The last stocking stuffer idea I’ll be sharing is this balm for sore muscles and joints. I also made soap for people this year from a melt-and-pour base, but I’m no expert, so I’d recommend visiting Soap Queen for tutorials! I used an organic soap base with lavender essential oil, dried lavender buds, and white and purple mica. Handmade soaps make great gifts!
This pain-relieving and circulation-increasing salve helps ease aching and inflamed joints and muscle soreness from overuse, sprains, or tension.
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup unrefined coconut oil
4 T beeswax pellets
1/2 tsp vitamin E oil
1 dropper white willow extract (or add 1 tsp dried white willow bark to oil infusion)
20 drops peppermint essential oil
20 drops eucalyptus essential oil
20 drops clove essential oil
20 drops rosemary essential oil
20 drops juniper berry essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops frankincense essential oil
Dried herbs and spices for infusing:
2 tsp calendula flowers
1 tsp black peppercorns
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp comfrey root
1 tsp chamomile
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Cover your herbs with olive oil in a sanitized Pyrex measuring cup. Place in a pot of water over low heat. Let infuse for 6-8 hours, making sure the water doesn’t all evaporate. Strain oil with a coffee filter or cheese cloth, then return to clean Pyrex.
Add the coconut oil and beeswax to the measuring cup in the pot of water. Heat over medium-low. Stir until beeswax melts.
Stir in vitamin E and white willow extract.
Working quickly, remove Pyrex from heat and add essential oils, stirring well.
Fill your sanitized jars or tins and allow to cool. This recipes fills approximately 9 1-oz tins.
Massage into painful muscles and joints as needed. Avoid eyes.
