I try to always keep massage oil in my toyboxes. It's great for massages. And it's really wonderful for healing, especially on cuts. I've gifted a bit of oil to someone from time to time. But it's quite easy to make your own. With a little internet research, you can find all kinds of advice and recipes for massage oil. Here's what I do.
I like Grapeseed Oil as a base. The consistency pleases me, it's food-safe, and so far I have found no one to be sensitive to it. You can find it at the grocery store with other frying oils. The one I like is La Tourangelle Grapeseed Oil in the 16.9 fl oz can. I like this can because there's enough space at the top to add some other oil into it, so I don't need a mixing container.
I start by adding about a teaspoon of clove extract (or you can use clove oil). I'm currently working my way through a bottle of Old Hickory Clove Extract. Again, it's food-safe, because it's actually candy flavoring. Clove oil is amazing; it is:
- Antifungal - used to treat fungal infections like athlete's foot
- Antimicrobial & Antiseptic - used to treat wounds, and cuts; used in soaps
- Anesthetic - contains eugenol, used to treat toothache
- Antiviral & Antibacterial - treat eye infections & ear aches
- Aphrodisiac & Stress Reliever - used to treat anxiety and depression
- Anti-inflammatory - pain relief & headache relief, sty treatment, helps with rheumatism and arthritis
- Oral Health - used to treat toothaches and fight infections
- Carminative - reduces flatulence, nausea & vomiting
- Antioxidant - used as a digestive aid, reduces nausea
- Insect Repellent & Sting Care
- Skin Care - for acne and general rejuvenation
- Stimulating & Warming - improves blood circulation
- And it smells all wonderful and warm and sexy; one reason it is found in many perfumes.
The next thing I add is a bit less than a teaspoon of Arnica oil. It's really easy to find arnica cream; the oil is more difficult - sometimes you see it as 'trauma oil'. Arnica is good for pain relief and the reduction of swelling, especially healing of bruises.
And last, I add a bit of additional scent. Often I'll use lemon oil or orange oil - citrus oils add a little more cleaning and pain-relief aspects. I would recommend a half-teaspoon for the scent.
Pour all the additions into the can of grapeseed oil and shake, then pour it out into seal-tight containers. Glass is recommended, but for convenience sake, I use cosmetic containers for mine. I recommend flip-top caps, since you'll only have one hand to use once you pour oil into the other. Something like these is fine; just test them first by putting some water in, sealing it, and then try to make them leak. For travel, I then put them in a ziploc bag as well. Once you use the oil, there will be oil on the outside of the bottle; the bag will be needed.
Of course, any time you're going to use a scented oil, be sure to test a single drop of oil on an arm a few minutes before pouring it on. Because people are allergic to stuff sometimes.
Research I did before choosing clove oil (copied and pasted from who knows where):
Medicinal Properties: Unlike most spices, clove has an obvious medical value. It contains eugenol which is an effective local anesthetic, and this has long been used in dentistry. Other constituents include salicylic acid. Although the smoking of clove cigarettes is a national habit in Indonesia, the entry of this aromatic tobacco in the U.S.A. was curtailed when suspicion arose that it could cause adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Clove, which is an aphrodisiac (with properties similar to those of rhinoceros horn – i.e. an imaginary symbol of potency), was a highly valued flavor, a possible food preservative, and a pharmaceutical panacea in past centuries. Now, it is a rarely appreciated spice and an old-fashioned drug that has little role in medicine or dentistry today.
Historically both cloves and the oil have been considered stimulant, aromatic, and carminative. Cloves in substance or infusion have been given to relieve nausea and vomiting, more especially the vomiting of pregnancy, to relieve flatulence, and to except weak digestion. The oil of cloves sometimes affords relief when introduced into the cavity of a carious tooth.
Clove oil can be used for acne, bruises, burns and cuts, keeping infection at bay and as a pain reliever. It helps with toothache, mouth sores, rheumatism and arthritis.
It is beneficial to the digestive system, effective against vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, spasms and parasites, as well as bad breath.
Clove oil is valuable for relieving respiratory problems, like bronchitis, asthma and tuberculosis. The disinfecting property is useful in cases of infectious diseases.
Placing a few drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and then placing the cotton ball in a linen cupboard will not only fragrance the cupboard, but will help to keep fish moths at bay.
Clove oil is useful for its disinfecting properties, relieving of pain, especially toothache, arthritis and rheumatism. It is effective when used for complaints of the digestion system.
It is also of use for skin problems - especially for skin sores and leg ulcers and as an insect repellent.
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