Bash said:
I'm thinkin of creating my own topical by the use of a "mystic" herb that claims to be a cure for a number of ailments. I've acquired it in powder form and would like to mix up a topical from it. Problem is that I need a carrier liquid that is non harmful to the skin and hair (even beneficial would be better) and need it to be more viscous than water.
Any advice (not expecting much though) would be appreciated.
Oh..and the name of the herb is a secret as requested by its supplier, sorry guys. plz don't hate but I got to respect his wishes. Thx.
I'm a little confused on what would be the benefit of mixing an herb with a carrier oil and expecting it to work "as is".
Most herbs have to go through extraction first in order to "release" their phytochemicals, etc. (Don't be afraid of this, it's EASY to do!)
I would suggest asking your friend what he thinks about this generally accepted way of getting the good stuff out of the herb.
Once the extraction is done, then there are MANY carrier oils, liquids, etc., that you can use.
I would do a search on the internet for cosmetic carrier articles, etc.
I'll try and find a site for you, but you first have to find out if extraction is necessary.
Here's a basic description of herbal extractions, etc.:
http://www.alpharubicon.com/med/herbalhaumana.htm
Here's another basic description:
http://www.rain-tree.com/prepmethod.htm
Here's a site with a more "professional" presentation, etc.:
http://www.scienceboard.net/community/p ... es.28.html
Finally, this is a good site for a discussion of cosmetics and how they can be made:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/w0076e/w0076e21.htm
Btw, just because a herb is in powdered form doesn't mean it's ready to use topically as is. The good stuff can be extracted quicker and you could put the powder in a capsule for internal use, or mix with water and swallow. These are the reasons alot of people like their raw herbs in powder form. It DOESN"T mean you can just put the stuff on your head without first going through the extraction process.
