Notes from the Brewroom

Warm your bones

Ann King

As light levels and temperatures continue to drop, the temptation at this time of year is to keep our houses hermetically sealed, and to admire the crisp frosty mornings and gorgeous misty rain from indoors. However, there is much to gain from throwing open windows and doors— even for just ten minutes —to clear the air and freshen the living space. Even more to gain from venturing out into rugged moorlands to seek spectacular views over wintery landscapes. But engaging with the great outdoors does invite a certain level of dampness; in these conditions, it is hardly surprising that little niggles like aching joints and weary bones can be more noticeable. Chronic joint pain can become life-restricting, and we actually help ourselves by keeping moving, so combine gentle exercise like swimming and walking with some good old-fashioned self-care when you get back into the warm.

Bare Bones Balm

For soreness, a little topical application using the wonderful Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumberis) can bring relief. The leaves contain methyl salicylate, making them a good base ingredient for a warming, soothing, and pain-relieving balm for joints and bones. They also contain magnesium and potassium in an oil readily absorbed by the skin— in this instance, a simple balm used to keep our joints and minor musculoskeletal ailments pain-free. In an acute case, we can always follow the Native American tradition of crushing the leaves and directly applying them to joints as a poultice. Wintergreen has also been used to calm sensitive nerve endings, as the methyl salicylate temporarily overrides nearby pain signals.

This balm uses Olive oil (Olea europaea) infused with both dried Wintergreen leaves and Cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum) to create a non-penetrating barrier that lubricates, purifies and warms painful areas, stimulating healing blood flow. Cocoa butter (Theobroma cacao) moisturizes, whilst the Shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) absorbs slowly and lends itself to an indulgent massage of the joints. The Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is added predominantly for its benefit to circulation, although its fragrance provides an olfactory grounding note. Sweet Orange oil (Citrus × sinensis) uplifts by reminding us of sunshine and gentle Mediterranean heat.

Our hands and fingers are always working hard, and need to be strong and flexible to manage all the daily tasks that we hardly even think about. It makes sense to massage them regularly— something that we can do ourselves. Taking a few minutes of quiet to gently massage some of the Bare Bones Balm into your hands, either during the day or just before bed, will help loosen up the joints and ease tension, supporting general relaxation. This simple process can aid circulation, disperse metabolic waste, and restore blood flow. Here’s our recipe for Bare Bones Balm, and a Barely British Blend recipe, for a soothing brew on long Winter evenings.

Ingredients

4 tbsp Olive oil

1 tbsp ground Cayenne pepper

1 handful of dried Wintergreen leaves

1 tbsp grated beeswax or ½ tbsp Candelilla wax pearls (Euphorbia antisyphilitica)

1 tbsp Cocoa butter

1 tbsp Shea butter

6 drops Vitamin E oil

5 drops of Rosemary oil

5 drops of Sweet Orange oil

4 x 15g containers

Method

Step 1: Infuse the oil Using a pestle and mortar or spice grinder, combine the dried Wintergreen leaves and ground Cayenne pepper into a powder. This powder should be heated gently with the Olive oil in a double boiler until it is hot to the touch, but not boiling. The mix should then be allowed to cool naturally, before reheating gently and cooling once again. Ideally, repeat the heating and cooling process a few times over a couple of days for maximum extraction. The oil infusion should be strained through fine mesh or muslin into a sterilized jar ready for the next step.

Step 2: Make the base balm Add the infused oil to the wax, Cocoa butter and Shea butter in a double boiler. Heat gently and stir until combined.

Step 3: Add essential oils and preservative Have the containers ready with the lids off. Add the essential oils and Vitamin E to the base balm and pour into the containers. Be aware that the volatile oils will evaporate, so it is important to get the lids on relatively quickly. Label, and leave to cool completely.

Barely British Blend

Ingredients

50g of dried Wintergreen leaves

75g of dried Nettle leaves (Urtica dioica)

50g of dried Rosehip (Rosa spp.)

Method

Simply add 1 tbsp of the blend into your vessel of choice, add barely-boiled fresh water, and leave to infuse for 5-10 minutes with the lid firmly in place. Imbibe and enjoy.

© Ann King

Disclaimer

No recipes are intended to replace medical advice and the reader should seek the guidance of their doctor for all health matters. The profiles and recipes are intended for information purposes only and have not been tested or evaluated. Ann King is not making any claims regarding their efficacy and the reader is responsible for ensuring that any replications or adaptations of the recipes that they produce are safe to use and comply with cosmetic regulations where applicable.