Arnica Salve: A Look at Peppermint’s Superpower

For someone who will happily talk your ear off about arnica (hi, still me 🙋‍♀️), I also have a soft spot for the supporting cast in our Arnica Salve.

Because if arnica is the lead singer, herbs like peppermint are the backup vocals, fog machine, and lighting crew. You’d still get help for those loud, cranky muscles without it—but you’d miss that “oooh… thats awesome” moment.

Today we’re shining the spotlight on peppermint—why it’s in our Arnica Salve, what it actually does (besides smell amazing), and how it helps your overworked body chill out when life is being… well…..a lot.

Arnica: The First-Responder Friend

If you’ve hung around StrangeMakes for more than a minute, you already know arnica is my ride-or-die herb for:

• Bumps and those “I do not remember hitting that” bruises

• Overworked, overachieving muscles

• Body parts filing HR complaints after yard work, sports, or just existing as an adult

Arnica flowers are naturally rich in plant compounds herbalists love, including sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids, which are traditionally used to support:

• The body’s normal response to swelling and soreness

• Those “I didn’t break it, but I definitely annoyed it” moments

In real-people language:

Arnica is the herb you reach for when your body is saying, “Rude.”

That’s why it’s the star of so many bruise, muscle, and joint formulas—and the main character in our Arnica Salve.

But even stars need co-stars. Enter: peppermint.

Peppermint: The Cooling Teammate with a To-Do List

Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is not just a candy-cane flavor. It’s a serious little overachiever.

Peppermint naturally contains menthol and menthone, plant compounds that give it that sharp, fresh scent and the famous “cooling” sensation on your skin when used in high concentrations.

In our Arnica Salve, we use “just enough” peppermint to:

• Soothe your overworked areas

• Is the vehicle that transports Arnica for deeper support

• Makes muscles feel less tight and less cranky

Herbalists have traditionally used peppermint to support:

• Muscle and tension comfort

• Clarity and wakefulness (hello, minty-smelling brain space)

• Topical soothing for irritated or overworked areas

If arnica is the EMT for grumpy tissue, peppermint is the designated driver.

A Quick Note from the Responsible Adult in the Room

As much as I love herbs, I also love honesty and safety. So, a few important things:

• For external use only.
  Arnica + peppermint = great on skin. Not great in eyes, mouths, or other sensitive zones.

• Avoid broken or irritated skin.
  Peppermint + open skin can be… memorable. In the wrong way.

• Patch test first.
  If you have sensitive skin or know you react to mint/menthol, try a tiny amount on a small area first.

• Check in with your provider.
  If you’re pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are using other topical medications, talk with a trusted healthcare provider before slathering anything on regularly.

• Stop if your skin is grumpy.
  Redness, burning, or irritation that doesn’t calm down? Wash off with mild soap and water and discontinue use.

Herbs are helpers—part of your comfort toolkit.
They’re not miracle cures, not substitutes for proper care, and definitely not licensed to override common sense.