How to Use Essential Oils as Antiseptics - Making Your Own Antibacterial Napkins

These days, most of us obsessed with germs and sickness, especially when the Swine flu became an epidemic according to the media. You see antibacterial soaps and sanitizers everywhere. Antibiotics are prescribed to almost mild conditions, such as common colds. In fact, overuse of all these products leads to the rising problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

However, there are safe and natural methods to protect yourself and your loved ones from bacteria and viruses. These methods have been around for centuries. One recognized method of is the use of essential oils as antiseptics. Many of us are already known for their ability to destroy bacteria.

In recent discovery, essential oils were shown to be an inexpensive and effective antiseptic topical treatment alternative, even for antibiotic-resistant strains. The following oils: eucalyptus, tea tree, thyme white, lavender, lemongrass, lemon, kunzea, cinnamon, sandalwood, peppermint, grapefruit, clove bud, and sage oil were tested for their ability to kill several common and hospital-acquired bacteria.

"Thyme white, lemongrass, lemon and cinnamon oil were the most effective. The other oils also showed considerable efficacy. Almost all tested oils demonstrated efficacy against hospital acquired isolates and reference strains, whereas paraffin and olive oil from the control group produced no inhibition."
(Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2009 Oct;37(7):392-7).

Essential oils were used for centuries. The use of essential oils goes back to at least 4500 B.C., when the Egyptians created perfumes and medicines from them. The ancient knowledge of the medicinal benefits of essential oils was preserved by Greek, Roman, and Arab physicians. Essential oils are effective and they are safe if used properly (some essential oils are not recommended during the pregnancy).

So, you can easily replace your regular hand sanitizer napkins with your home-made anti-bacterial napkins. You can create your own natural safe anti-bacterial soap and air sprays.

It is easy to do at home. Here is what you will need:

Choose 3 or 4 types of the following essential oils that are the most suitable for you. Purchase each bottle of oil separately.

- Cinnamon - rejuvenates and invigorates the mind and body, supports the digestive and respiratory systems

- Clove - relieves toothaches and headaches, improves digestion, and opens sinus and breathing passages

- Eucalyptus - promotes alertness, clears the mind, fights cold and congestion, soothes dry cough

- Thyme - has stimulating and invigorating properties; good for respiratory and digestive systems

- Spruce - opens and releases emotional blocks, creates feeling of balance; supports the respiratory and nervous systems

- Lavender - combats anxiety, stress, and depression; good for nerves, migraines, headaches, tension, and sore muscles

- Lemongrass - good for purification and digestion

- Lemon - lifting for the spirit, supporting concentration and the ability to memorize

- Grapefruit - toning and stimulating, has uplifting, soothing and refreshing qualities


Make your own non-toxic hand sanitizer napkins:

Purchase a large size cleansing pads.

Open the jar and add three of your favorite antibacterial essential oils. Choose from the list above.

I like to put 6 drops of each of the following oils: Lavender, Lemon, and Cinnamon. Just make sure that you do not drip the oils on the same spot. Place drops evenly on the round surface of the cleansing pads. Close the lead and let the rest of the pads underneath absorb the oils you dripped into the jar.

Bring this plastic jar in your purse or car and use every individual pad as an anti-bacterial hand wipe.

Essential oils are very safe but remember that they are very potent too. Do not use them straight on the skin. Some of them are so strong that can cause you a temporary discomfort. Some oil such as: Clove, Thyme, Cinnamon and Lemongrass should be avoided all through pregnancy.

Also, when choosing essential oils, make sure that they are natural and not synthetic. Synthetic extracts are easier to produce than obtain these substances from plants, so they are much cheaper than pure essential oils.

Quality oils are generally labeled "pure” or "true" essential oil. They are produced by steam distillation or expression from natural, usually organic, plant material.