Make Your Own Thieves Salve!

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     Cold and Flu Season is almost upon us again. The season where everywhere you go you'll see Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers, and not without reason! No one want to be sick and there are some scary illnesses floating around out there! But the problem with alcohol-based sanitizers is that, not only are they filled with chemicals that many questions have been raised about their safety, but they ultimately dry out your hands, making you at increased risk of illness through your cracked, dry skin!

     I've come up with an alternative solution. Theives Essential Oil from Young Living has some very powerful germ killers in it such as clove, cinnamon, rosemary, eucalyptus and lemon. There's a simple salve you can make at home with just a few ingredients that will be an excellent germ killer and help keep your hands soft and moisturized as well!

     Ingredients

1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

scant 1/4 cup beeswax pastilles

Young Living Theives Essential Oil

     You could use a different carrier oil other than Extra Virgin Olive Oil, but first let me make a case for why I made this choice.

     Firstly, Olive oil is excellent for your skin! Your first and best defense is to keep your skin, ESPECIALLY your hands, well moisturized. Secondly, Olive oil has antibacterial properties of it's own. You could use plain Olive oil and it will work fine, but the extra-virgin will have more of the beneficial properties of the Olive tree in it. Thirdly, it's one of the most readily available oils out there, which makes it an easy ingredient to pick up!

     This recipe takes less than a half hour (usually only 5 or 10 minutes except for waiting for the oil to cool!)
     Heat the Olive Oil and beeswax in a small sauce pan over medium-low heat until the beeswax pastilles melt completely.  I stir occasionally as it melts.

    
     Take off the heat, and make sure you have a thick enough salve by taking the spoon you stirred it with and placing it in the freezer for 1 min. Then check the thickness of the salve that's on the back of the spoon.


    
     Let the oil sit out on the counter until it's cool enough that you can touch it without getting burned. (around 90 degrees F on a thermometer) It should still be liquid-y and easily stirred. Then add your Theives Essential Oil. I add about 20 drops, but I go more by smell. When the oil has a distinct smell of the oil blend, I stop. I caution you to not add too much! Cinnamon, in particular, can cause skin irritation if you use too much so better to add too little. You can always slightly warm the salve when it hardens in a hot water bath and then add more after. But it would be difficult to fix if you add too much!
 

   Pour your finished salve into containers. I really like to use glass baby food jars for this. Glass jars are really best for essential oils. Plastic or tin can cause things to get into your salve that you would rather not! Often you can find a mom friend who has some baby food jars to give away! But if not there are plenty of great glass jars to be had, this one (1.5oz.) and this one (4oz.) are both nice.

     Here's how we use it:

• On our hands when we leave a store or public place. Several of our little ones still suck their thumbs. I'm so thankful not to have to worry about them putting their germ-filled hands in their mouths, or all the chemicals from hand-sanitizers!
• On our feet under cotton socks when we are starting to feel ill. Your feet have very large pores, so this is a great place for your body to absorb it readily.
• On our necks when we have a sore throat. You know the one I'm talk about, the sore throat that means "sickness is coming!"
• For cuts, scrapes, and mosquito bites. There are several of Young Living oils that are great for all of these. Since we have lots of little ones running around and lots of scrapes, we switch up what we use depending on what's close by!

     We hope you try it and like it as much as we do! Feel free to leave us a comment and let us know what you think or ask any questions you may have.

Nothing I say here should be construed as medical advice. If you have medical questions, please ask a qualified medical professional.