We are expecting a little man to join our family in July. The little princess is EXTREMELY excited about this and absolutely loves feeling him in my belly. This morning, she felt his body pushing out and got so excited she started to tear up. She already adores this little man and we are all impatiently waiting for him! There is still plenty of chaos getting things ready for this boy, so this will be a short post.
Since getting pregnant, my chronic pain in my neck and shoulder has remained about the same. However, being pregnant, I can't use my usual remedies. I had been researching some for what I could use. Low and behold....I found dandelions. We forage as it is, so using dandelions really isn't a stretch for us. Princess also enjoys picking the little yellow things. I really didn't have anything to lose by trying it.
This specific one is for muscle aches and pains. I tried it a few nights ago and absolutely love it! My pain was gone quickly and it hasn't returned. It is definitely one I will be making as a priority every year!
*****none of what is stated is to be used as a replacement for medical advice from a professional*****
Dandelion salve
What you'll need:
- dandelion infused carrier oil
- beeswax
- essential oils (optional)
-double boiler
- crock pot
- jars/small containers
First, you'll need to make an infused oil. You can really choose whatever carrier oil you want. I used olive oil because I needed a lot for another recipe, but I will likely use coconut oil from now on because I like the feel of it more. You also need to pick AND DRY a bunch of dandelions. These need to be dried for at least a week or in a dehydrator. They need to have all moisture removed. You can also toss in greens and stems. It'll just affect the color some. Once you've gathered your dandelions and oil, pack the dandelions into a jar. Pour the oil over until the dandelions are completely covered. Put a rag in the bottom of your crock pot and place the jar on top. Add water until it is just below the oil level in the jar. You don't want to overfill it because the jar will tip. Cook it on low for 12-24 hours. Don't cook on high. It really needs to happen slowly. Once completed, turn off the crock pot and allow it to cool completely. Strain through cloth and make sure to wring out all of the oil the flowers soaked up. I usually freeze the oil to make it last longer, but it can keep for quite some time in the fridge or even at room temp as long as no moisture got into it.
Next, measure out how much salve you would like. I choose to go in half cup increments because it makes the wax conversion so much easier. For every half cup, you'll need two tablespoons of beeswax. Add both to your double boiler and heat until the wax is melted and well combined.
Remove from heat and add 10 drops per half cup of any essential oil you choose. Personally, I think this stuff stinks. So, I chose Eucalyptus because of its stronger scent and stress relief properties. I also chose chamomile essential oil because it aids in relaxing muscles. Pick out whatever combo you like and mix it into the oil.
Pour the mix into small containers or jars and let it cool. Once solidified, you can use this on anything from restless legs to minor sprains.
That's it! I hope you enjoy it and it eases all your muscle pains!
