Warming Balm For Tired Hands, Feet and Knees
WARMING BALM
For Tired Hands, Feet & Knees
A GENTLER, WARMING BOTANICAL BALM
Warming Balm is the gentler everyday counterpart to Deep Muscle Balm. Rather than the intense cooling effect of menthol crystals, this formula focuses on gradual botanical warmth, massage and skin-conditioning oils.
Cayenne and Virginia mountain mint provide the warming sensory experience, while oils infused with arnica, cottonwood bud, comfrey, St. John’s wort and yarrow form the botanical foundation.
Ideal when you want warmth without the strong menthol-crystal cooling sensation of Deep Muscle Balm.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE WARMTH
CAYENNE → CAPSAICIN → TRPV1
Cayenne contains capsaicinoids, including capsaicin, which interact with the TRPV1 receptor on sensory neurons. TRPV1 also responds to potentially damaging heat, which is why capsaicin produces its characteristic perception of warmth.
This doesn’t simply mean cayenne “heats the skin.” It creates a sensory signal interpreted as warmth, making it particularly interesting in topical massage preparations.
ARNICA —
Arnica montana
Arnica flower contains several classes of plant compounds, including sesquiterpene lactones such as helenalin-type compounds, flavonoids and other phenolic constituents.
It has a long history of topical use in European herbal preparations for bruised, sore and overworked areas, which is why it has become one of the central botanicals in this formula.
COTTONWOOD BUD —
One of my favorite activities in winter is to find Cottonwood buds after a storm. Cottonwood trees are literal giants so unless you are a skilled climber (not me) you must wait for the correct timing. The sticky spring buds of cottonwood are coated with an intensely aromatic protective resin.
Populus buds contain a complex mixture of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and salicylate-related constituents and have a long history of being infused into oils for traditional topical preparations, often associated with Balm of Gilead.
The buds are infused directly into the oils used in Warming Balm so their oil-soluble resinous constituents become part of the balm itself.
THE BOTANICAL INFUSION
Personally I rub this on my feet before a long 12 hour nursing shift! It has been a game changer for me!
The formula brings together:
Arnica Flower — Arnica montanaCottonwood Bud — Populus spp.Comfrey Leaf — Symphytum officinaleSt. John’s Wort — Hypericum perforatumYarrow — Achillea millefoliumCayenne — Capsicum annuumVirginia Mountain Mint — Pycnanthemum virginianum (if this is the exact species you use)
These aren’t there simply for the label—the botanicals are infused into the oils that make up the balm.
THE BALM BASE
Sunflower Oil • Castor Oil • Olive Oil • Shea Butter • Mango Butter • Cocoa Butter • Beeswax • Vitamin E
Sunflower, olive and castor oils provide the carrier for the botanical infusions and massage slip. Shea, mango and cocoa butters condition the skin, while beeswax gives the balm its slow-melting consistency and helps the oils remain on the skin during massage.
