How to Make
Cannabis
PAin cream
This cannabis pain cream recipe uses only three ingredients and works wonderfully for my mild peripheral neuropathy, arthritis and chronic nerve pain.
Simple ingredients for an easy to make cannabis pain cream.
Shea Butter
I use 100% natural organic shea butter that is available from multiple sources, including Amazon, Target or Walmart. Make sure it’s just shea butter; don’t use any cream with other ingredients in it.
Liquid Coconut Oil
Fractionated coconut oil stays liquid at all temperatures, and makes for a better consistency. It can be found in your supermarket’s oil section, or you can use “MCT Oil” sold as a dietary supplement.
Cannabis (high CBD strains)
7 grams of high CBD cannabis works best, with the entourage effect of CBD, THC and natural cannabis terpenes.
The basic procedure
Three steps over three days to create 14 ounces of cannabis pain cream.
Our optional Cannabis Pain Cream Guide will give you more details, and show you how to reduce the cannabis smell, avoid a grainy texture, and how to use essential oils in your cannabis pain cream.
Step 1: Prepare the coconut oil
Break up the cannabis into an oven-safe glass bowl (Pyrex is one brand). The pieces should be between pea and grape size. Pour 6 ounces (171 ml) of coconut oil over the cannabis in the oven-safe glass dish. Let the cannabis sit in the oil for 2 days (48 hours).
Step 2: Activate the coconut oil mixture
Place the oven safe glass dish with the coconut oil and cannabis into a pre-heated 300 F (149 C) oven for 1 hour. Allow to cool, and pour the oil through a strainer or coffee filter to separate the cannabis out.
Step 3: Melt and mix the shea butter
In a double broiler, or a glass dish floating in a pot of boiling water, melt 8 ounces (227 grams) of shea butter. When fully melted, remove from heat and pour the coconut oil mixture into it, and stir well. Allow to cool to room temperature for 30 minutes, then put in the refrigerator for 45 minutes. Mix with a wisp or power hand mixture to a smooth consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
That’s it! This simple recipe is what I use for both arthritis pain and my constant tinging in my feet from peripheral neuropathy. I use it twice a day most days, and then whenever I get “breakthrough pain” during the day. Most of the time it lasts 8 to 12 hours for me.
How much will making this cost?
High CBD cannabis flower currently costs about $22 for an “eighth” (1/8 of an ounce or 3.5 grams). Buying two “eighths” of that cannabis will cost you about $44. The shea butter is another $8 to $10 for 8 ounces, and the liquid coconut oil can be bought for about $10 for 16 ounces, and you’ll have enough for two batches. For about $64 you can get 12 ounces of pain cream, for a cost of just over $5 an ounce.
How can I know this will work?
Only by trying it for 2 or 3 days for muscle soreness or arthritis. For peripheral neuropathy “tinging” pain, it works the same for me as lidocaine, capsaiscin or icy-hot style pain creams you can buy in the drug store, with immediate relief. If those creams don’t work at all, try some inexpensive CBD lotion.
Does this work for all pain?
No, the cream doesn’t help my deep nerve pain from my back, and others I have given samples to report it doesn’t work well for neuromas or other severe nerve pain. It does help my arthritis and my peripheral neuropathy “tingling” pain, as well as my mild neck pain.
Is there a ready-made, cheaper alternative?
In legal cannabis areas, your local dispensary will have cannabis pain creams. In California they cost about $50 an ounce. While not cheaper, that could be a good way to test if a cannabis pain cream will work for you without making a full batch of this cream (which will cost about $64 for 12 ounces).
FDA Disclaimer
The statements made regarding the products and ingredients have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.
Medical Disclaimer
The general information on this website is provided “as is” and without any representations or warranties, express or implied. Frank Hagan makes no representations or warranties in relation to any health information on this website. You must not rely on the information as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. You should seek immediate medical attention if you think you may be suffering from an injury or any other medical condition. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website or any materials provided by Frank Hagan, none of which is intended to be a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice or treatment.
Contact me
You can email me at frank@acumenconsultingcompany.com with any questions.