Ask a Prepper
  • DIY |
  • Terms of Use |
  • Privacy Policy |
  • Contact
ask a prepper survival every day
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Survival Knowledge
  • How To’s
  • Store
  • About Claude Davis
  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Survival Knowledge
  • How To’s
  • Store
  • About Claude Davis
No Result
View All Result
Menu
Ask a Prepper
Search
No Result
View All Result
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Home All Articles
Homemade Hot Pepper Cream for Arthritis & Joint Pain

Homemade Hot Pepper Cream for Arthritis & Joint Pain

Homemade Hot Pepper Cream for Arthritis & Joint Pain

Ashley Hetrick by Ashley Hetrick
August 25, 2017
25

The idea of rubbing chili peppers onto your skin may seem a little strange, but what if I told you that clinical trials have shown that 80% of arthritis sufferers see improvement in as little as two weeks? Capsaicin cream, or cream that contains the active ingredient in chili peppers, is a common treatment for arthritis and it’s surprisingly effective.  Capsaicin works by depleting a neurotransmitter that sends pain signals to the brain, and without that transmitter your brain never gets the signal from painful chronic conditions like arthritis.

Capsaicin creams can be applied 4 times per day to keep pain away throughout your waking hours.  The first few times you put it on there will be a mild burning sensation, but your skin should acclimate over time according to Web MD.  Be careful not to apply it near mucous membranes, and always wear gloves so that any pepper residue on your hands doesn’t end up in your eyes or other sensitive places.

Applying the cream multiple times a day can get expensive if you’re using store bought creams that are $10 or more per ounce.  Home made capsaicin cream is easy to make and effective, and allows you to adjust the strength of the cream to your own preferences.

Making a basic capsaicin cream for arthritis is the same as making any basic herbal salve.  The herb is first infused into a neutral carrier oil, and then it’s thickened with an emulsifying wax such as beeswax to make it easier to apply.  For a basic salve, use 1 cup of oil to 1/4 cup grated bees wax.  When grating bees wax, it’s hard to be precise in measuring, so if possible weigh out the bees wax ahead of time and use about 1 ounce of wax to 8 ounces of oil.

Salves are a great place to use up left over bees wax from other projects, or even scraps dripped from bees wax candles.

Bees Wax Scraps
Bees Wax Scraps

Since a basic salve recipe only needs a small amount of wax, saving any candle drippings or scraping up hardened wax off your tools after making home made candles is a great way to repurpose wax and save a bit of money.

Basic Capsaicin Cream Recipe

  • 8 Ounces Oil (*See Note)
  • 1 Ounce Bees Wax, grated
  • 3 Tablespoons Cayenne Powder

Tools: Heat proof bowl and pot to create a double boiler, spatula to stir and a jar for storage

Related: Black Seed The Remedy For Everything But Death

Place the oil, beeswax and cayenne powder into a heat proof glass or metal bowl.  Place that bowl over a saucepan that contains about an inch of water to create a double boiler.  The goal of a double boiler is to create a slow, gentle heat to melt the bees wax without cooking the mixture.  Bring the water in the pot to a simmer on low, and the steam from the simmering water will melt the wax in the bowl above.

Melted mixture in double boiler
Melted mixture in double boiler

Once the wax is melted, stir the cream together with a spatula and scrape out into a jar.  If you want to adjust the amount of beeswax for a firmer or softer cream, you can test the cream’s texture by dropping a drop of two onto a cold plate.

Test drop of salve on cold plate
Test drop of salve on cold plate

For a stronger cream, you can infuse the cayenne into the oil ahead of time for a day or two.  If you want a whipped cream rather than a standard salve for application, place the double boiler bowl in the refrigerator for 10 minutes after melting, then whip.  Repeat several times until the cream is cold and then spoon into jars.

Hot salve before solidifying Big
Hot salve before solidifying

I find with solid salves you use and waste less than when applying whipped creams, but this is a matter of personal preference.  Feel free to adjust the amount of beeswax to adjust consistency.  The amount of cayenne can also be adjusted up or down after trying out the cream to adjust strength.  Be sure to use the cream for a week or so before adjusting up, but if it makes you feel more comfortable you can always start with less cayenne and adjust up.

*A note on carrier oils: Just about any neutral oil will work here. Since you’re going to use it topically, it’s best to choose an oil that will also be nourishing to your skin.  Good choices include olive oil, almond oil, jojoba oil and grape seed oil.  Of those choices, grape seed is the most economical.  Coconut oil will also work, but will result in a much thicker cream because it’s a solid at room temperature.  If using coconut oil, use slightly less bees wax.  Stay away from mixed vegetable, soy or corn oils.

You may also like:

Surv MD States Banner14 Lost Emergency Care Tips From 100 Years Ago

7 Actions to Take Immediately Following an EMP Strike (Video)

23 Medicinal Plants the Native Americans Used on a Daily Basis

The Hidden Truth About Taking Expired Medications

16 Remedies for Radiation Exposure

Tags: DIYHow toremedies
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
ShareTweetPin338

Comments 25

  1. Tracye says:
    5 years ago

    Just curious, my arthritis problem is in my hands. Any suggestions on usage? Can it be applied, let it remain for a time, then wash hands, or will that negate the effect of the Capsaicin?
    Thanks for the info!

    Did you like this comment? 2
    Reply
    • Ashley (Author) says:
      5 years ago

      Using it on your hands should be fine, but I’d be very careful what you touch until you know that you have a way to fully wash it off. With the beeswax in it, it’s designed to resist being washed off. Just cutting hot peppers in my kitchen I’ve managed to burn my eyes hours later, even after several hand washings. I’d suggest maybe try applying at night, and then put on gloves/mittens overnight. Wash your hands well in the morning, but still, of course, be very careful.

      Did you like this comment?
      Reply
      • CBD NATE says:
        4 years ago

        I have a great question and hope that you are able to answer it and that it works. WILL IT WORK WITH ME USING CBD OIL IN IT AS WELL? I MAKE IT SINCE I MAKE MY OWN CBD OIL AND IT IS CHEAP FOR ME I FIGURED THAT IT WILL ALSO INCREASE THE PAIN RELIEF AND WORK WITH THE CAPSAICIN, ALSO WOULD YOU ALSO RECOMMEND IT AS WELL AND WILL IT WORK AS WELL? I NORMALLY MAKE MY OIL at 1000-1500 mg per 30ml vile. What do you think will it have a greater effect and help much more now.

        Did you like this comment? 1
      • Suzy Knight says:
        4 years ago

        Please let me know how this works if you try it.

        Did you like this comment?
      • Trace says:
        4 years ago

        I add Cbd oil to my cayenne pain salve & it works wonders!

        Did you like this comment?
      • Dawn says:
        3 years ago

        Can you use jalapeno powder instead of cayenne? I made my own jalapeno powder

        Did you like this comment?
      • Joey the Green says:
        3 years ago

        Most Excellent Question on the CBD. I also added some CBD oil to my mixture. I work at a Retail company, and I got tendentious from yea work way to hard, with my left hand outta commission, I slathered it on 3 times last nite, went to work this morning, wow definite improvement.
        Thanks for this portal, lots of most excellent stuff

        Did you like this comment?
      • Cc says:
        4 years ago

        Would love to know how you make CBD oil i buy it and its costly!!!

        Did you like this comment?
        1
  2. jerry says:
    5 years ago

    I agree! this is a great idea!!

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  3. Jginsberg says:
    5 years ago

    Any thoughts on substituting soy wax for bees wax?

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
    • Ashley (Author) says:
      5 years ago

      Yes, soy wax works just fine substituted for beeswax in body products. It’s a great vegan alternative. Soy wax generally has a lower melting point, about 125 degrees depending on the blend, rather than 145 for bees wax. The lower melting point may result in a softer finished product, so you’ll have to adjust to your needs.

      Did you like this comment?
      Reply
  4. Jerry says:
    5 years ago

    There is a commercial brand of this on the market, I have tried it and it does work but the heat from the pepper intensifies to an uncomfortable degree the more you use it the worse it gets, with making your own you could control how much heat is in it, my only questions are 1. why do you have to grate the bees wax? wont chopping up as fine as possible work? 2. could you pre warm the oil and melt the wax ahead of time before combining them? 3 can any other wax be used if bees wax is not available? and 4. what oil is best to use?

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
    • Ashley (Author) says:
      5 years ago

      1. Yes, you can just chop up the wax. It’ll take a lot longer to melt, but in a double boiler it’s a gentle heat, so that’s just fine.

      2. Yes, you could melt the wax separately, but cleaning beeswax off of things is very hard to do. It cleans up a lot easier if it’s made in one bowl with the oil added in. If you do get beeswax spilled, the easiest way to clean it up is with warm oil.

      3. Yes, you could use just about any other wax you’d be comfortable applying to your skin. Do a little research and make sure it’s cosmetic grade without additives.

      4. I like olive oil or grapeseed because they’re both great for the skin, and not particularly expensive. Jojoba or almond oil are good choices too, but tend to be expensive. Avoid vegetable oil and corn oil as they are not great for your skin.

