Whether we’re living with chronic illness, feeling age creeping in (I’m talking about myself here.) or just trying to manage the stress of daily life, the effects of inflammation are familiar to many.

To keep my own inflammation in check, I open up my herb cabinet and make two products that I use almost daily: one for internal care and another for external application. A teaspoon of the following golden milk mix in my coffee gets me up and running each morning. I back that up with a twice daily application of an amped-up Balm of Gilead (aka cottowood or balsam poplar salve).

No-Mess Golden Milk Mix

Admittedly, drinking black pepper first thing in the morning is something I would probably not have thought to do. But research shows (see below) that it’s key to the formula. And this handy drink mix is so powerful and tasty that it has become part of my daily routine. I even keep a little jar in my purse. You know–just in case.

The recipe combines turmeric, black pepper and fats into a tidy, shelf-stable paste that tastes delicious and, according to tradition and science, helps protect and nourish cells from the inside.   The last five ingredients (in bold) are optional. Others are possible. A pinch of nutmeg, for example. I recommend shaking it up and making it your own with what you have available to you. And let me know how it goes!

  • 6 oz (or so) local honey (I use honey infused with rose petals or vanilla bean. It’s unnecessary but delightful.)
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
  • ½ cup ground turmeric powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger powder
  • 2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon powder Ceylon,
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom powder
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp reishi powder
  • 1-2 tsp rose water or orange flower water

Warm the coconut oil (without the honey) and stir all ingredients together. Store in a jar and add a tsp. or so to any kind hot beverage. Stir occasionally, as the powdered herbs tend to sink.

Balm of Gilead +++

In the following recipe, birch, spruce and St. John’s wort combine with cottonwood, which contains salicylic acid (the stuff that aspirin was derived from) to create a soft salve to apply to the skin. You can also make a perfectly adequate product using 5 oz of cottonwood oil. If you like a salve that’s a little less stiff to the touch, try whipping it with an immersion blender before it solidifies to achieve a slightly fluffier outcome, and or decreasing the amount of beeswax added. For best absorption, apply to warm skin.

  • 2 oz infused cottonwood oil (I use dried cottonwood buds and light scented EVOO. Or jojoba, but it’s more expensive)
  • 1 oz infused birch oil (i use leaves and or bark)
  • 1 oz infused spruce oil  (resin or sap infused in EVOO)
  • 1 oz infused st. john’s oil (fresh flowers infused in EVOO)
  • 1 oz of beeswax

Melt all ingredients over medium heat in a jar that you’re ready to let go of, in a crock pot or on a stove. Pour into a container and use as needed.

Want more on the process of infusing herbs in oils? Check out this article from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Read more about inflammation and the human body here:

Using Black Pepper to Enhance the Anti-Inflammatory effects of Turmeric

Inflammation and cell-to-cell communication, two related aspects in frailty,     

Note: This information is meant for educational purposes only. The author is not a medical professional. This is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it.