Make Your Own Botanical Infused Shea Body Butter
As I delve further into the field of natural medicine and natural body care I become more and more aware of how toxic many of our cosmetics are. Even natural brands carry with them a variety of potentially harmful ingredients made to stabilize pH, act as preservatives or maintain the consistency we have come to expect from creams made of unnatural chemical ingredients. Our skin acts as a sponge, what we put on us inevitably ends up in us, so I prefer to keep my skincare products as edible as possible. The more I shop for body care products the more it becomes clear that the best way to ensure there are pure, natural ingredients in your body care products without breaking the bank is to make them yourself.
I often make this whipped shea body butter recipe as part of my own personal skin care routine and as a gift for family and friends. It’s easy to make, very cost effective and, the best part is, it contains only natural ingredients. You can even eat it, if you were so inclined.
Whipped Shea Body Butter:
Ingredients:
1 cup refined shea butter (cocoa butter also works here)
½ cup coconut oil
½ cup light carrier oil such as olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil or a Healing Botanical Oil Infusion (more on that later).
Optional: 10-15 drops of your favourite essential oil for fragrance (vanilla, lavender, orange, mint, etc.).
Also: you can add other healing ingredients such as 1 tbs of neem oil, rose oil or sea buckthorne oil. You can even add manuka honey or aloe. This whipped shea body butter recipe is beautiful in its simplicity, creating an amazing, nutritive base that you can play around with.
Directions:
Melt your oils and butters (coconut oil, shea butter and carrier oil) down in a double boiler. I use a glass bowl or measuring cup in a pot full of water. Add ingredients to the glass bowl, and then place the bowl in a large pot filled 1/3 of the way with water. Turn the stove on medium high and stir the oils frequently.
When the oils have melted, forming a uniform consistency, remove them from heat. Add in your other ingredients, if you wish. Stir, allow the mixture to cool to room temperature and then place it in the fridge for one hour. After the hour, your mixture should have formed a solid, but uniform mass. Place it in a mixer and beat for 10 minutes or until you form a creamy, frothy butter that looks like whipped cream. Distribute the mixture into recycled containers or glass jars, and then refrigerate them for another hour.
The body butter feels like rubbing silky whipped cream onto skin. It soaks in wonderfully and provides skin with non-greasy moisture that lasts all day.
Healing Botanical Oil Infusion:
Ingredients:
1 mason jar
1 large amount of dried herbs (enough to fill the jar) such as calendula or chamomile. Both of these herbs contain skin-healing properties, which help to decrease itching, dryness and inflammation. Calendula is also great for healing minor burns and skin infections.
1 large amount of carrier oil (enough to fill the jar) such as olive oil, grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, jojoba oil, etc.
1 slow cooker
1 cheese cloth
Directions:
Add the dried herbs to the mason jar. Next, fill the jar with oil, covering the herbs, all the way to the top. Fill the slow cooker 1/3 of the way with water and turn on to high. Put the herb and oil-filled mason jar into water, leaving the lid off. Leave the lid off the slow cooker and allow it to cook for 6-8 hours. The heat from the slow cooker heats the oil, allowing it to draw the fat-soluble medicinal properties from the dried herbs.
After 6-8 hours you should notice that the oil has a different colour, smell and consistency, indicating that it has absorbed the healing properties of the herbs. Strain out the herbs using the cheese cloth.
You can add 1/2 cup of this healing oil to your whipped body butter recipe, creating an all-natural moisturizer with skin soothing medicinal properties.
About the Author
Tapping Or EFT: What It Is And How It Can Help You Emotionally
Tapping, also known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), is a therapeutic tool that seeks to release emotional blocks through the stimulation of energy points on the body. This technique combines elements of psychology and acupressure to address stress, anxiety, pain, and other difficult emotions. In this article, we explore what tapping is, how it works, and how it can help you regain your emotional well-being.
Table of Contents
- What Is Tapping And How Does It Work On Your Emotions?
- How Does Tapping Work On The Body And Mind?
- Benefits Of Tapping: What This Tool Is Good For
- How To Practice A Tapping Round Step By Step
- What Does Science Say About Tapping?
- What Is The Origin Of Tapping And Who Developed It?
- How To Begin Incorporating Tapping Into Your Daily Life
What Is Tapping And How Does It Work On Your Emotions?
Tapping is an emotional self-regulation technique that consists of gently tapping with the fingers on certain points of the body linked to the meridians of traditional Chinese medicine. While stimulating these points, phrases are spoken aloud that acknowledge the emotional issue being addressed. This combination allows the release of energetic blocks associated with memories, thoughts, or sensations that cause distress.
On an emotional level, tapping helps to process difficult experiences without repressing them or becoming trapped in them. By validating what we feel while simultaneously activating specific points on the body, a sense of relief and inner safety is created. That’s why it is considered an effective tool for calming states of anxiety, stress, fear, guilt, or sadness.
How Does Tapping Work On The Body And Mind?
