How to make Canna Balm
While it's easy to find all kinds of good cannabis balms and salves these days, you can always make a quality herbal balm yourself. There are several bases you can try when making cannabis balm at home, such as shea butter, coconut oil, or beeswax. Balms can be used for routine skin care as well as to provide relief for a variety of ailments. In this article, we'llshow you how to make your cannabis balm or salve and explore different ways to use these medicinal preparations.
Topical cannabis balms and salves have grown tremendously in popularity in recent years. Enthusiasts swear by their use to treat all kinds of ailments, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, dermatitis, and psoriasis. When prepared properly, topical cannabis balms can have analgesic, relaxing, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, and regenerative properties, and such preparations have been present in human medicine for thousands of years.
As we understand the complex nature of the endocannabinoid system, we are beginning to understand the true importance of the body's own (naturally occurring) cannabinoids. Laboratory studies have shown that skin injuries heal much more slowly when endocannabinoids are artificially blocked. Also, applying a topical cannabis ointment caused skin allergies to heal much more quickly.
How to make cannabis balm at home
The process for making cannabis balms and ointments is similar to that of making "cannabutter." The butter is replaced with a fat base—one that can be stored at room temperature for several weeks to avoid going rancid, such as shea butter, coconut oil, or beeswax—and cannabis herb or cannabis extract is dissolved into the base. If you use a food-grade base, such as coconut oil, the product can also be used to make “edibles.”
If you have access to “full extract” medical cannabis oil or can make your own, that would be ideal. However, high-quality hash or cannabis herb will also produce excellent results, although you may need to use a little more to achieve the desired concentration.
What you need to make cannabis balm:
- Large stockpot
- Sturdy, heat-resistant plastic mixing bowl (for pouring ingredients into)
- Cheesecloth or muslin (for straining the salve)
- Wooden or plastic spoon for mixing
- Smaller bowl or jar (for storing the finished product)
- Cannabis flower, hash, or oil solution
For optimal results, it is recommended to use about half an ounce of cannabis herb per half cup of oil; if using hash, about a quarter ounce per half cup will produce similar results. If using “full extract” oil, an eighth of an ounce in half a cup of oil should be sufficient.
Instructions:
- Place the fat base in a plastic mixing bowl and add your cannabis products.
- Fill the stockpot halfway with water and place it on the stove to heat.
- When the water reaches boiling point, reduce the heat slightly so that it reaches a steady simmer.
- Place the plastic mixing bowl in the stockpot (making sure no water can enter the bowl) and gently heat the contents until the fat is completely liquid.
- Once the fat has become liquid, mix the ingredients with a clean wooden or plastic spoon.
- Continue to simmer gently for between 30 minutes and an hour.
- After the required simmer time has elapsed, remove the plastic bowl from the pot, remove the pot from the heat, and set it aside.
- Place the cheesecloth or muslin over the smaller bowl you plan to store the salve in - you can also hold the muslin in place with a strainer and strain the infused liquid oil into the smaller bowl or jar below.
How to store your canna balm?
Allow the salve to cool completely before using. If stored properly (in a cool, dark place for best results), the salve should last at least two months and can be used for a variety of topical applications. You can also use it as a base for making special creams, lotions and salves to treat specific ailments.
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Liz Filmer
