Using skinfood as medicine is a must in my book. The use of purely natural ingredients for the largest organ in the body to heal and protect is very important. And the most economical way to take advantage of this is by making homemade salve. A recipe as old as time. Even better, to find fast relief from aches and skin conditions you can make a cannabis salve (CBD or THC-rich) at home using what’s in your cupboard. Learning just a few simple techniques can make a world of difference in how to whip up a quick, customizable salve based on your needs.
Cannabis oil has anti-inflammatory properties known to have a wide variety of benefits for the skin, including reducing pain and inflammation, redness, and acne, and can also be used to relieve joint pain and soothe sore muscles.
CBD salves work by binding to cannabinoid receptors located in the skin, muscles, and nerves which then activate the endocannabinoid system. CBD salves are typically used for pain relief or to alleviate skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, or weathered and dry skin.
Cannabis salves are easy to make at home. All you need is some coconut oil, beeswax pastilles, a few utensils, and a little bit of cannabis or hemp flower.
What is a Cannabis/CBD Salve?
- CBD salves are ointments, balms, or creams that have been infused with CBD oil.
- CBD salves are simple body balms made with cannabis infused oil, wax, and whatever essential oil(s) that will fit your needs.
- A strong yet gentle solution for any aches, pains, or skin irritations like dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis.
- Salve is applied topically, directly to the skin, and is much thicker, and more oily than lotion (which includes water) which means salves are more potent and therapeutic, but not to be used as a general body lotion.
What ingredients go into a DIY CBD salve?
In order to make CBD salve, you will need cannabis oil (such as CBD oil), a base oil such as coconut oil or olive oil, essential oils, wax such as beeswax, and an oil infuser machine or saucepan to bring them all together. The sky is the limit on what ingredients can be used in a DIY CBD salve once the basics are covered.
1. Choose a carrier oil.
The base always involves a carrier oil, which can be any basic lipid that’s good for the skin. I love to use coconut oil, olive oil, and vitamin E-rich oils like jojoba oil and hemp seed oil to name a few. This is the key element to adding your CBD oil or cannabis oil.
2. Choose a kind of ‘butter’ for added benefit.
Organic shea butter, cocoa butter, or mango butter is the next necessary ingredient to help thicken the product and to add more nutrients like vitamins and essential fatty acids.
3. Choose a wax.
The next necessary element to make a salve recipe involves wax. I have beeswax pastilles (or pellets) I love to use for my personal batches, and soy wax for any vegan batches I make. Another great vegan option is using candelilla wax. These can easily be found locally, on Amazon, or in other more ethically sourced online stores.
Basic Quick Start: Cannabis-Infused Oil
All infused recipes I make on this blog include cannabis-infused oil, whether this is a CBD-rich or THC-rich cannabis oil. Cannabis oil is that is likely made of organic olive oil, coconut oil, or MCT oil (fractionated coconut oil). If not oil, it’ll be butter, tallow, or ghee. Either way, I prefer lipid-based methods to extract my cannabis and hemp plants.
Why cannabis infused oil or fat?
Extracting cannabis works best with lipid infusion because the medicinal, nutritious components of the plant are lipophilic, meaning they are attracted to and bind to fat molecules. It’s the most nutrient-rich way to consume the benefits of cannabis.
Important Note: You’ll first need to decarboxylate your cannabis (hemp).
In order to create an effective and relieving CBD or cannabis salve, you’ll need to first buy or make decarboxylated cannabis. This is the key element in any CBD or THC-rich product.
What is decarboxylation?
It’s the process of heating your starting material (cannabis) to a specific temperature for a certain amount of time, in order to convert THCA into THC, and CBDA into CBD. CBD and THC are the key components of CBD oils, CBD salves, and other CBD or THC products.
How much CBD oil should be in a salve?
The CBD oil dosage for a salve is completely up to you. For a 4-ounce jar, I like to use 1/2 ounce of CBD oil which equates to 500 mg total. You can use it more or less depending on your preferences. A big helper in deciding how much CBD is in your CBD salve is to use a dosage calculator or to purchase a T-Checker, which analysis and details the cannabinoid content of any product.
