Homemade Calamine Lotion

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on knowledge and understanding you might wish to acquire in advance of a disaster in case no higher care is available.  As long as our society is functioning, you should leave anything more substantial than applying a Band-Aid to the professionals.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.

Calamine lotion was never a thing in my house growing up.  I still wonder if it’s because my sisters and I were naturally cautious kids who didn’t wander off the path and into trouble (we never had any broken bones, either), or if we are in the 20% of the population that lacks the gene for being susceptible to poison ivy. 

Probably the latter, since none of my children or husband has ever had it, either.  And we’ve done a lot of camping.

Still, it’s important to prepare for the unexpected, whether it’s civil unrest or poison oak.  Of course, you can buy bottles of calamine lotion to have on hand for disasters of the itchy kind.  However, knowing how to make it from scratch is also a good idea.  And you can add your own touches to it—herbs or essential oils—to make it more effective.  As a standalone, calamine reportedly isn’t all that effective against poison oak and ivy.

Homemade Calamine Lotion

1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon bentonite clay

5 drops chamomile essential oil

5 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
1 teaspoon carrier oil such as almond, apricot kernel, or olive oil

Witch hazel to form a paste

 

In a small bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients.  In another small bowl, combine the essential oils and carrier oil.  Then stir the blended oils into the dry ingredients, mixing well to combine.  Slowly add in the witch hazel until a creamy smooth paste forms. 

 

Apply this paste to itchy bug bites and stings, chicken pox, shingles, poison oak and ivy, rashes, and more. 

 

Why it works:

Chamomile essential oil is a natural antihistamine that also helps reduce inflammation.

Lavender essential oil not only reduces inflammation, but also provides some pain relief and has antibacterial properties as well.

Peppermint essential oil reduces inflammation and itchiness.

Witch hazel relieves itching.

Note.  Do not use any metal bowls or utensils when working with bentonite clay to avoid chemical reactions that will render the clay less effective.

Links to related posts:

Medicinal Uses of German Chamomile  https://prepschooldaily.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-medicinal-uses-of-german-chamomile.html

Medicinal Uses of Lavender  https://prepschooldaily.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-medicinal-uses-of-lavender.html

Medicinal Uses of Peppermint  https://prepschooldaily.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-medicinal-uses-of-peppermint.html

Medicinal Uses of Bentonite Clay  https://prepschooldaily.blogspot.com/2022/07/medicinal-uses-of-bentonite-clay.html

Preparing for Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac  https://prepschooldaily.blogspot.com/2023/12/preparing-for-poison-oak-poison-ivy-and.html

Medicinal Uses of Baking Soda  https://prepschooldaily.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-medicinal-uses-of-baking-soda.html

How to Prepare for Shingles  https://prepschooldaily.blogspot.com/2022/04/how-to-prepare-for-shingles.html

Chickenpox in a Collapsed Society  https://prepschooldaily.blogspot.com/2023/12/chickenpox-in-collapsed-society.html