Friday, January 24, 2014

Incredibly Versatile Salve Recipe to add Essential Oils to


High quality, therapeutic level, pure, unadulterated essential oils are quite powerful.  In an acute situation, most of the essential oils can be used directly, full strength, on a non-sensitive person.  Some of the oils are HOT (oregano and clove, for example) and should be used diluted in everyone.  Many, if not most, of the oils should be diluted in children, elderly, and those who are sensitive by nature to many products.  They are STILL quite effective.  In fact, you don't get skin evaporation (as in neat topical use), so you are getting the full value of your essential oil(s) when you add them to a carrier  :-).

The fastest, easiest way to dilute an essential oil is the "shotglass" method.  Use a shotglass, or a ceramic teacup, to add FCO (Fractionated Coconut Oil = best choice)... or extra virgin Olive Oil...and then add in your essential oils and stir and use.  Store the unused portion in a cool, dark spot (like your medicine cabinet), and it should be effective for a few days.

A rough guide:  1 tsp of FCO is about 100 drops.  So for a 3% dilution rate, put 1tsp FCO in the shotglass and add 3 drops of essential oil.  This is assuming you will be using 1/2 or all of the amount made, for an adult.

If you're just wanting to dilute the essential oils a little, try 50:50 FCO:essential oils.

If you ever topically put on an essential oil that then burns, or feels "too strong", dilute it on the spot by rubbing on FCO or olive oil!  Never water.

All that to say..... there are times when you want a 3% diluted SALVE when a consistent need for the essential oils exists.  Arthritis, reflux and heartburn, large patches of skin conditions, etc.  This easy-to-make-yourself salve will do that for you.  :-)

This is a common salve recipe floating around on the internet, with one change so that it is even richer and more absorbable.





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SALVE RECIPE:
This recipe is for a 4oz jar.  Glass preferred for longterm storage.  Plastic should be fine for short term use.

3 Tbsp extra virgin Coconut oil
1 Tbsp Shea Butter (or use Mango Butter, or Coconut Oil if you don't have this)
1 Tbsp beeswax pellets (or chips off a pure, unscented beeswax candle)
4 Tbsp extra virgin Olive Oil (less in warmer climates)
vitamin E oil optional
40 drops of essential oil(s)

On low heat, melt the beeswax with the coconut oil and shea butter JUST until all of the beeswax is melted.  Add 3 Tbsp plus 2 tsp of the Olive Oil and stir, over the heat, until the mix is clear again.  Turn off the heat, but leave on the burner for one more minute.  Then remove from the burner.

Add the remaining 1 tsp Olive Oil to the bottom of the jar.  Add in the vitamin E if desired.  Add in 80** drops, IF USING A PIPETTE, of essential oils for a 3% solution [math: 9 Tbsp > 27 tsp > 2700 drops carrier oils ].  Use less drops for a children's salve.

**BUT if using drops straight from the bottles, the drops are bigger (and more variable)... so I stick closer to 40 drops when I skip the pipettes (plastic/glass ones can be purchased at many online stores selling essential oil related bottles, etc).

Slowly pour the warm mix into the jar, while stirring the mix with a chopstick or steak knife or?  Put the lid on loosely and allow to cool.   Label and you're done!

Hint: Cut everything in 1/2 if you'd rather just try a 2oz jar to start with.

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This salve also makes a wonderful, toxin-free massage cream!  :-)  I often add in about 20 drops of  Frankincense essential oil for the health benefits, along with 2-3 drops of Juniper Berry for the skin.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Great. Thanks Cindy. I was going to ask you for this recipe, so you saved me the time. You put the lemongrass eo in it, right?

CindyB said...

Use 40 drops of any combo of essential oils you like, to make an approximate 3% solution?
The one in the picture was a Frankincense-Lemongrass mix of 25 drops and 15 drops... to address reflux and gastritis, for example. It helped me to get off of Prilosec easily. :-)