Hey guys! Aly, owner of Glam Gardener here. As I'm writing this, it's January in New York where it's 24 degrees outside. So that means last week I was sick. Isn’t everybody right now?

So I did what I normally do. Poured myself a nice big steaming cup of Calm the F*ck Down tea.

Except, I fumbled the cup like a rookie teamaker and spilled steaming hot water all over my hands, forearms and palms. Ouch.

After cursing me and everyone around me out for a couple of minutes, I ran to the bathroom to run cold water over my burnt skin. But it was still tingly, numb, and turning a reddish color that was making me dread tomorrow.

But then I was like… I’m a plant-picking, potion-making, wild-crafting wizard. I got this.

I went into my room and scoured the secret salve drawer for my first round of defense: Pain Relief salve with CBD, arnica, comfrey, and peppermint oil, all infused in organic olive oil and local beeswax.

The way this salve works to relieve pain is through these 3 anti-inflammatory plants. Arnica and comfrey are 2 flowers that have been traditionally used to reduce inflammation when applied topically to sore muscles and joints.

They're also known to help with tissue repair and to stimulate blood circulation. CBD (cannabis with high CBD and low THC components) also can be a great topical pain reliever.

This salve is really intended for joint and muscle pain. Regardless, I decided to try to give it a whirl.

I wanted to shower that night, but I knew that the hot water was bound to intensify my pain. And I'll be damned if I take a cold shower at night when it's 24 degrees outside. Sorry, cold plungers. (To be fair, I very much admire you).

So to prepare, I gave myself a 10-minute massage with this soothing scented salve.

The scent of the salve on my skin soothed me. It sort of smells like CBD cookies with a hint of mint. My tissue felt calm. But I noticed that the peppermint oil in the salve–designed to add a tingly sensation when applied to sore joints and muscles–was just slightly too sensational for my freshly burnt skin.

After my shower, I dried off delicately and reached for a more gentle friend: Self Heal.

This salve contains plants that have a knack for healing cuts, burns, and wounds. Goldenrod, chamomile, calendula, and self heal—a wild flower that we harvest in the Summer. It's combined with organic chamomile essential oil, local beeswax, and organic olive oil.

Chamomile essential oil is so delicate and much less fragrant than peppermint oil, so I figured it would be gentle on my tender burns. At the very least, the skin-healing qualities of organic olive oil and the protectant properties of local beeswax were sure to do me some good.

I know that this salve is great for little cuts to the skin, dry hands, and baby burns, because I have been using it since its inception.

But to be truthful, I’ve never applied this salve on such an intense burn before now.

Before I burnt my hands with a whopping cup full of tea, I would find most relief in using this salve after a day of harvesting or preparing products in the kitchen.

After a full day's work, my hands are nicked and dry. All of the wildflowers infused into this salve have been long used to nurture the skin of working people. Infact, self heal–the seasonal wildflower that we harvest for this salve–is coined carpenter's herb. You know, because carpenters tend to do damage to their hands on the job.

Before bed, I gave myself another massage to the skin, praying that I would wake up without pain, blisters, or a giant red patch that reminded me of my amateur move: filling my cup way too high with water that was way too hot.

Low and behold, I woke up to a red patch on the back of my hand about a tenth the size as it was the night before. And I only experienced a mild sting in that small area.

I kept applying my Self Heal salve throughout the day. I made sure to be careful around all things hot. Pans—avoid. Hot tea—let it cool.

After many Self Heal sessions, within 48 hours it was like I’d never clumsily spilled boiling hot water all over my hands.

As a wildcrafter, I design these products with scientific research and traditional methods in mind. I know they work—in theory, just like everything else should—but spilling 12 ounces of steaming hot tea on your sensitive skin really puts them to the test.

After experiences like this, I’m always pleasantly surprised by how natural and non-toxic remedies come through for us when we need them.