouring it into something and it drips, I rub it into my hands. Avocado oil is the latest overnight sensation that’s been around forever. I’ll save the internal health benefits for later. For now, I’ll extol it’s external virtues! Avo oil is a wonderful moisturizer that is very beneficial for healthy skin, as it increases collagen production and provides healing qualities.

Vitamin E oil. Vitamin E is a wonderful moisturizer with healing and anti-aging properties. It also acts as a natural preservative to the salve.

Beeswax. Beeswax is an all natural stiffener for the salve, allowing it to be solid at room temperature. Plus it smells lovely!

EDIT: Lecithin. Lecithin is a naturally occurring fatty substance that is necessary for our cells. It also happens to attract fat and water molecules together, making it an excellent natural emulsifier. Adding it in to the salve helps eliminate the little hard balls I was talking about in the coconut oil. It also makes the cannabinoids more bio-available to your body. I strongly suggest finding a non-GMO soy or sunflower lecithin to use. FIND THE UPDATED RECIPE THAT INCLUDES WHEN AND HOW TO ADD LECITHIN HERE.

Optional ingredients. Consider adding some of these optional ingredients to your salve for additional benefits. These should only be added AFTER removing the salve from heat. You may have to add extra beeswax to compensate for the extra liquid of the oils.

Antiseptic: plantain oil; tea tree, lavender and eucalyptus essential oils

Icy-hot: habañero and ginger oils; peppermint, wintergreen, spearmint, cinnamon, clove, black pepper, frankincense, eucalyptus essential oils

Skin conditions: dandelion and plantain oils; lavender and tea tree essential oils

Process

The basic process is relatively simple, but a bit time consuming. Expect the entire process to take around 5-6 hours, although you won’t be chained to the kitchen during that entire time. Much of that time is spent allowing things to simmer, freeing you up to do other things. In these kinds of situations a timer is my best friend. I would get so involved with other projects that I would forget I had something simmering at all, so I keep a timer set to check on it every hour.

Why I DON’T decarboxylate the cannabis. As a cannabis plant grows and matures, the plant produces THC-A, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, the non-active form of the chemical compound of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC of course, is what most people associate with cannabis, but it only appears once THC-A has been heated enough for the extra molecule of acid to fall off, leaving THC. For this salve we are trying to extract as many different cannabinoids as possible, which includes THC-A. The beneficial properties of raw or live cannabis have gone unnoticed, which is quite unfortunate! THC-A is known for its ability to treat inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer for a start. As cooking cannabis in oils tends to leave some of the THC-A unconverted to THC it is, in my opinion, an ideal method for getting the benefits of both compounds. As cannabinoids are fat soluble, we’re further able to extract as many cannabinoids as possible using coconut and avocado oils, along with gentle heat.

Extraction. To start off we need to extract the cannabinoids from the plant material. I break up the cannabis into small chunks. Some suggest using a grinder, but I don’t bother unless the material has a lot of moisture. I will often leave the bag open overnight the day prior to dry it out and thus make it easier to break up. The flower is added to the melted coconut oil and avocado oil in a double-boiler, and allowed to simmer with occasional stirring. I use color and smell to determine doneness, with fresher cannabis taking less time in the 2-3 hour range, and older cannabis taking more time in the 4-5 hours range. Once the oils are a lovely dark green color and the fragrance of cannabis begins to get strong, it’s finished. To continue cooking means you are risking converting all of the THC-A to THC and again, for me, this is not the goal. This will be applied topically, so it is not necessary!

Straining. The solid material will now need to be strained out of the oils to create a smoother and easier to use product. I use a cheesecloth tripled over and set inside a colander, over a glass bowl. Using a wooden spoon, push the oil out of the plant matter as much as possible before twisting the whole bundle up and squeezing out the last remaining drops.

Thickening. Once the oil has been strained, it is added back to the double-boiler and reheated. Grated beeswax or pellets are then added in to thicken the final product. The amount may vary depending on the season and your average household temperature. We live in an area where 105 is not unusual in the summer, but we also have snow in the winter. I tend to use more beeswax in summer, and a little less in winter.

Optional ingredients. As I mentioned before, there are a variety of optional oils you can add at the end of the heating process to enhance your salve. If it’s your first time making it or if you’re on a budget however, don’t worry about it! The basic salve is still wonderful and very healing in and of itself.

Containers. Glass is an ideal container as many plastics can leach harmful chemicals into your salve, and that kind of defeats the purpose of all natural and organic… I’ve used everything from baby food to pimento jars, but generally use the all-purpose and wonderful in it’s simplicity mason jar.

 

Healing Cannabis Salve
Print
Ingredients
  1. 2 cups cannabis flowers, leaves and stems, chopped or ground
  2. 3 cups cold-pressed organic coconut oil
  3. 1 cup avocado oil
  4. 3-4 ounces grated beeswax
  5. 2 teaspoons vitamin E oil
Tools needed
  1. Double-boiler or pot with a glass bowl that can sit firmly on top
  2. Grinder or food processor (optional)
  3. Cheesecloth
  4. Metal colander
  5. Large glass bowl
  6. Rubber or silicone spatula
  7. Kitchen towel
  8. Jars with lids
In a double-boiler
  1. Bring about an inch of water to a boil in the pan portion of the double-boiler. If you don't have a double-boiler, a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water does just fine.
  2. Once the water is boiling, reduce heat to low.
  3. Add the coconut oil to the pot and allow it to melt.
  4. Add avocado oil and cannabis.
  5. Continue to cook over low-heat, stirring every once in a while, for approximately 3-4 hours. The oil should turn a dark-green and your house should be fragrant! **IMPORTANT** Double-boilers WILL lose water over time. Be sure to check it every hour and add BOILING water if necessary to keep the water level at about 1 inch.
  6. Remove from heat. Allow oils and cannabis to cool for 15-20 minutes.
  7. Fold the cheesecloth into thirds, allowing enough material to drape over the sides of your colander. Place the colander over your glass bowl.
  8. Slowly pour the cannabis and oils into the cheesecloth covered colander. Use a spoon to push gently on the flowers to extract more oil.
  9. Carefully gather the corners of the cheesecloth up before squeezing as much oil left as possible. The remaining oil should have very little if not any solid matter left in in.
  10. Ensure the bowl of the double-boiler is free of any solid matter. Wipe it out with a paper towel if needed... and then wipe that on any achy parts of your body! I don't like to waste any of it 🙂
  11. Bring the water in the double-boiler back up to a boil before reducing the heat to low.
  12. Pour your green oil back in and add the grated beeswax, stirring to incorporate it.
  13. Use a spoon to gather up a sample of the salve. Place the spoon on a plate in the freezer for 2-3 minutes. Bring it out and check the consistency- it should require a little pressure to get through it. If it's still runny, add more beeswax 1/2 ounce at a time until you reach a desired consistency.
  14. Turn off the stove and place a folded up kitchen towel on the counter. Remove the bowl of the double-boiler carefully and place it on the towel to avoid any moisture burning you or getting in the salve. Add Vitamin-E oil and gently stir to incorporate. If you are adding any other essential oils, now is the time.
  15. As you stir, close your eyes and focus your energy and intentions on the salve. I like to focus on imagery that conveys healing. You may laugh, but I find this step important!
  16. Pour the finished salve in your clean jars and place the lid on. This will make approximately 28 ounces, depending on how much oil the dried cannabis soaked up.
  17. Call everyone in your family over to where you are working. Use the spatula to scrape up every last bit of salve and rub it all over your bodies! As I said before, don't waste any of this precious healing salve!
Notes
  1. Always wait until the oil has cooled a bit before adding any essential oils. Heat can break them down to a point where they can lose their effectiveness!
Seven Points Farm https://sevenpointsfarm.com/

109 thoughts on “Healing Cannabis Salve”

    1. Great question! Crock pots are ridiculously convenient, but unfortunately they are usually too hot, even on warm. Temperatures over 240 degrees will start breaking down the cannabinoids. Would it still work? Probably. As well? Probably not. I would suggest checking how warm the contents of your crock pot get before committing to using it for an entire batch. Thanks for reading and commenting!

