Mmmm....green tea. I had a client request green tea salve this week, so I went and had a go at this creation, which I must say I'm very happy with!
Green tea is well known for its antioxidant properties and it is becoming quite popular as an ingredient in natural face care products. Topical use of green tea has been used in some novel ways, including skin cancers, radiation and burns, and other skin damage, even for HPV and Herpes Simplex virus.
The potent antioxidant polyphenols in Green Tea, specifically EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) is the most often studied compound in green tea. Most people just drink the tea, or take capsules of the concentrated and standardized extract of EGCG.
I think this salve is a novel way to administer a highly respected traditional medicine for skin needs. Plus it was fun to make. I used some high quality sencha green tea from Seven Cups Tea House. and infused it in a base of almond oil into a rich emerald green oil, full with the green grassy scent of tea leaves. The salve leaves a lovely scent of green tea on the skin, long after the oil has absorbed. I look forward to giving this a try myself on burns, and sun damaged/exposed skin. Someday soon I might make more oil for a lovely green tea skin cream when combined with shea butter and aloe vera.