As a nanny, teacher, and caregiver, I’ve had more than my fair share of germ exposure. At home I often use homemade foaming hand soap, but that won’t work when I’m grabbing a  grocery cart at Walmart. A natural DIY hand sanitizer with essential oils is just the thing to safely keep nasty germs at bay.

More than Dry Skin

A few years ago the FDA banned triclosan, the active ingredient in many hand sanitizers. Scientists speculate this chemical may contribute to antibacterial resistance and according to the FDA it’s not safe for pregnant women. But the ingredients that replaced triclosan aren’t much better.

Hand Sanitizers can Cause Skin Damage

Most hand sanitizers, even natural ones, use crazy high amounts of alcohol – about 70 percent. It may kill germs, but it’s also doing something more sinister to our health. Alcohol breaks down the skin’s protective acid mantle, which destroys the body’s natural defenses, and damages its ability to defend against further damage. Hand sanitizers can also cause wrinkles along with the damaged skin.

Cancer risk

Even worse, one study found 3 percent alcohol applied to skin for two days, caused cell death to jump by 26 percent! The more often alcohol is used on skin, the greater the damage. Even in small amounts alcohol causes inflammation and destroys our cells ability to defend against cancer causing free radicals.

We can’t completely avoid germs, but we also don’t want to destroy skin cells in the fight against bacteria.

Natural Hand Sanitizer Without Alcohol

Conventional brands rely on alcohol to kill germs but there’s more than one way to get the job done. Essential oils have a wide array of antimicrobial properties that kick germs butt. I chose cinnamon leaf and orange essential oil for this recipe, or you can buy a pre-made germ fighting blend. Tea tree, clove, oregano, thyme, and bay essential oils are also good germ fighting options.

How to Make Scented Hand Sanitizer

Take a whiff of most hand sanitizers and your nose will be left with a burning sensation from all that alcohol. The artificial fragrances some add to mask the smell only add to the health risks. Essential oils are my go to because they help fight germs and smell amazing.

Hand Sanitizer with Essential Oils

Certain essential oils may smell nice, but they don’t play so nice with skin. Cinnamon is one of those. Cinnamon bark and cassia cinnamon can easily irritate skin, causing rashes and burns when used in too high a concentration. While cinnamon bark in general should be kept below .07 percent, cinnamon leaf is safe up to .6 percent.

However, cinnamon is a germ fighting powerhouse so I’ve included cinnamon leaf in my diy hand sanitizer recipe. Orange is another favorite antibacterial essential oil of mine and is gentle on skin. Unlike some citrus oils, orange is not phototoxic and won’t increase sun damage.

Is Homemade Hand Sanitizer Effective?

That’s the magic question, isn’t it? A study published by Oxford University Press looked at cinnamon’s effect on bacteria. Researchers discovered cinnamon essential oil is effective against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. A 2017 study, Essential oil components of orange peels and antimicrobial activity, found orange essential oil is also effective against a wide array of pathogens.

There’s a catch though. We have to use enough essential oil for it to kill the germs. When we overdilute essential oils they lose their efficacy, are a wasted effort, and can be dangerous.  The diy hand sanitizer recipe below uses essential oils that are diluted so they’ll be both safe and effective.

What About WHO?

But hold up… doesn’t the World Health Organization (WHO) say only alcohol makes a working hand sanitizer? While it’s true the WHO recommends you put 75-80 percent alcohol on your hands, I’m not comfortable with that for the reasons mentioned earlier. Groups like the CDC and WHO have their place, but they also don’t recognize the growing body of literature showing the antimicrobial properties of essential oils on skin. The best solution is to always wash your hands with non-antibacterial soap and water, but hand sanitizers help in certain situations. Like at the gas station or grocery store.

This recipe is for those that prefer a more natural option. Like any homemade product though it isn’t officially tested and verified to be 100% effective. Personally I feel much better using this homemade hand sanitizer for myself and my kids. If you want to opt for an alcohol version though, then feel free to replace the distilled water with 70% isopropyl alcohol and 1 tsp glycerin.

Natural Hand Sanitizer: Not Just for Hands

DIY hand sanitizer spray is good for your hands, but I also use it on door knobs, shopping cart handles, and strangers on airplanes. I actually don’t spray down strangers with homemade hand sanitizer, but my friend Debbie does… or at least the air around them.

However you choose to use it, DIY hand sanitizer will make the germs scream and run in terror. Without destroying your skin and causing free radical damage.

Know someone who needs this recipe? Share the love with the social share buttons below!

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Anti-itch Essential Oils

Lavender and tea tree essential oil are very soothing to itchy, irritated skin. Even better they’re safe for kids. When dilutions are reduced in an attempt to be “safe,” it can sometimes be harmful instead … here’s why. A 41% dilution may seem like a lot of essential oil, but the recipe works best that way.

Whoa, is that safe??

Bug Bite Treatment for Babies

You may have heard that little ones need a .25% or a .5% essential oil dilution to be safe, but there’s more to the story. It depends on which oil you’re using, how much, what you’re using it for, the child’s health and body type, and their age.  It’s important to remember that dose and dilution are NOT the same thing. If that sounds confusing, consider this.

Breaking Dose Down

If I used a .5% dilution of a harsh oil like peppermint in a head to toe body lotion, that’s a lot of essential oil absorbed into the skin. If however I’m using a 20% dilution of a gentle oil, like lavender as a spot treatment, then the dose is much less.

In scenario number one the child would have a total dose of 4 drops applied to the skin if we use 4 teaspoons of lotion. In scenario number two the dose of lavender essential oil in 1/16 teaspoon would be .002 drops. That’s a huge difference!

How to Use Essential Oils for Bug Bites

Both lavender and tea tree essential oil are generally safe to use occasionally as a spot treatment undiluted. I’ve tried to strike a middle ground here and use a total 40% essential oil dilution. I know it sounds like a lot, but the total amount of essential oil on the skin is low.

Treat Bug Bites that Are Swelling and Hot

Bug bites often feel itchy and inflamed, but mint essential oil has menthol that cools the skin. Peppermint is too harsh for infants respiratory systems and should not be applied directly to little one’s chests. The rules change when we’re talking about a spot treatment though.

How to Dilute Mint Essential Oil

Tisserand recommends using a .5% peppermint dilution on children ages 3-6, however that’s more for a product that’s applied all over the body, like lotion. Since this is a spot treatment I’ve used a 1% dilution. For adults it’s safe to use a 5% peppermint dilution all over the body. And 1% was the general dilution given in my Vintage Remedies pediatric course (now the Franklin Institute of Wellness) for babies.

Spearmint is gentler than peppermint so I prefer to use it with little ones. There aren’t any hard and fast rules here, but I’m comfortable using spearmint in this blend for ages 1 and older. If it’s for 3 and up then I’d use either spearmint or peppermint.

Extra Healing Tamanu

This sticky, green oil is thick and deeply nourishing to damaged skin. Tamanu is a nice addition to a soothing bug bite stick, but isn’t strictly required. It calms the itch, helps prevent infection, and reduces pain.

“With its unusual composition, tamanu oil absorbs deeply into all three layers of the skin, where it has been demonstrated to rapidly regenerate new skin, repair nerves, and diminish scarring… Open wounds and serious breaches of the body have reportedly been repaired with treatment with the oil. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and analgesic, while being non-toxic and non-irritating.” – Parker

A Note on Measuring Ingredients

I figured this formula in millileters so it would be an accurate dilution ratio for the essential oils. I use these dropper pipettes to measure carrier oils (like tamanu) and essential oils. Not everyone has containers that measure in millileters so I’ve also included directions for measuring spoons.

If you opt to use measuring spoons the recipe won’t be quite as accurate. Droppers aren’t so helpful when it comes to beeswax though so I stuck with teaspoons here.

Bug Bite Relief Stick

Ingredients:

Yields about 4 bug bite relief sticks

• 4.8 ml, 1 scant teaspoon tea tree essential oil
• 4.8 ml, 1 scant teaspoon lavender essential oil
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons beeswax pellets
• 2  cocoa butter wafers, or 1 teaspoon
• 2.5 ml, ½ tsp tamanu oil or sweet almond oil
• 4 drops spearmint OR peppermint essential oil
• Heat safe glass jar (an 8 ounce mason jar or a small glass measuring cup with a spout work well)
• Pot
• Cooking strainer
• Lip balm tubes .15 oz – get them here

Directions:

1. In a small, heat safe glass jar add the beeswax, shea butter and grapeseed or tamanu oil. Place the strainer in the pot, then put the jar on the strainer. Add enough water to the pot so it comes about 1/3 of the way up the jar.
2. Turn the heat to medium and allow the mixture to melt completely, stirring occasionally with a metal spoon.
3. Once the wax and shea butter are melted, add the essential oils, stir a little and turn off the heat.
4. Immediately pour the balm into your lip balm tubes. The mixture will harden quickly, so place it back in the water to soften if needed.

To use: Apply as needed to soothe itchy bug bites. Keep the balm away from direct sunlight and store in a cool place.

• I’ve found that a glass container with a small spout works best to pour into the tiny tubes. I’ve used a Pyrex glass measuring cup before, but my favorite tool for this is a glass beaker.
• If you don’t want to mess with lip balm tubes then this could be put into a 1 ounce metal tin instead. The balm may be a little tougher to get out though.

References:

Parker, Susan M. (2015). Power of the Seed: Your Guide to Oils for Health & Beauty (Process Self-reliance Series). Process. Kindle Edition.

The post Must have Essential Oil Stick for Itchy Bug Bites appeared first on The Herbal Spoon.

There’s a lot of misinformation when it comes to the best essential oils. Some people swear only their brand is pure. Others get the cheapest essential oils they can find, then wonder what they hype is about when they don’t work well. In this article I cover:

• What therapeutic grade really means.
• How to know if your essential oils are pure and potent.
• Why native sourced plants are so important, but organic may not be.
• Why a company’s safety info isn’t important to me.

Therapeutic Grade Doesn’t Equal Purity

Therapeutic grade is not an officially regulated term. This is a marketing term created to attract customers. The product may be pure or it may not be. This is why it’s important to view test results and verify the company’s standards, not rely on label catch phrases.

Is Organic Better?

Some growers follow organic standards, or use natural pesticide control but don’t have an official organic certification. Organic guarantees certain growing standards, but there are reputable sellers without this certification. Some farmers can’t afford an organic certification, as this raises the price for you and them both. Ask the company about growing standards. Look at the GCMS reports, which identify any contamination.

It’s like shopping at the local farmers market. Even though the sellers I frequent don’t have an official organic certification, I know from asking questions and getting to know them that they don’t use dangerous pesticides. I’m happy with that, and it keeps costs down.

Integrity and Honesty

You don’t have to dig very far to find some shady things going on with certain essential oil companies. Illegally importing endangered species, not releasing test results, and  diluting with cheap (or synthetic) ingredients are just some of the problems with essential oil companies. I keep up to date with The Blue Tansy Analysis group, which posts essential oil test results and other chemistry info.

Mistakes happen, and the larger a company becomes the easier it is for something to slip through the cracks unintentionally. How they respond when an issue is discovered speaks volumes for their integrity. If they try to belittle the issue or those pointing it out (or worse, dish out threats and lawsuits), that’s not behavior I want to support.

Accurate Safety Information

This is a tough one. Supplement companies are prohibited by the FDA from making claims about their products. They can give dosage and usage guidelines, but they can’t imply the product will treat a disease. This results in a complicated word dance of trying to tell the consumer how a product will help them while staying out of hot water with the FDA.

There are several companies that give detailed usage information, but I’d argue this isn’t necessary when choosing which essential oils to buy. Some companies recommend unsafe usage, while others err so far on the side of safety it decreases efficacy. When the proper dose/dilution isn’t used, it won’t be effective. You can read more about the issue of overly “safe” essential oil use here.

Where to Find Accurate Essential Oil Information

I prefer to get my safety and usage info from sources outside of the companies I purchase from. Here are some of my favorite essential oil information books.

• Aromatherapy for Babies and Children (beginner to intermediate)
• Aromatherapy for Healthcare Professionals (more advanced reading)
• Practical Aromatherapy (good for beginning learners)
• The Essential Oil Encyclopedia by Julia Lawless (beginner to intermediate)

Third Party Testing

Anyone can claim their essential oils are all natural and pure. All essential oil companies do. Third party testing from a reputable and experienced lab ensures transparency between the company and consumer. This isn’t very helpful though if a company refuses to let anyone see their test results. When choosing the best essential oils, I look for a company that does third party testing (not in house testing) and the results are available to see. Dr. Robert Pappas is one of the leading essential oil chemists in the world and he posts essential oil test results here. 

They Release the GCMS Reports

This goes along with the last point. GCMS stands for gas chromatography mass spectrometry. This test will reveal contaminants in the oil and the exact levels of the chemical constituents. It’s not so helpful if you can’t read one (It’s Greek to me), BUT it’s still important.

GCMS reports are also batch specific, meaning that each batch of each essential oil should have their own analysis for purity. If the company is only testing one batch of rosemary every few years and posting the same report for every bottle produced, it’s not accurate. There could be contamination of a specific batch that goes unnoticed due to inadequate testing.

Where to Find Third Party Test Results

There are reputable chemists that do oil testing and publicly release the results. For people like me who can’t analyze a GCMS report, I also like that they put the results in plain English. The groups below have tons of info on essential oil quality and purity for specific brands.

• Essential Oil University 
• Blue Tansy Analysis 
• Essential Oil Consumer Reports

Fair Trade Sourcing

Good juju, Karma, the Golden Rule, whatever you want to call it, treating others like I want to be treated is important to me. I want to be fairly compensated for my hard work, and I want to earn enough to adequately support myself and family. I want the same for essential oil growers, many of whom live in third world countries.

More companies are sourcing from fairly compensated growers, but some take it a step further. My favorite essential oil company also does projects for the communities where their growers live.

• They build schools
• Provide hygiene kits so girls can stay in school
• Support agencies that stop child sex trafficking
• Dig village wells so people have access to clean water.

I’m glad to know I’m contributing to something that’s positively impacting someone’s life. These projects are funded by donations to my favorite company, not essential oil sales. For me, doing the right thing and being a part of the solution and not the problem are worth the price tag.

The Best Essential Oils are Natively Sourced

Essential oils are more potent (and can also be more sustainable) when they’re grown in the proper environment. A high altitude lavender grown in the mountains of France has a much different chemical profile than one grown in a US dessert. There are generational family growers that have refined and perfected the distillation of their country’s native plants over the years. These are the knowledgeable people I want to buy from.

Should a Company Own their Own Farms?

One of the largest essential oil companies biggest selling point was that they grew all of their essential oils on their own farms. After it came out in court that less than 1% of their oils were grown on their farms, they quietly changed their website to say “partner farms” instead.

There are artisan growers that sell the oils from their farm in small batches, though these can be hard to find. I’ve seen a few lavender farms that do this, though many growers partner with a larger essential oil company.

I prefer to buy essential oils from a company that has a close relationship with their growers to ensure high quality. Sometimes this means they’re grown on their own farms, and sometimes they’ve partnered with experienced growers.

Some brands buy off of the open market in third world countries, which is exactly what I want to avoid. This video from a very popular health store brand shows how they source their oils. It involves using a mud pit as a distillation pool and buying essential oils in used water bottles and old RoundUp pesticide containers. Not something I want to use therapeutically!!

Sustainability

The essential oil industry as a whole is not sustainable, so they should be grown, sourced and used wisely. Too many companies offering cheap oils do so by overharvesting, underpaying the growers, or buying cheap product off of the open market and bottling under their brand. I look for a company that:

• Doesn’t source essential oils from overharvested or endangered species.
• Doesn’t illegally import product from endangered species.
• Uses sustainable farming or wild harvesting methods.

I may make an exception if they’re sustainably (and legally) growing and harvesting an endangered species on their own or partner farms. This controlled method doesn’t damage the environment or further deplete the plant species.

The Best Essential Oils for the Best Price

Cheap cost indicates a low quality product. But more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean high quality. I’m willing to pay more for a product that meets my (strict) criteria. Third party testing has shown the really cheap essential oils (like those sold at grocery and drug stores) have synthetic ingredients added. Some don’t even have trace amounts of essential oil, but they’re still labeled “100% pure therapeutic grade.”

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Companies

This is a tough one and there are hot opinions on either side. I buy essential oils from both MLM and non-MLM companies.

Here are some of the negatives of buying from an MLM company:

• Prices are usually higher
• The upline may not be very helpful or supportive.
• Some advice shared in groups may not advocate safe essential oil use.
• Some MLM users are so loyal to their favorite company, said company knows they can get away with things they shouldn’t be doing.

The positives of buying from an MLM company:

• The right upline can make or break the experience. A supportive community of oil users share usage tips, product support, and learning experiences.
• A large portion of profits can go to support small businesses, improve family’s lives and to fairly compensate the native growers. (this all depends on the company, so always ask questions!)

The Essential Oils I Use

I use several different brands, including Plant Therapy, Eden’s Garden, and Mountain Rose Herbs. I stay away from anything sold at Walmart, drug stores, and the cheap online brands from Amazon.

What do you look for when choosing essential oils? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to share this post!

The post How to Find the Best Essential Oils appeared first on The Herbal Spoon.

I’ll admit that my hair is definitely thinner than I’d like. Seeing all of that hair at the bottom of the shower is pretty scary. Even my husband, who once had super thick hair, is dealing with significant hair loss. There are many factors that can cause thinning hair, and for us, it’s because of hormone imbalance and autoimmune diseases.

What causes hair loss in women?

Some of us think that hair loss is just a normal part of aging, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t even need to be that old to suffer from thinning hair. Some factors are easier to control than others, but there is a natural hair loss treatment that may help, whatever the cause of your thinning hair. Here are the most common causes of female hair loss (source).

• Postpartum hair loss is common after pregnancy.
• Genetics
• Menopause or other hormone changes.
• Thyroid problems and other autoimmune diseases.
• Scalp infections, like ringworm.
• Prescription drugs, especially birth control.
• Perms, conventional hair products, excessive blow drying, etc.
• Hairstyles that pull the hair follicles, like ponytails and cornrows.

Simple changes

Obviously the best approach is to treat the root cause. The best natural hair loss treatments out there won’t do much for you if you keep inflicting damage on your scalp. I started getting a perm every 6 months at the age of 7, and by 14 my hair and scalp were so damaged I knew I had to make my peace with straight hair. I rarely curl it, and stay away from hair dryers and other heat tools.

If you’re dealing with an autoimmune disorder, then following the restrictive GAPS or AIP diet will help to heal your gut and as a result, restore your hair growth. And if you have hormone imbalance, then incorporating simple changes, like adaptogenic maca root into your morning coffee or smoothie can go a long way. You can get a recipe for maca milk here.

Another change I’ve made is to wear my hair down more. If I’m working, I really can’t stand having it in my face. However, ditching the tight ponytail holder and opting for a claw clip is gentler on my scalp.

Healthier natural hair treatments

Lately I’ve been using this natural shampoo from 100 percent pure brand to help restore the health of my scalp. Most “natural” shampoos really aren’t that natural, and they often sneak in some nasty ingredients, but this one meets my stringent standards.

The Morocco method line of hair care is different than traditional shampoo and some find it tricky, but it’s nourishing and very natural hair care.  I’ve been wanting to try it, but I haven’t jumped in yet because it’s a “no-poo” method and I don’t have the time to play around with it to make it work yet. A lot of people have used it in conjunction with healthy diet changes to really restore the thickness of their hair.

Essential oils for hair loss

There’s something else you can add to your routine though that will really help restore hair growth. This study  put essential oils to the test, to see if they would help improve hair growth on the scalp. The participants saw significant improvement after using a blend of lavender, rosemary, cedarwood and thyme essential oils.

There were two groups in this study. One massaged a blend of essential oils diluted with a carrier oil onto their scalps, while the placebo group just used the carrier oils. Since massage on its own helps to stimulate the hair follicles and improve hair growth, it’s helpful to see the results from both groups. The placebo group had a 15% improvement, but the group that used essential oils had a whopping 44% improvement in hair growth!

Both groups massaged the oils onto their scalp for at least 2 minutes every night for 7 months. The researchers concluded that not only was the essential oils natural hair loss treatment just as effective (if not more so) than conventional treatments, but they were also safer since there were no negative side effects.

Hair loss and autoimmunity

Something that’s really important to note here, is that only people with a condition called alopecia areata, or spot baldness were included in the study. This is an auto-immune condition that causes hair loss. It’s estimated that 50 million Americans have an autoimmune disease, so it’s a serious problem. This blend can be a really great solution for anyone with thinning hair, but especially for those of us who have an autoimmune disorder, like hypothyroid or lichen planus.

A natural hair loss treatment that works

The study gives the exact recipe used by the participants, but I changed it up just a little. Castor oil is really great at thickening and improving hair growth, so I added some of that (source). I also increased the amount so that it would fit neatly into a 1 oz bottle. You can easily double the recipe though if you find yourself going through it quickly.

I also increased the strength a bit. The original recipe was about a 2.2% total dilution, but the recipe below is at 3%, which is still within a safe range for skin care. If for some reason you find it irritating to your skin, then you can always dilute it to 2%.

Natural hair growth serum

• About 2 T grapeseed oil
• ½ tsp jojoba oil
• ½ tsp castor oil
• 5 drops each lavender, cedarwood and rosemary essential oil
• 4 drops thyme essential oil

1. 1. In a 1 oz glass dropper bottle combine everything, except the grapeseed oil. Add the grapeseed in until the bottle is almost full.
   2. Cap the bottle and shake well to combine.

How to use the natural hair loss treatment

To use the natural hair loss treatment, apply some to your fingertips and massage onto the scalp. It’s easiest to apply if you part the hair by the ear, and apply the oil blend to the scalp. Keep parting the hair and working your way across until the scalp is covered. You can also use a boar bristle brush to gently coat your hair after applying to the scalp.

It can get a little messy, so you may want to apply it before bed and wear a shower cap or other hair cover. Covering after applying the blend helps it to sink into the scalp better, making it more effective.

What natural hair treatments do you use to help improve your hair? Share with us in the comments below!

The post Natural hair loss treatment to restore hair appeared first on The Herbal Spoon.

Some people have abused and continue to abuse essential oils, using way too much. This can cause sensitization, burns and other harmful effects. It’s true that not much is needed, but when we set an arbitrary amount that’s based off of fear, and not true science, then we’re cheating ourselves. I know that I may ruffle some feathers for what I’m about say here, but I feel the need to share the dangers of diluting essential oils. Unfortunately, I’ve seen so many people fall into inaccurate and unsafe usage information (and no, it’s not always from using too much!)

Skincare guidelines don’t equal therapeutic use

Most essential oil dilution rates out there are written for overall skincare for the general person. It’s assuming that they don’t know anything about essential oil safety, and it’s to protect them as a consumer. Especially in Europe, aromatherapy and massage go hand in hand, so we’re talking about guidelines that are derived from the safety of massaging a diluted essential oil over the entire body.

Many aromatherapists recommend the dilution ratios handed down by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA). In fact, my e-book, Body & Skin – DIY bodycare, uses the IFRA safety standards. They’re highly useful for staying safe when making skincare products for a consumer who isn’t likely to follow application restrictions. However, using essential oils to achieve wellness is a whole other ball game.

Arbitrary guidelines

When we say “use a 1% dilution” of all essential oils and just leave it at that, then we run into inaccuracies. What if your health is compromised, should you use less? What if you’re only using it as a spot treatment, is it safe to use more? The truth is that each essential oil works effectively and safely for different issues, for different ages, at different dilution rates.

Let me give you an example. Say that you want to use an essential oil to help support your thyroid. You dilute it to 1% because that’s what you’ve heard is safe. After all, you don’t want to risk sensitization or a burn! But what if the body of scientific literature shows that that essential oil is only effective for the thyroid if it’s at a 5% concentration? And what if the research shows that unless it’s at a 20% concentration, there won’t be any negative side effects or harm? (Please keep in mind this is a totally made up example, just for the purpose of illustrating my point.)

The point is, that you have to balance safety and efficacy, and it IS possible to have both! We don’t have to slather on essential oils in order for them to work. We also don’t have to dilute them to death and then dilute again because “better safe than sorry.”

I had formulated a “boo-boo” salve for someone that used tea tree and lavender at a 2% dilution. Lavender essential oil can safely be used undiluted as a spot treatment for skin irritations, while tea tree is recommended at 5% to be effective. However, for the sake of being (very) conservative, I kept it at 2%. She added a safety note to dilute to 1%, or even .5% if you’re scared of using the 2%. Which makes me wonder, will a .5% dilution of these oils as a spot treatment for skin irritations even be effective?

