Castor Oil

Latin Name: ricinus communis L
Forms Available: oil

Castor oil, derived from the castor bean and obtained by cold pressure, is rich in fatty acids and very moisturizing and lubricating to the skin in general.  It acts as a humectant, attracting moisture to the skin.  Castor oil packs applied with warm flannel are believed effective for pain relief and to draw out cysts, boils and warts.

Ayurvedic medicine has long used castor oil for lumbago, sciatica and rheumatism.  In the Canary Islands the oil is used to prevent sore nipples in nursing mothers and is also rubbed onto their scalps to prevent post natal hair loss.  In soapmaking, although castor oil would appear to require less sodium hydroxide, it sometimes requires more due to its high ricinoleic acid content.  It is also a well-known superfatting agent and well suited for shampoo bars and skin-care products. Without other oils, it produces a transparent soft soap. In combination with over vegetable oils, however, it makes a wonderfully emollient, hard bar of soap.

From folk medicine:  Castor oil fomentations are recommended for ridding the body of hardened mucus in the form of cysts, tumors and polyps.  The castor oil is applied by soaking a flannel cloth in the oil and applying it over the liver.  A hot water bottle or electric heating pad is applied on top of the pack and left on the area for 30 to 60 minutes.  This is repeated daily for three days followed by olive oil massages over the same area for three days.  On the seventh day, it is recommended by some that the patient should rest by fasting on nothing but distilled water.  Depending on the particular case, this procedure should be repeated for between six weeks to six months to properly cleanse the system.

Thought for the day:

Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.
– Hippocrates

Suggested Reading:

1. Castor Oil Pack Therapy: Application & Instruction by ND, Bruce Baar MS
2. Castor Oil and Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth: The Secret to Re-growing Hair and Preventing Hair Loss Naturally by Mark Calhoun
3. Castor Oil: How To Grow Longer Hair, Get Rid Of Scars, Remove Wrinkles, And Other Health And Beauty Recipes (Homemade Body Care Book 4) by Kathy Aquino
4. The 3 Essential Oils: Olive Oil, Coconut Oil and Castor Oil by Cat McEwan
5. Castor Oil (Carrier Oils Book 7) by Miriam Kinai

Reference Links:

1. Ricinus communis by Wikipedia
2. Transdermal Absorption of Castor Oil by Douglas G. Richards, Ph.D., David L. McMillin, M.A., Eric A. Mein, M.D., and Carl D. Nelson, D.C. published in the Meridian Institute.
3. Final report on the safety assessment of Ricinus communis (Castor seed oil), published in the International Journal of Toxicology
4. Benefits of Castor oil by MedIndia
5. Health benefits of Castor oil by Times of India

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Chamomile, Roman

Latin Name: chamaemelum nobile, anthemis nobilis
Alternative Name: roman chamomile, english chamomile, perennial chamomile, wild chamomile, camomyle, chamaimelon, maythen -saxon, whig plant, heermannchen -german, manzanilla -spanish, ground apple.
Forms Available: essential oil, flower

Also called Roman chamomile, English chamomile, Perennial Chamomile, Wild Chamomile, and Ground Apple.  A Druid Sacred Herb,  this aromatic evergreen has feathery, apple-scented leaves and white flowers with conical golden centers.  The flowers make a digestive, soothing and sedative tea, which is used for soothing restless children, helps prevent nightmares and insomnia, and suppresses nausea.  The flower compounds have shown anti-tumor activity in laboratory tests. In the garden it is a “physician plant” reviving nearby ailing plants.  The essential oil is a beautiful blue color turning yellow as it ages.

Buy Chamomile Roman 5% Dilution in Pure Jojoba – CLICK HERE

This herb has an affinity for the solar plexus area of the human body. Colic, upset stomachs, and fevers are benefited by the tea of the fresh or dried flower.  Use two tablespoons per cup, steep for twenty minutes, and take a quarter cup four times a day.  Women with menstrual cramps can try adding a few thin slices of fresh ginger root to the tea.

