BLOG - Page 31

Aloe Vera might be effective in reducing blood glucose in diabetic patients and in lowering blood lipid levels in hyperlipidaemia. The topical application of aloe vera does not seem to prevent radiation-induced skin damage. It might be useful as a treatment for genital herpes and psoriasis. The evidence regarding wound healing is contradictory.

One of the reviews found that Aloe has not been proven to offer protection for humans from sunburn, suntan, or other damage from the sun. Aloe Vera might be an effective interventions used in burn wound healing for first- to second-degree burns. Topical application of aloe vera may also be effective for genital herpes and psoriasis.

Aloe Vera can try on include blisters, insect bites, rashes, sores, herpes, athlete's foot, fungus, conjunctivitis, sites, allergic reactions, and dry skin. The raw plant is best.

Other topical uses include acne, frostbite (it appears to prevent decreased blood flow), shingles, screening out x-ray radiation, psoriasis, preventing scarring, rosacea, warts, wrinkles from aging, and eczema.

It is used in dentistry and is extremely helpful in the treatment of gum disease and bleeding gums. It is a powerful antiseptic for gum pockets and conditions. Aloe has anti-fungal properties which help greatly in dental problems and skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis.

Numerous studies worldwide indicate that it is a general tonic for the immune system, helping it to fight illness of all kinds. Various research studies are underway to explore the potential of the components to boost immunity and combat the HIV virus, and to treat certain types of cancer (particularly leukemia).

It also seems to help prevent opportunistic infections in cases of HIV and AIDS. It appears to be of help in cancer patients including lung cancer by activating the white blood cells and promoting growth of non-cancerous cells.

Taken orally Aloe also appears to work on heartburn, arthritis and rheumatism pain and asthma, and studies have shown that it has an effect on lowering blood sugar levels in diabetic.

Other situations in which it appears to work when taken internally include congestion, intestinal worms, indigestion, stomach ulcers, colitis, haemorrhoids, liver problems such as cirrhosis and hepatitis, kidney infections, urinary tract infections, prostate problems, and as a general detoxifier.

Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) is generally classified as non-toxic or harmful.

Aloe Vera is commonly found in facial moisturizers, serums, treatments, healing ointments, body lotions and creams, sunscreens, and after-sun products. Aloe can also be used on its own.

Aloe was used by the Ancient Greeks, Arabs and Spaniards and is still used by hunters in Africa to reduce perspiration and body scent.

Potassium Alum is the white crystalline natural mineral salt (double sulfate) of Potassium.  Potassium Alum is specific chemical compound that is also part of a class of Alum chemical compounds. The term Alum refers to variousdouble sulfates that have the general formula of (SO4)3•24H2O plus an additional element, such as Potassium, which results in Potassium Aum: KAL(SO4)2•12H2O.

Potassium Alum has been a sought after natural mineral salt for thousands of years due to its abilities to effectively contribute to water purification, pickling, tanning, medical procedures and in cosmetics as an aftershave or deodorant. Additionally, due to its attractive Crystal appearance, Potassium Alum has become a favorite amongst mineral collectors. It is commonly used in water purification, leather tanning, dyeing, fireproof textiles, and baking powder.

Potassium Alum (Alumbre) is a naturally occurringsulfate mineral which typically occurs as encrustations on rocks in areas of weathering and oxidation of sulfide minerals and potassium-bearing minerals.  The crystal Alum mineral is commercially extracted in select quarries throughout the world. It has been reported in Tennessee, and Arizona in the United States, and also, in South America, in the Andies between Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

Potassium Alum crystallizes in regular octahedra with flattened corners, and is very soluble in water. The solution reddens litmus and is an astringent. When heated to nearly a red heat it gives a porous, friable mass which is known as "Burnt Alum".  It fuses at 92 °C in its own water of crystallization. "Neutral Alum" is obtained by the addition of as much Sodium Carbonate to a solution of Alum as will begin to cause the separation of Alumina.

Musk Ambrette stimulates the Base chakra and raises the Kundalini snake.

It is used in sex magic and tantric practices. The sensuous scent is tantalizing and arousing. It may be used to overcome inhibitions and blockages of sexual energy.

From an aromatherapy standpoint, Ambrette is reputed to balance hormones in both men and women, acts as a powerful adrenal stimulant, considered an aphrodisiac.

Agathosma crenulata is a flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, native to the lower elevation mountains of southwestern South Africa. Many of the species are highly aromatic, and the genus name means "good fragrance". Some species of the genus are used as herbal remedies.

Botanical Name: Agathosma crenulata

Common Method of Extraction: Steam distilled

Part Typically Used: Fresh or dried leaves

Color:

Consistency:

Perfumery Note: Middle

Strength of Initial Aroma: Black currant like odor. Green minty, buchu-like with sulfureous mango, tropical and berry notes.

Common names include Buchu, Boegoe, Bucco, Bookoo and Diosma. Buchu formally denotes two herbal species, prized for their fragrance and medicinal use.

This evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves forms a charming garden shrub with a rounded shape and grows to a height of 1,5 to 2,5 m. Starry white flowers, 1 to 3, are carried on short, leafless branchlets which form in the axils of the oval leaves. Flowers are 5-petalled, white or occasionally flushed pink. They decorate the shrub for 6-8 weeks between June and November. New shoots have distinctive red-flushed stems.

