Latin Name: linum usitatissimum Alternative Name: linseed Forms Available: oil, whole, seed
Flax – Linum usitatissimum – Also called Linseed. Annual Flax has slender stems with linear green leaves, beautiful, flat blue flowers, and oily brown seeds.
A teaspoon of the seed is placed in a quart of water and gently simmered down to one-half quart. The resulting liquid is given for constipation, for ulcerated sore throat, and as an exectorant for bronchitis in one-fourth cup doses throughout the day. To pass a gallstone, take one and a half to two tablespoons of linseed oil and lie on your left side for a half hour. The whole seeds -about two tablespoon- can be taken with plenty of water to relieve constipation. Follow with stewed prunes or prune juice. The cooked seeds are added to fresh grated carrots, and the mix is warmed to make a poultice to rheumatism and swellings.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Flaxseed is believed to improve cirulation and immune function.
Other Uses: The chld who runs or dances in a flax field at the age of seven is assured of growing up to be attractive. Newborn babies are placed in a flax field to sleep for similar reasons. The blue flowers are worn as a preservative against sorcery.
Latin Name: calophyllum inophyllum Alternative Name: tamanu, kamanu laurel, alexandrian laurel, madagascar Forms Available: oil
Foraha – Calophyllum inophyllum – This beautiful opalescent cold pressed green, slightly waxy oil is rich and thick, with a delicate nutty or spicy smell. It stimulates cell regeneration and is good for fragile or broken capillaries. Foraha is a traditional medicine in the So. Pacific, where it is used for its analgesic, antiinflammatory and cicatrizant properties. Formerly, foraha was used to treat leprosy. It helps wounds to heal and is soothing for eczema and skin irritations such as burns, rashes and insect bites. It is used as an aid for relieving pain, healing wounds, herpes lesions and post-surgical scars. A combination of foraha and Ravensara aromatica essential oil has been used successfully as a treatment for shingles. Rarely used as a carrier oil due to its quite thick in consistency, but may be part of a blend with other carrier oils. It’s highly recommended as a facial oil, either alone or with essential oils added.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: A combination of foraha and Ravensara aromatica essential oil has been used successfully as a treatment for shingles. Rarely used as a carrier oil due to its quite thick in consistency, but may be part of a blend with other carrier oils.
Latin Name: forsythia suspensa Alternative Name: lian giao, weeping forsythia, golden bells Forms Available: flower, root, leaf
Forsythia – forsythia sespensa – This is a very used herb in chinese herbalism. It is used in upper respiratory tract infections. This herb has also been used for tonsillitis, mumps, and urinary tract infections. The flowers have anti-bacterial properties. The root treats colds, flu, fever and cancer.
Caution: not recommended for use in pregnancy due to the herb’s ability to act as a uterine stimulant.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: A vital chinese herb. Treats upper respiratory tract infeciton, tonsillitis, mumps, colds, flu, fever, cancer and urinary tract infecitons.
Latin Name: digitalis purpurea Alternative Name: fairy gloves, fairy fingers, dead men’s bells, cow-flop, Digitalis, dog’s finger, fairy weed, fairy petticoats, fairy ghimbles, floppy-dock, floptop folk’s gloves, fox bells, the great herb, mouth, lusmore, lus na mbau side,our lady’s glove
Foxglove – Digitalis purpure – Also known as Fairy Gloves, Fairy Fingers, or Dead Men’s Bells. A Druid sacred herb associated with the “little people”.
Caution: This plant is poisonous and should be used by qualified personnel only.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: The heart mediction, digitalis, comes from this plant. and is used for congenital heart defects. Foxglove is a highly toxic plant and is therefore very dangerous in high doses.
Other Uses: Grow in a garden for protection of house and yard.
Latin Name: boswellia carterii Alternative Name: incense, olibans, olibanum, olibanus Forms Available: essential oil, tears, resin
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Frankincense originates from a scraggly but hardy tree indigenous to the Middle East, which is small with abundant pinnacle leaves and white or pale pink flowers. The resin begins as a fragrant sticky milky-white liquid that flows from the trunk of the tree when cut. The dried tears are collected, and the resin is then distilled, producing the precious oil. The resin is known as olibanum, derived from the Arabic al-lubān or ‘that which results from milking’, referring to the milky sap. It is used as incense, and has been traded for 5,000 years. Widely used in ancient Egypt, it was one of the ingredients used in the holy oil described in the Talmud. Frankincense was brought back to Europe by Frankish Crusaders (Frank-incense), and the oil is still highly prized today in the perfumery industry, and widely used in the manufacturing of skin-care products.