The dose makes the poison

Going back to my earlier point, most essential oil dilution rates are for an uneducated consumer. You need a wide safety window so that even if they’re rubbing lotion all over, they’ll still be fine. In Tisserand’s book on Essential Oil Safety, which has become the aromatherapy Bible for many aromatherapists, he recommends a maximum .7% dilution of lime oil. This is taken directly from IFRA standards that recommend a .7% dilution maximum for commercial leave on skincare products.

“If I were to sell a body lotion in the EU, I’d be required to limit the lime oil to 0.7%. But this isn’t a toxicological principle that applies to medicinal applications. Because professional aromatherapists are not just selling body lotions to the public without any direction. And it violates the primary concept of toxicology – that the dose makes the poison. At no point is there any clarification of how much of the product is applied to the person.” – Jessie Hawkins PhD

If you’re using lime diluted to 2% as a spot treatment, (which can be safe) then you would be exposed to, on average, less than 1/2 of a drop of lime essential oil. If however you’re applying a lotion to your arms, legs and entire body and using about 3 tablespoons of lotion at a .7% dilution, then you’d be getting about 9 -10 drops of essential oil. There’s a big difference there! In the supposedly “unsafe” preparation, you’re exposed to 20 times less essential oil.

By using dilution guidelines that are meant for commercial skincare products, not therapeutic benefits,  we’re not properly diluting.

How over-diluting essential oils can harm you

When essential oils are diluted to the point that they’re not actually helping you, then you won’t get results, and you’re just wasting your money. You’re also wasting essential oils, which are a precious resource. And if you’re not using enough to actually get results, then you may decide that they’re just a bunch of hype and go to the doctor for some of the “real” stuff.

There are plenty of high quality clinical studies out there showing that essential oils can and do work, often more effectively and more safely than conventional solutions. In fact, eucalyptus essential oil is 3 times more effective at fending off lice than over the counter lice shampoos with risky pesticides. It also has a long history of safe use for children.

Fear based guidelines

For over 100 years, eucalyptus essential oil has been safely and effectively used for millions of children and adults. It’s licensed and approved for OTC lice shampoos in Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom, and is widely used for young children by aromatherapists in Europe.

You may have heard about the one case study of a 4 year old girl who had a grand mal seizure after using eucalyptus globulus essential oil in shampoo. Does that mean that for the past 100 years we had it all wrong, and that we’ve been playing Russian roulette with our health? Should we just never use eucalyptus on 4 year olds then? Or to be really safe why don’t we just move that age limit up to age 6 as many out there are recommending?

Let’s take a closer look though. In this particular incident, 8 teaspoons of an 11% eucalyptus dilution was washed through her hair, then a 2.5% dilution of conditioner was left on her head for over 3 hours and she had symptoms leading up to a seizure. After the conditioner was washed out, she had no more symptoms. Zero. Obviously this little girl was given way too much eucalyptus globulus essential oil! A normal and safe amount is to use about ¼ tsp of a .5% dilution of eucalyptus radiata (this chemotype is lower in active constituents) for a 4 year old… and not 8 teaspoons.

What not to rely on

When we take one or two adverse events, or just read the abstract of a study, and ignore the evidence as a whole, we run into issues. The same thing applies to diluting essential oils. When we’re only looking at a few people who had negative reactions from gross misuse, it’s easy to let fear take over. If we’re so scared of our essential oils, then why are we using them?

We shouldn’t rely on cosmetic skincare guidelines, one or two case studies, or people who are setting fear based, not evidence based, restrictions when we want to use an essential oil therapeutically.  All too often people rely on someone else’s opinion, rather than the evidence when diluting essential oils.

I am absolutely in favor of diluting essential oils in almost every situation (lavender as a spot treatment being the only exception I can think of). This prevents adverse reactions, and makes sure we’re not wasting our essential oils. They have to be diluted properly though.

Who do we listen to then?

The subject of properly diluting essential oils is so vast, that there have been entire 500 page books written on the subject, and aromatherapist spend years learning the ins and outs of the subject. So unfortunately knowing how to properly dilute for therapeutic benefits is way beyond the scope of one little article.

There are a lot of voices out there, but I do like to glean a variety of information from quality natural health resources. I wanted to share a resource with you that I’ve found to be super helpful. You may have heard me say before that I love the evidence based approach used by Vintage Remedies. I’ve taken several of their intermediate courses, including the aromatology course that focuses on the internal use of essential oils, and the classical aromatherapy course. Eventually, I’d like to enroll at their sister school, The Franklin Institute and get my clinical aromatherapy certification. It really just depends on how much you want to learn, and what you want to do with it.

Reading more into it

If you’re not ready for a course and are simply looking for some good books that really dive deeper into essential oil use, then I’d highly recommend anything by Shirley or Penny Price. They’re both world renowned aromatherapists that don’t thrive off of unnecessarily conservative recommendations. I have Penny’s Aromatherapy for Health Professionals book, and Aromatherapy for Babies and Children book that are both super helpful. The one is a textbook, so  it’s more expensive, but incredibly worth it in my opinion.

Where do you go for reliable essential oil information? Should you maybe reconsider your sources? Let us know in the comments below!

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My little guy is so excited to be starting kindergarten this year. We homeschool with the Charlotte Mason method, but we also go to some local homeschool co-ops. He’s got his backpack, loaded up with crayons, trail mix and trains right now, but in a few weeks we’ll be switching those items out for notebooks, art supplies and number 2 pencils. I want to prepare him mentally and emotionally with specific essential oils that will help support his body during this season.

Essential oils for back to school

I actually use the essential oils for back to school frequently myself. Call me a research geek, but I absolutely love learning, and have never stopped. Years ago I studied aromatherapy under Dr. Jessie Hawkins with the now retired Vintage Remedies courses. If you’re looking for a thorough reference for topical essential oil use though, then Tisserand’s book Essential Oil Safety is a really good reference.

Since most of these will need diluted for little ones, I’ve included a handy dilution chart below. These are general dilution guidelines, so be sure to always dilute with more carrier oil, like fractionated coconut or sweet almond oil if you or your child experiences any sensitivity.

