DIY Headache Relief Balm
After those long days when you’ve forgotten to drink enough water or just can’t seem to find a moment of peace, this headache relief balm is your best friend. Made with simple, nourishing ingredients like tallow, herbs, essential oils, and natural fats, it’s easy to apply and perfect for on-the-go relief whenever you need it most.
Equipment
- Double boiler or heatproof bowl & saucepan
- Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
- Glass jar or bowl
- Measuring spoons or digital scale
- Small tins, glass jars, or chapstick tubes
- Silicone spatula or spoon
- Labels (optional)
Ingredients
Herbal Infused Oil
- 1 tbsp peppermint dried or fresh
- 1 tsp chamomile dried or fresh
- 1 tsp rosemary dried or fresh
- 1 tsp lavender dried or fresh
- 50g carrier oil olive, avocado, jajoba
Headache Relief Balm
- 30g oil herbal infused or plain
- 50g tallow
- 15g beeswax
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 5 drops rosemary essential oil
Instructions
- Make the Herbal-Infused Oil: Add your dried herbs (such as peppermint, chamomile, rosemary, and lavender) to your chosen carrier oil (olive or avocado oil). Let the herbs infuse overnight or up to a week at room temperature or gently warm them over low heat for 1–2 hours for a quicker infusion.
- Melt the Base: In a double boiler (or a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water), melt the tallow, beeswax, and optional coconut oil together until completely liquefied.
- Strain the Oil: Once the infused oil is ready, strain it through cheesecloth into a clean bowl or jar, squeezing out all the oil from the herbs. Discard the spent herbs.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the melted base from the heat and let it cool for 1–2 minutes. This helps prevent the heat from breaking down the essential oils.
- Add Essential Oils: Stir in your essential oils—typically peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary—adjusting the amounts to your preference and sensitivity.
- Pour into Containers: Immediately pour the mixture into small tins, jars, or chapstick tubes. Let them cool completely at room temperature until solid.
- Use & Store: Apply to temples, the back of the neck, shoulders, or wrists when needed. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
Notes
If you want to skip the step of making a herbal-infused oil, you can simply replace the amount for infused oil with plain carrier oil (like olive or avocado) and increase the essential oils by a couple of drops to make the balm more potent.