Calling the Herbal Pros for Advice Please

[Kathy in WV]

I have a very old, much used bottle of something called Rawleighs Anti-Pain Oil. I know you can still order it online, but after reading the ingredients list I would like to come up with something comparable made at home. The ingredients are

Alcohol - 73%
Oil of Cloves
Methyl Salicylate
synthetic Oil of Mustard
Oil of Peppermint
Water

Since it only lists the essential oils but not their amounts, I was wondering if someone more experienced could guesstimate the amounts needed. This stuff works really well for loosening up stiff muscles without burning the skin right off of you! Plus I like the fact that you don't need a dictionary to understand its ingredients!! SOS... Help me- the bottles almost empty!! Kat

 

[blue gecko]

I'd try it like this: 3/4 cup of alcohol, 10 drops each of the essential oils the fill it to the cup mark with water. You can vary the amount of oils as it seems necessary i.e. a little more menthol salicilate (oil of wintergreen) and a little less mustard oil. If you put it in a spritz bottle and shake before using I think the application would be easy. BG

 

[Kathy in WV]

Thanks Blue,

I was starting to think nobody would have any answers to this one! The only thing I'm not sure about getting is the methyl salicylate. I think that one has to do with something pertaining to aspirin but I may be wrong. I will find out for sure when I start ordering my oils to use. Thanks again!!! Kat

 

[goatlady2]

Kathy, I don't mix up stuff like that so I hadn't the foggiest idea of proportions!

 

[summerthyme]

goatlady- me too! The Amish swear by this stuff, and it's main ingredient is the mustard oil... it's a very "warming" oil. Frankly, I don't like the stuff, but they gave us a bottle years ago and it's still around somewhere.

I'd substitute wintergree oil for the Methyl salicylate... or else simply dissolve a few aspirin tablets in the water first..

I guess what I'd do is start LEAN (and I don't know where you'd GET mustard oil, to be honest) and if you feel you want it stronger after trying your first blend, add a tiny bit at a time.

All of the oils used in this can badly burn skin if they are used in any great amounts.

Summerthyme

 

[blue gecko]

goatlady- me too! The Amish swear by this stuff, and it's main ingredient is the mustard oil... it's a very "warming" oil. Frankly, I don't like the stuff, but they gave us a bottle years ago and it's still around somewhere.

I'd substitute wintergree oil for the Methyl salicylate... or else simply dissolve a few aspirin tablets in the water first..

I guess what I'd do is start LEAN (and I don't know where you'd GET mustard oil, to be honest) and if you feel you want it stronger after trying your first blend, add a tiny bit at a time.

All of the oils used in this can badly burn skin if they are used in any great amounts.

Summerthyme

I agree start lean and I believe the amounts I've suggested will be fine. I use essential oils in my practice and feel this formula is a reasonable start.

Do not substitute aspirin thats salicylic acid and I've seen it burn skin in liquid concentrations. Methyl salicilate IS oil of wintergreen.

Some other warming oils are ginger and eucalyptus. A little lemon oil or emu oil works well as a carrier.

As far as obtaining mustard oil, you can simmer some lightly crushed mustard seed in olive oil. When I do oil extractions I use an old crockpot that has a very low setting and leave the mixture at least over night then strain. I would use the extraction VERY sparingly until you get a feel for its strength.

You could also use olive oil instead of water in the formula and still get by with the spritz bottle. BG

 

[Herbmountain]

For blending essential oils in a formula the rule is 20-25 drops of essential oils per ounce of carrier. The carrier is any seed oil, water or alcohol. The alcohol boost the formula faster into the skin.

I like the wintergreen too. Some of the pain formulas I make have eucalyptus, peppermint, juniper or cypress to boost the formula in. Most are of menthol base, like the old stinky menthyolatum ointment. Stinks but feels so good.

When mixing the essential oils in water, you really need to shake with every use as the oils go to the top of the water. There is a product called "Solubol" and is sold by "Vitae". Victoria owns this company and as far as I know, she is the only one who makes it along with many of her own essentail oils. You can find her on the web.

Menthol crystals dissolved will do the same but can really burn. These are sold by herb companys.

 

[Wren]

Hi guys, (THIS IS "KATHY IN WV"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

MY phone has been out of service for the better part of three days and so I'm at my mothers house posting under her name. Just had to get my TB2K fix before I go nuts and have withdrawal symptoms!!! Hopefully the phone company will show up tomorrow as scheduled and fix my line. Thanks all for taking time to answer this one for me. I'm still really new at all this but I really love doing the tinctures and wanted to try the oils etc...too! Hopefully I'll be able to post more tomorrow..thanks again, Kat

 

[Herbmountain]

Opps. Sorry it is not Vitae that carrys solubol. It is "Ledet" I believe. I will go for a search and find a link.
Here is the link http://www.leydet.com/

Victoria is a fantasic Certified Aromatherapist. She travels often and takes classes to France. I used to buy some of her products and oils for the store for the hard core aromathapists. I still have some blue cedar that I swear smells like Im in the woods. Her lavenders cannot be beat for quality. Check out her site.