Homemade Advil Salve
Aches and pains bother even the healthiest people, leaving many to reach for over-the-counter solutions. Some of the most popular OTC medications promise to eliminate headaches, joint pain, muscle aches, and other pesky problems. These medications may work, but they can cause severe damage in the long term, particularly for those with liver problems. What if there was a natural alternative that could reduce pain without causing a myriad of other symptoms? Enter Nature’s Advil, featuring the power of arnica and essential oils.
Arnica is a potent staple in Ayurvedic practices, known for its power to not only eliminate pain but also relieve inflammation, keeping you pain-free. Where over-the-counter medications cause harmful damage, arnica-based remedies promote healing from the inside out.
In this post, we’ll discuss how over-the-counter pain relievers work and learn how to make an easy arnica salve that also incorporates fragrant lavender. This remedy brings together some of the best nature offers and will give you long-lasting, deep benefits.
Get ready to ditch your traditional painkillers and step into nature’s bountiful healing remedies.
The Problem With Traditional Painkillers
Most of us don’t think twice about heading to the grocery store and grabbing a bottle of pain relievers. These little pills can relieve pain, but they do so at a hefty price… and we’re not talking fiscal. If you’re choosing this route of pain relief, it’s important that you understand what you’re getting into.
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) include ibuprofen and aspirin, which sell more than a billion tablets each year. Many buyers store bottles in their medicine cabinets, work desks, and purses!
We can only estimate that those with chronic pain and inflammation make up the primary market. With prolonged use, NSAIDs expose the stomach lining to toxins, leading to ulcers, stomach bleeding, and digestive symptoms.
Over time, this disrupts your gut health, causing inflammation and pain – in other words, an endless cycle designed to keep you purchasing more NSAIDs. Acetaminophen is among the worst offenders, overloading the liver with toxicity that leads to permanent damage.
Acetaminophen is the second cause of liver transplants, with many unaware of the damage they’re causing.
We’ve all reached for painkillers in a moment of desperation. But what if that quick fix is quietly causing long-term damage? Beyond ulcers and liver toxicity, many of these pills wreak havoc on your body in ways you might never realize until it’s too late. Why risk it when nature offers safer, time-tested alternatives?
One of the most powerful remedies I learned how to make recently is called Painkiller in a Jar—a natural solution made from wild lettuce, often referred to as “nature’s opium.” Unlike pharmaceuticals, this remedy targets pain without harmful side effects.
It’s simple to make and just as effective, using a plant you’ve likely spotted growing in your backyard. All it takes is harvesting around 20 fresh wild lettuce leaves, slicing them thinly to fill about half a glass jar, pouring 80-proof vodka over the leaves, and letting it sit for 4-6 weeks to complete the extraction process.
Actually, to make it easier for you, you’ll find the recipe, complete with step-by-step instructions and pictures, here. Why reach for a bottle of pills when nature’s solution is right at your fingertips?
The Efficacy of Conventional Pain Relievers
Despite their hidden dangers, it’s undeniable that conventional pain relievers work—especially for minor ailments. But they never get to the root of the issue.
When you experience pain, it’s because your nerves send a signal to your brain, which causes your body to be on alert. This is partially due to prostaglandins that are produced when you get hurt or fall ill.
NSAIDs block a particular enzyme responsible for creating prostaglandins, leading to decreased or entirely diminished pain levels. This is only a temporary fix, and often, the pain returns stronger than ever.
Other pain relievers block enzymes in the brain, stunting its ability to send pain signals through the body. Simply put, NSAIDs merely mask the problem, and over time, your tolerance to them decreases, making it easier to overdose.
I didn’t always know all this, though. In fact, there was a time when I relied on those very pills, never questioning what they were really doing to my body. It wasn’t until I started exploring alternative health solutions that everything began to click. One guide in particular, The Holistic Guide to Wellness, completely shifted how I approach my health.
This guide opened my eyes to how our bodies work and how nature can be a far safer, more effective option. It’s almost funny now—my friends call me the “health guru” because I’m always sharing remedies and tips I’ve learned.
But honestly, I just wish I’d known all this sooner. It’s the kind of knowledge that changes how you live, maybe even how long you live. If I’d had this wisdom earlier, I would’ve been able to avoid so much unnecessary pain and start living a fuller, healthier life years ago. You can check it out here.
Homemade Advil Salve – Ingredients
This herbal remedy includes arnica, lavender essential oil, and coconut oil to create a soothing salve for massage or topical application. The ingredients list is small yet mighty. Here’s what each herb can do for your body.
Arnica: These bright yellow flowers are dried and placed in oil to draw out their anti-inflammatory properties. The oil is then applied topically to relieve joint pain and headaches. Unlike other pain relievers, arnica increases blood flow to the painful area, reducing inflammation.
