Aches & Pain Balm
A balm that took a few years to research and develop properly but is quite effective for many. Designed for those with arthritis or muscle soreness to reduce inflammation over time with continued use, works as a pain reliever and helps heal some ailments faster. Here is a breakdown of 4 main active ingredients and how they help you.
Arnica ~ Seriously intense anti-inflammatory, stimulates blood circulation, speeds the healing process of bruises and breaks down the excess fluid trapped in joints and muscles and bruises.
Chamomile ~ The herb and essential oil are considered analgesic, anti-inflammatory, digestive, hepatic, and nerve sedating. Externally, chamomile is used to treat inflammation in skin and mucous membranes, bacterial skin diseases, and the respiratory tract.
Copaiba Essential Oil ~ exhibits impressive anti-inflammatory activities and helps with natural pain relief since it has been shown in scientific research to exhibit antinociceptive properties, which means it can help to block the detection of a painful stimulus by the sensory neurons. Copaiba binds to the endocannabinoid system with the body, making it a uniquely effective pain reliever. It has no psychoactive effects and unlike other drugs or medications does not build a tolerance within a human body.
Turmeric & Black Pepper ~ The main active component in both multiply the bioavailability of each other. They reduce inflammation, increase circulation and have pain relieving properties
For more in depth information see below, I will be adding a medica materia to give information about herbs and oils I use and their benefits both internally and externally.
Directions:
Apply a small amount to the area that hurts. It is a more effective product if you use it with regular use, for example 2 applications a day for a week. Be aware that is may stain clothing.
Do not use on open cuts, burns or internally, not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.
Ingredients: Organic Olive Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Locally Sourced Beeswax, Organic Arnica, Organic Rosemary, Organic Turmeric, Organic Chamomile, Organic Ginger, Organic Lavender, Organic Frankincense Oil, Organic Ginger Oil, Organic Helichrysum Oil, Vetiver Oil, German Chamomile Oil, Organic Copaiba Oil, Organic Black Pepper Oil, Organic Geranium Oil, Organic Peppermint Oil, Organic Lavender Oil, Organic Rosemary Oil, Clove Bud Oil.
Heres a little more indepth information on the main active ingredients
Arnica ~ The active phytochemicals of Arnica are sesquiterpene lactones - such as helenalin, dihydrohelenaline and chamissonolid - essential oils, fatty acids, thymol, pseudoguaianolide and flavanone glycosides.
Arnica is rich in the phytonutrient helenalin, and it is this potent compound that is responsible for the exceptional healing abilities of this plant. It works to relieve swelling and speed up the healing of bruises by stimulating the body’s white blood cells to break down the fluid and excess blood that is trapped in the joints, muscles and bruises. The increased numbers of white blood cells stop broken capillaries from bleeding into the surrounding tissue. Arnica also stimulates blood circulation to the affected area, bringing the resources and oxygen to heal broken blood vessels and produce healthy new cells.
Arnica contains lactones which are naturally anti-inflammatory and can work to bring down swelling and alleviate pain. They inhibit the production of Nuclear Factor Kappa Beta (NF-kβ), a protein complex that plays a key role in regulating the immune system’s response to infection and tissue damage. By preventing the activation of NF-kβ at the start of the inflammatory process Arnica can provide immediate pain relief and a significant reduction in swelling.
Arnica is particularly effective at treating the inflammatory pain caused by arthritis. Research appears to back this up, with a 2007 randomised, double blind study comparing Arnica with the NSAID Ibuprofen. They used 204 patients with osteoarthritis in their hands and found that Arnica gel worked just as well for pain relief as daily ibuprofen, with minimal side effects.
The helenalin and other anti-inflammatory related compounds found in Arnica are particularly effective at reducing the muscle soreness and pain associated with sports injuries. It has also been found to reduce the muscle damage that can hinder athletic performance.
Arnica is also rich in thymol, which is an effective vasodilator of the capillaries found in the subcutaneous fat just under the skin. The widening of these vessels allows for the transport of blood and anti-inflammatory compounds which further aid the healing process.
Do not take internally unless prescribed by a medical professional
Turmeric & Black Pepper ~ Turmeric's main active component — curcumin — is what gives the spice its yellow color. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a potential treatment for a number of health conditions, including reduced pain and increased ease of movement in people with osteoarthritis.
Turmeric, a spice that has long been recognized for its medicinal properties as it is the major source of the polyphenol curcumin. It aids in the management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, and hyperlipidemia. It may also help in the management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, thus enhancing recovery and performance in active people. Curcumin by itself does not lead to the associated health benefits due to its poor bioavailability, which appears to be primarily due to poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and rapid elimination. There are several components that can increase bioavailability. For example, piperine is the major active component of black pepper and, when combined in a complex with curcumin, has been shown to increase bioavailability by 2000%. Curcumin combined with enhancing agents provides multiple health benefits.
Chamomile ~ Chamomile possesses at least four known anti-inflammatory constituents. This herb reduces COX-2 enzyme, a major player in inflammation. Because chamomile’s flavonoids and essential oils penetrate below the skin surface into the deeper skin layers, chamomile can help to alleviate skin inflammation when applied topically.
The herb and essential oil are considered analgesic, anti-inflammatory, digestive, hepatic, and nerve sedating. Externally, chamomile is used to treat inflammation in skin and mucous membranes, bacterial skin diseases, and the respiratory tract.
Chamomile possesses pain relief effects because of the following properties: (1) chamazulene and apigenin, which inhibit iNOS expression in activated macrophages and can lead to the prohibition of NO release and synthesis; (2) chamomile flavonoids, which have a strong inhibitory effect on endogenous prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in RAW 264.7 macrophages and can play the role of selective COX-2 inhibitor; (3) chamomile polyphenols, which possess anti-inflammatory effects due to the inhibition of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in THP1 macrophages and which can reduce inflammation in neurovascular units (NVU) at the site of migraine pain; (4) chamomile, which has neuroprotective effects because of reduced NO levels. This data suggests that chamomile works by a mechanism of action similar to that attributed to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Copaiba Essential Oil ~ exhibits impressive anti-inflammatory activities, having the ability to reduce inflammation related to injury, autoimmune disease, arthritis and respiratory problems. Copaiba oil can help with natural pain relief since it has been shown in scientific research to exhibit antinociceptive properties, which means it can help to block the detection of a painful stimulus by the sensory neurons.
A 2020 review of essential oils that interact with the endocannabinoid system revealed that a major component of Copaiba is uniquely pain relieving because it binds directly to the cannabinoid, CB2 receptor.
The study showed that Copaiba contains upwards of 50% beta-caryophyllene–a natural analgesic that has been said to share similar effects to CBD oil. However, unlike psychoactive cannabinoids found in Hemp, which bind to the CB1 receptor, beta-caryophyllene is non-psychoactive.
What’s more, studies show that beta-caryophyllene becomes more effective with continual use, unlike most drugs in which persistent use can lead to tolerance, reducing its effects.
As a complementary medicine, Copaiba may bolster the pain-relieving effects of analgesics such as morphine.