Agathosma crenulata occurs on damp lower slopes of the mountains of southwestern Cape from Tulbagh to Riversdale. In nature it prefers the middle slopes, particularly on siltier valley or shaly soils and often near water. Natural distribution is Mountain Fynbos.

Agathosma crenulata is commercially grown for their oil. The oil is extracted and used in the manufacture of cosmetics, soaps, food colorants.

Buchu Leaf, is a pure aromatherapy essential oil, produced using wild-crafted plants and traditional methods, from South Africa, obtained from the leaves.

Common Method of Extraction: Steam distilled

Part Typically Used: Fresh or dried leaves

Color: Light

Consistency:

Perfumery Note:Not used

Strength of Initial Aroma: Blackcurrant like odor.

Agathosma betulina is a flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, native to the lower elevation mountains of western South Africa, where it occurs near streams in fynbos habitats.

It is an evergreen shrub growing to 2 m tall. The leaves are opposite, rounded, about 20 mm long and broad. The flowers are white or pale pink, with five petals; the fruit is a five-parted capsule which splits open to release the seeds.

It is known by the common name round Leaf Buchu and has historically been used as a flavoring agent and an herbal remedy. The very similar plant  Agathosma Crenulata is known as the Oval Leaf Buchu, and has been used for the same purposes.

The essential oils and extracts of the leaves are used as flavoring for teas, candy, and a liquor known as buchu brandy in South Africa. The two primary chemical constituents of the oils of Agathosma betulina are isomenthone and diosphenol. The extract is said to taste like blackcurrant.

It is also known as mountain buchu, bookoo, buku and bucco. The true buchu would be the Agathosma betulina, as only Agathosma betulina is now recognized in the as having medicinal value due to the diosphenol (camphor) components.

Buchu oil has a strong Blackcurrant smell and is normally made as a tincture, extract and oleoresin, which are mostly used forpharmaceuticaluse. The oil is not used in aromatherapy.

Chemical structure:

The main chemical component of Buchu oil ared-pulegone, iso-pulegone, diosphenol, 4-diosphenol, iso-menthone and menthone.

Botanical Name: Abelmoschus moschatus

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled

Part Typically Used: Fully ripened seeds

Color: Pale yellow-red liquid

Consistency: Light

Perfumery Note: Base / Middle

Strength of Initial Aroma: Sweet, rich, floral musky.

Ambrette is an aromatic and medicinal plant in the Malvaceae family, which is native to India but also cultivated in west indies, Indonesia and China. These seeds have a sweet, flowery, heavy fragrance quite similar to that of Musk(derived from Animal sources). Despite its tropical origin the plant is frost hardy.

Erect hispid herbs or undershrubs, 0,5-2,5 meters high, with a long slender tap root. Flowers regular, bisexual, involucral bracts 8-12, hairy yellow with purple centre.

Fruits capsule fulvous hairy, oblong lanceolate, acute. Seeds subreniform and blackish. The plant grows 5-sided seed pods after flowering. These pods are the source of the musk-scented seeds from which the essential oil is distilled.

 It is usually sown in March - April but as late as the first week of July in Central India.  April sown crop start flowering in September: fruits ripen from November to January and are harvested when fully mature.

In India it is popularly known as Mushkdana or Kasturi Bhendi. Oil is extracted from the musky, kidney- shaped, fully ripened seeds. The oil should be allowed to mature for a few months before use in flavours or fragrances, to allow the fatty acid notes to subdue and a rich, sweet, floral-musky almost wine-like or brandy like odour to develop.

The smell of Ambrette seed oil is very heavy and may not smell pleasant to everyone. Ambrette essential oil actually gets better with age. Ambrette seed oil must keep in a dark-colored glass bottle stored in a cool, dry, dark cabinet.

Ambrette seed essential oil is thought by aromatherapists and perfumers to have an exceptionally-unique natural molecularprofile - really, no other oil is like it. The Musk notes, and almost nutty-sweetness are enhanced by fruity undertones. The best of these oils are aged to present the smoothest aromatic profile.

In industry the root mucilage provides sizing for paper: tobacco is sometimes flavoured with the flowers.

Botanical Name: Artemisia herba-alba

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled

Part Typically Used: Whole Herb

Color: Dark green, or sometimes blue in colour

Consistency:

Perfumery Note:

Strength of Initial Aroma: Strong odour and bitter, acrid taste.

Artemisia Herba-Alba, also known as white Wormwood, is a perennial shrub in the genus Artemisia that grows commonly on the steppes of the Mediterranean regions in Northern Africa, Western Asia and Southwestern Europe, and in the Arabian Peninsula and Saharan Maghreb xeric steppes.

There are many different species of Artemisia (200 - 400), the most commonly known are Mugwort, Sagebrush, Wormwood, Tarragon. Artemisias belong to the family Asteraceae, as does Chamomile, Tansy and other plants.

It is also known as Desert Wormwood. The name Artemisia comes from the Greek Artemis, the goddess of hunting and the moon.

Artemisia Herba-Alba

Submitted by OperaDreamhouse (October 8, 2014)