Jalapeno Coconut Oil Sore Muscle Rub

Hot Pepper Rub for Sore Muscles

Let’s just say that I am not as limber as I used to be. In fact, I have taken to sitting on a stool for especially long weeding session in the garden. Needless to say, I do have considerable lower back pain. I normally treat my back with a heat pad, ibuprofen, or ice. I came across this jalapeno muscle rub on the Free People Blog. I know…it sounds out there.  Hear me out. Capsaicin is the active component of chili peppers. It is this chemical that gives peppers like jalapenos its heat. It is also used as an analgesic in topical ointments in many commercially available products. So, why buy muscle rub for my back when I have a ton of jalapenos growing in my garden?

Here’s what you will need:

1. Coconut oil
2. Jalapeno
3. Gloves
4. A Mixer w/beaters

I decided to infuse my coconut oil with the pepper. On the Free People Blog, they added a few seeds to some coco butter. I didn’t want to have seeds sitting in the ointment.

1. Measure out one cup of coconut oil in a microwave proof measuring cup. Heat up the oil in the microwave until warm. It took about a minute in my microwave.
2. Wearing gloves, slice a couple rings off of your jalapeno pepper. Add the slices to the warmed coconut oil, seeds and all. You can adjust how many pepper slices you want to add. Start out with less to begin with, depending on the heat level of the pepper.
3. Let the pepper and oil mixture steep. When the coconut oil cools it will solidify again. Remove the pepper slices. In order to whip the oil, it needs to be back in its solid state. If your house is warm ( it needs to be 76 degrees or cooler for the oil to solidify) put the glass in the refrigerator for a bit until it is solid again (but not hard).
4. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer with beater attachments, whip the coco oil until it forms stiff peaks.
5. Add your whipped coco butter to a jar. The coco butter will stay in this whipped form unless it gets above 76 degrees.
6. Apply to your sore muscles!

Caution: Jalapenos will produce a burning sensation when it comes into contact with your skin. So, stay clear of the eyes. After applying the rub to the affected area, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly.