A homemade cannabis rub, made from garden-grown flower, rubbing alcohol, menthol and essential oils. Photo: Good Shepherd Media

A cooling, homemade cannabis rub can ease everyday aches, and you can make a gallon of it for the price of a few store-bought jars. It won’t get you high, and made the right way, it won’t ruin your clothes.

I started making this rub for sore joints and muscles after long days in the shop and on the ranch. The formula has been through a few rounds of testing: cannabis from the garden, high-proof rubbing alcohol, menthol, and a careful blend of essential oils. Here is the version that works, scaled to a single gallon, with every ingredient that stains left out.

Why each oil is in the blend

Each oil earns its place by cooling, warming, relaxing, reducing inflammation  or scenting the rub. Most of these uses come from long tradition and small studies, not large clinical trials. Menthol is the only ingredient here that the FDA recognizes as a topical pain reliever.

Cooling

Warming

Relaxing and soothing

Scent

What the science says, honestly

Many people find cannabis rubs help arthritis and muscle soreness, but the clinical evidence is still being studied. Cannabinoids applied to skin stay mostly in the skin, which is why a rub doesn’t cause a high.

Part of the relief comes from ingredients with a longer track record. Menthol is the active ingredient in many drugstore pain rubs, and the cooling alcohol and the massage itself help too. Think of this as a comfort rub, not a medicine.

Many people do find it relieving when used regularly it seems to relieve inflammation, which is for many inflammation  is a major reason they have pain.

Ingredients (makes 1 gallon)

Base

Essential oils (about 95 ml total, roughly 2.5% of the batch)

More oil is not better. Keep the total around 2–3% of the batch, or the rub starts to burn.

Left out on purpose: turmeric, patchouli, sandalwood, rose, German chamomile and yarrow oils (they’re blue), and steeped herbs. All of them tint the liquid and can mark fabric. Regular bergamot is left out because it can cause sunburn-like reactions on treated skin.

New to cannabis? Start here

You don’t need any experience to make this. If you can bake cookies and follow a recipe, you can make this rub.

Where to buy it. Go to a licensed dispensary (adults 21 and over in California). Tell the staff you’re making a rub for sore joints. Ask for “shake” or “trim”: smaller leftover pieces that work just as well and cost much less. If you’d rather avoid THC altogether, ask for a high-CBD or 1:1 CBD-to-THC flower.

What you’ll need from your kitchen

• A baking sheet and parchment paper
• An oven, plus an inexpensive oven thermometer (most ovens run hotter or cooler than the dial says)
• A large glass jar or jug with a tight lid
• Cheesecloth and coffee filters
• A funnel and dark glass bottles
• Kitchen gloves, if you have sensitive skin

What “decarb” means

Raw cannabis is mostly in an inactive form called THCA. Gentle heat converts it to the active form, THC, the way toasting bread changes it. This step is called decarboxylating, or “decarb” for short. It doesn’t make the rub intoxicating on your skin. It simply activates more of the plant.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Heat the oven to 240°F. Check the oven thermometer, because too hot burns off the good compounds.
2. Break the cannabis into small pieces, about the size of a pea. Your fingers work fine. Don’t grind it to powder.
3. Spread it in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
4. Bake for 30–40 minutes. Stir it once halfway through.
5. Look for the color change. It’s done when it turns from bright green to a light golden brown and feels dry and crumbly.
6. Let it cool completely before it goes anywhere near alcohol.

About the smell: decarbing smells strong for about an hour. Turn on the stove fan or open a window. Some people use an oven bag or a covered baking dish to keep the smell down.

How to make it

1. Decarb the cannabis as described above, and let it cool.
2. Soak it briefly. Put the cooled cannabis in your jar, pour the alcohol over it, close the lid tight, and shake for 3–5 minutes. A short soak keeps the rub light in color.
3. Strain it. Pour through cheesecloth set in a funnel. Put the same cannabis back in the jar, pour the strained alcohol over it again, and shake another 3–5 minutes. Strain again.
4. Strain once more through a coffee filter. This takes a little patience, so let gravity do the work.
5. Dissolve the menthol. Add the menthol crystals and shake until they disappear, about 5 minutes.
6. Add the essential oils. Measure each one with measuring spoons and shake well. A little cloudiness is normal.
7. Test it on yourself first. Rub a dime-sized spot on the inside of your forearm and wait 24 hours. If there’s no redness or itching, it’s ready to use.
8. Bottle and label it. Use a funnel to fill dark glass bottles. Write “EXTERNAL USE ONLY – FLAMMABLE” and the date on every bottle.

To use it: rub a small amount (about a teaspoon) into the sore area until it dries. Use it up to 3–4 times a day. Expect a cool tingle first, then gentle warmth.

Optional, for experienced makers: cannabis concentrate (wax) can be added for extra strength. Decarb 10–15 g in a small glass dish at 250°F for 30–45 minutes, until it stops bubbling. Let it cool, then rinse it out with some of the alcohol. Beginners can skip this; the flower alone works well.

Keeping it off your good clothes

The alcohol evaporates in minutes, but the oils and plant resin stay behind and can spot wool and silk.

• Let it dry fully, at least 15 minutes, before you get dressed. Applying at night is best.
• Wash your hands afterward so you don’t carry it to cuffs, collars or ties.
• Keep the wet rub off fabric. High-proof alcohol can loosen some dyes.
• If it does get on a garment, blot it rather than rubbing, and tell your dry cleaner it’s an oil and alcohol stain.

Storage and safety

Store it in a cool, dark cabinet with the caps tight, where it keeps 1–2 years. Skip the fridge: cold makes menthol crystallize, and fridges aren’t built for flammable vapors.

• Never heat the alcohol over a flame or in an oven. The vapors ignite easily.
• Isopropyl is poisonous to drink. Label every bottle and keep it away from children.
• Keep it off the face, eyes, mucous membranes and broken skin.
• Pets: cats are especially sensitive to essential oils, including the fumes.
• Pregnancy or seizure disorders: rosemary, eucalyptus and clary sage aren’t advised.
• If it starts to sting more than it used to, the oils have aged. Make a fresh batch.

Cannabis is legal for adults 21 and over in California. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor before using it for ongoing pain, especially if you take medication.

CHRISTIAN WARNING: EXTERNAL USE ONLY — INTOXICATION IS A SIN

THIS CANNABIS RUB IS INTENDED FOR EXTERNAL APPLICATION TO THE SKIN ONLY. NEVER EAT IT, DRINK IT, SMOKE IT, OR USE IT FOR THE PURPOSE OF BECOMING INTOXICATED.

As Christians, we are called to remain sober-minded, alert, self-controlled, and obedient to God. Deliberately pursuing intoxication, becoming drunk or high, and surrendering our judgment and self-control to a substance are contrary to these biblical principles.

The Bible commands us in Ephesians 5:18:

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” — Ephesians 5:18 (KJV)

First Peter 5:8 also instructs believers to be sober and vigilant. These principles remind us that our minds and bodies should be governed by wisdom, discipline, and the desire to honor God.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS RUB IS TOPICAL USE FOR SORE MUSCLES AND JOINTS — NOT INTOXICATION OR RECREATIONAL DRUG USE. This article does not endorse getting high, impairing one’s judgment, or using substances to escape responsibility.

CRITICAL SAFETY WARNING: This formula contains isopropyl rubbing alcohol, which is poisonous if swallowed, and is flammable. Keep it away from flames, children, and pets. Apply only to appropriate, intact skin and avoid the eyes, face, mucous membranes, and broken skin. Do not ingest the mixture under any circumstances.

Biblical Sobriety: More Than Just Avoiding Alcohol

The strongest biblical foundation for your message is that being sober-minded is a Christian duty involving the entire life of the mind: clear judgment, self-control, spiritual alertness, disciplined thinking, prayer, and resistance to temptation. Alcohol is one concern, but it is not the whole subject.

I also read the article you linked, Daily His Disciple, “16 Bible Verses for a Sober Mind (KJV)”. Its central message is that Christians cultivate a sober mind by renewing their thoughts through Scripture, rejecting false thinking, developing Christlike character, and remaining spiritually vigilant.

Daily His Disciple

+1

1. The Bible teaches sobriety as a way of life

Here are the most relevant passages to expand your article’s Christian message.

2. The verse that may be most important for your message

Titus 2:11–12 is especially powerful because it connects God’s grace with rejecting ungodliness and living soberly.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” — Titus 2:11–12 (KJV)

This goes beyond the question of alcohol. It teaches that Christians should exercise self-control, resist ungodly desires, and live in a manner that honors God.

Other important passages include:

• 1 Corinthians 6:12 — “I will not be brought under the power of any.” A principle of freedom from enslavement to habits or desires.

• Galatians 5:22–23 — The fruit of the Spirit includes temperance, commonly understood as self-control.

• Proverbs 25:28 — A person without self-control is compared to a city whose walls are broken down.

• 2 Timothy 1:7 — God gives a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.

• Mark 5:15 — The formerly afflicted man is described as sitting, clothed, and “in his right mind.”

Together, these passages support a broad Christian teaching about clear thinking, mastery over impulses, and spiritual discipline.

3. How this applies to cannabis and your topical-rub article

I recommend making the distinction between using a product for a physical purpose and seeking intoxication explicit.

There is an important nuance: the Bible does not specifically discuss modern cannabis products, and topical cannabis preparations are not necessarily intoxicating. Whether a particular product is safe or produces impairment depends on its ingredients, formulation, and how it is used. So your Christian position can be stated firmly without suggesting that every cannabis preparation automatically causes intoxication.

Here is an expanded section you could add to your article.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor before using it for ongoing pain, especially if you take medication.

A Christian Perspective on Sobriety: Keeping a Sound Mind Before God

If You Deposit a Lot of Cash, Does Your Bank Report It to the Government?

Federal law governs how much cash you can deposit before a bank reports it.

A federal judge in Oklahoma ruled last week that a federal law that bans gun ownership by cannabis users is unconstitutional.

“For all the reasons given above, this is not a constitutionally permissible means of disarming Harrison,” Judge Wyrick ruled.
“But the mere use of marijuana carries none of the characteristics that the Nation’s history and tradition of firearms regulation supports,” said Judge Wyrick
Judge Wyrick also highlighted that under Oklahoma law, marijuana can be bought legally at more than 2,000 store fronts in the state.

A federal judge in Oklahoma City ruled last week that a federal law that prohibits cannabis users from owning firearms is unconstitutional and must not be enforced by prosecutors. Citing a ruling handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court last year that dramatically expanded gun rights, U.S. District Judge Patrick Wyrick dismissed a federal indictment charging an Oklahoma man with violating the ban, ruling that the prohibition denied the defendant of his right to bear arms guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.