      -Becca

      1. I have a device that controls the temperature of my crockpot, what temperature do you suggest for simmering the dry herb in the oil using then a crockpot? I would suspect its no different than when making a herbal salve I don’t let it get hotter than 150F.

      2. regardless of brand of crock pot, warm should not be hot enough to boil water (212 f) :-). As well the lid can be placed askew to alleviate over heat. cheers!

        1. I have always read the sweet spot for a three hour butter or oil is 108-110, you can use a candy thermometer. It’s true even on low opening and stiriring every ten minutes is what it would take, the cheat so long as it’s small batch is a ten dollor “Little Dipper” which is a fondue crockpot just for warming, you can only do a cup or so at a time though.

  1. I’m new to this… Are you saying any part of the plant can be used for this? Is it ok if it is dried?

    1. Yes, any part of the plant can be used! In fact the stems and roots are where a lot of CBD is stored, regardless of the THC/CBD ratio of the flowers. As to your other question, drying everything first is in fact a good thing as the moisture won’t transfer to the oil. Please come back and let us know how your salve turned out!

      -Becca

      1. Do the roots need rinsed first? My husband grows in water, I’m not sure what it’s called but the roots are huge!

    1. Cannabis has definitely been used successfully for lupus! The salve may help while being used topically, however I would *highly* recommend seeking out tincture or cannacaps that are high in CBD’s to use internally as well. The CBD taken internally will help with any inflammation, while the salve applied topically will work from the outside in for inflammation and pain. As for making the salve, I would strongly recommend adding some high-quality essential oils that help with inflammation and pain such as wintergreen (especially wintergreen!), lavender and eucalyptus. The directions for when to add essential oils are included in this post. Good luck and I hope this helps!!

      -Becca

      1. If using a candy thermometer. What would be the optimum temperature you would want to obtain for overall cooking. Thank you in advance..

  2. Love this! Been working on and using a salve that starts with cannabis oil and adds other things. (Long story short-I have constant severe back pain from a birth defect in my tail bone and was on a high opiate prescription dose for years, was negatively impacting my life, wanted a more natural answer, am now 3 weeks free of opiates!!!) I’ve struggled with the ratio of oils and beeswax (made one that was too much oil, next was like trying to run a crayon in your back!) and whatever else to add. This is the perfect answer, I think, in the research I’ve done. Thank you!

    1. I genuinely hope the salve works well for you! It’s been instrumental in helping with my own back pain 🙂

    2. 1/3 beeswax 1/3 infused
      coconut oil 1/3 shea, cocoa or mango butter (can mix all three) makes a good texture

  3. 2 cups seems like a lot can you cut it down? Can you substitute olive for the avocado? Lastly Could I buy concentrated oil instead of making it and I want to use a beginners dose. What is a good ratio or strain so confused!

    1. Just like in baking you CAN reduce the amounts, but keep the same ratios in your recipe! Olive oil is just fine as an alternative to avocado oil. I started using avocado oil because my skin likes it better and it has a more neutral scent. You can use a concentrated oil, but I have not experimented with it yet so I don’t have a suggested amount for you at this time. It would depend entirely on the concentration of the oil. I will say however, that with topicals you don’t need as high a concentration as you would with edibles or smoking to get effects. As for strain, with topicals I haven’t found a need to use a particular strain. I use whatever I’ve had on hand for years, which is sometimes a mystery or at least a hodgepodge! I think you’ll find you have a LOT more leeway when it comes to using topicals 🙂

        1. It is HIGHLY unlikely (no pun intended!). The THC molecules do not pass easily through the skin barrier, but there is some anecdotal evidence from a few people that say they have gotten high from a topically applied product. I would suggest starting with a small amount used and evaluating the effects after about 2 hours.

  4. Hi… i have 1 gram of Phoenix tears cannabis oil. Could I use this for this recipe? And if so, how much would I use for this specific recipe? Thanks

    1. Yes, you can use Phoenix tears to make a salve. However, as I haven’t had the chance to experiment with concentrates in my salve yet, I can’t recommend specific amounts at this time. I am hoping to do so in the near future however, so keep an eye out or subscribe to my blog! If you decide to go for it, please let us know how it went!

