Natural alternatives to alcohol-based hand sanitizers

Everyone is worried about this year’s flu season and wondering what illnesses the next few months will bring. One of the most common ways to prevent the spread of germs is to keep your hands clean. Hand sanitizers laden with alcohol and chemicals are everywhere. Manufacturers have added more chemicals to compensate for the drying nature of alcohol. Some hand sanitizers even have harmful toxins known as parabens (related to hormonal disruption) listed in their ingredients. Therapeutic essential oils offer an excellent chemical-free alternative for hand sanitizing.

Essential oils have been used since the beginning of time as medicine. Plants and their extracts were the first healing modalities for the human body. Its use has been documented throughout history from hundreds of biblical scriptures to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Over the past century, they have been adulterated – diluted, synthesized, and added with chemical fillers. These alterations have diminished, or completely eliminated, any therapeutic value of vegetable oils that nature intended. The sole purpose of adulterated oils is fragrance, which for many people is actually toxic, often leading to headaches, nausea, and even vomiting.

Pure plant extracts that have been properly processed, on the other hand, offer amazing benefits to the human body. Many pure essential oils in their most potent state have strong antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Bacteria cannot mutate against these natural substances because they contain hundreds of components that can vary in small amounts depending on the growing season and even the place of growth. Many bacteria can die from contact with pure essential oils that have not been diluted or altered. There are several oils in particular that have strong antibacterial properties.

Cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, lemon, and eucalyptus radiata are powerful essential oils against bacteria. In addition to their antibacterial potential, they also have other properties. Cinnamon has a positive effect on balancing blood sugar levels. Clove oil is anti-inflammatory and anesthetic. Rosemary protects the liver and improves mental clarity. Lemon oil is a powerful disinfectant and eucalyptus radiata is especially effective against respiratory and sinus infections. When these oils are combined, they create a synergistic effect that is even more powerful than their parts alone. This combination of essential oils can be diffused into the air to kill bacteria. In a Weber State University study, research found that this combination killed 99.9% of airborne bacteria when diffused through the air.

This proprietary blend of essential oils called “Thieves” has been formulated as an effective alcohol-free hand sanitizer. These therapeutic grade essential oils are a powerful alternative to alcohol-based hand sanitizers.