      Did you like this comment?
      Reply
  5. Mame says:
    5 years ago

    There are various numbers of heat units on the cayenne powder I get at my local natural food store. I think there is 35,000 up to 90,000. Do you recommend the lesser one or the higher one? Thanks

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  6. Jonathan says:
    5 years ago

    Hi Ashley. Can you comment on what the Capsaicin percentage of the final product is, based on the measurements in the article? Anything under 0.5% is supposed to be ineffective, but around 8% requires proper medical authorisation prior to application. I don’t want to do myself an injuryeither…

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
    • Tilfahr says:
      5 years ago

      Medical authorization requirements are just government interference when it comes to herbal treatments. See a naturopath if you are nervous. Otherwise, this salve will not harm you unless you are allergic. If you can’t eat peppers, don’t you them topically either. To test if you made it to “hot”, apply a very small amount to the inside of your wrist. Redding of the skin is okay as long as it is not accompanied by a rash-like irritation. Capsaicin increases blood flow to the local area, which it what causes a linking of the skin with a mild warm in sensation. If it feels like a burn, it is too strong or was too heavily applied.

      Did you like this comment? 1
      Reply
  7. Crsully says:
    5 years ago

    Great article. Easy to understand.

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  8. Elena says:
    5 years ago

    Which is the best mix to alleviate old broken jaw injury (50 years ago) with gum abscess pain? (Also headache pain as well)

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
    • Suzy Knight says:
      4 years ago

      I use cannabis tincture with clove oil for anything inside the mouth. But I bet this would be great for the jaw pain!

      Did you like this comment?
      Reply
  9. Joleene says:
    4 years ago

    Could I just use ceyenne and the carrier oil and skip the beeswax?

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  10. Joleene says:
    4 years ago

    Could I just use ceyenne and the carrier oil and skip the beeswax ?

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  11. Janice Crooks says:
    4 years ago

    Can I use shea butter instead of bees wax?

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  12. Lynn Christen says:
    2 years ago

    Can I use Capsaicin Essential Oil? And would it still be same 3 Tablespoons?

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  13. Mia says:
    2 years ago

    Does anyone if this recipe is stronger thant Capzasin Hp .1%? Thanks!

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply
  14. Angela Wilson says:
    6 months ago

    Can you use green chillies instead?

    Did you like this comment?
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions Terms & Conditions.

FOLLOW US ON:

PREPPER RECOMMENDS

YOU WILL NOT SURVIVE AN EMP STRIKE WITHOUT THIS

IF YOU SEE THIS PLANT IN YOUR BACKYARD BURN IT IMMEDIATELY

HOW TO GET 295 POUNDS OF EXTRA FOOD FOR JUST $5 A WEEK

THE AWESOME DIY DEVICE THAT TURNS AIR INTO FRESH WATER

5 INGENIOUS WAYS TO REFRIGERATE YOUR FOOD WITHOUT ELECTRICITY

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE INVISIBLE TO LOOTERS

Banner Generator

LATEST ARTICLES

Antibiotic Herbs And Plants To Grow Before SHTF

10 Probable Events That Will Follow An EMP

Survival Mistakes I’m Too Ashamed To Admit

How To Remove Radioactive Particles From Water In Case Of A Nuclear Fallout

If You Have This In Your Pantry, Throw It Away Immediately

8 Items You Need To Survive A Power Outage This Winter

Why You Should Put Plastic Forks In Your Vegetable Garden

The Great Depression Was Nothing Compared To This

Common Habits That Could Make You A Target For Looters

You Need To Grow These Survival Foods NOW

I Lived Without Running Water For One Year. Here’s What I Learned

30 Survival Uses For Coffee Filters

How To Make Bread Last For Up To 5 Years

I Hate Being A Prepper (And You Should Hate It Too)

DIY Solar Water Heaters To Cut Down On Energy Bills

How Long Does Vacuum Sealed Food Last?

The Most Realistic Prepper TV Series You Need To Watch

9 Things To Do Before The 2023 Economic Collapse

How To Prepare Your Car For SHTF

10 Things You Should Never Do When The Power Goes Out

How To Cook Steak On A Stone In The Wilderness

25 Survival Items You Should Get From The Dollar Store

Concealed Carry Mistakes You Have To Avoid At All Costs

Banner Bor

Banner TLW2

The Lost Ways Claude Davis

HOW TO

How To Remove Radioactive Particles From Water In Case Of A Nuclear Fallout

How To Make Bread Last For Up To 5 Years

How To Prepare Your Car For SHTF

How To Cook Steak On A Stone In The Wilderness

How To Craft A Deadly Slingshot

How To Make Your Chickens Lay More Eggs

How To Make And Can Evaporated Milk

How To Prepare For The Rising Energy Prices

How To Protect Your Garden From Looting Intruders

How To Make Your Own Fuel

Vote for ask a Prepper

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON:

Survial Websites Prepper

Banner LSF Hamburger

Copyright © 2014-2023 Ask a Prepper

  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Ask a Prepper
  • About Claude Davis
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2014-2023 Ask a Prepper

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.