Non-Alcohol Hand Sanitizing Gel

Contact us right now at (714) 272-7277 or email us directly to get an edge on the newly emerging market of alcohol-free hand sanitizers. Below is a sampling of some of the key ingredients that have been used in formulating our Hand Sanitizing Gel. We will work with you to formulate your own unique gel.

Brief History and Explanation of Ingredients

Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) – also known as citrus seed extract, is a liquid derived from the seeds, pulp and white membranes of grapefruit.  GSE was developed by Dr. Jacob Harich, a physicist who was born in Yugoslavia in 1919 and educated in Germany.  His education was in the area of nuclear physics.  He then expanded his educational pursuits to include medicine, including gynecology and immunology.  He came to the United States in 1957 to study at Long Island University in New York.  As an immunologist, he was interested in studying natural substances that might help protect the body from undesirable microorganisms.  In 1963, he moved to Florida, the heart of grapefruit country, and began research on the use of grapefruit seeds as a biocide.  By 1990, holistic health practitioners began to recommend the use of GSE to their patients.  In 1995, Harich was invited to the Pasteur Institute of France, a leading AIDS research center.  Researchers at the Center have been investigating the potential of GSE as a prophylactic against the HIV virus as well as against some of the secondary infections associated with AIDS.  He was also honored by farmers in Europe who use a powdered form of GSE in fish and poultry feed to control Salmonella and Escherichia coli.  GSE is a non-toxic broad spectrum bactericide, fungicide, antiviral, antimicrobial and antiparasitic compound.  When used in vitro, GSE has been shown to be highly effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including Staphyloccus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella dysenteriae, Legionella pneumoniae, Clostridium tetani, Diploccus pneumoniae, and many others.  GSE also strongly inhibits many types of pathogenic fungi and yeast.

Neem Oil – The Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is a tropical evergreen tree native to India and is also found in other southeast countries.  In India, Neem is known as “the village pharmacy” because of its healing versatility, and it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for more than 4,000 years due to its medicinal properties.  Neem is also called ‘arista’ in Sanskrit- a word that means ‘perfect, complete and imperishable’.  The seeds, bark and leaves contain compounds with proven antiseptic, antiviral, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer and antifungal uses.  Neem has anti-bacterial properties that help in fighting against skin infections such as acne, psoriasis, scabies, eczema; combating bacterial infections, as in acne, boils and ulcers, etc.  It relieves dry skin, soothes itchiness, redness and irritation.  Neem has been used in India since 2000-4000 BC, and was referred to in ancient Indian texts as "the curer of all ailments".  The oil has moisturizing and regenerative properties, contains Vitamin E, and has essential fatty acids.

Green Tea Extract – The catechins (pronounced CAT-i-kins) are naturally-occurring plant chemicals found primarily in green tea leaves that have powerful antioxidant and disease-fighting properties.  The catechins are part of a larger group called the flavonoids which, in turn, are part of an even larger group called the polyphenols.  That’s why you’ll sometimes hear the catechins referred to as “tea flavonoids" or “tea polyphenols.”  Since scientists first isolated these substances in the 1970’s, the catechins have been the subject of thousands of scientific studies. They are best known for their powerful antioxidant action, reducing the free radical damage that is linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease and other degenerative diseases.  But the catechins can also work other “wonders.”  To name a few: they can destroy certain powerful bacteria (including salmonella and cholera), inhibit the action of viruses (such as flu virus and HIV) and stimulate the immune system.  Bacteria and viruses are invisible to the naked eye, but they’re virtually everywhere.  Both bacteria and viruses can be transmitted in many ways – through unwashed hands, the exchange of bodily fluids, the touching of a contaminated surface, or a cough or sneeze.  The immune system is supposed to destroy these pathogens or at least keep them under control.  But sometimes it’s simply too overworked to do so, or is unable to get the job done.  Fortunately, green tea comes equipped with its very own antibacterial and antiviral capabilities, most likely to defend itself against invading insects, bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Aloe Vera – The use of Aloe Vera appears throughout history with many testimonials of its medicinal values.  The earliest record of Aloe Vera use comes from the Egyptians.  There are records of the Egyptians drawing pictures of Aloe Vera plants on the walls of the temples.  The healing properties of the Aloe Vera plant were utilized for centuries earning the name “Plant of Immortality”.  The Hindu people thought that Aloe Vera grew in the Garden of Eden and named it the “silent healer”.  In China, the juice of Aloes was used to heal many skin rashes.  Russians called Aloe Vera “The Elixir of Longevity”.  The Native American Indians used Aloe for its emollient and rejuvenating powers.  Dioscorides, the Greek physician, gained most of his knowledge about Aloe Vera from traveling with the Roman armies.  He first wrote of it in his ‘De Materia Medica’ in AD 41-68.  His commentary uses Aloe Vera for healing such things as boils, soothing dry itchy skin, tonsils, gum and throat irritations, bruising, and to stop bleeding wounds.   Pliney the Elder, a physician from 23-79 AD, confirmed in his ‘Natural History’ the discoveries of Dioscorides.  Some additional uses that Pliney found for Aloe Vera included the healing of leprosy sores.  Galen (AD 131-201), a physician to a Roman emperor, used Aloe Vera as a healing agent.  Galen authored over 100 books on herbal and conventional medicine.  He gained his knowledge from doctoring the Roman gladiators. 

Turmeric – Turmeric is an ancient spice and a traditional remedy that has been used as a medicine, condiment and flavoring.  In the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote about it in his notes on his travels to China.  In Ayurvedic practices, turmeric has a long history of medicinal use in South Asia and is mentioned in Sanskrit medical dissertation.  Turmeric is reportedly used as an antiseptic for cuts, burns and bruises. It is also used as an antibacterial agent. 

Benzalkonium Chloride – Benzalkonium chloride solutions are rapidly acting biocidal agents with a moderately long duration of action.  They are active against bacteria and some viruses, fungi, and protozoa.  Benzalkonium chloride based products are non-flammable, less drying to skin, and will not stain clothing.  Published studies report that benzalkonium chloride-based hand sanitizers demonstrated greater sustained de-germing activity than gelled alcohol gel hand sanitizers that actually became less effective with repeated use and made the skin dirtier, not cleaner due to removal of protective natural skin oils and entrapment of dead skin cells by the polymer thickeners used in the gelled alcohol products.

Chlorphenesin – is a wide spectrum hydrosoluble antimicrobial substance, active against bacteria, fungi and yeasts.  Has a wide bactericidal and fungistatic activity against Gram positive and negative bacteria and fungi.  It is free from solvents, does not contain formaldehyde and is paraben-free.

Contact us right now at (714) 272-7277 or email us directly to get an edge on the newly emerging market of alcohol-free hand sanitizers.