Hand sanitizer is really easy to do. Throw a little CBD into the mix, and you’ve got a DIY hand sanitizer with its own unique benefits. In this article, you’ll be informed on how to make CBD hand sanitizer, how hand sanitizer helps keep you protected, how CBD might be of benefit, and why you might want to make your own.
Potential Benefits of Hand Sanitizer with CBD
In order to protect yourself and others, the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), recommends washing your hands often for at least 20 seconds, especially if you’ve been in a public place or after sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose.
If soap and water aren’t accessible, the CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol (ethanol or isopropyl) ensuring to cover all surfaces of the hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
Alcohol is the main ingredient in hand sanitizers, which is largely what’s responsible for killing any potential bacteria you come in contact with. According to a 2014 review alcohol works to kill bacteria and pathogens that can cause disease by breaking cells down into pieces, changing the cell’s metabolism, or breaking apart cell proteins.
However, while the alcohol found in hand sanitizer is key to killing germs, it’s also extremely drying. Prolonged exposure to dry hands can wreak havoc on one’s skin. Meanwhile, increased handwashing frequency and dry, cracked hands can become a serious problem.
CBD and Antibacterial Properties
CBD and other major cannabinoids contain proven antibacterial properties. Scientists are even looking towards CBD to help fight super bugs for resistant infections.
Research regarding the efficacy of CBD as a powerful antibiotic was recently presented at the American Society for Microbiology’s (ASM) annual meeting. Scientists found that not only does CBD contain “a very similar potency to that of antibiotics” but that CBD also kills bacteria twice as fast as some of the most common antibiotics, such as vancomycin and daptomycin.
CBD demonstrated the ability to disrupt the bacteria’s biofilm, a thin layer around bacteria that makes it harder for antibiotics to penetrate and kill the bacteria. According to researchers, the disruption of the biofilm is important because it’s a part of the entire infection process, aiding the bacteria “to attach and survive” to whatever surface or host it comes in contact with.
Skin Health Support
What about a hand sanitizer that promotes the health of the skin? CBD may also help hands from drying out from too much washing and increased hand sanitizer use, all while improving the health of the delicate skin on your hands at the same time.
In case you weren’t aware, the skin contains its very own endocannabinoid system (ECS). It’s said that the major function of the skin’s ECS is the regulation of the growth, maturation, survival, and death of skin cells.
CB1 and CB2 receptors are found in various sorts of skin cells. CB2 receptors are found in large concentrations in the skin’s sebaceous glands, small glands responsible for oil production. The body’s naturally occurring endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), are also found in abundance in human skin cells.
Seeing that human skin is brimming with cannabinoid receptors and naturally occurring endocannabinoids and CBD is known to support ECS function7, it makes sense that when applied topically CBD would relieve dry skin.
See how CBD might be beneficial when added to a hand sanitizer whose primary ingredient is alcohol, a substance known for its drying effect on the skin?
It makes sense that you might want to learn how to make CBD hand sanitizer. The good news is, making your own CBD hand sanitizer is extremely easy.
So, seeing as we’re all using hand sanitizer regularly, why not make the traditional hand sanitizer even better?
How to Make CBD Hand Sanitizer
Ingredients:
- 1 cup 99% isopropyl alcohol
- 3 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide
- 1 teaspoon glycerin or vitamin E oil
- 3 tablespoons distilled water
- 10 drops tea tree essential oil
- 8-10 drops essential oil of your choice (or essential oil blend)
- 5ml CBD oil tincture of your choice (Recommended – Doc Patels 1500 mg CBD Oil Tincture)
Tools You’ll Need
- Large mason jar or bowl for mixing
- Spray bottle, travel bottle or empty hand sanitizer container
Directions
- Using a large mason jar or bowl, combine alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and glycerin.
- Add tea tree essential oil, essential oil of your choice and CBD oil tincture. Shake or mix well.
- Add water and shake or mix well.
- Pour mixture into your empty container, whether using a spray bottle, travel bottle or empty hand sanitizer container. Preferably you’ll want this container to be airtight.
While we’re not suggesting you ditch conventional medicine and use CBD as a self-treatment for infections, preliminary research has found that it’s a powerful antibacterial, which we believe makes the perfect addition to a product designed to kill bacteria.
Not only is learning how to make CBD hand sanitizer easy, but it contains its very own list of potential benefits. It’s also a fun DIY project, with a simple list of ingredients you’ve probably got at home. Remember, this article is not written as medical advice.