How to make an "arnica muscle relief" cream

Hi guys,

I'm going to share another amazing recipe from our amazing Teresa from Balm Kitchen with you.

This is a bespoke cream she's made for an elderly customer suffering from muscle and joint pain (without making any medicinal claims).

I first wanted to call this cream: "happy grandma" but then I realized I'm going to exclude many young and middle aged folks suffering under muscle and joint pain. You shoudln't suffer under any chronic pains to need arnica for help. Any athlete (professional or amateur) will love this as after a painful and excessive workout. I wish I have had this in my suitcase as I went for Ski in February.

Anyway, let's go to the recipe. As you probably know Arnica (Arnica montana) is an amazing herb for treatment of bruises and sprains (apply arnica only externally). It is applied as extract, decoction, tincture or infusion in balms, butters, masage oils and creams.

Our amazing Teresa has made a nice and smooth emulsion with arnica extract and St. Joh's wort infused oil with the warming ginger essetial oil ginger which works wonders on painfula muscles and joints as well.

Let's move on to the recipe. But just an important reminder before we move to the recipe and instruction:

Arnica should be applied on intact skin. Do not apply it on skin if you have any wounds.

Oil phase:
5% Xyliance
15% Apricot Kernel oil
10% St John's wort infused oil
5% Macadamia oil
0.3% Glyceryl Caprylate

Water phase:
53.3% Deionised water

3% Glycerin
0.3% Xanthum and Acacia gum blend
0.2% Sclerotium gum

5% Arnica extract
0.5% Panthenol
0.5% Tocopherol
0.1% Rosemary CO2 extract
0.5% Ginger essential oil
0.3% Sodium phytate
1% Euxyl 903

Procedure:

1. Measure and place Xyliance, oils and glyceryl caprylate in one beaker into the bain marie.
2. Prepare the deionised water in another beaker and put it into the bain marie.
3. Heat both phases to slightly over 70 degree celsius until emulsifier has blended into the oils.
4. Turn off heat and slowly trickle water into the oil phase and blend together (you can use a hand blender or a mini whisk) over a pan of cold water.
5. Add the glycerin+gum blend into the emulsion and blend till thickened.
6. Once the emulsion has cooled down, add the remaining ingredients (extracts, vitamins, chelator and preservative).
No need to adjust pH as the range is around 5.

Isn't that amazingly easy?

Xyliance® is an amazing natural (and palm-free) emulsifier with a nice and silky skin feel, without any soapiness and very easy to work with.

Hope you'll repeating this recipe or creating your own recipe inspired by this one.

Thank you for being here and for sending me your comments and photos. Don't hesitate to post your questions and comments. I really enjoy your participation in our Facebook discussions.

Be Happy and have fun