5. Protective blend

It goes by thieves and other names, but this essential oil blend supports a strong immune system. Large groups of kids getting together, unfortunately eating lots of sugar and dealing with stress from tests and such, can make for some unwanted situations. These blends vary, but basically consist of cinnamon, clove, orange or lemon, rosemary and eucalyptus.

These oils are hot hot hot and should always be diluted before applying! The blend I use can also be used internally, though not all can, so be sure to check your bottle. Children and pregnant women should not use a protective blend internally, and it should not be used internally for more than two weeks. And be sure to follow it up with a good probiotic. See this post for how to safely consume essential oils.

To use: Dilute and apply topically to the bottoms of the feet and spine. Can also be diffused or diluted in olive oil and placed in capsules. (see note on internal safety use above)

4. Focus blend

The blend I use consists of  Amyris Bark, Patchouli Leaf, Frankincense Resin, Lime Peel, Ylang Ylang Flower, Hawaiian Sandalwood Wood, and Roman Chamomile Flower essential oils. Frankincense is unique in that is one of the few substances that can pass the blood brain barrier, getting this blend to your brain where you want it. This blend is also great for little ones while their brains are developing. I like using it before studying to help me concentrate, and I apply this one several times a day to keep my brain in tip top shape.

To use: Dilute and apply to the brain stem, or the reflex points on the bottom of the big toes. Can also be diffused.

3. Rosemary and orange study blend

This blend is sweet and simple. Orange helps give you energy and focus, while rosemary has been nicknamed the herb of remembrance for it’s ability to support memory. This is a great blend to diffuse while studying or taking a test, making this the perfect blend of essential oils for back to school. I like to make a pre-diluted roller bottle of it to rub on the brain stem, or the reflex point on the big toe.

To use: Add 3 drops each of orange and rosemary essential oils to your diffuser. You can also dilute with a carrier oil and apply to the brain stem or reflex point on the big toe.

2. Lavender

This oil is one of my favorites! If I could only have one oil on a desert island, this would be it. It’s soothing and calming to skin, so it’s great for gym class and sport mishaps. It’s also calming and relaxing to the mind, so it can help you and your child wind down at the end of a long day. And it’s also great for relieving the first day of school and test jitters, but use sparingly or your child will be a little too relaxed for their classes. Unlike most oils, this one can be used undiluted in certain situations for older children and adults.

To use: Dilute and apply to occasional skin irritations. Diffuse at night for sweet sleep, or dilute and apply to the back of the neck and bottoms of the feet to relax.

1. Vetiver

This essential oil helps to calm a racing mind. It’s great for kids who have too much energy and struggle with focusing. It also helps calm anxious feelings and helps give you a good night’s sleep. This one is stronger at helping kids relax then lavender, so you’ll probably want to keep it for nighttime use only.

To use: Dilute and apply to the brain stem or the reflex points on the big toe. Can also be diffused.

What are your favorite ways to naturally get ready for the school year? Let us know in the comments below!

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During the summer I feel like there’s a sign on my back that says “drink me.” Despite the fact that mosquitos seem to love me, I can’t say the feeling is mutual. With this badger balm copycat recipe though, you’ll have effective and lasting protection to help keep the unwanted little friends away.

The dangers of camp

This summer my little guy had his first trip to an overnight camp. I wasn’t worried about him getting hurt, or being away from home for the first time… I was worried that someone would share their toxic, conventional bug spray with him. Just the idea of that poison on his little body made me cringe.

So to ease my mind I made sure to send him off with some healthy bug repellant and told the camp counselor we (strongly) preferred not to share. And in case you’re not so convinced DEET is really that bad, then take a look at all the damage it can do to not just our bodies, but animals and the environment.

Why a badger balm?

Since this recipe uses essential oils, which are very volatile substances, the balm base helps them to stay on the skin much longer than a spray. It also doubles as a nourishing skin protectant. These essential oils will deter a wide variety of pesky things, including mosquitos and ticks that can carry disease.

How to use it safely

This recipe is safe for children ages 3-4 and up, but there are some caveats. A higher concentration of essential oils are needed in order to be effective at repelling bugs, but this also means that more care is needed when using the bug balm.
A little bit can be applied to the ankles and wrists, and for older children and adults, it can also be applied to the back of the neck. This will offer optimal protection, without risking a headache from breathing in the oils for a prolonged period of time. This safety info comes from a personal conversation with Jessie Hawkins, founder of the Franklin Institute of Wellness.

The dilution rates for this are a little higher than what I typically use in a skincare product, but this is common for a bug repellant. Keep in mind that using less will decrease the effectiveness, and it’s still very safe at the concentration it’s at. It’s also something that I have no issues using on my 4 year old.

Natural bug repellant – DIY badger balm

• 50 drops citronella (5% concentration)
• 20 drops cedarwood (2% concentration)
• 10 drops lemongrass (1% concentration)
• 10 drops rosemary (1% concentration)
• 50 drops geranium (5% concentration)
• 2 T. organic beeswax pellets – get it here
• 6 T sweet almond, grapeseed or coconut oil – get carrier oils here

1. In a small saucepan combine the carrier oil and beeswax. Heat over the lowest heat possible, stirring occasionally until it’s completely melted.
2. Allow the oil and wax to cool for just a couple minutes, then stir in the essential oils.
3. Immediately pour into your tin or glass jar and cap. Since this will still be warm, you don’t want the volatile oils evaporating into the air!
4. Rub on ankles, wrists and the back of the neck to help deter pests.

How do you keep the bug’s at bay? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to share this article with the buttons below!

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DIY Father’s day gifts

I’m huge on DIY gifts since they’re unique and can easily be customized for the person you’re gifting it to. They can be elaborate, but I usually like to keep it simple and easy, otherwise I’m not likely to follow through. Sometimes, you just don’t have time, or materials on hand, so I’ve also included some natural and eco-friendly items you can buy for the crunchy dad in your life.

Bay rum aftershave

One of the biggest issues with men’s aftershave is that overpowering, chemical smell. It reminds you of a teenager’s cologne on prom night. This bay rum aftershave uses pure essential oils, not fake chemical fragrances to tighten, tone AND moisturize skin for all in one skin care. Because what guy routinely uses facial lotion?

Make DIY Bay rum aftershave.
Buy Bay rum aftershave here from my bodycare shop.