  5. Can I use a commercially bought cannabis essential oil? I can’t find a recipe that doesn’t involve me going out and buying weed which is not legal in my state.

    1. Cannabis essential oil is not quite the same thing as using the flower itself for several reasons. First off, an essential oil is a distillation of all plant material, meaning you will get the turpenes and any impurities from the plant if they are present. Also, cannabis essential oil is made from industrial hemp which means it will not have any THC in it and probably minimal CBD. The heat needed to make an essential oil would most likely destroy any cannabinoids. As an alternative, you could use a CBD tincture made from hemp and that should work just fine. You won’t get the benefits of topically applied THC, but CBD obviously has it’s own wonderful benefits! Let me know how it works for you 🙂

  6. How long will this stay good for and how do you store it?
    I made it today. Turned out perfect!

    1. Wonderful to hear! As this is a natural product without any commercial preservatives, it will only last a few months after opening the jar. However, the addition of Vitamin E oil is a natural preservative that will help. I’ve also found using the freshest oil possible helps as inevitably they will go rancid! I use my salve quite quickly, but if you don’t expect to I would suggest storing it in several smaller mason jars. Keep all unopened jars in a cool, dark location for optimal storage. I hope this helps!

      1. Hi I make BALM on a fairly large scale and with using beeswax and olive oil the BALM has lasted up to 3 yrs and more … the beeswax is also a natural preservative

      2. I make a large batch and store the jar(s) I’m not using in the refrigerator until they are needed.

  7. Would the magical butter machine work on a 4 hour setting at 165 degrees ? If so then after I strain it through its 190 micro filter, I could place in a sauce pot and add the beeswax and essential oils too?

    1. I’ve never actually used the Magical Butter Machine myself, but I do know it infuses oils in addition to butter with no problem. Follow the manufacturer instructions for infusing the oils, then continue on with my instructions! The only suggestion I would have is to be sure to use indirect heat when you melt in the beeswax 🙂 Let us know how it goes!

    2. I too have a MB Machine and I’m curious how this recipe turned out for you. Did you follow the 4hour/165 degree suggestion? My hubby has carpal tunnel and is hoping for some relief with this salve. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

  8. Love your post … I’m very interested in the salve you use for your back pain that you talked about. I’ve tried several differnt salve recipes and have yet to find one that helps me, I’m hoping yours is the one. How do you make it?

    1. This *IS* the salve I make, however I add in essential oils such wintergreen, peppermint, ginger, habanero and lavender. The added oils make a HUGE difference… Use your favorite essential oils that work well for pain and inflammation, adding them in towards the end as instructed. Good luck and let us know how it works!

    1. Whatever oil you prefer to use on your skin is just fine 🙂 Avocado oil works well on mine which is why I use it. I have used grapeseed oil when I didn’t have avocado though!

  9. Have you used sunflower oil. I just made the oil in the magic butter machine. I used coconut and sunflower. I’ll be flowing your steps to finish it up. Just ordered the vitamin e oil and some really nice essential oils. Can’t wait to finish!

    1. Wonderful to hear! I’m sure the Magical Butter Machine will work great. Any oil that works well for your skin is a-okay to use! My only recommendation on oil choice is to go for organic and non-GMO whenever possible.

  10. Could I use this recipe using Hemp, if so seeds or oil( I’m so new at this) do u have any Hem salve recipes, I would like some using Cocoa and Shea butter and of course Coconut oil. Sorry this is so long.

    1. Unfortunately, I would imagine any standard processing would destroy any cannabinoids present. If you don’t have access to flower, I would suggest maybe purchasing a CBD oil and adding that instead. It won’t be as effective without the THC, but it could still have beneficial properties!

  11. Well, Becca;

    I’m going to try and make my very first batch today… But, I am going to use a crock pot, as my old O’Keefe and Merritt propane stove is difficult to get a really low setting. ( Plus, we are off the grid, so our electricity is provided by our solar system… FREE!!) So, as you so advised, in keeping the temperature on warm setting to stay below 240 degrees, I have inserted a digital thermometer to monitor the temperature. That way, if it begins to get close to the 240 degree mark, I will shut off the crock pot and let it cool down…. Then begin again. Do you think this method will work?