Coconut Oil: This rich carrier oil helps the arnica and lavender sink deep into the skin. It also moisturizes the skin with MCTs, which can also decrease dermatitis symptoms. I love coconut oil because it’s accessible to anyone and readily available at most grocery stores. The best coconut oil is extra-virgin and unrefined, but any type will do in a pinch.
Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender is the ultimate calming essential oil, and it’s commonly used to relieve anxiety. If tense muscles cause pain, Nature’s Advil can help loosen knots and even help you get much-needed sleep. The lavender essential oil has a pleasant scent that is much preferred to over-the-counter gels, which often have an overpowering menthol smell.
When it comes to lavender, you’ve got to be careful. Most store-bought products claiming to be “lavender-infused” are anything but natural. They’re drenched in pesticides, pumped full of synthetic fragrances, and offer little to none of the benefits you’re actually looking for. Why would you put that on your skin when you’re trying to heal?
That’s why I decided to grow my own lavender at home. It’s ridiculously easy, and with just a few seeds, you can have a fresh, potent supply of chemical-free lavender anytime you need it. No pesticides, no weird additives—just pure lavender the way nature intended.
Trust me, once you start growing your own, you’ll never look at those store-bought “natural” products the same way again. And the best part? Lavender seeds are super affordable, so there’s really no excuse not to start your own little medicinal garden today. I found the best seed source here.
How to Make the Homemade Advil Salve
This remedy comes together within just a few minutes, giving you the fast relief you deserve. You can adjust the quantity of ingredients to make a larger batch. Be sure to check out the notes to learn how to use this remedy safely for the entire family.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon arnica oil
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil (or jojoba, sweet almond, or fractionated coconut oil)
- 10 drops of lavender essential oil
Step One: Mix the arnica oil with coconut or carrier oil until well incorporated. 
Step Two: Add the lavender essential oil and mix again. Store in an amber glass container away from light. Depending on your climate, your mixture will be solid or liquid. If you prefer a liquid form of this remedy (great for massages!), you can use liquid carrier oils, such as fractionated coconut oil. 
How to Use the Homemade Advil Salve
To use, clean the area you’re applying the gel to with water and dry well. Apply a small amount of salve to the inflamed area using circular motions. As long as pain persists, you can apply this remedy 2-3 times a day. You might find it most beneficial to apply it before bed to help promote healthy sleep.
This remedy is safe for adults and children over the age of six. It’s best used for minor ailments, such as aches, pains, and bruises. If used on children, lessen the amount and use only once a day.
Pregnant and nursing mothers should consult with their care providers before using it. Avoid using it near the eyes or on broken skin. If you have sensitive skin, do a patch test first to ensure your skin reacts well.
You should always store the arnica salve in a clean jar to avoid contamination. It’s ideally stored in the refrigerator, which also gives it a cooling sensation on the skin. Nature’s Advil will last 2-3 months in the refrigerator or 6 months in the freezer.
Let’s be honest—sometimes life gets in the way. Maybe you’re short on time, or maybe you’re just too exhausted to even think about making your own remedies. I’ve been there, and that’s exactly why I rely on the Joint and Movement Salve when I need fast, effective relief without the hassle.
This ready-made salve is like having a shortcut to nature’s best remedies, all packed into one jar. You don’t have to worry about gathering ingredients, infusing oils, or waiting weeks for it to be ready. It’s already done for you—no mess, no stress. And the best part? It’s even better than most homemade versions because it combines a unique blend of herbs and essential oils that work together for maximum relief.
Whether it’s aching joints, stiffness, or inflammation slowing you down, this salve gets right to work. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s exactly what you need when you don’t have the time or energy to DIY your way through the pain. Sometimes, it’s okay to let someone else do the hard work for you.
What if the remedies you trust are doing more harm than good? So many over-the-counter treatments are filled with toxic chemicals, and even the ones that seem to work only mask the problem, leaving your body worse off in the long run. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Imagine having a comprehensive guide to 250 powerful, natural remedies—solutions that actually help your body heal instead of harming it. That’s exactly what you’ll get with Nicole Apelian’s Forgotten Home Apothecary, a one-of-a-kind resource that puts the tools for holistic health right into your hands.
Inside, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for remedies like:
- Painkiller in a Jar: Made from wild lettuce, a legal and natural alternative to opium.
- Hair Growth Serum: A transformative treatment for damaged or thinning hair.
- Memory Elixir: A rosemary-based remedy scientifically proven to improve memory.
- Nature’s Amoxicillin: Boost your immune system naturally, without the side effects.
- Herbal Parasite Flush: Rid your body of harmful parasites with just papaya seeds, honey, and water.
- Grandma’s Hot Salve for Back Pain: A warming salve that melts stiffness and restores flexibility.
And that’s just the beginning. With 245 more remedies inside, you’ll be ready for any health challenge that comes your way—whether it’s a minor scrape, chronic pain, or even a sudden crisis.
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