Arnica Salve for Bruises, Strains and Bites

Arnica salve soothes bruises, sprains, and strains. It is a must for your first aid kit, especially if you are active outdoors.

Arnica salve is a must have remedy for your herbal apothecary. It is useful for bruising, muscle strains, sprains, and other injuries where the skin is not broken but there is pain, inflammation, and bruising. Arnica salve reduces shock after injuring and speeds healing. Athletes use it to reduce inflammation and speed recovery after training workouts.

Arnica salve has been used successfully for osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel, and other muscle and joint pain. It is my go-to remedy for bug bites and farm injuries, where the skin is not broken.

My daughter requested a “bruise salve” as she’s taken a few tumbles on her walk to work. Arnica is the best herbal remedy for those injuries that you get when you walk or work a lot outdoors. In this recipe I’ve combined arnica with yarrow leaves. Yarrow is also a great bruise remedy that quickly resolves bleeding, reduces inflammation, and speeds healing to an injury.

Arnica salve begins with infused oil. If you have fresh arnica blossoms you will make arnica infused oil using the quick method below. If you have dried arnica blossoms you can use either the quick way or the slow way described below.

Arnica infused oil the quick way

Arnica salve begins with arnica infused oil. When using fresh arnica, infuse olive oil with arnica flowers using heat, to inhibit mold. When infusing oil with fresh plant materia, there is the risk of mold developing when the infusions are done at room temperature over several weeks. Instead of infusing at room temperature, heat is used to minimize mold contamination, since fresh plant material is being infused.

Make a double boiler using a saucepan, a canning jar ring and a glass measuring cup. Fill the measuring cup with 2 cups of fresh arnica flowers. Yarrow leaves may also be added to the oil to increase the potency of the salve, if desired. Yarrow is beneficial for bruises.

Place the canning jar ring in the bottom of the sauce pan. Place the measuring cup on the ring in the saucepan. Fill the saucepan with water so that it comes halfway up the side of the glass measuring cup.

Simmer the saucepan on medium heat for one hour. Turn off the heat. Allow the oil to come to room temperature.

Strain the infused oil, separating the oil from the plant material. Squeeze the plant material to retain as much of the oil as possible. Add ¼ teaspoon of vitamin E to the infused oil to inhibit rancidity. Transfer the infused oil to a sanitized Mason jar. Label and date the infused oil. It will keep for up to 3 years if kept in a cool, dry place.

Arnica infused oil the slow way

If you are using dried arnica flowers you can proceed with the oil infusion the slow way. Place 1 cup of dried arnica flowers in a pint size Mason jar. Cover the flowers with olive oil or another carrier oil. Ensure that the flowers are fully covered with oil. Cap tightly. Place the jar in a warm cupboard out of direct sunlight.

Shake the jar once a day or as often as you think of it. After 4 to 6 weeks, strain the jar contents, retaining the oil. Squeeze the plant material through a potato ricer or other press to capture as much of the oil as possible.

Add ¼ teaspoon of vitamin E per pint of oil. Label and date the jar.The infused oil will last 3 years if kept out of light and heat.

Download the printable recipe by clicking on the link below:

Arnica Salve for bruises and scrapes

Arnica Salve

Salves have a soft, spreadable consistency that melts on skin contact. This recipe may be doubled.

Yield: 2 ounces

Ingredients:

3 ½ tablespoons arnica infused oil

2 teaspoons beeswax (about 8 grams)

24 drops of tea tree or lavender essential oil (optional — 2 % dilution)

Directions:

Make a double boiler using a glass measuring cup. Add arnica infused oil and beeswax to the glass measuring cup. Simmer until the beeswax melts.Remove from heat. If you are using essential oils add them now. I like to add 12 drops of lavender essential oil and 12 drops of rosemary essential oil to this salve to increase the skin healing, analgesic, and antimicrobial actions of the arnica.

Stir the mixture as it cools to prevent separation. Spoon the mixture into a 2 ounce salve tin. Cap tightly, label, and date.

To use:

Salve is helpful for bruises, strains, sprains, and sore joints and muscles.

Contraindications:

Avoid using arnica on broken skin or burns. It should not be taken internally. Arnica should not be used by people who are allergic to arnica or by people who may be sensitive to other members of the compositae family (sunflower family)