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Post by JanetM on Mar 30, 2010 9:29:02 GMT -5
On the subject of 'oils', I was wondering what type of oil do they use to make Lavender Oils. I would like to buy or make some, as my husband had a bad reaction to concrete, when he had to remove a thin layer from a floor. The dust settled on top of his head and he got a bad chemical burn. It has been almost 6 months now and he still has very dry and pealing skin on top. The doctor has had him using Cortaid and it has helped and it is looking more normal but we need something that will help with restoring the natural oils to the scalp. He is still hoping the hair will grow back.
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Post by plantsnobin on Mar 30, 2010 10:00:37 GMT -5
Corn huskers lotion is good for burns. Don't know if it is actually called lotion though, I think they still make it. Looks kinds of funny, smells kind of funny. Vitamin E is also good, you can just prick the capsules and sqeeze it out. I wouldn't want to use a pure essential oil on an injury.
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Post by ceara on Mar 30, 2010 11:22:34 GMT -5
Karen is right. Don't use undiluted essential oil on an injury or broken skin. Essential oils are super duper concentrated. Some EOs are flammable too. Next time you peel an orange, squeeze the outer peel next to a flame and watch. hehe
For minor skin issues, infuse Calendula officinalis flower petals in some olive oil. Normally I would put it in a jar and let it sit for a few weeks, but you can quicken the pace by cooking it in a double boiler on low until the oil turns orange. Then you know the medicinal goodness has left the Calendula and gone into the oil.
Calendula officinalis has been used for thousands of years for minor skin problems.
Essential oil is made either by cold pressing large amounts of plant material (like nuts/kernels) and collect what oozes out, or in the case of Lavender and other herbs, it's steam distilled. The plant oil is separated from the water and bottled after the distillation process, usually in dark colored glass bottles. So it's not made from anything other than itself and steam.
For hair, you can use Horsetail. Yep, that annoying garden weed. It contains silica which is good for hair and skin. Infuse in oil or vinegar, or make a "tea" and apply with a cotton ball, or use as a hair rinse. Lots of info available online.
Emu oil is used in some burn hospitals.
But in a pinch try some Sweet Almond Oil. It contains Vit E which helps heal. Dried Calendula is available at many herbal online shopping sites.
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Post by JanetM on Mar 30, 2010 18:23:20 GMT -5
So is the oil one uses Olive Oil? Dr. OZ on TV said Lavender oil is good for damaged skin and soothing to the skin, that is why I wanted some. I do know Lavender fagrance is calming to the nerves.
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Post by ozarklady on Mar 30, 2010 18:52:36 GMT -5
On May 1st, I am attending a soap making class at the University of Arkansas. I want to learn to make goat milk soap, and other kinds that do the job, but are gentle on skin.
My goats should freshen in May, so that is another use for all the milk I will soon have on hand. I make yogurt and cheese, so now I will add goat milk soap... hmm, interesting.
I took my homemade soap to the laundromat today, I got mobbed, when I said what it is, all the folks had to smell and feel it, and watch it wash, it doesn't soap up, but the water feels the same as when it does, and the clothes came out clean and fresh smelling.
Even the laundromat owner wanted the recipe.
Thanks for the info on soap plants, I have been doing some research, did you know that all legumes have saponin in them? Think about it, you put beans on to cook, and they soap up! Wonder how we can use that information, I love beans, but I don't think that I want my clothes to smell like beans. Saponin is what causes suds.
On the oils and injury, I keep vitamin e capsules on hand, and for burns, we use a pin to poke a hole in one capsule and use it straight up to doctor the injury.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Mar 30, 2010 19:18:59 GMT -5
I placed an order with "Soaps Gone Buy" on the 19th. As of today, the status of the order still show "processing". I think this is a VERY small outfit and they are probably experiencing volume issues. I called and left a message, but they haven't called back nor have they emailed a response to an email inquiry. I have faith they'll come through! I just need to be patient. I think they might be a lot like me... s l o w  I'm also on the look out for lavender EO AND for a bulk source of thyme. Any favorite sources for either of these items? I'm using the thyme as an ingredient in my potting mix. |
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Post by plantsnobin on Mar 30, 2010 20:45:11 GMT -5
An infused oil and an essential oil are not the same thing, so be careful when using and make sure you know which one you have. You can infuse oils of just about any type with whatever scent you want, or you can use the fresh herbs to infuse in the oil. For anyone wanting to make oils, or needing large quantities of dried herbs and spices, I can recommend Mountain Rose Herbs. I made some great lip balm with their ingredients. Used bees wax, jojoba oil and scent with a pinch of stevia. Smelled and tasted great. I also like Sweet Almond Oil for a body rub oil. My husband always wants a back rub, but never lets me use lotion. I once talked him into letting me use the Sweet Almond Oil heated up, and he said his back felt much bettter than just a plain massage.
