ECZEMA!
Do I hate eczema!
I have had an ongoing battle with eczema, on my hand, for over five years now. If you have ever had it, or do right now, then you can feel my pain. At its worst, I’ve had to wear gloves, at all times, just to prevent myself from scratching. It was HORRIBLE!
I tried all sorts of lotion recipes I found online with varying success. Some worked better than others, and some didn’t work at all. The information was overwhelming and it took a long time to get the recipe just right.
Why did it take so long to figure out a good recipe, you ask?
Well, it was not because the recipes I found online were bad, it was because each oil affects people differently. The lesson I learned was that no lotion works for everyone and each person requires their own tweaks to make it effective.
So how does one provide an effective eczema recipe for the masses?
The answer is simple: You don’t!
No one can claim that their recipe is the ‘cure all’. So this article will not do that. Rather, I’ll provide you with a basic recipe that you can modify to work for you.
The following will include different oils to use and why. This will give you the ability to mix and match for your specific issues.
Basic Lotion Recipe
1 1/2 cups of Oil (I use equal parts olive, almond, and coconut)
1/4 cup of solid beeswax (or 2/3 cup of beeswax pastilles)
2 Tbsp of Butter (I use equal parts Shea and Cocoa)
20-40 drops of Essential Oil (I use Lavender)
1 tsp of Vitamin E (for preserving purposes only)
This amount will fit perfectly into a wide mouth, pint size, canning jar. The mixing, melting, cooling, and storing is done in one jar, eliminating any kind of mess.
Oil Options
Almond Oil
This is a great oil for moisturizing and it has anti-inflammatory properties.
Coconut Oil
This is the oil getting all the attention right now. Coconut oil is being hailed for having moisturizing, antibiotic, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and multiple-nutrient properties. It’s a good start as a base oil when doing a blended oil recipe.
100% Cold Pressed Olive Oil –
This oil is as old as time. Olive oil has a well established reputation for assisting in repairing skin by neutralizing free radicals and stimulating cell growth. Can be used as the sole oil in the recipe.
Other Oils
This list is not an exhaustive list of oil choices. I have found that they are the most popular ones used. Do some research and pick other oils as options if the listed ones don’t work for you. The options are endless; just add it to the oil ratio. The only suggestion I would make is to limit your blend of oils to a few. Even start off with using only one oil, then when making your second batch add the additional oil, and so on until you have found your perfect blend. This way you know what works and what doesn’t.
Beeswax
The amount of beeswax can be increased slightly if a thicker lotion is desired. I have seen recipes that have used up to 1/2 cup of solid beeswax using the same ratio of oil called for in this recipe. Do note that the jar is just the right size for the recipe above with only a small amount of room for additional volume. Modifications to the amount of oil may need to be decreased if the beeswax is increased by a substantial amount.
Butter Options
Make sure you buy the best quality butters and ones that are 100% pure. There are many products on the shelf out there that have additives and other unwanted ingredients. Also, butters loose their effectiveness with age so buy a quantity that is appropriate for your usage. Any leftovers can be used in other beauty care products such as deodorants or as a carrier for your use of essential oils.
Cocoa Butter
Has the ability to neutralize free-radicals and prevent further damage. Cocoa butter is packed full of minerals and vitamins effective for assisting toward the healing of eczema.
Shea Butter
This butter has a slew of reasons you should consider adding it to your lotion. It is claimed that it aids in helping dry skin, itchy skin, cracked skin, allergic reactions on the skin, and repairing damaged skin.
Essential Oil Options
Chamomile Oil
Works by calming irritated skin and reducing redness. Has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Personally I use lavender because it is known for its antiseptic, antifungal, and pain relief properties.
The possibilities are endless!
You can get creative and personalize your lotions with essential oils. Just be sure to look up any side effects and potential health restrictions of any chosen oil before using it.
Making the Lotion
1. Fill a wide mouth canning jar with:
- 1 1/2 cups of your chosen oil blend
- 1/4 cup of solid beeswax (or 2/3 cup of beeswax pastilles)
- 2 Tbsp of your chosen butter blend.
2. Place canning jar in a pot, fill pot half-way with water, and place pot on medium heat.
3. Once the lotion has melted remove canning jar from water and place on cooling rack stirring occasionally as lotion cools.
4. Once the canning jar has cooled enough to the touch, but not too cool that you are unable to stir easily, add 20-40 drops of your chosen essential oils and 1 tsp (or capsule) of vitamin E.
5. Allow to cool, place lid on canning jar, and use as needed.
The best part…very little mess and very little clean up!
One last word of caution. This is an oil based lotion and is oilier than your store bought variety. Make sure it has absorbed well prior to putting any clothing on or it will transfer to your clothing.
Here’s to a lifetime free from eczema!
For anyone who wants to try this recipe please NOTE the following error on this re-blogged post: The Chamomile Oil is an essential oil and should have appeared under the Essential Oil heading…not under the basic oils heading. It was an error on the original post that was fixed quickly after publication….but not on this one.