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Uses for Glycerine & Tea Tree Oil

Last April I wrote about using glycerine and tea tree oil to help clear up my contact dermatitis. I am a fan of multi-use products, so I wanted to see what other ailments this glycerine and tea tree oil could remedy. Since I first tried this, I have been trying out this mixture to help with other skin irritations.

"many uses for glycerine and tea tree oil" text over an image of a bottle of vegetable glycerine, organic tea tree oil, and a mixture of glycerine and tea tree oil

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My glycerine and tea tree oil recipe

I decided to mix up a 1 fluid ounce batch of glycerin and tea tree oil so it would last me a while. This recipe can be scaled to make any size batch. Also, the ratio of glycerine to tea tree oil can be adjusted.

I prefer to use a ratio of 1 teaspoon glycerine to 2-3 drops tea tree oil for myself. This comes out to about 2-3% dilution. If I was using this on children I would use 1 teaspoon glycerine to 1 drop tea tree oil for a 1% dilution. I reference Mommypotamus’s essential oil dilution guidelines to decide how many drop of essentail oil to use in my recipes. Note that glycerine is water based and therefore NOT the same as a carrier oil. However, from my experience, the thickness of the glycerine or some other property of glycerine helps to keep the essential oil distributed throughout.

tea tree oil & glycerine

Ingredients

Recipe

I poured 1 ounce of vegetable glycerine into a clear glass jar, added 15 drops of organic tea tree oil, and stirred with a toothpick. That’s it!

To apply, I dip a clean fingertip in the mixture and apply the area of my skin that I am trying to treat. When I’m not using the solution, I secure the cover on the jar and store out of direct sunlight.

How I use glycerine and tea tree oil

For my skin, the combination of glycerine with a small amount of tea tree oil is great for healing and soothing a wide variety of ailments and irritations. Here are my 5 favorite ways to use glycerine and tea tree oil.

  1. To soothe skin and clear up rashes caused by eczema or contact dermatitis.
  2. To soothe dry, cracked skin around my nose due to allergies, colds, and the flu.
  3. To stop itching of bug bites.
  4. To ease itching and clean small cuts and scrapes. (When you’re like me and your skin is sensitive to everything, something as minor as a paper cut will swell and itch.)
  5. To soothe general dry skin. My cheeks and elbows get very dry in the winter, and applying a little glycerine and tea tree oil mixture once a week or so helps to smooth and hydrate my skin.

Just last week I had the opportunity to try this on eczema again. The cold, dry air and wind triggered an eczema outbreak in my face again. This time I was prepared with my tea tree oil and glycerine. I applied it the day the outbreak occurred, before it has a chance to get really bad. Then I applied 2-4 times daily for the next 5-6 days. After that, my skin was completely clear again. I love this remedy- for me it works better than anything else, and so quickly!

glycerine-tea tree oil, decongestant salve, and coconut oil moisturizer
glycerine-tea tree oil, decongestant salve, and coconut oil moisturizer

Where I purchase ingredients

I purchase my glycerine and tea tree oil on Amazon.  I have had good luck with Now Organic Essential Oils Tea Tree Oil, which for me is most easily available on Amazon. Now Essential Oils are also available at other online shops and in some local natural food stores.  I choose to use organic oil to reduce the risk of allergens contaminating the oil and causing me a reaction.

Glycerine is available at most pharmacies, natural food stores, or stores with a pharmacy (drug store, grocery store).  It is typically behind the counter of the pharmacy, but can be purchased without ID or a prescription.  I am not sure why it is hidden back there,  but that’s where I recommend looking if you don’t want to order online.  I chose to purchase on Amazon because I wanted to ensure that my glycerine was from vegetable sources.  Not all glycerine is vegetarian.  So if that matters to you, ensure you purchase vegetable glycerine.

Cost

If I didn’t already have the ingredients in hand, this would have cost about $14 to get started (but would leave ingredients left over for other recipes).

The cost to mix up this remedy depends on how much you need, how large an affected area being treated.  A 1 fluid ounce batch (6 teaspoons glycerine plus 15 drops tea tree oil) only cost me about $1.51 and looks like it’ll last me a year or more of regular use.

