Personal Care Recipe: Calendula Infused Herbal Oil

Mountain Rose Herbs posted a great herbal infusion using calendal flowers and olive oil.  I’m happy I made this, recently Yipi developed an awful upper body rash after being exposed to fumes from non-safe “corn free” meat.  She was itchy, the bumps were red and swollen and she actually looked miserable.  Into the kitchen I go…  This was fairly easy to make.  I started it one evening, turned it off at bedtime, and restarted it the next morning.  Within one day of multiple applications the swelling and redness has subsided.  Within two days the majority of the itchiness had gone away.  Now we’re just waiting for the remainder of the bumps/hives to vanish.

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Homemade Calendula Salve for Rashes

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I apologize for some of the blurry pictures, she moves rather quickly and she wanted the camera.  It was much easier to get her right side than the left, she lost her desire to cooperate after the first 3 minutes.  These pictures are from the first day that I noticed the rash.  I only used the oil once and it only slightly improved by day two.  Day two I lathered her up every two-three hours.  It has been one week today.  The swelling is gone, the redness is gone, and only a few of the bumps are lingering (she managed to get a few bug bites on her little legs).  I would have uploaded additional pictures showing the reduction in allergic reaction, but she was not interested in cooperating.

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Ingredients:

• Dried, organic calendula flowers (about 3 cups or so)
• Dried, organic honeysuckle flowers (about 1 cup)
• 2 parts coconut oil and 1 part olive oil (enough to cover flowers)
• Organic Lavender essential oil
• Organic Tea tree essential oil
• Ceramic or glass bowl for flowers and oil
• Small pot, to be used as the base of “double boiler”
• Small strainer
• Clean, sterilized glass container for storing oil

Procedure

• Add flowers and oil to ceramic or glass bowl.  Make sure the oil covers the flowers.
• Place bowl over pot (should contain water – check to make sure it never runs out of water).  Bring the water to a boil and turn it down to simmer.  I let it simmer for 6 hours.
• Remove from heat, let cool.
• Strain into glass storage container.
• Add essential oil and gently stir.
• Put into the refrigerator and use as needed.

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I plan to use a similar procedure (with additional ingredients and steps) to make our homemade bug repellent.

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From MRH:

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This medicinal oil is simple to prepare and has so many uses. The gentle, soothing, and healing oil is perfect for cradle cap, diaper rash, chapped or chafed skin, bruises, and sore or inflamed muscles. The oil can be used alone, or incorporated into salves, massage oils, lip balms, ointments, creams, and lotions.

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Organic Olive oil
Organic Calendula flowers

1. Place Calendula flowers in a clean, dry glass jar. If using fresh Calendula, wilt for 12 hours to remove most of the moisture (too much moisture will cause the oil to go rancid) before adding to the jar. Pour olive oil into the jar, making sure to cover the flowers by at least 1” of oil so they will have space to expand. Stir well and cap the jar tightly.

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Heat Method: … heat can be applied if you need the oil quickly. To prepare, follow step 1 from above, but place the Olive oil and Calendula flowers in an uncovered container. Warm over low heat at approximately 100 degrees F for at least 3-5 hours, the longer the better. A yogurt maker, double boiler, or inside the oven with a pilot light on are all effective ways to heat the oil, just make sure to check the temperature occasionally to ensure that the oil isn’t getting too warm. Once the oil has infused, strain out the herbs using cheesecloth and package the infused oil into glass bottles.

Combating Baby Poop and Horrible Rashes

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So…  this post is solely for those of you with newborns/infants/toddlers in cloth diapers needing help with combating baby poop and the dreaded allergy poos.  You know the ones:  Baby is having an allergic reaction.  Within 12 hours the poos begin to resemble black tar or plaster and they absolutely stink to high heaven.  They leave the baby’s booty mangled, red, possibly bloody with blisters.  Allergy poos.

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I use my booty paste recipe for the allergy poos making a few modifications.  I increase the amount of zinc oxide, tea tree oil (only slightly) and peppermint oil.  I also add calendula hydrosol and coconut oil.  This really helps to soothe the Yipiyuk’s poor booty and to reduce the length of time for the rash, blisters, inflammation, etc.  Everything usually substantially improves within 24 hours, without the use of steroids or other corn derivatives in prescriptions ointments.  I also spray the Calendula Hydrosol onto her skin, wherever she has a rash, to help soothe the area.  In the next few weeks I plan to make a Calendula infused oil for this purpose.

