With warmer weather and long daylight it’s common to get too much sun exposure. Perhaps now, more than ever, it is important to take good care of the skin to prevent any number of conditions from occurring. This skin healing recipe contains ingredients that support cell rejuvenation and tissue repair. By incorporating therapeutic essential oils in a recipe the benefits are more far-reaching than the basic intention. Additionally, I highly recommend making your own home remedies as they are far superior to store-bought and over-the-counter products which contain questionable ingredients, making this just one of many excellent recipes for those seeking natural solutions.
Skin Healing Spray for After-Sun Recipe
- ½ cup distilled water
- ¼ cup aloe vera gel
- 8 drops of Lavender essential oil (#3575)
- 2 drops of Roman Chamomile essential oil (#3512)
- 2 drops Geranium essential oil (#3554)
Put all ingredients into a 12-16 ounce fine mist spray bottle.
Spray skin when you have been over exposed to the sun. This is very healing and soothing to sunburned skin, see the properties of the oils below.
Do not get any in eyes.
Buy therapeutic essential oils for this recipe here!
About Lavender Oil
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) oil has a long history of being a wonderful antiseptic and healing to skin conditions (perinial repair[1][2], acne, eczema, psoriasis, scarring). The French chemist René Gattefossé (1881-1950) used Lavender oil to treat a severe burn, translated from French, this is Gattefossé’s own description in his book (written 1937) of the incident:
“The external application of small quantities of [Lavender oil] essences rapidly stops the spread of gangrenous sores. In my personal experience, after a laboratory explosion covered me with burning substances which I extinguished by rolling on a grassy lawn, both my hands were covered with a rapidly developing gas gangrene. Just one rinse with lavender essence stopped ‘the gasification of the tissue’. This treatment was followed by profuse sweating, and healing began the next day (July 1910).”
Gas gangrene is a potentially fatal condition, and was the cause of many amputations and deaths in the First World War. Traumatic gas gangrene is rare today, 25% of those who contract it still die. It is caused by infection of a wound, most commonly by Clostridium perfringens. Onset is rapid and dramatic (though it normally takes 1-4 days from the time of infection), with bacterial toxins causing tissue death and subcutaneous swelling and gas. Sweating is one of the early symptoms of infection. Since the bacterium is most commonly found in soil, Gattefossé’s rolling in the grass might have precipitated the infection.
In Gattefossé’s book we also find the first written record in modern times to the skin as a route of administration for essential oils. He talks about oral, rectal, inhalation and injection (they had all been used by then) and continues: “Why not add cutaneous absorption to this list?”[3]
About Roman Chamomile Oil
Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is well-known for its relaxant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, nerve regenerative, and anesthetic properties. Used in Europe for skin regeneration. For centuries, mothers have used chamomile to calm crying children, combat digestive and liver ailments, and relieve toothaches. Roman Chamomile’s light, sunny and calming scent is a perfect addition to soothe the skin and balance the senses. This oil is an ideal ingredient in skin care preparations such as this recipe.
About Geranium Oil
Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) has been used for centuries for regenerating and healing skin conditions. Antispasmodic, antioxidant, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic (stops bleeding), antibacterial[4], antifungal, improves blood flow, liver and pancreas stimulant, dilates bile ducts for liver detoxification, helps cleanse oily skin; revitalizes skin cells . Other well-known uses for Geranium oil are; hepatitis/fatty liver (Jean Valnet, M.D.), skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, acne, vitiligo), fungal infections (ringworm), viral infections (Herpes, shingles), hormone imbalances, circulatory problems (improves blood flow), menstrual problems/PMS.
Cheap and Adulterated Oils and Their Dangers
Today much of the lavender oil sold in America is the hybrid called lavandin, grown and distilled in China, Russia, France, and Tasmania. It is brought into France and cut with synthetic linalyl acetate to improve the fragrance. Then propylene glycol, DEP, or DOP (solvents that have no smell and increase the volume) are added and it is sold in the United States as lavender oil. Often lavandin is heated to evaporate the camphor and then is adulterated with synthetic linalyl acetate. Most consumers don’t know the difference, and are happy to buy it for $7 to $10 per half ounce in health food stores, beauty salons, grocery and department stores, and through mail order. This is one of the reasons why it is important to know about the integrity of the company or vendor from which you purchase your essential oils.
What happens when you use a cheap adulterated oil on the skin is the opposite results of what you want and expect to happen. In the case of a cheap lavender, because of its high camphor content it will actually burn the skin making the condition much worse! This is why I only use and recommend Young Living therapeutic-grade oils.
About Aloe Vera
Aloe vera gel has been extensively used in the treatment of burns and has been studied for its anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerating properties. Traditionally, aloe was used topically to heal wounds and for various skin conditions, and orally as a laxative. Today, in addition to traditional uses, people take aloe orally to treat a variety of conditions.[5]
“I personally have never found aloe vera alone to produce desired results, but when combined with essential oils the results have been good. Because of this, I usually do not add aloe vera to a home remedy.” ~ Evelyn
Aloe Vera is an ingredient in LavaDerm Cooling Mist (#3249). LavaDerm also contains: helichrysum, lavender, and Idaho balsam fir oils to support tissue regeneration and reduce scarring and skin discoloration. LavaDerm Cooling Mist is a terrific choice for healing a large variety of skin conditions and a perfect item for your First Aid kit. This is a good choice for those who wish to buy a pre-made product, rather than making their own.
Resources:
1. Cornwell S, Dale A. Lavender oil and perineal repair. Mod Midwife. 1995 Mar;5(3):31-3.
2. Ghelardini C, et al., Local anaesthetic activity of the essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia. Planta Med. 1999 Dec;65(8):700-3.
3. René-Marice Gattefossé (author) Robert B. Tisserand (editor) 1993 Gattefossé’s Aromatherapy: the first book on aromatherapy. CW Daniel, Saffron Walden, p 87.
4. Antibacterial properties of plant essential oils. Author: S. G. Deans, G. Ritchie. Journal: International Journal of Food Microbiology 5, 165-180 (1987) Location: Scotland Agricultural College.
Conclusion: Many essential oils have antibacterial properties. Abstract: Fifty plant essential oils were tested in different concentrations for antibacterial activity against 25 genera of bacteria. The ten most antibacterial oils were: angelica, bay, cinnamon, clove, thyme, almond, marjoram, pimento, geranium, and lovage.
5. NCCAM, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Evelyn Vincent
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"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." ~ R. Buckminster Fuller
Scented air fresheners have become very popular. The downside to these products is that they often contain a host of unwanted chemical ingredients. To make matters worse, frequent exposure to ‘scented’ products can also create sensitivities to fragrances and make life quite unpleasant.
This recipe includes the use of a high quality Lavender oil to dispel odors, not mask them.
Many essential oils make excellent food flavorings. Essential oils are so concentrated that only 1 – 2 drops of an essential oil is equivalent to a full bottle (1 – 2 oz. size) of dried herbs. And sometimes you must rely on the toothpick method to avoid over flavoring foods.
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