Herbal tea and mug

If you can’t tell by the site’s name, I’m a huge herb lover. You can use them for everything from herbal salves, to replacing toxic products in your medicine cabinet. One of the simplest and most delicious ways to use herbs though is in a tea. I love the tea blends over at the Bulk Herb Store. They offer organic blends that taste great and improve your health to boot. A few tea blends, a nice mug and bam… Father’s day gifts done.

• Apple pie tea
• Doctor cinnamon tea
• Ginger snap tea
• Black spice chai tea
• Find handcrafted stoneware mugs here

Beard oil

My husband has had a beard for close to two years now. I honestly can’t even remember what his face looks like under there, but I love the look just the same. Many guys ditch the beard because it can get unruly, patchy, and the skin underneath gets irritated or flaky. With this beard oil they’ll have a kissably soft beard, and skin that’s nourished and vibrant.

Get beard oil here and choose from:

• Cedarwood Bergamot beard oil
• Earthy Patchouli beard oil
• Citrus Spice beard oil
• Beard Ultimate beard oil

Or get the DIY recipe for beard oil here

Wooden hair comb

Several years ago we discovered the wonders of wooden combs. They don’t snag and break hairs like plastic combs do, and they infuse the hair with the scent of the wood. My husband has a sandalwood mustache and beard comb that he loves, and a larger wooden one for his hair. I just can’t get over how good the sandalwood smells!

Get a wooden comb here

Solid cologne

Men work hard, men get stinky, men need cologne. It’s the natural progression of life. While it goes without saying that showers are the first step to smelling good, a natural cologne really gives you that signature scent. This Sticks and Stones solid cologne has a woodsy smell to it, and comes in a convenient tin that’s easy to travel with and doesn’t make a mess.

Get Sticks and Stones blend solid cologne here.

Get the DIY recipe for solid cologne in my e-book, Body & Skin – DIY bodycare gifts 

Dark chocolate salted cookie dough truffles

This DIY is a delicious one. Be sure you make extra for yourself, or you’ll end up eating your whole Father’s day gift! Package these truffles in a cute little treat box like this one, or repurposed tin to make this gift stand out.

Get the recipe for dark chocolate salted cookie dough truffles here

Recycled belt

Did you know that about 290 million tires every year make their way to landfills? There are literally piles the size of mountains cluttering the earth! One way to help solve the problem, is to used items made from recycled tires. This eco-friendly belt is actually made from a recycled bicycle inner tube. My husband has this belt, it’s held up for years and he loves how well it works.

Get a recycled belt here

Honey homemade face wash for blemish free skin

There are so many bodycare options out there, that it can quickly get overwhelming. I like keeping it simple with this honey facewash. It contains essential oils that can be customized for someone’s exact skin type, while soothing skin and keeping it blemish free and smelling great. Put it in a super cute mason jar soap dispenser, and you’re all set.

Get the DIY for honey homemade facewash here

Lotion bars for working hands

Lotion bars are a convenient way to moisturize without the mess of liquid lotion. They can be infused with skin healing herbs like calendula and dandelion to restore health to hard working hands. Use skin soothing essential oils like sandalwood, frankincense, cedarwood or vetiver for a manly scent dad’s sure to love.

Get the DIY recipe for lotion bars here

Steak seasoning

I have fond memories of backyard barbecues with my dad flipping hamburgers on the grill. Help dad make the perfect main dish with this diy steak seasoning. Most spice blends at the store are full of the neurotoxin msg, artificial colors and flavors, but it’s really easy to make your own. You can put the steak seasoning in one of these reusable metal tins or these spice shakers. Dress it up with your own diy labels.

Get the recipe for Steak Seasoning here

Flavored popcorn

My dad is obsessed with popcorn. We had it several nights a week growing up, and I remember helping him make it over the stove when I was so little, that I needed a step stool to reach the stove. Now that I’m grown up, we make flavored popcorn with natural ingredients. If you pick up a bottle of popcorn seasoning at the store, you’ll be shocked at how much junk is really in it. Skip the junk and get all of the flavor by using these natural blends instead.

Get non-gmo, organic ranch seasoning here
Get the recipe for “bacon and cheddar” popcorn here.
Package non-gmo popcorn kernels in a tub like this and attach these fun labels that say “for the best pop!”

Homemade card

A homemade card can be a great gift on its own, or partnered with another gift. Make your own homemade paper from junk mail to use as a card or gift tag. Add a personal message or drawing written on it for that special touch. This project is a great one for kids, since they can have fun getting a little messy while making dad’s gift.

Get the DIY for homemade paper for cards and gift tags here.

Essential oil roller bottle blends

Help dad chill out and relax with these essential oil roller bottle blends. To help him wake up, boost mental awareness and increase energy make this invigorating blend. And to help him relax sore muscles after a tough day of work, make this muscle tension blend. The essential oil quality does matter here. Cheapo oils will give you cheapo results.

Muscle tension essential oil blend

• 3 drops White fir essential oil
• 3 drops Wintergreen essential oil
• 3 drops chamomile or lavender essential oil

Invigorate essential oil blend

• 3 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops orange essential oil
• 2 drops rosemary essential oil

Put the essential oils into a glass roller bottle and fill the rest of the way with your carrier oil of choice. Sweet almond and fractionated coconut oil are my favorites.

What are you giving for Father’s day this year? Let us know in the comments, and share this post with the buttons below!

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I’m no stranger to essential oils and use them in just about everything, from this soothing scalp spray, to this blemish busting face mask recipe. They’re not only great for beauty care recipes, but they really promote wellness throughout the whole body.

Each essential oil has a plethora of uses, but I chose the following for their specific soothing properties. All of these are powerful at keeping the body well and fighting seasonal threats. This spray can also be used when you get that feeling a scratchy throat is coming on.

Soothing essential oils

Clove essential oil provides a numbing feeling and has a wide history of use as a teething remedy for cranky babies. I’ve used it to soothe and numb a tooth before when I couldn’t get to the dentist right at the moment. When it’s used in a throat spray, it helps soothe and provide a feeling of numbness to the throat. Clove is a hot oil though and should never be used undiluted, especially on mucus membranes like the mouth and throat!

Peppermint is also in this mix for its cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s frequently used to cool the body and creates a feeling of open airways by thinning mucus and activating cold receptors in the nasal passages. This is also a hot oil and should be used with respect.