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• Zinc oxide is a skin protectant and is often included in most OTC diaper rash ointments.
• Tea Tree Oil is anti-viral and anti-fungal
• Peppermint oil is used to relieve skin irritation and itchiness and also helps to reduce skin redness, where inflammation is present.
• Coconut oil is awesome.  It is antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, and it has a soothing effect.
• Calendula is awesome!  I really need to make a calendula infused oil.  Calendula has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, antifungal, antiviral, and immunostimulant properties making it useful for disinfecting and treating minor wounds, conjunctivitis, cuts, scrapes, chapped or chafed  skin, bruises, burns, athlete’s foot, acne, yeast infections, bee stings, diaper rashes, and other minor irritations and infections of the skin.  Read the story at the top of this link!

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Recipe:

• Bowl full of shea butter (GFSoap – pre-whipped)
• 3 tbsp Organic Jojoba oil (MRH)
• 2 tbsp coconut oil (TT)
• 1 tsp of Zinc oxide (Amazon)
• 6-7 drops of Tea tree essential oil (MRH)
• 10 drops of Peppermint essential oil
• 2-3 drops of Lavender essential oil
• 10-15 sprays Calendula Hydrosol (MRH)

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I also make sure that my diet and our environment is clear.  I am very diligent about what I consume and use on my person and limit the introduction of new things to one item every two weeks.  This helps me to really ensure that a new substance, whatever it may be, will not be a problem for the Yipiyuk.  Too many new things at once just isn’t fair to her.

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Last thing is the contraption we use to rinse her diapers before washing.  Allergy poos make you want to cry.  You can’t throw away your organic, non-dyed, chemical free cloth diapers, those sap suckers are expensive!  The Complete Potty Pail System is very similar to what we use.  I say similar because…we made our own.  This thing really works, but I suggest flushing the contents of the diaper before spraying.

Is Castile Soap What We’ve Needed All Along?

We’re still having some difficulty with removing fumes from the hair, clothing, skin, etc of individuals visiting our home.

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A fair amount of members on the Delphi Forum Members use the Dr. Bronner’s line of castile soap.  I looked into the soaps last year but was deterred from ordering them because of the inclusion of tocopherol and citric acid in the ingredients list.  I know now, thanks to the efforts of others on the forum, that the tocopherol is derived from sunflower and the citric acid from tapioca.  We cannot consume sunflower however we might be able to tolerate others who use this product.

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This might be exactly what we need to make others safe for visiting our home!  Erica, what are you talking about now?  Well, I’ll tell you all a little back story!  Back in September 2009 I decided to “go natural.”  Going natural is basically avoiding the chemical treatment of one’s hair.  June 2010 I cut all of my hair off (I kept an inch).  I also realized, around the same time, that things were going downhill quickly for my health and the Yipiyuk constantly seemed to be in pain.  Enter the complete understanding and life changing realization of corn allergy.  I realized that my favorite everything were making us more and more ill, this included my hair products.  The smell of them bothered me so much it brought me to tears.  I also noticed that my hair itself made me extremely ill.  the smell lingered and would not dissipate.  I began researching the silicones and parabens used in hair products (as well as lotions and soaps) and I realized they were the issue with removing scents skin, hair and clothing.  I’ll explain how below.  I had to purge my house of all toiletries containing silicones and parabens.  The only way to remove residual silicone coating from my hair was to use a “clarifying” shampoo, something that would strip the chemicals off of the hair shaft.  After I understood this and found safe corn-free toiletries (that were also silicone and paraben free), I let this information be purged from my brain.

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…I shouldn’t have allowed myself to forget that information.  This information is actually key in understanding why some hair care products, lotions, and laundry detergents NEVER seem to wash away.  Silicones, Dimethicone is seen a lot in hair and lotion products, coat the surface of the hair, skin and clothing with a thin hydrophobic coating.  The problem with silicones is they are used in everything.  It is almost as bad as corn.

