Red Bottlebrush Hydrosol – Grown and distilled by me in Maui

Photo by Bobbi Misiti

Instructions

The Red Bottlebrush bush is in the same family as Eucalyptus and Tea Tree (Myrtle family or Myrtaceae), this species smells very close to eucalyptus but it is a Tea tree.

It is helpful for respiratory systems and clearing mucus from the lungs.  As with all species in the Myrtle family;  it has an affinity for the respiratory system, is highly anti-microbial and anti-viral, stimulating and cleansing.

Also like tea tree, red bottlebrush hydrsosol is also useful for helping to clear skin infections.

The exact species is Melaleuca, linearis syn. linearifolia syn. Callistemon, linearis.

I distill the leaves and some of the red flowers to make the hydrosol, it has a very nice eucalyptus like scent. I use it in ultrasonic diffusers — without any essential oils, just put in the hydrosol like you would water.

I also like to use it to spray it on my body just prior to moisturizing.

2 oz bottle w/ spray cap $15.00
4 oz bottle with a screw cap $25.00

Contact Bobbi 717/443-1119 to order. 

 

Stella <3, my stainless steel little still 🙂

About hydrosols

About Hydrosols: They are under appreciated currently! They have so much to offer.

The word “hydrosol” is derived from the Greek hydro, meaning water, and the Latin sol, meaning solution. When plants are distilled, an essential oil and a hydrosol are produced. 

Hydrosols, are the water product of distillation. They carry the hydrophilic (water-soluble) components of the plant, as well as microscopic droplets of essential oils in suspension. Hydrosols have 1% or less of essential oils in them.

• Are best used to help add moisture to your skin care routine by spritzing on your face and body prior to moisturizing.
• Are anti-inflammatory and also cooling, useful with aloe vera gel to cool pitta /inflamed conditions e.g. too much heat in the body causing outward representation on the skin.
• Are effective wound healing agents. 
• Can be used as effective toners.
• Are safe for internal use (try a tsp or 2 in a glass of water for a refreshing drink).
• Can be supportive to cooling or relaxing of the body/nervous system/mind (think aromatic spritzers). A true hydrosol is NOT water with essential oils in it, most spritzers are. The best spritzers are true hydrosols.

How to use hydrosols? 

Most common:

#1 mist face and body prior to oil or moisturizer. This helps your oil to seal the moisture into your skin.

• Need to uplift your mood? Use grapefruit hydrosol.
• Want to brighten your skin or balance your hormones? Use rose geranium hydrosol.
• Working on a big project, school, or learning and remembering something? use rosemary hydrosol.
• Feeling a little congested? Try the red bottlebrush (eucalyptus) hydrosol.
• Have a little cut or scrape? Use yarrow hydrosol

Use as a toner, pour a little on an organic cotton pad or ball. Or blend 2 different hydrosols and add a little aloe vera or witch hazel hydrosol and make a toner. I offer these here.

In your hair! Mist your hair and fluff it with your fingers, hydrosols help to keep your hair clean and fresh. Rosemary is particularly good for your hair, helping it to grow in thicker. Rose Geranium or Grapefruit hydrosols are nice because they are a little astringent and will help to remove oil or dirt from your hair.

Add 1 tsp to a cup of water and enjoy.

Air spritzer – works great in the bathroom

I gargle with hydrosols! My favorite to gargle with is rose geranium.

Eye Pads – soak a cotton pad in hydrosol and lay one on each eye — this is nice when the hydrosol is chilled.

Feeling a little hot flash? Spritz your face with a hydrosol.

Medicinal:

Eye infections, of any type that I’ve experienced have been nipped in the bud many times by me spraying one of my hydrosols on at the first sign of any symptoms.

Poison Ivy – I have found hydrosol helpful at receiving itch from poison ivy — specifically rose, chamomile, and peppermint, used singly.

Spray on a cut or wound to aid in healing and cleaning. Yarrow is especially good at this, it is a wound healer.

Compresses – after you heat the water and wet your cloth, wring it out, then add a few spritzes of hydrosol.

Other:

Use in your clay mask recipe – after applying mask spritz your face with a hydrosol to keep your mask from drying out too quickly.  (I use hydrosols in all the lotions make.)

Add up to 1 tsp to your neti pot water

Use 1 cup in a foot bath or hand bath

Add 1-2 cups to your bath (not very practical for most, but if you happen to have an abundance of a certain hydrosol).

In the laundry you can dampen a washcloth with hydrosol and put in dryer to help freshen stale or stinky clothing.

In the Kitchen

Freeze it in ice cube trays and use in iced tea.

You can even cook with them, they can add nice flavor when some of the water for rice is substituted with hydrosol.

Try soaking nuts in a tasty hydrosol like grapefruit