A Quick Guide to DIY Topicals — Try Today!
Cannabis-infused topicals seem like a next big thing. Lotions, salves, or balms bring immense relief from chronic or acute localized pain. Topicals are applied directly to the skin which means you will not get high. They are a great pain reliever during the work day or another time when you cannot consume cannabis.
The good news is that you can easily make your own cannabis-infused topical lotions. If you have ever made cannabis-infused butter, you will find the recipe remarkably similar. Let’s see what you need to do.
Basic Cannabis Salve
- 28 grams of ground cannabis;
- 1 ½ cups of coconut oil;
- 1/3 cup olive oil (optional);
- 1/3 cup beeswax;
- One baking sheet;
- One saucepan;
- One jar;
- One cheesecloth;
- A few drops of essential oil (optional, your choice).
What you do:
- Preheat your oven to 240 F.
- Spread dried ground cannabis on a baking sheet.
- Decarboxylate cannabis in the oven for 15 minutes.
- While cannabis is in the oven, put coconut and olive oil in the saucepan over low heat and stir continuously.
- Remove cannabis from the oven and mix it into the coconut oil.
- Stir this mixture for 20-25 minutes maintaining a low heat.
- Remove from heat and pour the mixture through a cheesecloth into the jar.
- Add the beeswax in the same saucepan and heat until it is melted. As it melts, slowly add the infused coconut oil from the jar.
- If you want to add aroma, put some essential oils in the mixture. A few drops of lavender, peppermint, or tea tree oils will do.
- Once the beeswax and infused coconut oil are mixed, remove from the heat and transfer into containers.
N.B.: Keep the heat very low, especially when you use a saucepan — if the temperature gets too high, you will burn off the THC which would decrease the potency. It is especially relevant if you add olive oil, as it has a lower smoke point than other oils.
Cannabis-Infused Lotion
What you need:
- A jar of salve you previously made;
- One cup aloe vera gel;
- Two tablespoons shea butter or cocoa butter.
Mix all the components. If you want to increase the fluidity of your lotion, increase the amount of olive oil (or vitamin E/almond oil) in your mixture. However, your lotion will still be thick, so it is better not to put it in a lotion pump. Grab containers for cannabis flower — for example, the classic 4 oz. glass canning jar will do.
N.B.: Homemade cannabis salve will not last forever, but you can preserve it by storing it in a cool dark place.
Other Things to Try:
- Naturally-tinted lip balm: add frozen raspberries to the mixture and make your own color;
- Flavored lip balm: add a teaspoon of honey or cocoa powder to bring sweetness or chocolate flavor;
- Headache relief ointment: add 15 to 20 drops of peppermint, lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus to the mixture and apply to your temple and the nape of your neck;
- Calming sleep balm: add dried rose petals and chamomile oils for relaxing balm and apply to the soles of your feet before bedtime;
- Arthritis relief lotion: add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper for effective pain relief. Be careful with cayenne and don’t let it sneak into your eyes.
The main rule is simple: don’t be afraid to experiment!
This article is based on this Leafly material.
(Sweedsy in no way encourages illegal activity and would like to remind its readers that marijuana usage continues to be an offense under Federal Law, regardless of state marijuana laws. To learn more, click here.)
No Comments