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“Dimethicone is a silicone based polymer which works by covering hair with a thin hydrophobic (water-proof) coating. This coating helps reduce the porosity of the hair which makes it less likely to absorb humidity; helps reduce moisture loss from the inside of the hair; and lubricates the surface of the hair so it feel smoother and combs easier.

Dimethicone, a mid-weight silicone provides the most smoothing effect but can also be hard to wash out.”

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Multiple Uses of Silicones

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Color cosmetics, sun protection creams, hair care products and antiperspirants and deodorants all benefit from silicones. Laundry detergents, fabric softeners, kitchen and bathroom cleansers, polishes and waxes are gentle, effective and aesthetically appealing because of silicones.

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• The elasticity in silicone oils improves the spreadability and smoothness of facial cosmetics, lotions, cleansing creams and antiperspirant and deodorant products
• Silicones help lipsticks, eye shadows and blushes stay on the skin for extended periods, as well as maintain their color.
• Silicones in shampoos and conditioners add foam stabilization, better shine, better body and softness to hair.
• Silicones in hair styling products improve control.
• Silicones make aesthetically pleasing and effective antiperspirants and deodorants that do not leave a residue. Silicones act as a non-cooling, non-stinging barrier that reduces the white residue and tacky feel of antiperspirants in deodorants. Silicones also help make clear antiperspirant gels possible.
• Silicones as anti-foam agents in laundry detergents ensure foam control during a wash cycle, keeping the detergent in the washing machine.
• Silicones in fabric softeners help preserve fabric “newness” because of their softening properties. Silicones’ elasticity helps smooth out wrinkles.
• Silicones enhance shine, spread easily and do not chemically react to surface materials, so they are ideal components of polishes and cleaners used on household surfaces such as floors and kitchen and bathroom counter.  Silicones also enhance shoe cleaning and polishing products

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Do you see why I’m kicking myself for forgetting this information?  It all makes sense now.  When you mix the use of corn with silicones you realize that it is almost impossible to wash the corn away.  It’s in a protective coating.  It’s like an evil villain with a force field.  We need something potent enough to break through the layers of silicones that are present on people’s clothing, skin, and hair (hair and clothing are definitely the worst offenders) that will allow the soap a chance to clean away the corn derivatives.  The castile soap, diluted as little as possible, might be exactly want we need to eliminate the silicones and parabens, thereby allowing us to clean away the corn derivatives that are used in the products that make us so very ill.  Pure castile soap is an excellent clarifying cleaner.  It strips the hair/skin of any build-up that might exist, including from -cones (silicones) and parabens.  This is exactly what we need to remove the residual chemicals that everyone coos over.  ”Oooo, girl!  Your ___ smells so good.”  When I hear this now, I run.

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I really hope this works.  I will have to try it on a willing subject, possibly Aunt Nichole or Uncle Patrick… =).  The effectiveness of the castile soap for removing residual traces of product will help me to decide whether or not to include the Dr. Bronner’s Baby-Mild Unscented soap in our “Yipiyuk Safe” packets for family and friends.  I need something that is going to strip the silicones and parabens from the skin and hair.

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UPDATE:  MizCastle, from MySoCornedLife, uses the castile soap for this exact purpose with great results.

New Organic Jojoba Oil

Happy Weekend, all!

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I decided to switch our organic jojoba oil.  The main reason for the switch?  I did not feel like contacting another company about a product.  One very late night, I read online (I do not have the source) that jojoba oil occasionally uses a de-gummer in the manufacturing process.  I decided to try the organic jojoba oil from Mountain Rose Herbs to see if I noticed a difference in product.  I did!  The oil from MRH was not as gummy/thick and it more easily absorbed into my skin than the Dessert Essentials Organic jojoba.  It is slightly more expensive, $.18/ounce more, but that is something I can overlook.

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The organic jojoba oil from MRH is cold pressed and unrefined.  It seems like a good product that has undergone minimal processing.  It comes in a plastic bottle.  I checked with the company and this is what they had to say about the plastic:

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“Our oil bottles are made from HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), otherwise known as # 2 plastic (for recycling purposes). This is a petroleum plastic but it is BPA-free.”

