How to Make Homemade Cannabis Salve
I had a fun excursion in the kitchen this week, one that I wanted to share with you! I created a cannabis-infused salve and I am absolutely loving it.
In this blog post, I will walk you through the basics of creating a cannabis-infused salve at home. I’m still new at this - but know enough to provide basic guidance so that you can get started!
A salve that I recently created in my kitchen. This batch is for my neighbor!
Why Cannabis Salve?
First of all, what is a salve? To be honest, I heard this term for the first time just a few years ago. A salve is a product that is meant to be rubbed onto the skin. Think topicals, lotions, and balms. Salves usually have a pretty thick consistency and can be homemade or store-bought. If you have been to your local farmer’s market lately, then you have probably seen salves for sale among the decorative tents.
A cannabis salve is a topical product that has been infused with cannabis. Because cannabinoids bind best to fats, cannabis topicals are usually made with an oil base. I recommend using coconut oil, and others have used olive oil as well.
When we use a topical product containing cannabis - and the beneficial molecules found within the plant, called cannabinoids - we are able to activate the endocannabinoid receptors in our skin. With great results! Cannabis salves can be used to manage symptoms of pain, inflammation, and even skin rashes like psoriasis and eczema. The epidermis is a powerful organ, and keeping our skin healthy is one of the ways that we can take care of our health in general. So, if you are looking for a new way to incorporate cannabis or CBD into your wellness regimen, consider buying a cannabis salve or making one at home.
If you’re looking for ready-made CBD salves that you can buy, check out my blog post about my favorite CBD products here: Bud and Blossom's Favorite CBD Products
In this list, I have included some of my favorite CBD companies, many of which offer CBD topicals.
But, if you’re interested in making your own salves at home, keep reading!
Nothing like a virtual nug <3
What type of flower is best for salve: CBD or THC?
This is up to you! You can use either a CBD-rich flower (often called “hemp flower”) or a THC-rich flower to create your salve.
From a therapeutic efficacy standpoint, I would recommend considering the use of flower with at least some THC. When the various cannabinoids found in cannabis are all present together, including CBD, THC, and other minor cannabinoids (CBN, CBG, CBC, and more…) there is a synergistic effect known as the “entourage effect”.
Also, particularly if you are creating a salve to combat localized pain, then I would recommend using flower with some THC because THC can be extremely beneficial for pain management.
Note: Topicals that contain THC will not get you “high”. In fact, this is the one cannabis administration that will not bring about any psychoactivity, even when THC is present. I know some people who even rub full-cannabis oil on their baby’s skin. Remember - how you decide to use your cannabis products is up to you!
If you are looking to reduce inflammation, then I would recommend creating a salve with a high percentage of CBD. CBD interacts with CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, and CB2 receptors are all about managing inflammation. To find a cannabis strain high in CBD, ask for a “CBD flower” or “hemp flower” at your local dispensary. Harlequin and Charlotte’s Web are two well-known strains that are high in CBD. You can also purchase CBD flower online, my favorite vendor for CBD flower is Sacred Smoke Herbals (you can literally get CBD flower shipped to your door - amazing!)
Consider the laws in your state when deciding what kind of cannabis flower to use. If cannabis isn’t legal where you live, it’s probably best to stick to CBD flower/hemp flower. These are cannabis flowers that fall within the legal limit for THC content, meaning they are legal across the United States as well as many other countries.
Hemp flower? CBD flower? Cannabis flower? Huh?
The terms surrounding cannabis flower can get confusing. Here are some definitions that may prove helpful ~
If a cannabis plant is tested after harvest and has less than 0.03% THC, then it is legally considered “hemp”. And if the plant has more than 0.03% THC, then it’s legally considered “cannabis” or “marijuana”. Colloquially, flower that is low in THC is either called “hemp flower or “CBD flower”. However, CBD and hemp are not necessarily synonymous because CBD is a cannabinoid and hemp is a legal classification of the cannabis plant, based on THC content. Still, when describing low-THC flower, these words are often used interchangeably.
But remember this: Hemp/cannabis/marijuana - it’s all the same plant. And hemp is just a legal term. Ahh, the tyranny of words...
Creating Salves at Home
Over the last couple of years, I have been experimenting more with cannabis in the kitchen. I’m still getting the hang of making my own canna goodies at home, but have tried several kinds of recipes so far, including cannabis-infused coconut oil, cannabis-infused brownies, and cannabis gummies. And now - cannabis salve!
For my most recent batch of cannabis salve, I ended up using what I had lying around the house: CBD flower from Sacred Smoke Herbals, lavender from a neighbor’s garden, and some coconut oil I have been saving in my cupboard for cannabis infusions.
This is one thing I really love about creating salves - you can get creative with it! You can use the cannabis flower, botanicals, and essential oils that you already have lying around your house. You will also need an oil base (I recommend coconut oil) and some beeswax for thickened consistency. If you are vegan, you can also use a waxy material that is not reliant on animals, such as soy wax or candelilla wax.
