We began using coconut oil to address recurring MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which basically means a really nasty bacteria that survives most antibiotics). By the time Scholar was a year old, he had had 5 infections resulting in strong antibiotics and 2 hospitalizations for procedures to remove the infection. We visited several specialists to try to find out why he was getting these infections and how to prevent them. We followed their advice even though their reason for him getting the infections were "some people just have bad luck". They did not offer us much useful advice and what they did suggest was not effective. I believe they were at as great a loss to the answers to our questions as we were.
Around that time, I read about coconut oil. From what I read, I believed that there was a good chance that coconut oil could help us beat the MRSA. At about the same time, our elders from our church prayed over Scholar. I do not know if it was the prayer or the coconut oil, but I do know that we have been almost a year infection-free. In either case, I attribute this amazing result to God. He answers prayer and He created the coconuts and led me to learn about the ability of coconut oil to fight bacteria.
We continue to use coconut oil on both boys' skin on a daily basis. We have no need of any other moisturizers and they have the softest, most beautiful skin.
The problem with coconut oil is that it melts when it gets slightly above room temperature. At 76 degrees Fahrenheit, coconut oil is, well, an oil. It becomes completely liquid. During the winter, the coconut oil is hard. In fact, it is so hard that I have had to add other oils to make it easier to use. I mix olive oil and vitamin E oil (sometimes jojoba and other oils) into the coconut oil to keep it softer and also for the added benefits of the other oils.
Now that summer is approaching, our oil mixture is softening and will soon be a liquid. It can still be used this way, but I know that it will not last long. With two toddlers, Tornados at that, the oil will be spilled quickly and frequently. I, for one, do not care to clean up an oily mess from the carpet or hardwood floors.
To keep the oil from becoming liquid, I have mixed it with cocoa butter and shea butter. The result is a wonderfully smooth, fragrant lotion. I have been using the lotion on myself for a few weeks, too. I love how it makes our skin feel and I love even more that it does not contain harmful chemicals as do many commercially made skin lotions.
The following is how to make our Coco-Shea Lotion.
Place top pot, with oil and butters, on bottom pot when water is simmering. |
This was after only 1 minute over the heat. It has already begun to melt. |
After a few minutes of mixing, the oil mixture should begin to look like whipped cream. |
Every few minutes, stop the mixer and scrape the sides to make sure that all of the mixture is being whipped. |
Update 7/24/2013: I made this lotion again (yes, the batch I made last time lasted almost 2 months!). This time, I changed the ratio of cocoa butter, shea butter and coconut oil. I used 1 part cocoa butter, 1 part shea butter and 2 parts coconut oil.
I wanted more coconut oil because Scholar's skin has been acting up. He has gotten a few pimples, which have led to MRSA infections in the past. I also added a teaspoon of tea tree oil (to 3 cups of melted shea, cocoa and coconut). Tea tree oil is known to be anti-viral and anti-bacterial.
I did not add olive oil because of the warmer summer temps. I had added more coconut oil and in the heat it will not harden. The new mixture came out very soft and smooth.
Do you have your own recipes for lotions? Feel free to share in the comments!