Natural Hand Sanitizer

With the rise of the H1N1 flu pandemic, we have seen more concern for quick and easy hygiene methods, such as placing hand sanitizer dispensers in offices, at conferences and throughout public places like bus stations and shopping malls. But almost all of these gels are alcohol based (usually ethyl or isopropyl alcohol), which irritates existing cuts or scrapes and causes skin to dry.

There are, however, natural alternatives to the alcohol-based gels. In The Whole Child, an interactive pediatrics blog (http://www.thewholechild.us), Lawrence D. Rosen, MD suggests mimicking the ingredients of Thief Oil, a patented blend of naturally antiseptic oils. 

Into a small dispenser bottle filled with filtered water and 1 tsp aloe vera gel, mix 1-2 drops of cinnamon bark, clove, rosemary, eucalyptus oils and 5 drops of lemon oil (or grapefruit or orange, if you prefer).