[($5.20/4oz) x(1 oz)=$1.30 for the glycerine, ($8.25/1 oz)x(1 oz/600 drops)x(15 drops)=$0.21 for the tea tree oil]

Have you found other uses for glycerine and tea tree oil? Please share in the comments below!

How I spiced up leftovers: mixed grain veggie casserole to “fried rice”

I am always looking for recipes to make quick, healthy, and tasty dinners.  Often I make big batches and eat the same meal throughout the week, so I really only have to “cook” a couple times a week.  Usually I am ok eating the same thing day after day, but sometimes I get bored.  Last time I made my mixed grain and veggie casserole, I ate it once and just wasn’t in the mood for it again.  Maybe I was just craving unhealthy food, but I decided to turn my leftovers into fried rice!  It was delicious – better than the casserole, which I really enjoy on its own – and only took about 15 minutes.

photo of fried rice made from mixed grain veggie casserole

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The Recipe – Mixed Grain and Veggie Casserole, “Fried Rice” Style

This recipe has (leftover) mixed grain and veggie casserole as an ingredient.  Note:  it actually contains no rice, unless I opt to use rice in my casserole instead of the barley or bulgar.  Head over to this post to get the casserole recipe!  Depending on if I am chopping fresh veggies or using frozen, this casserole takes me 20-40 minutes to prep, and bakes for an hour.  If I wanted to make the casserole to make the “fried rice”, I would allow about 2 hours (30 minute casserole prep, 1 hour bake, 15 minutes cool, and 15 minutes to mix up the “fried rice”).

mixed grain and veggie casserole
this recipe uses prepared mixed grain veggie casserole as a base

This “fried rice” recipe makes 2 servings, but can easily be scaled to re-purpose more or less of the leftover casserole.

When I make this starting with the casserole leftovers in the fridge, it takes only about 15 minutes to whip up dinner!  

Ingredients

  • about 1/5 of the mixed grain and veggie casserole, prepared.
  • 1-2 Tablespoons oil (I used olive, but canola, vegetable, avocado, etc. would work)
  • 2 eggs (omit for a vegan version)
  • 1-2 Tablespoons soy sauce (I use light soy sauce, or dilute regular soy sauce in a 1:1 ratio with water, otherwise it’s too salty for me)
  • garlic salt or other spices, to taste (I used just a pinch)
ingredients used to make grain and veggie fried "rice"

Instructions

  1. Pour oil into a medium skillet (I love my Farberware skillets!).  Heat over medium heat.  Crack the eggs into the pan and scramble.  Cook until eggs reach the desired consistency.
  2. Pour the leftover mixed grain and veggie casserole into the pan with the eggs.  To the fry pan, add spices, if using, and about 1 Tablespoon soy sauce or diluted soy sauce mixture. 
  3. Stir over medium heat until ingredients are heated through.  Add more soy sauce and spices to taste.
  4. Transfer to 2 plates or bowls, and enjoy! 
mixed grain veggie fried rice

Recipe Cost per Serving

  • Mixed grain and veggie casserole: $0.56/serving.  The full ingredient breakdown is on that recipe page.
  • 2 Tbsp Olive oil: $9.99 for 1.5 Liters. 15 mL= 1 Tbsp. $9.99x(30mL/1500mL)=$0.20 per batch, $0.10 per serving
  • 2 Eggs: $1.99/dozen x 2 = $0.332 per batch, $0.166 per serving
  • 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce: $5.49 for 64 oz.  1 Tbsp=0.5 oz. $5.49x(0.5oz/64 oz)=$0.043 per batch, $0.021 per serving
  • Garlic Salt: $0.99 for 8 oz (227 gram, 43.5 tsp). $0.99x(0.125tsp/43.5tsp)=$0.003 per batch, $0.001 per serving

Total cost per serving: $0.85

While the added ingredients increase the cost of this meal, it’s still a nutritious and delicious dish for less than $1 per serving!  

I think the idea of re-purposing leftovers to make a slightly different meal is a fantastic idea!  Do you have favorite recipes for re-purposing leftovers?  Please share with us in the comments below!