5-Ingredient Cannabis Salve by “The Desert Rat”

Cannabis Salve for Pain Relief

I’m more of a dirt-and-seeds guy, but I know plenty of folks out here in the high desert who swear by topicals for those aching joints after a long day of working in their gardens.

A long-time customer and veteran grower, who goes by the name “The Desert Rat,” told me about this years ago. He’s been using this cannabis rub for years to manage his arthritis. Anyone with a surplus of trim should give this a look.

According to the Rat, you don’t need a lab to make this medicine. You just need a slow cooker and some patience. He uses a mix of infused coconut oil and beeswax to get a consistency that stays put on the skin. It’s imperative to use a high-resin Indica dom strain—something like The Black or Ata Tundra—to get the most medicinal bang for your buck.

The Ghost approved of this method because it works, as I can attest to after using several containers of his salve. If you’ve got sugar leaves or small “popcorn” buds that aren’t quite jar-worthy, this is a good destination. When one gets older, and your knees start barking at you, having a jar of this in the medicine cabinet can be a game-changer.

The Recipe (As submitted by The Desert Rat):
Infuse: Cook 1 cup of coconut oil with 1 oz of decarbed cannabis in a slow cooker for 4-6 hours.
Strain: Use cheesecloth to get every bit of plant material out.
Melt: Back in the pot, add 1/4 cup of beeswax pellets and stir until clear.
Scent: Add 10 drops of lavender or eucalyptus oil (optional).
Set: Pour into small glass jars and let cool.

The Ghost Tip: Rub this into your temples for a tension headache or on your lower back after a day on the excavator. It won’t get you “high,” but it sure as hell takes the edge off the pain.

Hey growers! Do you have a secret topical recipe that beats the store-bought stuff? Share your recipes over at the JCS Growers Community forum.