Topicals? Salves? Rubs?

SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
What's up fellow nerds?

I'd like to try my hand at mixing up some topicals, and I figured there's no better group of people to ask than the Weed Nerds. I have a very close friend who suffers from horrible neuropathy pain in her feet due to diabetes. Not long ago she discovered the topical MJ salves available at dispensaries here in CA, and they have been a lifesaver. She uses them at night before bed and is able to sleep through the night without constantly waking up in pain.

So... That brings me to my question. Can anyone recommend a good recipe/procedure for a topical MJ salve or lotion? The products at the dispensary are a rip-off, and I just can't think of a better use for my extra trim than helping a friend in need.
 
drolove

drolove

Well-Known Member
seems like it would be a pain in the ass to make something like that but im interested myself. subbed
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
It might be a pain in the ass, but it'll be worth it if I can help.

I'm hoping there is a way that I can use some of my "lower grade" bubble hash, and possibly dissolve it in some kind of coco butter, or Shea butter, or something? I know absolutely nothing about skin care products, but the "butters" make me think I could dissolve Cannabis in them... Maybe a crock pot or double boiler is involved?

I just need to learn more... Google searching and searching this site will happen soon, just wanted to get the wheels turning...
 
drolove

drolove

Well-Known Member
well if you could use something that would melt down and turn back into a solid maybe a simple boil of it with some hash, trim, or bud in it and a good straining might work but idk anything about making creams.
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
I think there may be a substance out there that helps things get absorbed through your skin. Like a "carrier" of sorts. Time to research..
 
S

Subbie

Active Member
Hi guys. Here is a recipe I came up with that I really like for a salve/balm. It is a bit on the greasy side but it's strong from using the coconut infusion in a higher percentage then Shea butter. The bees wax ties it all together. This stuff actually works for swelling and pain.

1/2 ounce Flowers baked for 20 min's at 250 in the oven, crush.
16 ounces High quality Organic coconut oil
2 ounces Organic bees wax ****
2 ounces Organic Shea butter
Scent extracts if desired, I used a Piña Colada scent

Makes (5) 4 ounce jars

I infused the coconut oil and flowers for about a month, in a warm place shaking daily if u remember. You need to keep the coconut oił in a liquid state for the infusion. After a month separate the flowers from the oil, I used a rice press with cheese cloth, worked great.

In a double boiler, slowly melt down the bees wax and Shea butter, take off the heat. Do not burn or over cook this! Add the coconut oil and put it under a mixer at about medium to high setting. To get the mixture from a liquid state to a solid I put a bag of ice under the mixer bowl. Add your extract for scent now (don't over do the scent). Keep on mixing, this could take 30-60 mins. You will have to scrape down the edges several times with a spatula. Eventually the mixture will go opaque and thicken to a lotion consistency. At this point put the mixture in jars. I used 4 ounce plastic cosmetic jars.

Place your jars/containers in the fridge. Everything hardens up, I store it in the fridge.

*** I read somewhere that the bees wax might be a problem for people that are hyper sensitive to bees. No clue if this is factual, thought I'd make u aware of it. Use caution!

Supplies

Coconut oil: www.tropicaltraditions.com/virgin_coconut_oil.htm
Raw unrefined ivory Shea butter grade A Ghana: Amazon
Organic hand poured beeswax, triple filtered: Amazon

If you have any questions, howler at me.
 
Laney

Laney

Well-Known Member
Great thread! I did one batch with plain EVCO and may try adding the beeswax and shea butter.
 
S

Subbie

Active Member
I use flowers that have been cured, I assume properly cured bud brings out more of the 'good stuff' you want outa the buds for infusion. We dont smoke much flowers around here, however, I still like having properly cured buds around for topicals, tinctures and gifts.

And your welcome, hope this was helpful.



Jeep4x44life said:
Do the flowers need to be cured properly? Im guessing no but might as well get all the info!
Thx again!
J4x4
Click to expand...
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
Thanks so much for the recipe!!!

I will be giving it a try. I have also thought about trying to create a medicated version of either Tiger Balm or BioFreeze. I think that could be very relieving as the cooling/warming helps distract from pain.

Anyway, thanks again for posting up your recipe!
 
S

Subbie

Active Member
You are very welcome. Please let us know how you like it.


SpicySativa said:
Thanks so much for the recipe!!!

I will be giving it a try. I have also thought about trying to create a medicated version of either Tiger Balm or BioFreeze. I think that could be very relieving as the cooling/warming helps distract from pain.