    1. As long as you are diligent, I don’t see why this wouldn’t work! Let us know how it turns out 🙂

  12. Please !
    I have been on the internet for days looking for a recipe using Purchased Hemp oil , Virgin Cocoanut oil and Cocoa butter or Shey butter . I’m new at this , I don’t understand the amount of Hemp oil to use wit the other ingredients, I would love to make to give to other members of my family. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks so much Renee

  13. I wonder if you make this in the magical butter machine and just add the wax at the very end. Just wondering if you ever thought of using a salad spinner to get all of the oil out? Just a idea

    1. I don’t have one myself, but I think the Magical Butter Machine should work well!

  14. Question please. After the salve is made how do you store it? how long is the shelf life on it? can it be frozen and used as needed? Thank you

    1. The salve will last about 6-8 months before the oil begins to go rancid. The vitamin E oil is a natural preservative, but it will only last so long. Keeping it in the fridge will help extend the shelf life. I have never tried to feeeze it, but it’s worth a shot! Please let me know how it works!

  15. Hi there! I have some old shake / leaf … should i double the amount used, assuming it has lost some potency over time? Also have some keef that i could use as well… Any help appreciated !

    1. Depending on how old your shake is and how it was stored, I would definitely use more. It may not be as potent as the THC will eventually convert into CBN as it ages. CBN isn’t bad, it just doesn’t have quite the same pain relieving properties as THC. Adding in some extra kief would definitely help! A gram or so should be sufficient.

  16. So has anyone tried this in the MBM ( magical butter maker). I’m really excited to try this but was hoping to use my MBM. As I am lying here right now and unbearable pain. Please any suggestions will help. Thank you in advance

  17. Will cream made with Phoenix tears oils, leaves and flowers make you high if it is used topically

  18. Hi im making the salve in a double boiler…should i put the lid on while simmering the salve or leave it off??

  19. Do i need to cover it with.the doubler boiler lid while it simmers..or do i leave it uncovered

  20. Hey there, couple of quesstions. I’ll try not to repeat, I have read all the comments and your great responses. You mention using Wintergreen, Lavender, etc. I also use arnica and calendula extracts, but I’ve never known how much to add., any suggestions? Also, I have some old bud, not as old trim, and new CBD bud. I’d like to use the older stuff, but I don’t no what proportions to mix? Thanks so much,

  21. I tried to post a picture of my grandson’s skin condition but was unable to do so. The doctors have said he has Ichthyosis. If this salve works for him, it will be a miracle. He is now 15 year sold and nothing on the market will help him.

  22. I want to buy a jar of the healing canabis salve do you sell me two and how much?

  23. Thank you for the helpful information Becca. I always appreciate when people take the time to educate and share their recipes.

    I’ve noticed that when I make my salve which is just a basic salve, cannabis-coconut oil- beeswax and vit E, sometimes I get a darker green settling on the bottom of the jar. It’s spooks me because I’m not sure if it’s mold or what. But I give these out to friends and I certainly don’t want to give them a salve that is housing mold. It may just be the oil settling I’m not sure. Do you ever get this discoloration at the bottom of your jars with yours? I always make sure my jars are clean and dry. Thank you for everything and thank you for your response.

    1. The dark green on the bottom is just a little fine plant material that made it through the cheesecloth, so nothing to worry about!

  24. I have a grandson with ichthyisis vulgaris. I am going to make this salve and use on his skin. Everything doctors across our state have prescribed are useless. His skin is horrible. I will let you know how it works. I wish I could send you a picture of is arm.

  25. Hello,
    Quick question, when would u add the keif? Would u add it when You add the cannabis flower or would you put it in at a different time? Thanks and I love your recipe! I have been experimenting for years especially with cbd and I love love love your recipe and the ratios of ingredients are perfect! 🙂 thanks for sharing!