From a physiological perspective, tapping reduces the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response to stress. By stimulating certain acupuncture points, calming signals are sent to the brain, which can lower cortisol levels and promote a state of relaxation. This allows the body to feel safer, even when facing difficult emotions or memories.
On a mental level, tapping supports the reorganization of beliefs associated with negative emotions. By repeating conscious phrases during the process, patterns of thought that often operate automatically are reprogrammed. The result is a deeper connection with what we feel, accompanied by an internal sense of relief, stability, and perspective.
Benefits Of Tapping: What This Tool Is Good For
Tapping is a versatile technique that can be used to relieve emotional, physical, and energetic discomfort. By focusing on the connection between body and emotion, it allows the release of internal blocks and the restoration of balance.
- Stress reduction: Helps calm the nervous system and relieve accumulated tension. It’s useful during times of emotional or mental overload.
- Anxiety management: Allows the identification of thoughts that fuel anxiety and the release of the associated emotional burden. Improves the sense of internal control.
- Fear processing: Facilitates facing fears and phobias with greater stability. Reduces automatic reactions to stimuli that previously triggered alarm.
- Releasing repressed emotions: Offers a safe space to recognize and express what we feel. Encourages emotional flow without judgment.
- Improving insomnia: By reducing anxiety and mental noise, it supports deeper rest. It can also be used before bed as a relaxing routine.
- Support in physical pain: Relieves bodily tension related to unexpressed emotions. Complements physical treatments from a holistic perspective.
- Support during personal processes: It’s helpful during times of change, grief, or personal growth. Aids in integrating emotions and finding inner clarity.
How To Practice A Tapping Round Step By Step
Practicing a round of tapping is simple and does not require external tools. All you need is a quiet space, your hands, and the willingness to connect with what you’re feeling. Below we share the essential steps to perform a tapping round:
- Identify and name what you’re feeling: The first step is to connect with a specific emotion, recurring thought, or physical discomfort you want to address. The more specific the identification, the more effective the practice.
- Formulate a setup phrase: This phrase should include the problem you’re feeling and a statement of acceptance. An example could be: “Even though I feel afraid of change, I deeply and completely accept myself.” Repeat this phrase while stimulating the first point.
- Stimulate the karate point: With the fingers of one hand, gently tap the outer edge of the other hand (known as the karate point). While doing this, repeat the setup phrase out loud or mentally about three times.
- Tap through the body points: Then proceed with the traditional tapping sequence: eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, chin, collarbone, and under the arm. At each point, apply light taps while naming what you’re feeling or repeating phrases related to the issue being worked on.
- Observe and close: At the end of the round, take a deep breath and assess whether the intensity of the emotion has changed. You can repeat the process if needed or close with a positive phrase that affirms the new emotional state, such as: “Now I feel calmer and more at peace.”
What Does Science Say About Tapping?
In recent years, tapping has attracted the interest of the scientific community, especially in the fields of clinical psychology and mind-body medicine. Various studies have indicated that the practice of EFT can significantly reduce cortisol levels, the stress hormone, and improve symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and emotional trauma.
Although it is still considered a complementary therapy, institutions such as the APA (American Psychological Association) have begun to recognize its therapeutic potential, particularly when it is integrated with other approaches. Research continues to expand, but early results suggest that tapping is not only safe, but also effective in promoting emotional well-being and reducing nervous system activation.
What Is The Origin Of Tapping And Who Developed It?
Tapping was developed in the 1990s by Gary Craig, an American engineer with training in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). Craig was inspired by the work of psychologist Roger Callahan, who had created a technique called TFT (Thought Field Therapy) that combined acupressure and verbal therapy. By simplifying that method, Craig designed what we now know as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique).
The foundation of tapping is found in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in the stimulation of the body’s energy meridians. Craig proposed that by applying gentle tapping on specific points while working on a concrete emotion, it is possible to unblock stagnant energy and restore internal balance.
Since its creation, tapping has spread widely as an emotional self-regulation technique that is accessible, practical, and adaptable to different contexts. Its popularity grew due to its ease of use and the testimonials of people who report significant relief with just a few minutes of daily practice.
How To Begin Incorporating Tapping Into Your Daily Life
Including tapping in your daily routine can be as simple as taking a few minutes a day to connect with yourself. Upon waking, a brief tapping round can help you set a clear intention and release any tension that arises with the first thoughts of the day. It’s also a useful tool for recognizing how you feel before starting your activities.
During the day, you can turn to tapping in specific moments of discomfort or emotional blockage. If you’re going through a stressful situation, a short pause to apply the technique can help release emotional charge and return to center. Emotions don’t need to be intense—even subtle states like worry or irritation can be addressed effectively.
At night, tapping can help you close the day with greater calm. It’s a good time to review how you felt, give thanks for what you experienced, and let go of what you don’t need to carry into rest. The more natural this space of emotional connection becomes, the easier it will be to return to it whenever you need it.