Frankincense essential oil is also useful in promoting spirituality and meditative states. Dilute before applying to the skin as it may be irritating. Pliny claimed that Frankincense was an antidote to hemlock poisoning. Avicenna advocated its use for tumors, fevers, vomiting, and dysentary. Chinese herbalists use it in powder form and in teas for rheumatism and menstrual pain, and externally as a wash for sores and bruises. The dose is three to six grains in a glass of wine; or twenty drops of the tincture. Frankincense is highly antiseptic and the scent is said to calm and clear the mind.
Caution: Prolonged use of resins can damage the kidneys.
Visit AyurvedicOils.com for more information on the traditional ayurvedic and aromatherapeutic uses of Frankincense Oil. Learn about the natural chemical components that give Frankincense Oil its fragrance and therapeutic characteristics.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Oil – Blemishes; Dry and Mature Complexions; Scars; Wounds; Wrinkles; Asthma; Bronchitis; Colds; Coughs; Flu; Laryngitis; Cystitis; Anxiety; Nervous Tension; Stress-related Conditions. Frankincense has the ability to slow down, and deepen the breath.
Other Uses: Sacred to the Sun God Ra, frankincense is burned in rites of exorcism, purification, and protection. It is said to accelerate spiritual growth. Use for spirituality, exorcism, purification, luck and protection rites.
Thought for the day:
To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat. -Beverley Nichols
Latin Name: alpinia officionalis or a. galanga Alternative Name: low john the conquerer, chewing john, china root, colic root, east india catarrh root, galingal, gargaut, india root, kaempferia gaanga, rhizoma galangae, galanga, kæmpferia galange, siamese ginger. Forms Available: essential oil
Galangal – alpinia officionalis or A. galanga – Also known as Low John the Conquerer or Siamese Ginger. Galangal has dark green, sword-shaped leaves, white flowers with pink veins, round red seed capsules, and a rhizomous rootstalk that smells of ginger and camphor. The rhizome has a spicy, gingerlike flavor used in Southeast Asia soups and curries. The young shoots and flowers are eaten raw and the flowers can be boiled or pickled. The rhizome yields an essential oil, essence d’Amali, used in perfumes.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Galangal is used as a treatment for seasickness. It is also used, with other herbs, to treat intestinal candida.
Other Uses: Use tincture for luck, money, protection, exorcism and psychic development. Ginger can be substituted.
Gardenia – gardenia jasmenoides – This evergreen shrub or small tree has exquisitely scented white double flowers and orange-red fruits, with glossy, dark green leaves.
Other Uses: Health, Healing; Love; Peace; Psychic Awareness; Spirituality. Place fresh blossoms in sick rooms or on healing altars to aid the process. Add dried petals to healing mixtures. Dried gardenia is scattered around a room to induce peaceful vibrations.
Latin Name: allium tuberosum Alternative Name: nira, gow chow, chinese chives Forms Available: bulb, leaf, seed
Garlic Chives – allium tuberosum – A herb that tastes and smells like garlic. Garlic chives have been used to improve digestion, boost the immune system, treat fatigue and anemia, and to treat internal parasites. This is an anti- bacterial herb. It has been used to strengthen the kidneys and bladder.
This herb is used in cooking and makes an excellent moth repellent.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: An antibacterial herb, strengthens kidneys and bladder, boosts the immune system, improves digestion, and treats fatigue and anemia.
Latin Name: alliaria petiolia Alternative Name: hedge garlic Forms Available: seed, leaf
Garlic Mustard – alliaria petiolia – The leaves of this plant, when eaten, relive asthma dn bronchitis. If applied in a poultice, externally, the leaves aid the healing of sores, ulcers, rheumatism, gout and neuralgia.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: If taken internally, the leaves relieve bronchitis and asthma.