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Quick Post: Thank You Gifts For Our Farm Friends

We wanted to do something nice for the people who have played a key role in helping to provide safe food for our family.  We recently found out that they know little people (they have nieces and nephews) so I decided to make hats for the wee ones for Christmas.  I was going to make five of the exact same hat but I didn’t have enough yarn so I decided to improvise and use what I had.  It worked out really well.  I will be making duplicate hats for the Yipiyuk when she gets older, because the Yipiyuk needs these hats.  Well, maybe not…but they’re so cute!  Each hat took one evening to make.

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Crayons for the Yipiyuk

For those of you who know my child, you realize crayons are a thing for the distant future; she still chews everything…  Future or not, I began researching crayons months ago.  Nicole from Corn Freedom suggested the Crayola Twistables.  Those may work but I don’t want to depend on a commercial product.  Formulations and manufacturing protocols change too quickly and with no warning.

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Remember corn is used in the production of crayons.

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“No coloring for kids. Whether playing with chalk on the sidewalk or crayons in school, American children rely on corn. Corn starch is used as a binder to help such products hold together better when in use. It may also be used to dust molds during the manufacturing process so that brand-new crayons pop out undamaged.”  -  Illinois Corn 

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So, these are the posts I’ve found concerning making your own crayons as well as a potential place for obtaining safe pigment.  I have not contacted the pigment company as of yet but I will when the time comes.  I’ll keep you all posted.  Please let me know if you try to make crayons for your children!

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http://weefolkart.com/content/beeswax-crayons

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http://naturalpigments.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=209-002 (NOT SAFE – Company refuses to disclose source of natural gum and a naturally-derived biocide)

Quick Post: Corn Allergy T-Shirts by Mistofviolets

Everybody loves a quirky t-shirt.  What if that quirky, whimsical t-shirt could open the door to a dialogue between you and another person concerning corn allergy?  When I was trying to work at at Dance Trance (love that place!), my t-shirt sparked a few conversations concerning the pervasiveness of corn in our food supplies and overall lives.  I like to think it made the individuals question their usage of corn derived products, even though the conversation only lasted a few minutes.

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What if that quirky, whimsical onesie could stop someone from potentially harming your child with severe food allergies?  I have many well meaning, although stubborn and unwilling to be educated, family members who would try to feed, and subsequently injure my child.  As I’m berating them with a barrage of choice words, I feel justified and at peace knowing that I have given then multiple verbal warnings and a physical reminder (t-shirt).

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Mistofviolets from Maybe It’s Just Stress has made a full line of informative, eye catching, and FUN t-shirts, buttons, and other “corny” paraphernalia over at her Zazzle store.  I’ve ordered multiple shirts for the Yipiyuk and only one for myself (classic mom syndrome).  Check her out!  I will be ordering more shirts soon

Quick Post: Sewing Project #1

I have decided to take up sewing.  It was inevitable.  I wasted $XXX.XX on clothing for myself and my daughter and ended up donating most of the items.  I could not get the smell out.  The clothes soaked and were washed at least ten times.  I thought I would just try to wear them and started itching within 10 minutes.  I put a shirt on the Yipiyuk and she started to cry and itch after about 10 minutes.  Not worth it.  So, I scoured the internet for safer fabric and came across a few good sites selling organic material with organic dyes.  Don’t get me wrong, they still stink but the stench dissipates after two or three washes/soaks.

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The first project was a pair of pants, following this tutorial and using fleece.  Fleece hates me.  It was extremely difficult to work with.  More practice is needed to master this fabric.  I thought it was just me until I tried to make the same pants using the flannel.  I ordered both the fleece and flannel from Near Sea Naturals.  Most of their fabrics are organic, made with organic dyes, and some are even color grown cotton fabrics.  I try to catch this site when they are having a sale.

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I’ve ordered some additional fabrics from PM Organics, mostly organic jersey cotton for the stretch.  Again all organics with organic dyes and some color grown.  They also have color grown yarn from Peru that I’m hoping to sink my hook into soon.  I will update when I have receive the order and have a chance to play with the material.

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Please comment below if you have a great site for organic material.  I would love to have a new resource!

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The first project was not that great.  The second project resembled elf socks more than anything.  I am actually proud of the third pair of pants made of the flannel plaid.

