According to this article there are 6 hidden dangers of hand sanitizers:
1. Hand sanitizers can increase absorption of harmful BPA
2. Many sanitizers contain phthalates and parabens, which can do more harm than good
3. Even alcohol-based sanitizers can be dangerous in the wrong hands
4. Sanitizers may contribute to the development of “super bugs”
5. Sanitizers are associated with allergy development in young children
6. Ingredients in sanitizers can be harmful to the ecosystem
Americans spend $175 million a year on hand sanitizers-and most of these you bought from store are with these hidden dangers, so why not make a safe, herbal, all-natural hand sanitizer at home? Following is a simple and effective recipe you can try:
You will need…
-25-30 drops of tea tree oil
-9 drops of lavender oil
-9 drops of clove oil
-1 tablespoon of witch hazel (optional)
-16 tablespoons (8 ounces) aloe vera gel
Directions
In a bowl place 9 drops each of lavender and clove oil, and 25-30 drops of tea tree oil.
Stir these together add 16 tablespoons (8 ounces) of aloe vera gel and 1 tablespoon of witch hazel (if you are using it.)
Blend everything together and store out of direct sunlight in a cool place for up to 1 month.
Why tea tree oil: The anti-viral properties of the oil fight many common infectious diseases such as chicken pox, shingles and measles, flu, cold sores and verrucae.
Why lavender oil: Lavender oil has been used to cleanse wounds for centuries, it has ability to stop the growth of the microbes that cause staph infections that have become resistant to current day medicine.
Why clove oil: Clove oil is probably most famous for being a natural remedy for toothaches because of the Eugenol it contains, while you may not know that this stuff also happens to kill off bad germs and bacteria as well.
Why Aloe vera gel: Aloe vera gel has its own special antibacterial and antifungal properties, and it also does double duty as a moisturizer, keeping your hands soft and safe from getting dried out.
Why witch hazel: Native Americans have been using witch hazel water as a medical astringent for centuries. Witch hazel contains alcohol, which disrupts the cell membrane of the bacteria, denatures its proteins, ultimately kills it. While witch hazel does not contain the 70% concentration of alcohol that would be needed to match store-bought hand sanitizers (60%-70% is usually the baseline suggested for making a true dent in killing germs) the added essential oils are what we rely on to kill a lot of the illness causing germs and bacteria. It does add a boost to the recipe, but isn’t necessary if you want to avoid alcohol all together.
Sources: organicfacts.net,moneycrashers.com, everydayroots.com
