Once you start paying close attention to the ingredients in many skincare products, you will find that there is almost always some type of petroleum product on the list. Petroleum products are refined from crude oil – a crude oil that is very toxic, by the way.
It can be refined into a number of products, such as mineral oil, petroleum jelly, petrolatum, paraffin waxes, micro-crystalline waxes, and more, all of which are very common ingredients in skin and hair care products.
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Petroleum products harm your skin and body
The following products derived from pre-oil can be very harmful to your body as they can cause the following problems:
- They cover the skin like plastic wrap, disrupting the delicate acid mantle and the good bacteria that protect the skin against germs.
- They hinder the skin’s exposure to oxygen and other nutrients necessary for proper detoxification and cell repair.
- They are not soluble in water, so they adhere to cells and accumulate in the body. Later on, the body finds it very difficult to eliminate them.
Additionally, 1,4-dioxane (not listed on ingredient labels) is a petroleum-based chemical often found in foaming items like body wash, bubble bath, and shampoos.
This chemical is listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a possible carcinogen. Meanwhile, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) has identified 1,4-dioxane as a “reasonably anticipated carcinogen.”
Make your own arnica ointment
These are all very good reasons to consider creating your health and beauty products at home, where you control the quality and safety of the ingredients.
Arnica ointment used muscle aches, bruises, sprains, strains, etc. Almost all the commercial brands that make this ointment do so with petroleum products. Vaseline (a form of petroleum) is still one of the main ingredients.
Many people know that arnica is an herb that is widely used for pain relief today. It has been used in homeopathic medicine for hundreds of years. This ointment is designed to help reduce inflammation and pain through application to the skin.
Arnica has been known to stimulate blood circulation, and can help soothe and relieve pain from bruises, sprains, arthritis, and muscle aches. The first recipe in this post is a simple arnica lavender mint ointment, which is great for general use, with a calming and relaxing scent.
Cayenne, which is added to the second recipe, is another herb that has been used medicinally. Cayenne is promoted as a circulatory stimulant and has been used in healing ointments for infections, herpes, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis.
In fact, most commercial arthritis creams contain capsaicin, a compound in cayenne. When applied topically, they do not have the same “burning” effect that it does when consumed internally. It should still be used with caution and care should be taken not to touch any mucous membranes after application. It can be used on pain in the joints (such as the knees and wrists), as well as sore muscles.
The other ingredients in the ointments are essential oils, which can be adjusted to suit your own preferences. You can choose lavender and mint because it is a very relaxing and calming scent combination. You can also add some eucalyptus or tea tree oil, if you like. For the cayenne balm, rosemary works well, but it’s completely optional.
These recipes are with large proportions to make in good volume. You can cut the recipe in half if you think it’s going to be too much. You can find dried arnica flowers at any local herbal store.
1. Arnica mint ointment
* The instructions for the two ointment recipes are the same, only their ingredients change.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of coconut oil;
- 6 oz of ground dried arnica flowers;
- ½ cup of beeswax granules;
- ¼ tsp. peppermint essential oil (optional);
- ¼ tsp. lavender essential oil (optional).
2. Arnica and cayenne ointment with coconut oil
- 2 cups of coconut oil;
- 6 oz of ground dried arnica flowers;
- 3-6 tbsp. dried cayenne powder;
- ½ cup of beeswax granules;
- ½ tsp. rosemary essential oil (optional).
Necessary materials:
- A double boiler or crock pot (slow cooker).
- Gauze, cotton old t-shirt or cotton pillowcase.
- Bowl, glass jars, etc.
- Food processor.
- Spatula, spoon.
Instructions:
- Since you are using dry arnica, you will get better results by soaking the arnica flowers in coconut oil for 12-24 hours. For this, you can use a double boiler pot and set the heater to the lowest possible setting. Some people prefer a crock pot (slow cooker), and using this method will allow you to allow the herbs to sit for a longer period of time.
- Process the arnica flowers gently in a food processor or use your hands to crunch the flowers. This will help them begin to break down and make the arnica infusion brew a little faster.
- Place the dried arnica in your crock pot or crock pot. If you are making the cayenne salve, add the cayenne pepper to the arnica at this time.
- Pour the two cups of coconut oil over the arnica (and cayenne if applicable) and shake to ensure that all the flowers are completely submerged in the oil.
- Cover and let infuse over low heat for 12-24 hours. It can be stirred from time to time if you wish. Always keep it in view to make sure all the arnica stays submerged and also to make sure it doesn’t get too hot.
- When the allotted time has passed, turn the pot off the burner and let the mixture cool for an hour or so. Don’t let it cool completely, as coconut oil can start to solidify (depending on where you live), but make it cool enough that you don’t burn yourself.
- Place the cheesecloth, T-shirt, or pillowcase over the bowl, glass jar, or measuring cup. Carefully pour the coconut oil into the cheesecloth and let the mixture flow into the bowl below. If it is not too hot, you can squeeze the oil out of the oil cloth to speed up the process.
- Once you’ve filtered the herbs, put the filtered oil back in your pot. Make sure to clean the pot first to make sure there are no clumps of herbs left in there. Lower the heat.
- Add your beeswax and beat until completely dissolved. The ½ cup of beeswax will produce a very smooth balm. If you want it firmer, you can add more; smoother, you can add less. You can test the texture by dipping the back of a metal spoon into the mixture, then let it cool and apply to the skin.
- Once the wax melts, remove from heat and cool for about 30-60 minutes. Add your essential oils and then pour into the containers you want.
- Use the ointment on tired, sore muscles, bruises, sprains, arthritis, etc. NOTE: the cayenne balm, be careful when applying it and avoid applying it on your face. To apply, you can use gloves, or apply with a spatula, or a spoon.