DIY boo-boo spray and antibiotic ointment

I started making my own boo-boo spray (or first aid healing spray) and antibiotic ointment around 2014/2015.  I did it for a variety of reasons.

1. The amount of chemicals in many store bought antibiotic ointments and sprays makes me uncomfortable.
2. We have sensitive skin in my family and I found the store-bought stuff would sometimes cause skin reactions or flare ups of eczema.
3. It’s cheaper to make it yourself!

For the antibiotic ointment I use this recipe:  http://www.modernalternativehealth.com/2012/09/06/naturally-treating-cuts-scrapes/

I have found it works well and it is also a simple 4 ingredient recipe.  All you need to make it is coconut oil, olive oil (or another healing liquid oil works too), tea tree/melaleuca essential oil, and beeswax.

As for the boo-boo spray, it’s my own personal blend.  I drew inspiration on what  ingredients to include from various bloggers I have come across over the years.  See the recipe and reasons I chose the ingredients for it below.

BOO-BOO SPRAY RECIPE

Ingredients:

-1/4 cup Witch hazel (like this: Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera, 12 Fluid Ounce)

-20 drops Grapefruit seed extract (like this: Nutribiotic Gse Liquid Concentrate, 2 Fluid Ounce)

-10 drops Tea Tree/melaleuca essential oil

-15 drops Lavender essential oil

-20 drops Frankincense essential oil

– 2 ounce glass bottle (like this: 6, Amber, 2 oz Glass Bottles, with Black Fine Mist Sprayers)

Add all of the above ingredients to a 2 oz. glass spray bottle.  Shake to combine.  Gently shake before each use to recombine ingredients.  Spray on minor cuts and scrapes after they have been gently cleansed with soap and water.  This spray aids in healing and killing off any residual germs.  It can be used several times daily on a minor wound to speed up the healing time.  In case anyone is wondering, I don’t think it stings at all.  My kids claim it does a little, but whether this is truly valid or dramatics is another matter.

Side note:  If the amounts of essential oils in this recipe seem like a lot, please know this recipe is specifically what works for my family.  When you first make it, my suggestion is that you start with just a few drops of each essential oil and test it on your skin, before adding more.  That being said, lavender, frankincense, and melaleuca (tea tree essential oil) are all oils that are considered to be safe to apply to the skin without dilution or with minimal dilution in comparison to other essential oils (see sources linked below). You know yourself and your skin sensitivity, while obviously I don’t, so use your best judgement.

Sources:

https://aromaticstudies.com/undiluted-application-of-essential-oils/

https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/healthy-living-topical-use-of-essential-oils

Why I used what I used:

-Witch hazel:  It helps stop the bleeding and is soothing since it has anti-inflammatory properties (¹).  It also is antimicrobial so it aids in killing off bacteria and viruses (²).  I like using the specific one above because it has rose water and aloe vera which further aid in healing and soothing skin.  In addition, it’s alcohol free so that it doesn’t sting! 

-Grapefruit seed extract: It works to kill off any pathogens in a skin wound (³).  It also has phyto-nutrients that promote the health of skin cells, and contains vitamins (such as Vitamins A, C, and E) and anti-oxidants that aid in healing skin (⁴).

-Tea tree/melaleuca essential oil: It helps fight infections due to it’s anti-microbial properties.  It is also anti-inflammatory so it can help heal and sooth the skin (⁵).

-Frankincense essential oil: This essential oil is truly packed with power!  It works as a coagulant to help stop the bleeding of cuts and scrapes.  It has anti-aging properties that can prevent scarring.  Finally, it can speed up the healing time of a skin wound (⁶).

-Lavender essential oil: It not only has a pleasant and soothing aroma, but it is also soothing for the skin.  It helps reduce irritation and blends well with frankincense and tea tree oil to produce a great essential oil blend for the skin (⁷).

Sources:

1. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-227-witch%20hazel.aspx?activeingredientid=227
2. https://www.livestrong.com/article/221445-witch-hazel-for-skin-problems/
3. https://universityhealthnews.com/daily/nutrition/grapefruit-seed-extract-uses-and-benefits/
4. https://www.livestrong.com/article/1004030-grapefruit-seed-extract-skin-care/
5. https://draxe.com/tea-tree-oil-uses-benefits/
6. https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-frankincense-essential-oil.html
7. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/spotlight-lavender-oil

Note on essential oils: As you probably noticed in the main photo for this (and in other photos used in other blog posts of mine), essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs AND DoTerra are featured. Yes, I use both.  From what I have read and from the research I have done DoTerra and Mountain Rose Herbs are both great essential oil companies to buy from, but with essential oils continuing to expand in popularity there are so many companies to chose from.  My suggestion would be to thoroughly research any company you are considering buying essential oils from, as there are some on the market that are listed as “essential oils” but are cheaply made and have fillers added to them.

Any questions for me in regards to the boo-boo spray or antibiotic ointment?  Have you ever made your own?  If you haven’t, are you going to try making your own?  Let me know in the comments below!

Disclaimer: All information on this blog is meant for educational and informational purposes only. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and/or information are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. Readers are advised to do their own research and make decisions in partnership with their health care provider, especially if they are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking any medication.