Lemon / Lime / Ginger = Toxicity?

[Guest guest]

Hello Again:

I have made a warming salve that contains a rather high percentage of

ginger (13%), and 1% each of lemon and lime. I have been looking for

recommendations on the total amount of each of these essential oils to

be used in a product and found 1% for the citruses due to

phototoxicity concerns. How do I find out if this is a total

percentage for the individual ingredient (in which case you could have

one percent of ten citruses, theoretically, without 'breaking the

law'), or if I should cut each EO in half so the total stays at or

below 1%?

As for the ginger, which is a crucial part of the warming action, the

only recommended percentage I could find is 8% of the mix. I'm way

above that, so I'm hoping I'm just looking in the wrong places .

I've looked in the archives/files for basic info, but if anyone can

point me to a definitive resource I would be most glad. I'm usually a

better sleuth than this but not having any luck.

Thanks, Cecile

Pomegranate, Lotus and Plum

PS: my 12-year-old son loves the salve on his size 13 feet!

[Guest guest]

cecile.johns wrote:

> Hello Again:

>

> I have made a warming salve that contains a rather high percentage of

> ginger (13%), and 1% each of lemon and lime. I have been looking for

> recommendations on the total amount of each of these essential oils to

> be used in a product and found 1% for the citruses due to

> phototoxicity concerns.

Hi Cecile:

Are you sure you want to use the lemon and lime? I'm not positive

they're part of a " warming " blend, and since they're problematic, you

might want to just eliminate them. In a cream, or " salve " as you want to

make, the amounts are even much lower, according to Watt's Plant

Aromatics. Since it's a manual, copyright is more stringent, and I don't

think I can quote the amount without violating the copyright.

> How do I find out if this is a total

> percentage for the individual ingredient (in which case you could have

> one percent of ten citruses, theoretically, without 'breaking the

> law'), or if I should cut each EO in half so the total stays at or

> below 1%?

>

I'd regard it as cumulative.

> As for the ginger, which is a crucial part of the warming action, the

> only recommended percentage I could find is 8% of the mix. I'm way

> above that, so I'm hoping I'm just looking in the wrong places .

> I've looked in the archives/files for basic info, but if anyone can

> point me to a definitive resource I would be most glad. I'm usually a

> better sleuth than this but not having any luck.

>

It also depends if you're using the EO of the aged, dried ginger vs. the

new fresh ginger EO that's on the market. I'd think the fresh one has

more potential for irritation. Again, can't quote Watt, but the amount

is much lower than 8%. Maybe if reads this, he can chime in.

> Thanks, Cecile

> Pomegranate, Lotus and Plum

>

> PS: my 12-year-old son loves the salve on his size 13 feet!

If your son's feet stay covered by socks, there may not be a

phototoxicity problem with the citruses, but the ginger could still

cause irritation. HTH.

--

Sincerely, Anya

Anya's Garden http://AnyasGarden.com - perfumes, aromatics, classes,

consultation

Natural Perfumers Guild http://NaturalPerfumersGuild.com

1400 member Natural Perfumery group -

/

[Guest guest]

Hi Anya:

Thanks for your reply and expertise here, even if the answers weren't

the ones I wanted! ( *sigh*)

> Hi Cecile:

>

> Are you sure you want to use the lemon and lime? I'm not positive

> they're part of a " warming " blend, and since they're problematic, you

> might want to just eliminate them.

Well, what I was aiming for was something like the lemon-ginger-honey

tea I drink when I have a cold. The citrus element isn't meant to be

warming so much as refreshing, restorative. But if the amount when

applied topically is even lower...eesh. Not good.

>> It also depends if you're using the EO of the aged, dried ginger

vs. the

> new fresh ginger EO that's on the market. I'd think the fresh one has

> more potential for irritation. Again, can't quote Watt, but the amount

> is much lower than 8%. Maybe if reads this, he can chime in.

(snip)

> If your son's feet stay covered by socks, there may not be a

> phototoxicity problem with the citruses, but the ginger could still

> cause irritation. HTH.

>

I believe the ginger is fresh, but I'll contact the company/website

for sure. As for the boy's feet, so far, so good - but I'm glad I've

been warned. He's growing so fast that he gets little aches and pains

in the knees and has a tendency to walk on the sides of his feet

anyway, so he's been a very willing test subject. I hope I can find

something that works and is safe.

I understand not being able to quote - I'll have to invest in more

books so I can do my own research - but in the meantime I really

appreciate your taking the time to answer my question, Anya - like you

aren't busy enough, right?

Happy new year.

Cecile

> --

> Sincerely, Anya

> Anya's Garden http://AnyasGarden.com - perfumes, aromatics,

classes, consultation

> Natural Perfumers Guild http://NaturalPerfumersGuild.com

> 1400 member Natural Perfumery group -

/

>