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The Yipiyuk’s Rash and New Ointment

Mean rash on my poor Yipiyuk - Thursday, Oct. 20

This additional mean rash popped up Friday (Oct 21) morning. Yesterday, the Yipiyuk ate a tiny piece of a book's binding. Mommy was too slow.

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These were the best pictures I could get.  She’s very strong.

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My little one has a terrible rash on her arms, chest, ears, temples, scalp and bootie.  I am almost 80% positive it is from her chewing on her books and 20% positive the onions (used in the new burger pattie recipe) had something to do with it.  I did take a few of the Bluebonnet Nutrition Chromium vitamins and that might have something to do with the rash, but I really think it is the onions and book eating.  I can’t get her to stop chewing and subsequently eating her books.  It’s like she craves the corn glucose/starch used in the processing of the binding***. Once she gets a taste, she goes after it like a little meth addict.  All books will be put out of her reach for a few weeks.  We’ll still read to her, of course, but she won’t be allowed to handle any books.  I’m not going to eat any of the left over patties, I’ll just have to make some more sans the onion.  We have to get the allergens out of her system.

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I played with some ingredients in the kitchen in the hopes of treating the rash.  I read a few articles concerning the benefits of using aloe vera, calendula, jojoba oil, and tea tree  for skin rash on baby.  I mixed these ingredients, plus a few more and applied it to the troubled areas. I’m hoping it works.  Luckily she is not itching at her arms or chest; her ears, temples, scalp and bootie are another story.

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Base

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• One spoonful shea butter (moisturizing – used for eczema)
• 1/2 tsp jojoba oil (moisturizing)

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Treatment aids, oils and herbs

• 1/2 tsp coconut oil (anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial)
• 1 1/2 tsp aloe vera juice (anti-inflammatory)
• 4 drops peppermint essential oil (anti-inflammatory and antipruritic)
• 2 drops tea tree essential oil (anti-bacterial)
• 6 sprays of calendula hydrosol (I noticed this was used by Weleda and California Baby.  I had some at home so I thought, why not?!)

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Whisk to combine.  Apply as needed.

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Sunday Update:  The rash is no longer red.  We put away all of her books, eliminated the onion from my diet (the buckwheat bean burgers) and I haven’t taken any Chromium since Wednesday.  The bumps have begun to disappear but it will take a full week to two weeks for them all to go away.  We aren’t introducing anything new until all of the bumps clear and allergens are out of her system.  When she’s a bit older I will be able to give her natural remedies to bind the toxins in her system and expel them from her little body, but that will have to wait.  For now elimination and mommy taking extra vitamin c and milk thistle tea to indirectly help will have to do.

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*Corn starch used in book binding

“Corn starch is also used for back filling. This type of finish increases stiffness and capacity by filling the interstices of the weave with a starch mixture. Fabrics thus prepared are used in window shades and in book binding.”

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*Corn starch used in the manufacture of adhesives and glues

“Starch is used in the manufacture of various adhesives or glues[17] for book-binding, wallpaper adhesives, paper sack production, tube winding, gummed paper, envelope adhesives, school glues and bottle labeling. Starch derivatives, such as yellow dextrins, can be modified by addition of some chemicals to form a hard glue for paper work; some of those forms use borax or soda ash, which are mixed with the starch solution at 50-70 °C to create a very good adhesive.”

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*Make your own paste paper with CORN and GRAIN!

Seriously, if you can use these products without issue, then this would be an awesome project for you and your kids.  Just don’t come to my house to do it.

Quick Post: Crochet Project #3 – Mittens

Do you ever play scenarios out in your head?  I was convinced the mittens would be super easy, even easier than the booties.  I told myself I would whip up a pair as soon as I put my Yipiyuk to bed for the night.  Boy, was I wrong.  My fingers are still numb from making one mitten, not a pair, just one.  That other bad boy is going to have to wait.

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I used Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton Yarn.  According to Lion is it very versatile and easy to work with…my brain obviously tries to make every thing into a challenge.  I find it quite difficult to work in the back loop with this yarn.  Here is the pattern I followed.  It took me a while (about 10 hours) to figure out what she was saying.  I am NOT good at reading patterns, I much prefer watching Mikeyssmail, BobWilson123, and The Art of Crochet by Teresa on Youtube.  They get me… =D

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Anywho!  Let me know what you guys think!