How to Make A Cannabis Salve – Two Ways
You can use whatever herbs or essential oils you have on hand and make something luxurious right in your kitchen! So whether you’re looking for an all-natural soothing hand moisturizer, a calming nighttime CBD salve, or a remedy for those pesky stretch marks, these ultra-soothing DIY CBD salve recipes are the perfect fit.
Here I will show you two ways to make a CBD salve recipe. One is by hand using a saucepan and pre-purchased CBD oil and essential oils. The next way is by using a LEVO II Oil Infuser alongside dried herbs and flowers.
Recipe #1: A Basic CBD Salve Recipe
This will be the simplest method of creating your own cannabinoid-rich salves and balms. Since you are not infusing your own herbs, you can instead buy cannabis oil or CBD oil from a local dispensary or online. Just make sure the oil is just that, an oil base like coconut oil, olive oil, or MCT oil. The simpler the ingredients, the better.
For this salve recipe, you will need a double boiler, whisk, and a 4-8 oz. glass jar with an airtight seal.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup CBD or cannabis-infused coconut oil (I love Onda and LEEF Organics)
- ¼ cup sweet almond oil
- ¼ cup cocoa butter (or shea)
- ¼ cup beeswax pellets
- 5-10 drops of essential oils of your choice (such as lavender, tea tree, peppermint, etc.)
Directions:
- Using a double boiler, gently heat the infused coconut oil, shea butter, sweet almond oil, and beeswax pastilles until they are melted and well combined.
- Add essential oils of your choice, and gently stir the delicate oil until well combined.
- Whip the oil with a whisk until you reach the desired consistency. Allow cooling for no more than 2 minutes.
- Then carefully transfer the CBD salve mixture into a clean glass container to cool completely. Stored in an airtight container, these oils can last up to one year in the refrigerator.
Recipe #2: LEVO II Oil Infuser + Whole Plant Herbs
To make CBD and THC-rich salves using a LEVO II Oil Infuser, you’ll need to first decarboxylate your cannabis (or hemp plant) using the ACTIVATE setting on your machine.
Once the cannabis has been fully decarboxylated, you’ll then be able to move on to the next step of creating your CBD salve. Infusing your dried herbs into a carrier oil of choice. To stay consistent, the best carrier oil for me is coconut oil.
LEVO II Calming CBD Salve Recipe (Lavender Chamomile)
For this salve recipe, you will need a LEVO II Oil Infuser, whisk, and a 4-8 oz. glass jar with an airtight seal.
Ingredients:
- 1-3 tablespoons of dried cannabis or hemp flower, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon dried lavender
- 1 tablespoon dried chamomile
- 1 tablespoon dried hemp flower
- ¼ cup sweet almond oil
- ¼ cup cocoa butter (or shea)
- ¼ cup beeswax pellets
- 1 tablespoon vitamin E oil
Directions:
LEVO Prep
- Put your dry hemp flower in the herb pod, and choose the Activate cycle at 240F for 30 minutes.
- Once the Activate cycle is complete, add the coconut oil and sweet almond oil to the basin. Choose the Infuse cycle at 160-175 F for 2 hours.
- Remove the hemp flower from the herb pod and allow the LEVO to cool for a few minutes.
- Pack pod with chamomile and lavender, and infuse the hemp oil for an additional 30 minutes at 175F.
Instructions
- Remove the herb pod, but be careful to note, that it’s hot!
- Add cocoa butter, beeswax pellets, and vitamin E oil to the basin then infuse for another 5 minutes or until it is all melted.
- Dispense oil and allow it to cool for only two minutes (anything more and the beeswax will harden). Add essential oils, if using, and mix thoroughly.
- Whip the oil with a whisk or immersion blender until you reach the desired consistency. Store in an airtight container.
Recipe Notes
Store at room temperature for up to 6 months, or in the refrigerator for up to 12 months. For the added benefit of pain and inflammation relief, refrigerate or freeze the salve prior to application.