Chamomile is an antibacterial.  Sores, wounds, itches, and rashes respond to external applications.  Use the tea as a wash or add the herb to salves and poultices.  The oil is rubbed into swollen joints. Chamomile calms the nerves and brings on sleep.  Use it in baths and gargles.  Add the tea to a vaporizer to help asthmatic children. The classic tea for cranky, teething babies, it is given in the bottle or through a mother’s breast milk.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Nerves;  Migraine;  Acne; Inflammation;  Insomnia;  Menstrual Problems;  Dermatitis; Analgesic;  Tension Headache;  Stress.

Other Uses:  Yellow chamomile brings the power of the sun to love potions, money spells and rites of purification.  Used in incense for the Gods.  When sprinkled around the house it removes hexes, curses and spells.  Use for:  Love;  Luck;  Fortune;  Justice;  Prosperity.

Thought for the day:

Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.
-Albert Einstein

Suggested Reading:

1. How to Use Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Aromatherapy) by Miriam Kinai
2. Camomile (The Herb Library Series) by Kate Ferry-Swainson, Deni Brown
3. The Ultimate PCOS Handbook: Lose Weight, Boost Fertility, Clear Skin and Restore Self-Esteem by Colette Harris, Theresa Cheung
4. Natural BabyCare: Pure and Soothing Recipes and Techniques for Mothers and Babies (Natural Health and Beauty Series) by Colleen K. Dodt
5. Chamomile: Industrial Profiles (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants – Industrial Profiles) from CRC Press

Reference Links:

1. Roman Chamomile by the University of Maryland Medical Center
2. Chamaemelum nobile by Wikipedia
3. Health Benefits of Camomile Essential Oil by Organic Facts
4. Roman Chamomile – Effective Herb For Digestion Problems by Dr. Vikram Chauhan
5. The Calming Power of Chamomile by Medical News Today

Citronella

Latin Name: cymbopogon winterianus
Forms Available: essential oil

Citronella Oil is extracted from a resilient grass native to Sri Lanka and Java. It is a very aromatic perennial that grows approximately 1 meter (3 feet) in height.

With its slightly sweet, powerful and lemony scent, Citronella is often used in combination with Cedarwood to produce pleasant-smelling patio candles and torches.   Its most useful quality seems to be as an insect repellant and may also help pets get rid of fleas.  The University of Maryland Medical Center study on ‘Insect bites and stings’ talks about a study where “citronella candles reduced the number of female mosquitoes caught in traps by 35%; linalool candles reduced female mosquitoes by 65%; and geraniol candles reduced female mosquitoes by 82%”. Citronella essential oil has citronellal, linalool and geraniol content in it, thus making it the most effective insect repellent on earth.

Also known to clear the mind, it may be useful against headaches and migraines.  Its deodorant and stimulating properties always refresh sweaty tired feet, activating the whole body.  Blends well with citrus oils, cedarwood, eucalyptus, and peppermint.

Buy Citronella Oil – 4oz – CLICK HERE
Buy Citronella Oil – 1kg – CLICK HERE

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Used as an insecticide and antidepressant. Also known to clear the mind so may be useful against headaches and migraines. Its deodorant and stimulating properties always refresh sweaty tired feet, activating the whole body.

Other Uses: Promotes eloquence and prosperity, drawing friends and business.

Thought for the day:

I’m thankful to be breathing, on this side of the grass. Whatever comes, comes. -Ron Perlman

Suggested Reading:

1. Citronella by Eugene Raskin
2. Citronella ; Cymbopogon Nardus – A Literature Survey From Information Services Centre, Industrial Technology Institute
3. Ayurveda & Aromatherapy: The Earth Essential Guide to Ancient Wisdom and Modern Healing by Dr. Light Miller, Dr. Bryan Miller
4. The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Aromatic Oils In Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Health, and Well Being by Julia Lawless
5. The Naturally Clean Home: 100 Safe and Easy Herbal Formulas for Non-Toxic Cleansers by Karyn Siegel-Maier

Reference Links:

1. Citronella Oil by Wikipedia
2. Citronella Oil by Steve Ritter published in PUBS
3. Health benefits of Citronella Essential Oil by Organic Facts
4. A handbook on Lemongrass, Neem and Citronella by Janhit Foundation
5. Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing by Marta Ferreira Maia and Sarah J Moore published in PubMed

