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MOO Soothing Eczema Cream

23/4/2020

12 Comments

 
Picture
Eczema is horrible. It's red, itchy, scaly, painful and ugly. If left untreated it can leave horrible scars. And it is almost as common as the common cold. And like the cold, there really isn't any one successful treatment for this painful skin complaint.

Hannah and AJ both suffer from eczema and have done since they were babies (another reason I MOO washing powder and soap). Over the years we've spent a fortune on creams and lotions, doctors and specialists, natural remedies and some not so natural. And while some of them worked for a short while the eczema always came back and the painful cycle would begin all over again.

Until Hannah found a recipe for a homemade cream and gave it a try. And it worked! Oh joy, oh happy relief!

It soothes and stops the itching, cools the skin quickly and moisturises and softens dry scaly patches. Best of all we had all the ingredients in the kitchen.

Over the years we've tweaked it to the recipe below. It is far and away the best eczema cream we have used and its all natural - not a steroid in sight, no need for a prescription and it costs under $1 a jar.

It only has four ingredients: rolled oats, coconut oil, rosemary oil* and olive oil.
Picture
Oats have been used to soften and moisturise skin for centuries. They are know for their anti-itching properties and are an easy treatment for dry skin.

Coconut oil is rich in fats, Vitamin E, proteins and fatty acids. It is renowned for it's moisturising and anti-aging properties. Because coconut oil doesn't go rancid it can be applied to the skin it can work longer without going rancid.

Rosemary oil is know for it's therapeutic properties and is a common ingredient in shampoos and moisturisers for it's purifying properties.

This recipe can be used as a daily skin moisturizer to prevent eczema from flaring up. If by chance it does still appear this helps to nip it in the bud quickly!

You will need:
1/4 cup of oats
3/4 cup of coconut oil
Few drops of rosemary oil* (optional)
1 tbsp of olive oil
A small jar with a screw top lid, sterilised

Step 1. Finely grind the oats to a powder/flour consistency and set aside. I use my food processor but you can use a stick blender, vitamiser, mortar and pestle (if you have the muscles), a Magic Bullet - any appliance that will grind the oats into a fine powder.
Picture
Step 2. Over a low heat, melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan until it melts.

Step 3. Add in a few drops of rosemary oil if you are using it.  I usually add 8 drops as we like the fragrance and I like the antibacterial properties of rosemary oil.

Step 4. Add finely ground oats to the saucepan and mix until well blended. At this stage the mixture will be quite thin.

Step 5. Now, pour the olive oil into the mixture and stir until blended.

Step 6. Once all ingredients are thoroughly combined remove from the heat and let it cool, absorbing all the goodness from the oats. While it is still semi-liquid pour in to a small, sterilised storage container. It won't matter if you get any of the oats in the jar, your cream will just have a little texture. If you don't want any oats, strain the liquid into the jar. Let it cool and harden for several hours.

Apply to hands and skin as needed and feel the moisturising magic at work!

From Debt Free Cashed Up and Laughing
12 Comments
PatriciaA
29/4/2020 02:48:38 pm

Could I use Lavender oil instead of rosemary oil? I have that already.

Reply
Cath
29/4/2020 04:05:31 pm

You can, but don't expect the cream to have the same effect. You would be changing the properties of the cream but expecting the same result. it won't be the same. Whist they are both essential oils, they have different properties. The rosemary oil eases pain, is anti-bacterial, antiseptic and hydrating for the skin.

Reply
laima
30/4/2020 12:12:13 pm

What other essential oil can be used?
eg tea tree

Reply
Judith Lowe
1/5/2020 03:53:43 pm

Will try this recipe but definitely not with the rosemary oil. A tiny bottle in the health food shop is $49, and similar in the cheapest chemist (Chemist Warehouse) is $24! And I can't really see how a few drops would make much impact!

Reply
Cath
2/5/2020 06:10:55 pm

You can leave it out, but don't expect it to work as it should, There is a resason rosemary oil is an ingredient - it has specific properties that ease, soothe and help to heal eczema - see my relply to PatricaA above. If you do try it without the rosemary oil, or you substitute another oil, please remember you changed the recipe so you can't expect the same results.,

Reply
Judith Lowe
2/5/2020 10:44:27 am

Further to my previous comment, I found a "recipe" on the internet showing how to make rosemary oil - sounds very simple and as I have heaps of rosemary growing in the garden, I intend to try it. I was wondering if this is what you use?

Reply
Cath
2/5/2020 06:18:35 pm

No, I don't make rosermary oil. True essential oils require a still and a lot of time and effort, and a LOT of the base ingredient for just a few drops of oil. It's not as simple as soaking rosemary in a carrier oil - that will give you a rosemary scented oil, it won't give you pire rosemary oil, and that is why pure essential oils are so expensive - they are distilled using steam and then added to a carrier oil.

The $49 price you quote is abusurd, $24 is reasonable providing it is a pure rosemary oil, and at least 15ml bottle, and a reputable brand.

There are lot of so called essentail oils on the market, but in this case I'll mis-quote an old TV ad - oils aint oils.

Reply
Judith Lowe
4/5/2020 03:10:47 pm

Thanks so much for your answers Cath and your recommendations. I always wondered how these oils are produced and why they were so expensive. I have bought the bottle (25 ml) from Chemist Warehouse. The brand is Oil Garden and the label says is it is 100% pure eseential oil.

Reply
Judith Lowe
23/7/2020 03:25:34 pm

I haven't been diagnosed with eczema but every so often (especially in the summer) I do get an irritating, itchy rash on my body. I made a batch of this cream and have been thrilled with the results. It's easy to make and as it sets pretty hard (because of the solid coconut oil), when I go in the shower I put the jar in the basin in hot water and by the time I come out it's softened and melted to make it easy to use.

Vicky link
4/5/2020 10:02:26 am

Goodmorning,

I made this over the weekend and am very happy with the results. I followed the recipe to a tee and it fitted perfectly in a small IXL jam jar. I made it for my son who is struggling with eczema on his hands at the moment. Initially it is oily but he just pops on a pair of old socks over his hands to prevent the oil going on his clothing.

With regard to the price, I think I paid $20 about 6 months ago. I bought the Thursday Plantation brand off eBay.

I have a friend who rubs coconut oil into her skin every morning and swears by it.

Thanks for the recipe.

Reply
Estel Castle
4/3/2021 03:40:24 pm

Hi Cath,

I made this cream (bought some rosemary oil on eBay much cheaper than any pure oil I could find elsewhere), and it's great! Every hand lotion I'd tried, including those recommended for eczema, and even actual eczema medication was less effective than this! o.o And my mother found the same thing.

It is worth noting that it doesn't moisturise very well, so I alternate with sorbolene. It's also very easy to take too much eczema cream and end up with greasy hands, but hey, there are far worse problems than that!

Many thanks for the recipe!

Reply
Cath (Cheapskates Staff)
4/3/2021 03:55:22 pm

It should be very moisturising - coconut oil and olive oil are both amazing moisturisers, add the rosemary oil and the oils from the oats and the comment I usually get is it takes a while to absorb if you use too much.

Reply

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