When I made the first batch of Winter Stress Relief Salve a couple of years ago, I gave a jar to my neighbor, Chelsea, a nurse at UVM hospital.
She called me last week to let me know that one day she took the jar out of her bag to put some on, and her colleagues mobbed her asking what it was that smelled so good. Because I didn’t have any more jars left, I decided to make a fresh batch. Chelsea and Buick came over to observe the process, and I gifted her with 10 jars to pass along to the nurses she works with at UVM hospital. Nurses deserve the best!
This salve makes wonderful gifts for the holiday season.
I find that it provides comfort and warmth for sore, achy muscles, soothes chapped hands and feet, promotes emotional clarity, and soothes holiday stress.
Use:
Apply a thin layer occasionally to hands, feet, elbows, or sore shoulders when resting. Rub in thoroughly. Put warm socks on feet and cotton gloves on hands overnight. Makes 7 cups (14 jars, 4 oz. each or 28 jars, 2 oz. each.)
Method:
Combine the following ingredients on stovetop in large, deep, heavy-bottomed pot, at low heat. Watch carefully; mixture is not meant to simmer or boil. Stir gently. Remove from heat as soon as the beeswax pellets and shea butter melt.
Beeswax pellets: 1 ¾ c.
Refined Shea Butter: 2 lbs.
Arnica infused almond oil: 2/3 c.
Rose infused almond oil: 2/3 c.
Vitamin E oil: 2 Tbsp.
After removing from heat, add the following essential oils. Combine the following and add the mixture to the above. Stir gently.
Lavender: 1 Tbsp.
Tea Tree: 1 Tbsp.
Camphor: 1 Tbsp.
Peppermint: 1 ½ Tbsp.
Ginger: 1 tsp.
Clove: 1 tsp.
Wintergreen: ¾ tsp.
Black Pepper: ½ tsp.
Pink Pepper: ½ tsp.
Frankincense: ½ tsp.
Pour into jars, cool, cover with lids. Store in a cool place.
Safety note: Whenever you make a product to apply to the skin do a simple allergy test, a “skin test” before use. Apply a small amount on a small area on the inside of your wrist and wait 24 hours. If a rash, redness or itchiness results at any time in the 24 hours do not use it any further. Doing a skin test is important for anything you make for yourself, but its even more important for anything you share with another person. Also, be aware that essential oils are better tolerated by adults than children.
The recipes you’ll find here on my website are all meant for adult use. Significant adjustments have to be made for use with children.