Cocoa Butter

Latin Name: theobroma cacao
Forms Available: butter

Cocoa butter is the fat which is obtained by hydraulic pressing of cocoa nib or cocoa mass obtained from the cocoa beans. It could be filtered or centrifuged. This is an all natural process and no solvents are used. It is used in balms lotions, creams, and soaps because of cocoa butter’s softening and skin-healing properties. Most lip balms and massage butters require cocoa butter for firmness. It’s the perfect oil for massaging daily into fast-growing pregnant bellies to prevent stretch marks from developing.

Buy Organic Cocoa Butter – CLICK HERE

In soapmaking, cocoa butter should be used along with more easily absorbed unsaturated oils such as olive, jojoba, castor, or avocado. A soap made with too high a percentage of cocoa butter will be hard and prone to cracking. Limit cocoa butter to around 15% of your total fats and oils. Use it to counterbalance the stickiness of certain fats such as shea butter.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: The perfect oil for massaging daily into fast-growing pregnant bellies to prevent stretch marks from developing.

Thought for the day:

Seeds and nuts are indispensable for cardiovascular health. The protective properties of nuts against coronary heart disease were first recognized in the early 1990s, and a strong body of literature has followed, confirming these original findings.
-Joel Fuhrman.

Suggested Reading:

1. The Miracle of Nuts, Seeds and Grains: The Scientific Facts about Nutritional Properties and Medicinal Values of Nuts, Seeds and Grains by Dr. Bahram Tadayyon
2. Theobroma Cacao, Or Cocoa: Its Botany, Cultivation, Chemistry And Diseases by Herbert Wright
3. Superfoods for Life, Cacao: – Improve Heart Health – Boost Your Brain Power – Decrease Stress Hormones and Chronic Fatigue – 75 Delicious Recipes – by Matthew Ruscigno
4. The World and Africa: An Inquiry into the Part Which Africa Has Played in World by W. E. B Du Bois
5. The Chocolate-Plant (Theobroma Cacao) and Its Products by Walter Baker and Company

Reference Links:

1. Cocoa butter by Wikipedia
2. Cocoa Bioactive Compounds: Significance and Potential for the Maintenance of Skin Health published in Nutrients and PubMed
3. Theobroma Cacao: A Taste of the Fountain of Youth by Keoni Teta and Jillian Sarno Teta published in the online community of All Things Healing
4. Physical and Chemical information on Cocoa beans, butter, mass and powder by the International Cocoa Organization
5. Cocoa and chocolate flavonoids: implications for cardiovascular health by Steinberg FM, Bearden MM, Keen CL, Department of Nutrition, University of California, published in the Journal of American Dietetic Association

   

Coconut Oil

Latin Name: cocos nucifera
Forms Available: oil

Coconut oil is obtained from copra, the dried “meat” of coconut. Distillers separate the copra from the hull of the coconut. It is dried, crushed, and then expressed to remove the oil.

This coconut becomes liquid at 76 degrees.  When cold, it becomes solid or semi-solid.  This oil has a thick texture with no taste and no odor.  A percentage of coconut oil in cosmetics is moisturizing; too much of it can be drying.  Its saturated nature resists rancidity and makes a very hard soap, while at the same time producing a fluffy lather.

Buy Coconut Oil – 1 Quart – CLICK HERE
Buy Coconut Oil – 1 Gallon – CLICK HERE
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Buy Coconut Oil – 25lb Pail – CLICK HERE
Soapmakers usually combine coconut oil with olive, palm, palm kernel or castor oils for an all-vegetable soap.  Some soapmakers use between 20% and 30% of a soap batch as coconut oil.

Coconut Oil contains beneficial lauric acid, which may be of particular benefit for immune-suppressed individuals.  It is more heat stable than other plant based oils and does not create trans fatty acids when cooked at higher temperatures.  Use for all higher heat applications, including stir frying – Maximum temperature of 375F or 190C.  Excellent for baking, can be substituted for butter in most recipes.  Use in blender drinks to add fuel and energy in the morning.