Purple dead nettle might just kill your pain. It’s one of the most medicinal weeds around, boasting powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe arthritis flare-ups, quell joint soreness, and relieve muscle aches.
Head for the great outdoors and gather as much purple dead nettle as you want. You need at least one part of dried herbs for every five parts of carrier oil, but it isn’t imperative to harvest an exact amount as long as you harvest enough.
Fresh herbs contain water that makes salve spoil quicker, so it’s essential to dry the nettles. Lay them on paper towels or wire racks with plenty of space between them. Leave them to air-dry for three to seven days.
Once you have the dried herbs, you can measure everything out. You’ll need a one-to-five ratio of plant parts to oil to make the oil infusion and a one-to-five ratio of beeswax to oil for the salve itself.
Place your dried nettles in the bottom of a jar, then fill the jar with your carrier oil. Set it in a dark place and leave it to infuse for one to two months.
When the oil is infused sufficiently, it’s time to strain it. If you use whole dried herbs, you will only need a colander to strain them. If the pieces are too small, you can use a cheesecloth.