Anyway, thanks again for posting up your recipe!
Click to expand...
 
mdogg

mdogg

Well-Known Member
I used this recipe (http://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/2010/04/30/topical-cannabis-healing-salve/)as a starting point and kind of try different things each time I make a batch of balm. I just use it for basic muscle pain from having sprained my ankles badly in high school, but there are a lot of people that I have given some to that it works wonders for. My friend's grandma uses it for her arthritis and she doesn't smoke at all. Another friend gave some to his neighbor that burned himself while blowing glass. The guy said when that normally happens his skin bubbles up and takes a while to heal, but when he put the balm on it it never bubbled and healed twice as fast. Another friend had a gnarly bite on his leg that he put some on and it healed up. Another friend's mom uses it for rheumatoid arthritis and says it works great. The balm is the bomb!
 
nugbuckets

nugbuckets

Well-Known Member
Subbie said:
Hi guys. Here is a recipe I came up with that I really like for a salve/balm. It is a bit on the greasy side but it's strong from using the coconut infusion in a higher percentage then Shea butter. The bees wax ties it all together. This stuff actually works for swelling and pain.

1/2 ounce Flowers baked for 20 min's at 250 in the oven, crush.
16 ounces High quality Organic coconut oil
2 ounces Organic bees wax ****
2 ounces Organic Shea butter
Scent extracts if desired, I used a Piña Colada scent

Makes (5) 4 ounce jars

I infused the coconut oil and flowers for about a month, in a warm place shaking daily if u remember. You need to keep the coconut oił in a liquid state for the infusion. After a month separate the flowers from the oil, I used a rice press with cheese cloth, worked great.

In a double boiler, slowly melt down the bees wax and Shea butter, take off the heat. Do not burn or over cook this! Add the coconut oil and put it under a mixer at about medium to high setting. To get the mixture from a liquid state to a solid I put a bag of ice under the mixer bowl. Add your extract for scent now (don't over do the scent). Keep on mixing, this could take 30-60 mins. You will have to scrape down the edges several times with a spatula. Eventually the mixture will go opaque and thicken to a lotion consistency. At this point put the mixture in jars. I used 4 ounce plastic cosmetic jars.

Place your jars/containers in the fridge. Everything hardens up, I store it in the fridge.

*** I read somewhere that the bees wax might be a problem for people that are hyper sensitive to bees. No clue if this is factual, thought I'd make u aware of it. Use caution!

Supplies

Coconut oil: www.tropicaltraditions.com/virgin_coconut_oil.htm
Raw unrefined ivory Shea butter grade A Ghana: Amazon
Organic hand poured beeswax, triple filtered: Amazon

If you have any questions, howler at me.
Click to expand...
Hi Subbie....well, it is getting that time of year to make some medicines, and salves....my question to you is.....how do you think the salve will be without the beeswax....i get hung up on rubbing wax into my skin pours.....any thoughts?....nugs
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
nugbuckets said:
Hi Subbie....well, it is getting that time of year to make some medicines, and salves....my question to you is.....how do you think the salve will be without the beeswax....i get hung up on rubbing wax into my skin pours.....any thoughts?....nugs
Click to expand...
I was thinking the same thing about the wax and pores, but then I remembered about the skin care company Burt's Bees out here in CA. Their products are pretty popular, which I don't think would be the case if they clogged pores...

I'll be giving this a try with some of my Pandoras Box larf.
 
S

Subbie

Active Member
Nugs and Spicy, with the high percentage of coconut oil, I do not think the mixture will stay together without the bees wax. I did make a small batch without bees wax that had a lot more Shea butter which held together fine, problem was it wasn't strong enough.

I think if u could infuse the Shea butter that would be the solution. Shea butter has a melting point of 89-100, so if u could keep it at that temp (liquid state) long enough for the cannibus to infuse you'd be good to go. I have not tryed that yet. Remember you do not want to overheat the Shea butter.

This recipe is only 2 ounces of bees wax, divide that by 5 and you are talking about .4 of an ounce in a 4 ounce jar. I don't know of another 'binder' to replace the bees wax that isnt organic. To bad you don't live in N Cal, I'd certainly let you try it. I'll see if I can figure something out.

I have no experience with these but here are some substitutions for bees wax. Soy wax, sunflower wax and candelilla wax. Maybe lanolin, but go to wiki and see where lanolin comes from, ick.
 
budlover13

budlover13

King Tut
i simple iso rub works wonders on my wife's neuropathy, my fibro, and my mom and i's arthritis.

1 oz bud/trim in 16 ounces of iso. Keep it in a warm place and shake daily for 1+ month. Strain and apply as needed.

i like the recipe for lotion though :)
 
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