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Post by ceara on Mar 30, 2010 22:08:16 GMT -5
So is the oil one uses Olive Oil? Dr. OZ on TV said Lavender oil is good for damaged skin and soothing to the skin, that is why I wanted some. I do know Lavender fagrance is calming to the nerves. I think you are confused about the terminology. Essential Oils (EOs) are usually steam-distilled or cold pressed (no external heat added, although the process itself generates a lot of heat). Not really something easy to do at home because it requires a large amount of plant material to get one tiny bottle of EO, a lot more plants than most people have in their garden. Fragrance Oils (FOs) are manufactured in a lab. FOs in general smell nothing like the real thing. Keep in mind there is no essential oil for fruit, like watermelon, strawberry, etc. Those are all made in a lab with artificial ingredients. Common EOs from plants include lavender, pine, tea tree, rosemary, orange, lemon, grapefruit, peppermint, spearmint, etc. Lavender EO can be purchased in a 4oz glass bottle for around $12-15 from a soapmaking supply company. And 4oz will last you a LONG time. Mix a few drops in some massage oil like Sweet Almond. I suspect that's what your TV guy was talking about. Or you can put a few drops into your bath water. Or mix a few drops of EO into a regular sprayer with water to use as an air freshener. Sweet Almond Oil absorbs faster than Olive, in my opinion. But everyone's skin is different. You just have to test each carrier oil to find the one that suits your skin the best. Infused oils involve what's called a Carrier Oil. A carrier oil can be Olive, Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, or even lard. (Animal fats were commonly used in herbal infusions a long time ago, as far back as the Iron Age.) To infuse a carrier oil, you simply completely submerge your chosen herbal material with the oil. Most people use a mason jar. Pack those herbs in, as much as possible, but still leave some room to pour the oil. Screw a lid on the jar and place the jar into a dark cupboard and leave it there for a minimum of 2 weeks, but ideally 6-8 weeks. Then strain the plant material from the oil using cheesecloth in a strainer. Store in a glass jar. Herbs can also be infused into water (i.e. tea) or vinegar. Ever heard of lavender water or rose water? Pour boiling water over herbs in a jar and let steep for a day, then strain. Store infused water in a jar in the refrigerator. There is a ton of information online. YouTube also has a lot of videos about herbal infusions. But I just gave you a quickie Herb 101 to get you started. |
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Post by JanetM on Mar 30, 2010 22:23:17 GMT -5
ceara, that was very interesting. Thanks for the info. I will buy some Lavender oils and see what I can mix it with. I do love the scent of lavender and since it goes along way, I am sure I can find alot of different ways to use it. When I sold my home years ago, the Realtor told me to spray some nice scent in the rooms. Since the home was empty and I found she would turn on the lights when she showed the home, I bought some nice oily scents (Cinnamon) and put a couple drops on a few light bulbs in each room.When she turned on the lights the rooms smelled good. Those few drops lasted a long time. I bet I can do the same with the lavender oils I buy.
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Post by canadamike on Mar 30, 2010 22:34:39 GMT -5
Karen...let me move to Indiana and lets get rid of that hubby that let you rub his back ''once''. I swear to God you'll do it to me twice a day  Anything I can do to make a woman happy ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Ok Ok, if you still want him around we will let him weed the garden and shine our shoes , as long as I can keep you happy rubbing my back with sweet almond oil twice a day I am more than ready to make concessions  |
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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 5, 2010 11:12:09 GMT -5
Anything I can do to make a woman happy ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Hmmmm.... I've always wanted a REALLY good looking man to come and scrub my toilets. ;D ;D ;D ;D Just how happy do you want to make me?!?!  So, I've implemented reduced soap quantity and vinegar instead of fabric softener. It has just occurred to me, what about OxyClean? We use this stuff regularly. Should it be a no no? Should we use the liquid in a bottle? Should we eliminate using it all together? Also, an update from my purchase from Soaps Gone Buy. I put in another call and left a message. They didn't call back but the next day I did get an email telling me the order had shipped. I'm kinda thinking they are probably swamped. This soap making business is gonna be awfully interesting. |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 5, 2010 11:26:27 GMT -5
I placed an order with "Soaps Gone Buy" on the 19th. As of today, the status of the order still show "processing". I think this is a VERY small outfit and they are probably experiencing volume issues. I called and left a message, but they haven't called back nor have they emailed a response to an email inquiry. I have faith they'll come through! I just need to be patient. I think they might be a lot like me... s l o w Jo, Is this the company that had Catfish bait bar soap that I posted as a joke? Jo, I was NOT at any time Endorsing this company as a place to purchase from. If that's what you thought, well, my apologies. I've never ever had any dealings with them. However, I will not be held responsible for any actions (or lack thereof) on their part. It was only meant for information sake. |
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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 5, 2010 14:18:39 GMT -5
Jo, Is this the company that had Catfish bait bar soap that I posted as a joke? Jo, I was NOT at any time Endorsing this company as a place to purchase from. If that's what you thought, well, my apologies. I've never ever had any dealings with them. However, I will not be held responsible for any actions (or lack thereof) on their part. It was only meant for information sake. No worries Blue! Apology not necessary, but thank you for offering it! I was fully aware that you were not endorsing them! Since I did decide to try them out I figured it would be a good idea to make the experience known in case someone else decided to do the same. They did call me this morning by the by and were very nice on the phone. Unless the package is mauled or something, I would probably do business with them again as I've never seen any of the things they are selling (except the Borax) in any other store. So really, I appreciate you taking the time to look it up and mention it! Thank you! ;D I'm gonna be in the soapmaking business in a couple days! |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 5, 2010 16:46:22 GMT -5
Okay, that's GReat!! I'm relieved that it turned out to be a Positive experience after all.  |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 5, 2010 19:53:44 GMT -5
Now it's my turn to ask for a recipe.
Has anyone tried making their own Dishwashing Liquid? NOT Automatic Dishwasher stuff. I don't have a machine, I am the Dishwasher...
I've read 3 or 4 different recipes on the 'net. Unlike the Homemade Laundry Soap that uses one or two Tablespoons per load, the Dishwashing liquid recipes seem to use a lot of soap? Like who uses 2 tbsps of soap to a sink of dishes?
Another problem is that I haven't found Castille that is inexpensive, at least not after looking at prices in local health food stores.
Any suggestions?
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