I’ve also used lemon in here for it’s fantastic ability to help the body cleanse. It’s anti-inflammatory and stimulates the body’s lymphatic system. Juniper berry finishes out the essential oils with strong antioxidant properties.

Safely diluting essential oils

Sraying undiluted essential oils in the mouth can burn mucus membranes and cause damage. You can read more about how I safely ingest essential oils in this post, and why you would want to. And no, water doesn’t count for diluting when it comes to a non-water soluble substance like essential oils. I typically dilute with a carrier oil, however essential oils will also mix well with honey.

Raw honey has an extensive history of treating many issues in (and on) the body. I use it in my homemade honey face wash for its gentle ability to prevent and improve blemishes. It also makes a great addition to this soothing throat spray. Not only does raw honey dilute the essential oils, but it’s antibacterial and ant-viral as well.

Use essential oils wisely

What oils you use matters. Quality essential oils make a difference in effectiveness and safety. Another word of warning. Peppermint is not recommended for very young children. I also can’t recommend spraying anything on the back of a young child’s throat.

Soothing throat spray

Ingredients

• 4 drops clove oil
• 3 drops peppermint oil
• 4 drops lemon oil
• 3 drops juniper berry oil
• 1 Tbsp raw honey –get it here if you can’t find local
• filtered or distilled water
• 2 oz spray bottle – what I use

Directions

1. Combine the essential oils and raw honey together in the glass bottle. I use one of these mini funnels when filling small bottles to prevent spills.
2. Add enough filtered or distilled water so that the bottle is almost full.
3. Cap the bottle and shake vigorously to mix well.
4. Shake well before each use. Spray inside the throat as needed to soothe.

The post How to Make Throat Spray for Powerful Relief appeared first on The Herbal Spoon.

There are a lot of essential oil myths floating around out there. I covered quite a few of them in this post here, like if it’s really so scary to ingest oils, or if you can use them safely on little ones. Something I’ve learned more about recently though is what phototoxic essential oils REALLY are and how to safely use them.

I thought I had it figured out. Citrus essential oils were phototoxic, meaning that when they were applied to the skin they could cause skin to be much more likely to burn in the sun. But.. I had it all wrong.

Are Citrus Essential Oils Phototoxic?

Yes and no. Certain essential oils do cause the skin to be more prone to burning and many of them are citrus oils. However, not all citrus essential oils are phototoxic. Here’s a list of phototoxic essential oils according to Robert Tisserand and the International Fragrance Association, or IFRA.

Phototoxic essential oils

• Bitter orange peel, cold pressed
• Fig leaf absolute
• Bergamot oil, cold pressed
• Lime oil, cold pressed
• Lemon oil, cold pressed
• Grapefruit oil, cold pressed
• Cumin oil
• Rue oil
• Angelica root oil

Update: There’s controversy over grapefruit being on this list, as professionals in the essential oil field have said that an analysis of the chemical breakdown of the oil and the existing literature show no concerns of phototoxicity. Being a citrus oil however, it tends to just get lumped in with the avoid list. This info comes from a personal conversation with Jessie Hawkins PhD of the Franklin Institute.

Citrus oils that are NOT phototoxic

• Lime oil, steam distilled
• Lemon oil, steam distilled
• Mandarin, cold pressed
• Tangerine, cold pressed
• Sweet or wild orange (citrus sinensis), cold pressed

 Phototoxic Essential Oil Safety for Skin

Based off of my readings from different aromatherapy blogs, I was well aware of the fact that phototoxic essential oils just shouldn’t be used on the skin. Or if you did use them, to make sure you didn’t expose skin to the sun for at least 12 hours, or up to 3 days. That’s not exactly true though.

Wash off products

If you’re including the phototoxic essential oil in a wash off product, then the same rules don’t apply. Since the essential oil won’t be sitting on the skin, there is no concern for phototoxicity. So you can wash your face with a lemon oil laced scrub and go out for a day at the beach with no ill effects.

Anything that’s meant to be washed off of the skin, such as soap, shampoo, face wash and body scrubs can safely use phototoxic essential oils. Each oil however has a maximum percentage that can be used in products before you’re risking skin irritation and sensitization. These guidelines of course are referring to skincare only and don’t apply to essential oils used in higher concentrations for medical purposes.

Leave on products

Some bodycare products that use essential oils are meant to be left on the skin, such as lotion, body butter, body spray and lip balm. Since the oils are going to be sitting on the top layer of the skin somewhat, you do have to exercise more caution here.

Most people believe that phototoxic essential oils can’t be used on the skin at all under any circumstance, but there are actually safe usage limits for leave on products. These guidelines don’t include essential oils used on the lip area. Since the lips are more delicate, the use of essential oils on them is more restricted.  In general, essential oils make up about 2% of skincare products. They’re very concentrated substances, so you don’t need much.

Below are the maximum percentages of certain phototoxic oils that can be used on the skin, and roughly how many drops that would be per ounce of carrier oil or other material. The IFRA guidelines differ a little from what Tisserand recommends in his book Essential Oil Safety. Tisserand seems to be a little more conservative with phototoxic essential oil usage.

Using phototoxic essential oils in leave on products (lotion, body butter, body spray)

Lemon, cold pressed – 2% or about 12 drops per ounce of carrier
Lime, cold pressed – .7% or about 4 drops per ounce of carrier
Bergamot, cold pressed – .4% or about 2 drops per ounce of carrier
Grapefruit, cold pressed – 4% or about 24 drops per ounce of carrier
Bitter orange, cold pressed – 1.25% or about 7 drops per ounce of carrier

Using phototoxic essential oils in wash off products (soap, face wash, body wash)

Lemon, cold pressed – 5% or about 30 drops per ounce of carrier
Lime, cold pressed – 25% or about 150 drops per ounce of carrier
Bergamot, cold pressed – 5% or about 30 drops per ounce of carrier
Grapefruit, cold pressed – 5% or about 30 drops per ounce of carrier
Bitter orange, cold pressed – Listed as no restriction for wash off product. I can’t locate a maximum usage limit for bitter orange, although I’m assuming an undiluted oil could be irritating to skin. Based off of other usage guidelines, I personally wouldn’t use more than 5% in a wash off product, or about 30 drops per carrier.

Resources:

• IFRA phototoxicity standards
• Wholesale Supplies Plus
• Aroma Web

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