Beyond that, you will also need the supplies required to create a cannabis-infused oil. You can use a special infusion machine, such as the LEVO II or the Magic Butter Machine. Or, you can use the double-broiler method using pots and pans you have at home. I haven’t created cannabis oil using the double-broiler method, but here’s a great blog post about this here.
I have an old blog post about making cannabis-infused coconut oil with a Magic Butter Machine, check this out here.
Soon, I’ll create another post about cannabis-infused oils, because now I’m using the LEVO II Infusion machine and the whole infusion process is SO MUCH BETTER!
With the LEVO machine, the entire infusion process is super clean. No mess at all, no squeezing a cheesecloth, nothing is greasy afterward (whereas, with other infusion machines, I found that EVERYTHING was greasy afterward). For these reasons, I really love this new machine and I’m super excited to continue to utilize my LEVO in my kitchen.
Seriously, if you are interested in making cannabis-infused foods at home, consider the LEVO II. You can buy it from the manufacturer (visit levooil.com) or you can buy it on Amazon! I’ll include a link for you.
CBD + Lavender Salve
Recently, I created a CBD + lavender salve in my kitchen. It was so much fun and actually pretty easy. And, I think these will make great gifts for friends and family in the future!
My inspiration to make this salve came when one day, my neighbor asked, “do you want some fresh lavender from my garden?” Well, sure!
Then I got the lavender, and thought - what am I going to do with this? And then I looked at some CBD flower I had lying around… and I knew exactly what I wanted to do :)
With this recipe, I was able to make 3 x 3-inch tins of CBD + lavender salve. With the natural lavender, and some additional drops of lavender essential oil, this salve gives off some real linalool vibes! It is the perfect companion to my evening routine and helps me get into my “nighttime chill”.
I am going to keep one of these tins for myself, right next to my bedside. Before bed, as I read (I’m currently reading The Ten Commandments by Emmet Fox, which was recommended to me by Tommy Chong!), I rub the salve on my hands, arms, and temples to help me drift off to dreamland. The sedating linalool terpene from the lavender and the calming effects from the CBD combine to deepen my relaxation.
Here are some pictures I took while creating the salve:
The herbs in the LEVO II herbal pod.
This is what your salve will look like as it cools… How pretty is this?!
Want to make your own CBD + Lavender Salve?
Here’s what you gotta do…
Gather Supplies:
CBD flower (3.5g)
4-6 sprigs of fresh lavender (or lavender essential oil - or both!)
Beeswax (⅓ cup)
Coconut Oil
Assemble the Salve:
Step one: Create the cannabis-infused oil.
Using whatever oil infusion method works best for you, infuse your coconut oil base with the cannabis flower of your choosing and any other botanicals that you wish to include (for instance, lavender). The result should be a clear cannabis oil that will later be incorporated into your salve.
Step two: Combine with beeswax and (optional) essential oils.
In a saucepan, or another double broiler set up, slowly heat beeswax until it is a clear, liquid consistency. For my batch of salve, I used ⅓ cup of beeswax beads to 1.5 cups of cannabis-infused oil. In general, you want to strive for 1 part beeswax to about 4 parts oil.
Once the beeswax is heated, add your cannabis oil. Mix slowly until the entire mixture is melted together and consistent. Add some essential oil drops, if you like, for additional aromatherapy factor. Note: you don’t want to keep the mixture on the stove for too long, because there is a risk of “burning off” the cannabinoids. Only heat as long as is needed to truly combine the mixture.
Where to find beeswax? I was able to find beeswax at my local health food store. If you have trouble finding beeswax locally, you can of course also buy it online. Here’s a link to some beeswax available from Amazon.
Step three: Pour the mixture into tins or jars.
Now that your salve ingredients are heated and mixed together, it’s time to pour them into their final receptacle. You can use glass jars or metal tins - whatever you prefer! I prefer to use round metal tins, and I was able to find these at my local health food store. You can also find these on Amazon. They look cute to boot!
Step four: Enjoy!
Let your mixture cool (this should only take 1-2 hours) and then you’re good to go! Use the salve to soothe your skin in whatever way feels right for you. Feel good knowing that you made your own medicine at home. You’re so crafty, you are!
To complete my CBD + Lavender salve, I added some inspirational lavender stickers to the outside of the tins!
Whether you are interested in learning more about topicals, hoping to make them at home, or just curious about the benefits of cannabinoids, then I hope you found something valuable here in this post.
I’m really excited to continue to make homemade cannabis salves in the future. After speaking with a friend, who just happens to be a plant lady herself, I have decided to try rose in my next batch! Won’t that be lovely? I’m pretty sure homemade cannabis salves will be something I give as gifts for years to come.
If you end up creating a salve, I’d love to hear about how it goes for you - and what you used! Drop a comment below and we can be canna salve buddies <3
This blog post contains Amazon affiliate links. That means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you make any purchases from the links included above.