    Sincerely,
    Becca Jean “cbd Queen” ( my friends call me that) 😉

  26. Are you an “experimenter” person or do you have any form of a medical or science degree from a legitimate school? If people are making and using some of these ingredients without the knowledge of what herbs can do to certain people, they can end up in mess. If a person is on blood thinner or is a “free bleeder” or can’t use any thing such as NSaids (any pain or inflammation medicines except Tylenol) the product “cannabis” can thin their blood and they can hemorrhage. Some of the other ingredients that you mentioned such as olive oil, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, etc…. can also thin blood but I am not sure at how much of the ingredients it would take to do so.
    People with kidney problems would also get harmed with these ingredients.
    I desperately need something for pain from fibromyalgia, arthritis, and other disorders but due to losing all of the eyesight in one eye and with the high chance of losing the sight in the other eye due to hemorrhaging, I do not use these ingredients. (I have been a type one diabetic for forty-nine years and had always been extremely healthy until a lot of stress came to me. Diabetes and stress do not mix and now I am left with a lot of health problems. This is why I have the eye problems. Before the stress my eyes were better than perfect.”
    I wish I knew how much of any of these ingredients it takes to make one hemorrhage, but since it seems as NO ONE (doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, dietitians, etc…) knows how much it would take to do damage, I just stay away from these things. “Anything” that gives relieve to inflammation including: all NSaids (aspirin, Naproxen, Aleve, etc… anything except Tylenol is a NSaid), Omega foods, most all herbs and spices (garlic is very strong and although it helps with the inflammation and pain it will also cause the blood to thin).
    I hope anyone that uses a product, of any kind, checks out all of the ingredients if taken by mouth or on the skin. I also wish that I knew how much of topical creams it takes to get into the blood system but it seems as no one knows. I have asked many people but again… no one knows. I would try about anything to help but I am value my eyesight too much to try most things.

  27. Can I use the and cbd in store bought creams or add some thc to a cream as well and mix it together would it be useable

  28. Hello,
    I’ve been making canna-salve for a long time and have not figured out how to ensure that there are no little “pearls” in the end product. I use cannabis coconut oil and beeswax in the double boiler then add the essential oils just before jarring. Sometimes the finished product is perfectly smooth after cooling and solidifying, and sometimes the salve developes little “pellets” or “pearls” that do melt with rubbing it into the skin, yet they are an unattractive predicament that I would like to avoid. Have you encountered this problem in your salve making? And if so, have you figured out how to prevent it? Many thanks in advance!

    1. Lecithin is the answer! I’ve edited the post to reflect the addition of lecithin to the recipe.

    1. I sell a federally-legal CBD version on our sister site, SimpleApothecary.com/relEASE. I have found a way to make the salve with CBD and it works just as well as the THC version, without all of the legal headaches!

  29. I am making this healing salve but reducing the avocado oil to 4 ounces and adding 1 ounce of essential oil, 2 ounces of arnica oil and increased the vitamin E to 1 ounce. Hope it works.

    1. That is a LOT of essential oils! I would strongly suggest reducing that amount to about 1 tablespoon total, which is around the recommended 2% dilution rate.

  30. I’m new to this…I bought a magical butter machine. Any ideas how I would tweak the process?

  31. If I was to use CBD oil can you tell me how much I would use in this recipe?

    Thank you

  32. Super excited to make this! Question… how many drops of essential oil would you add when making a pain relief salve? Also how many grams would you estimate 2 cups of flower to be? Thanks!

  33. I’m excited to try this. I’m wondering if you have any idea how you’d do this using a magical butter machine. Thanks!!

  34. I want a salve that has THC in it. So just by heating it on the stove will decarb it and preserve the THC?

  35. Hi I am going to make this I am going to use full spectrum distillate I was wondering how many grams you would suggest using I know this is good my daughter makes it but I have to use CBD because marijuana is illegal where I live.

  36. Hi there,
    Instead of using Vitamin E am I able to use Sunflower Licithin?. I ask because when using Coconut oil or Clarified Butter) in the Butter Machine, the Licithin ( soy or sunflower) is used as a emulsifier.

