[Fleecewife]

MGM - in a way I'm glad I'm not alone in the itchy stakes, although I'm sorry you have to suffer too.  It's the skin damage from scratching I'm trying to avoid, as well as the annoyance of the itch too.

Devonlady, I'll try that in the summer when I have fresh flowers and leaves.  I've also ordered some calendula oil so I'll have a go with that.

If I don't get any joy from my experiments with the things I'm going to try this week when the ingredients I've ordered arrive, then I'll work my way through all your other suggestions.

Thank you all so much.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I always use mint teat for irritating udders, it helps keep them moist and stops them cracking.

[Fleecewife]

WBF that stuff makes my eyes water it's so strong.  The other bag balms work the same way.

[Lesley Silvester]

FW, let us know if you find something that works so I can try it.

[Fleecewife]

Will do 

[Fleecewife]

Hi Sally and Louise.  I've looked up beeswax with Royal Jelly.  It's Burt's not Fred's  an American co.  Unfortunately for a 7g mini pot, that's seven grams, sold as eye cream, it's £15 - £17.50.  There is hand cream which looks good, but it doesn't have Royal Jelly in.  I think I'd better concentrate on the homemade stuff til my lottery number comes up (I don't do the lottery  )

[Anke]

I have found Aveeno hand cream reduces my exzema (now I rarely have problems spelling, but cannot do that word!) quite well.

[Fleecewife]

I've started experimenting as the supplies come in.  The little mixing pots haven't arrived yet (didn't have anything that would do)
My first experiment was a wash out - udder balm with a couple of drips of a variety of essential oils: lavender, rosemary, lemon and tea tree.  I must have overdone the amounts because it smelt awful    I had mixed it in a polystyrene disposable cup, which promptly melted from the solvent used to extract the essential oil.  So much for my science degree 

I'm waiting for the pots now, should come tomorrow before I try again.  Think I'll try sea buckthorn and cedar oils as a general hand cream, in E45.

I'm very impressed with the sea buckthorn cream.  I bought a 60g pot from www.summerbee.co.uk  and have used it on my hands and wrists every time I wash my hands.  It genuinely seems to have helped with the itch.  I think I'll try adding some of the essential oil to udder balm for Mr F as a barrier cream. Udder balm has cetrimide in, which I wouldn't put on my face, but it's ideal for working hands.

I put the sea buckthorn on my face last night, as it's meant to be good for sun damaged skin, and I have a couple of minor solar keratoses on my face.  I didn't have an adverse reaction so will continue to use it for that too.  I can see me having to send off for a larger tub of that.
I think I can recommend it, MGM.

Another little experiment was to put a drip of various oils, one each, on pieces of orange peel, then putting them on the stone mantle piece, which gets quite hot when the fire's lit.  I left just the rose geranium oil overnight as I really like that, and this morning the smell of dog was quite gone, and replaced with a really gorgeous aroma, even though the fire wasn't lit.  I'm almost thinking of getting an essential oil burner.

This is quite fun 

[Lesley Silvester]

Something to get rid of dog smells would be good. Even I am becoming aware of it now. Three big dogs are inclined to be a bit pongy and their bedding can only be washed occasionally.

[SallyintNorth]

Brilliant stuff !  Please keep telling us all about it.

[Fleecewife]

Something to get rid of dog smells would be good. Even I am becoming aware of it now. Three big dogs are inclined to be a bit pongy and their bedding can only be washed occasionally.

I've sent off for an essential oil burner (only £3 - 5) and I'll see which one works best against the doggie smells.  The shampoo we use on them lasts a couple of days til they find something else disgusting to roll in, and have to have another shower - but you can't keep showering dogs, not good for their skin.  So masking the pong it has to be.


Several of the essential oils I have bought are for moth deterrents in the cupboards.  We'll see how those perform.

[Fleecewife]

Brilliant stuff !  Please keep telling us all about it.

I'll post pics of any rashes I get as well 

[Lesley Silvester]

Something to get rid of dog smells would be good. Even I am becoming aware of it now. Three big dogs are inclined to be a bit pongy and their bedding can only be washed occasionally.

I've sent off for an essential oil burner (only £3 - 5) and I'll see which one works best against the doggie smells.  The shampoo we use on them lasts a couple of days til they find something else disgusting to roll in, and have to have another shower - but you can't keep showering dogs, not good for their skin.  So masking the pong it has to be.

My OH moans when I light my oil burner as he says it stinks. As I use the sitting room and he uses the dining room where the dogs are, I suspect it wouldn't be allowed.

[HappyHippy]

Never heard of sea buckthorn. Do you think it might help my sweet-itchy pony?

I mixed up an oil for mine with tea tree, eucalyptus and lemon essential oils (would have preferred citronella, but I had lemon so that's what went in  ) and it worked a treat 
Apparently neem oil is good for sweet itch too, so once I get the next 3 weeks out of the way I plan on doing some more experimenting - do you want to volunteer a tester horse? 

Juliette, I'm due to make more of my magic oinkment soon  I'll post you a little sample pot to try 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I keep my dogs outside, cause I suffer with my sinus's. I have about 4 oil burners, no idea why but I like to collect them. Here's a handy tip, you can burn fennel oil or thyme oil when you have a cold and it relieves your sinus's , so always worth having burners for winter. I use lavendar in the burner and it leaves the house smelling very nice. You could also try geranium, rosewood and lemon or orange essential oils from..... Www.calmer-solutions.com