  37. I, too have Phoenix oil and am very interested if you have any tips yet to use this for salve. I bought the oil and mix it with coconut oil. My aging dog gets a teaspoon in her food and I have watched her tumors shrink. we were sure she would die last year and she has only improved and acts more like a puppy regularly. I bought extra last time. It has lower THC than the oils sold more for their psychoactive nature. I want to make the salve as soon as possible. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

  38. I’m very new at the cannibas…I grew 4 plants and 2 of them are what I’ve been told are male plants..can I use them after I harvest the seeds…or do you have to use a female plant that flowers…I am already using a homemade salve that a friend makes and is amazing.but I would like to try with the plants I have cause I cant ship them to her…lol

  39. I’ve seen recent studies that show CBN is actually very effective for pain in topical use, perhaps even more than THC or THC-A. Have you found this to be the case, or the opposite? It’s hard to wade through the seemingly contradictory info online. The article suggested a long, low-temp decarb process (150 F or lower for 4 hours) as the best way to maximize both CBD and CBN while preserving terpenes

  40. Hi, I have infused some cannabis into Coconut oil. How can I mask the cannabis smell please?

  41. I would love to make this, and I love the oils you are using. I’m new to essential oils and wondered what your “recipe” was for them?

  42. Made a half batch two weeks ago and people love it! I’m about to make my second batch tomorrow… can you tell me, would I be able to add cayenne pepper at the stage where one would add essential oil? I’m looking to get a heating sensation when applying it. I’ve heard people recommend cayenne pepper in other recipes.

    Thank you for this wonderful recipe!

  43. Do you have any tricks when it comes to grating beeswax? Also I have some beeswax that is at least 10 years old….is it still good? It seems to smell OK but is very hard and hard to grate….maybe all beeswax is hard to grate and it’s not just because mine is old?
    I made this recipe last year and was very happy with the results. Thanks!

  44. I have found the best way to get the cannabis out of the oil is to line a potato ricer with cheese cloth. When I squeeze out the oil, I am left with just a solid block of cannabis waste. Less work than trying to squeeze out oil by hand.

  45. Hello! I’m very new to making cannabis salve. Mine turned out to hard and I’m wondering if I can remedy it and add other oils. I already added essential oils. I figured I might have to read them as I know heat will probably destroy Them. Any help is welcome.
    Thanks sharon

  46. Hi Becca, I have been making a pain salve sort of like yours. I first make cannabis coconut oil, (I use21 grams decarbed cannabis and 7 grams plain cannabis so that I get both THC and THCA benefits), cannabis glycerin tincture in my Blue Sky infuser ( this is like a Magic Butter Machine, just different brand with a better warranty and better price). I use the stainless steel bowl from my mixer on top of my 3 quart crockpot with an inch of water in the crockpot to melt the 2 ozs.beeswax first (it takes the longest to melt) then add 4 ozs. shea butter, then 4 ozs. cannabis coconut oil, then I add 1 oz. grapeseed oil and 1 oz. jojoba oil. Stir for a minute and add the 1 oz. cannabis glycerin tincture. Remove from top of crockpot add in essential oils and pour into jars and allow to cool. Or place whole bowl in fridge for an hour so that mixture becomes more like a semi-hard semi-soft butter, take it and whip it with my mixer till it is nice and smooth, like 10 minutes. Scoop into jars. I rub it on everywhere I have a pain or ache.

  47. Hello, I am just starting out growing my own cannabis to make salves. I was give male seeds and would like to know if I will get enough THC/CBD from these plants?

    1. You will get some, but much of the cannabinoids come from the flowering female. It’s worth a try!

  48. This is wonderful! I’ve been looking for a recipe for a topical that has as much thca as it does thc! Question, I have a ton of kief, do you know if I could substitute this for flower? Thank you!

    1. As kief is the actual trichomes off the plant where many of the cannabinoids reside, it is a great substitute.

    1. It can vary, depending on the preservatives used or not used. Commercial salves with artificial preservatives can last a long time, as opposed to a homemade or all-natural one which will have a naturally limited shelf life. The coconut oil and vitamin E oil in this particular recipe help to act as a natural preservative. as will putting it in the fridge. It is best to use these up within a year of making them as a general rule of thumb 🙂

  49. MAGICAL BUTTER MACHINE.
    Anyone have good, basic instructions for making salve from bud to balm.

  50. You do not list the soy lecithin in the recipe. How much and when do you put this in?

Leave a Reply to Diane Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *