The following piece will be useful to people of all religions. However it will help Pagans tremendously since many sects of Paganism promote volunteer work. I've compiled some ways to fit volunteer work into hectic lifes.
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Many of us view the changes happening in our environment and society with dismay. We realize that our society and environment is quickly becoming toxic in both physical and metaphorical ways. We often wish that there was some way we could help but find it difficult to volunteer our time to society and our environment because our schedules are already frighteningly tight.
It is a shame that many of us can not find the time to volunteer because in addition to benefiting our society and environment, volunteer work of any kind has advantages for the person donating their time. Volunteer work is excellent on resumes and college applications, and is an excellent way to gain job experience, network and learn new skills.
Adults are not alone in benefiting from volunteering their time; it is an especially positive experience for children. It instills good values such as empathy and altruism and also teaches a child that not everyone is fortunate enough to have everything that they need.
The general image that comes to mind when we think of volunteer work is a good Samaritan handing out soup to homeless people at a soup kitchen in a bad part of town. However, there are thousand of ways to donate your time and even money in creative ways that are easy to fit into a packed schedule that can positively affect both our society and our environment.
Here is a list of easy ways that a person can help make the world a better place. This is by no means a comprehensive list. I urge everyone to take a moment to research additional ways to help; it is nearly impossible not to find at a least a few ways to help out that will work for you. If you pass some of these tips on to others you'll greatly add to the impact.
1. Clean up a park or playgroundThis one is really easy because it does not require any scheduling and the only requirements are decent weather and a trash bag. This is also a good activity for children too since it teaches them not to litter. They can also then play in the park as a reward for their labor. If you visit parks or playgrounds often an easy way to always be prepared for this opportunity is to simply keep a few trash bags in the trunk of your car and make a habit out of cleaning up while you are there.
2. Help older neighbors.This one is a small task also, though it is a repeated one. Many older people are in need of help with things like shoveling snow from their walkways. If you have a teenager that you can delegate the task to, it becomes even easier! All joking aside, this one isn't as simple as throwing away some litter at the park but its importance is more than correspondingly larger. It seems that not a winter goes by that I do not hear of an elderly person that suffered a heart attack while shoveling snow or slipped on a snowy walkway.
Even if you are not in shape to shovel snow you can still help out considerably. Many elderly people simply need someone to check in on them occasionally. Sometimes when a person lives to an extended age they have few relations left in this world, and no one to help them when they become sick or injured.
I often read of situations where elderly persons were hurt or became ill and were literally stranded in their home for days before a neighbor realized something was wrong and came to investigate. You could be that neighbor...have you knocked on your elderly neighbors' door lately to see how he or she is fairing? It only takes a few minutes to find out if he/she needs you to pick up a prescription for him/her or just check on their welfare.
3. Provide web support for a good cause.If you have skill with the internet, word processing, or web design your skills are needed by many charitable and community friendly agencies. Many of these organizations need web support to help advertise their efforts and often they simply need people to help answer email requests for information. If you know of any group that is undertaking a community friendly effort that you support and you possess any of these skills make an offer of your time. These activities can generally be done from home with very flexible scheduling making it easy for you to squeeze in time to help.
4. Craft items for needy people.Do you know how to knit, crochet, or sew? If you possess these skills you can make blankets, scarves, and clothing for needy people. You could also craft baby rattles, dolls, or other small toys for needy children. Nearly every domestic violence and homeless shelter has a location where you can drop off donated items. Children in these situations are particularly comforted by items like blankets, toys and loveys as many of them arrive in the shelter with nothing but their clothes.
Pregnant women find themselves in these situations too; the number one cause of death for pregnant women is homicide so quite a few are in domestic violence shelters. Many enter the shelter with nothing for their coming arrival and could use baby clothes, blankets, booties, etc. Your gift could sincerely make a difference. Call your local shelters to find out if they accept donations of this type and where there drop off area is located, you could also ask them what kinds of items they particularly need. You can also increase the impact of this activity by passing along information about it to your friends.
5. Eliminate the tree killing, mailbox invading nuisance that is junk mail.Well, not completely eliminate it but at least reduce it by roughly 75%. This one is convenient as well as easy since the average person finds the seemingly never ending stream of junk mail they receive to be maddening. Junk mail is hell on the environment as well as on your nerves. The paper used for one person's unwanted junk mail for one year is roughly equal to one and a half trees. For a person who lives to be 78 that starts receiving junk mail at 18 that is the equivalent of 90 trees!
You do not have to be a tree hugging hippy to think it insane that 90 trees are sacrificed in the effort to bombard one person with unsolicited ads that they mostly have no use for. So write to the address below, reduce the senseless ad driven tree slaughter and contribute to your home's future decrease in clutter all in one fell swoop.
Most direct marketers use mailing lists that they get from the Direct Marketing Association. Write to them and simply ask them to remove your name and contact information from their list. This will reduce your junk mail on average 75% the equivalent of 66 trees saved over the course of a life time. Here is their address: DMA Mail Preference Service P.O. Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512. Do this for everyone in your household to multiply the impact.
6. Conserve resources and be thrifty.There are numerous simple ways to conserve resources that add up over time. This conservation is not only earth friendly but will save you money. Simple efforts like turning the water off while you brush your teeth, recycling, buying in bulk to save money and cut down on packaging, are all examples of easy ways that you can conserve. Being thrifty also helps you save money while conserving resources.
Look around in your basement, attic, garage, or storage shed for items that you can put back to general use in your home instead of buying new items. You could also see if you have any items that you can donate to charity or offer on Freecycle. Freecycle is a service that uses the internet to host email lists where members can post "wanted" messages for items they need or "offer" messages for items they no longer need and are willing to give away.
Shopping for clothing and other items at thrift stores is also an excellent way to save money while benefiting a good cause as most thrift stores are run for the benefit of organizations like the Salvation Army, and many veterans groups.
7. Put your money where your mouth is - buy and invest green.You can have a large impact on the environment by changing your buying preferences. Buy recycled items and be loyal to companies that ban animal testing or promote philanthropic endeavors. Boycott companies that do animal testing or otherwise harm the environment and let them know that they are losing a customer because of their practices.
Buying organic is very helpful to the environment since the majority of pesticides used on non-organic materials run off in to the ground water. Organic products can be found in many areas now including food, beauty products, and even high fashion. In our capitalistic society money often talks and if you demand environmentally friendly products businesses will respond to the earth friendly need that you are creating.
Looking to diversify your investment portfolio, then think about investing green by investing your money in environment friendly alternative energy development. In addition to being earth friendly this kind of investment, when properly planned, is an excellent choice due to the worlds growing determination to develop renewable and clean energy sources. Even some of the big oil companies like BP and Shell are spending a substantial amount of money developing alternative energy sources.
8. Put your workplace to work. Consider suggesting to your supervisor or Human Resources department that the company start a volunteer program that could organize employee volunteer opportunities and perhaps even allow employees limited time off from work to complete approved volunteer work. If you have the time, offer to help implement the program by generating flyers or finding volunteer opportunities for employees to take part in. Make sure to stress the benefits of corporate philanthropy such as good advertising, positive PR, and increased employee morale.
Some of these activities require very little time and do not require your attention on an ongoing basis. The other opportunities will require a little attention and renewed effort over time but can be done in small chunks when you can fit them in to your schedule making it easier for your to help make the world a better place. People often feel powerless when it comes to changing the world because they do not realize that the battle is primarily fought with the little things; all the small acts of good we complete do add up.
Very few of us are put to a choice or given a moment in time so pivotal and important that we can declare our allegiance to right or wrong and do more good than all the harm we have caused in our lives in one amazing act. The real superheros are the ones that keep on grinding it out day by day doing what they can to help whenever they are able to.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
How to make Herbal Incense
This following piece will help a layperson learn to make their own natural and high quality herbal incense. While there are many incense blends suitable for ritual/spiritual purposes available commercially making your own preperations just adds that extra OOMPH! to spellwork. Enjoy!
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Making your own herbal incense requires time and effort but the results are well worth it.
Perhaps the most important benefit of making your own incense is the confidence you will have that it was made with natural ingredients; making your own herbal incense is also beneficial because you can make it to your exact specifications. It is also less expensive to make your own incense as oppossed to purchasing it.
To make herbal incense start by carefully researching the flowers, roots, oils or resins you want to use. Keep in mind that some plant matter and essential oils while normally safe can be poisonous when burned. So be very careful when choosing your herbs.
Once you have researched and decided what plant matter and oils you would like to use you can purchase them from a health food store or from an online supplier. Mountain Rose herbs is an excellent on-line company to purchase herbs and essential oils from.
After you have purchased your plant material you will need to grind it. You can use a mortar and pestle, food processor, or coffee grinder. Mortar and pestles work well for grinding resins but the process is much easier if you have a food processor or coffee grinder.
Grind each component seperately, taking care to process the material into a powder. I have found it that I save time by grinding extra of each component that I am using; I then store the extra material in a zip lock craft bag (any zip lock bag will do).
Many people find the grinding process to be enjoyable, but it can also be very tiring. It is possible to eliminate this step for some herbs such as lavender and rose since these are readily available in powder form. It generally costs more to purchase herbal powder, but it does save time so do not feel that you must exhaust yourself grinding the material. Resins (such as frankincense and myrrh) and roots (such as comfrey) are more difficult to grind than flowers, so it is also possible to base your recipe on the ease of preparing the materials.
Free incense recipes are available all over the internet, and many suppliers of herbs and essential oils include recipes on their websites as a service to their customers. Once you have finished grinding each ingredient all that is left is to mix them together in proper proportions according to the recipe you have chosen.
Make sure to stir thoroughly until all ingredients are nicely blended. After you have finished this step refer to your recipe to see what essential or fragrance oils you will need to add. Then add the oils, one drop at a time, stirring the mixture carefully between drops. Once you have finished adding the oils stir the mixture once more taking to make sure the mixture is uniformly blended.
Once you have finished blending your incense it is ready for storage or use. You can store the incense in small craft bags, or store in a small and pretty glass bottle. Glass bottles of hand made incense make lovely and thoughtful gifts. For a truly thoughtful gift try making some incense with the intended recipient's favorite flowers and scents. To burn the incense add a pinch of it to a lit charcoal disc. Charcoal discs are available from health food stores and on-line.
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Making your own herbal incense requires time and effort but the results are well worth it.
Perhaps the most important benefit of making your own incense is the confidence you will have that it was made with natural ingredients; making your own herbal incense is also beneficial because you can make it to your exact specifications. It is also less expensive to make your own incense as oppossed to purchasing it.
To make herbal incense start by carefully researching the flowers, roots, oils or resins you want to use. Keep in mind that some plant matter and essential oils while normally safe can be poisonous when burned. So be very careful when choosing your herbs.
Once you have researched and decided what plant matter and oils you would like to use you can purchase them from a health food store or from an online supplier. Mountain Rose herbs is an excellent on-line company to purchase herbs and essential oils from.
After you have purchased your plant material you will need to grind it. You can use a mortar and pestle, food processor, or coffee grinder. Mortar and pestles work well for grinding resins but the process is much easier if you have a food processor or coffee grinder.
Grind each component seperately, taking care to process the material into a powder. I have found it that I save time by grinding extra of each component that I am using; I then store the extra material in a zip lock craft bag (any zip lock bag will do).
Many people find the grinding process to be enjoyable, but it can also be very tiring. It is possible to eliminate this step for some herbs such as lavender and rose since these are readily available in powder form. It generally costs more to purchase herbal powder, but it does save time so do not feel that you must exhaust yourself grinding the material. Resins (such as frankincense and myrrh) and roots (such as comfrey) are more difficult to grind than flowers, so it is also possible to base your recipe on the ease of preparing the materials.
Free incense recipes are available all over the internet, and many suppliers of herbs and essential oils include recipes on their websites as a service to their customers. Once you have finished grinding each ingredient all that is left is to mix them together in proper proportions according to the recipe you have chosen.
Make sure to stir thoroughly until all ingredients are nicely blended. After you have finished this step refer to your recipe to see what essential or fragrance oils you will need to add. Then add the oils, one drop at a time, stirring the mixture carefully between drops. Once you have finished adding the oils stir the mixture once more taking to make sure the mixture is uniformly blended.
Once you have finished blending your incense it is ready for storage or use. You can store the incense in small craft bags, or store in a small and pretty glass bottle. Glass bottles of hand made incense make lovely and thoughtful gifts. For a truly thoughtful gift try making some incense with the intended recipient's favorite flowers and scents. To burn the incense add a pinch of it to a lit charcoal disc. Charcoal discs are available from health food stores and on-line.
How to make an infusion
Making infusions is the most basic thing one can do to improve their life through aromatherapy and spiritual practices. The process is actually quite simple once one learns how to do it. Enjoy!
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Making an infusion is a quite simple way to use floral and herbal essences for better living. All it requires is the plant matter of your choice (be sure to research the plant and ask your doctor about it before using it) and lukewarm to hot water.
Be sure to use the appropriate temperature of water for your chosen herb. All plant oils have a flash point, which is the temperature at which its essential oil vaporizes. If you are trying to make your kitchen smell good then adding flowers or herbs to boiling water is a good idea because the essential oils will vaporize and strongly scent the air.
Conversely if you are planning on using the infusion to add to bath water or hair rinse it is important to find the flash point for your chosen herb and avoid heating your infusion to that temperature.Once you have finished researching your chosen herb and have determined that it is the right one for your purpose and determined its flash point you're ready to begin.
Coarsely grind your herbs either with a mortar and pestle (useful for resins and roots), food processor, coffee bean grinder, or food chopper. Grinding the herbs first will allow the plants oils to infuse with the water better. Then pour the proper temperature water over the plant and allow to steep for appropriate time (make sure to make a note of suggested steeping times when researching the herb).
Its just like making tea, with the exception that you should cover the container you are steeping the infusion in, to keep more of the vapors in. After you have finished steeping, strain out the herb (depending on how much herb you are using a mesh tea ball can be very useful, eliminating the need to strain).
Keep in mind that infusions are perishable. I suggest adding vitamin E for preservation, and storing your infusion in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Also make sure that your work area and utensils are clean and sterilized, this will help you avoid contamination. You do not want to introduce any bacteria or mold spores that can ultimately spoil your infusion.
You can use your infusion for a variety of things. Floral infusions make excellent and sweet smelling hair detanglers. They can also be added to running bath water to impart a lovely fragrance while softening skin. You can also bottle the infusion in a mist sprayer bottle to make your own room and linen spray.
Perhaps best of all infusions make lovely and unique gifts. Try making an infusion with the intended recipient's favorite flowers to add a touch of thoughtfulness then store the infusion in a glass bottle with pretty ribbon tied around the neck.
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Making an infusion is a quite simple way to use floral and herbal essences for better living. All it requires is the plant matter of your choice (be sure to research the plant and ask your doctor about it before using it) and lukewarm to hot water.
Be sure to use the appropriate temperature of water for your chosen herb. All plant oils have a flash point, which is the temperature at which its essential oil vaporizes. If you are trying to make your kitchen smell good then adding flowers or herbs to boiling water is a good idea because the essential oils will vaporize and strongly scent the air.
Conversely if you are planning on using the infusion to add to bath water or hair rinse it is important to find the flash point for your chosen herb and avoid heating your infusion to that temperature.Once you have finished researching your chosen herb and have determined that it is the right one for your purpose and determined its flash point you're ready to begin.
Coarsely grind your herbs either with a mortar and pestle (useful for resins and roots), food processor, coffee bean grinder, or food chopper. Grinding the herbs first will allow the plants oils to infuse with the water better. Then pour the proper temperature water over the plant and allow to steep for appropriate time (make sure to make a note of suggested steeping times when researching the herb).
Its just like making tea, with the exception that you should cover the container you are steeping the infusion in, to keep more of the vapors in. After you have finished steeping, strain out the herb (depending on how much herb you are using a mesh tea ball can be very useful, eliminating the need to strain).
Keep in mind that infusions are perishable. I suggest adding vitamin E for preservation, and storing your infusion in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Also make sure that your work area and utensils are clean and sterilized, this will help you avoid contamination. You do not want to introduce any bacteria or mold spores that can ultimately spoil your infusion.
You can use your infusion for a variety of things. Floral infusions make excellent and sweet smelling hair detanglers. They can also be added to running bath water to impart a lovely fragrance while softening skin. You can also bottle the infusion in a mist sprayer bottle to make your own room and linen spray.
Perhaps best of all infusions make lovely and unique gifts. Try making an infusion with the intended recipient's favorite flowers to add a touch of thoughtfulness then store the infusion in a glass bottle with pretty ribbon tied around the neck.
How to find a supplier of herbs and oils
I wrote the following piece to help anyone who wishes to use natural materials to improve their lives by using them as medecine, healthy diet and for spiritual purposes find suppliers that are honest and provide quality products.
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The use of herbs, essential, and fragrance oils to naturally improve one's sense of well being and help ensure good health has surged in popularity in recent years. While there are many excellent suppliers that offer high quality products free of harsh and even dangerous additives many companies aren't so trustworthy.
Unfortunately there is never a shortage of shady businesses willing to take advantage of consumer demand for products; the problem is exacerbated by the ease of opening and running Internet businesses. Consumers looking for herbs, essential, and fragrance oils must take care when choosing suppliers to ensure the quality of the products they purchase.
When choosing suppliers the most important aspect to focus on is the quality of the materials wanted to purchase. Good bargains are attractive... but it is not worth it if the quality of the product is not up to standard. The quality of your materials is of the utmost importance, especially if they are for ingestion. Consumers should be wary of suppliers that offer bargains that seem too good to be true, or suppliers who do not have enough information available about their product.
Consumers can safeguard the quality of the items they purchase by asking potential suppliers a few simple questions.Some questions to ask when purchasing herbs:
*Where did the herbs originate from? Regional differences are often very apparent in harvested herbs; their scent, strength, and even color can vary by region. The potential supplier should be willing and able to state what country, or at the very least what region, the herbs originated from.
*Are the herbs pesticide and herbicide free? This question is of particular importance since those chemicals are not something a person wants to ingest, burn, bathe in, or fragrance their home with. This is also important to environmentally conscious consumers since roughly 90% of pesticides and herbicides run off into the ground water leading to increased pollution. If the supplier can not guarantee that the herbs are pesticide and herbicide free then consumers should not buy them.
* Have the herbs been irradiated? This is important because irradiation can leave chemical traces in the product that are unwanted. If the supplier can not state that the herbs have not been irradiated then consumers should not buy them.
Questions to keep in mind when buying oils:
*Where did the oils originate from? Just like herbs the essential oils home region can affect its scent, potency, and even color.
*How were the oils extracted? Oils that have been extracted using solvents are called absolutes and are not suitable for ingestion. Distilled and expeller pressed essential oils are suitable for ingestion. This is very basic information; if a supplier can not give this information consumers should most certainly avoid them.
*Are the fragrance or essential oils pure and uncut? Consumers should make sure that the oils have not been cut with DPG or Carrier oils. Cut oils, while suitable for wearing on the skin, are not suitable for crafting purposes because they do not smell strongly enough. These oils are also not meant for consumption.
* Are the oils fragrance or essential? Each type of oil has its uses and both can be beneficial, but it is very important that the consumer knows what they are buying. The strength of the oil determines how much of it they should use, and whether or not they can get any alleochemical benefits from the oil. Fragrance oils are also not meant for ingestion; they are synthetic renditions of essential oils and are only suitable for use as fragrance.
One way a consumer can find potential suppliers is to spend some time on aromatherapy or herbal message boards and forums and read through any existing threads about suppliers. Consumers can also start their own topic listing all of the materials that they need. If they pick a well populated board they will get lots of responses. These responses will be particularly helpful because of the responders' personal experience with the suppliers they are recommending. Consumers can also check their local health food, and crafting stores for materials.
The last, but very important, step that a consumer can take is to check every potential supplier's record with the Better Business Bureau. Suppliers who have numerous unresolved complaints should be regarded as not trustworthy enough to purchase herbs or essential and fragrance oils from. With a little caution and inquisitiveness it is easy for the average consumer to find a trustworthy supplier for all of the herbal needs.
I have found Mountain Rose Herbs to be an excellent source of high quality herbs and essential oils. www.mountainroseherbs.com
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The use of herbs, essential, and fragrance oils to naturally improve one's sense of well being and help ensure good health has surged in popularity in recent years. While there are many excellent suppliers that offer high quality products free of harsh and even dangerous additives many companies aren't so trustworthy.
Unfortunately there is never a shortage of shady businesses willing to take advantage of consumer demand for products; the problem is exacerbated by the ease of opening and running Internet businesses. Consumers looking for herbs, essential, and fragrance oils must take care when choosing suppliers to ensure the quality of the products they purchase.
When choosing suppliers the most important aspect to focus on is the quality of the materials wanted to purchase. Good bargains are attractive... but it is not worth it if the quality of the product is not up to standard. The quality of your materials is of the utmost importance, especially if they are for ingestion. Consumers should be wary of suppliers that offer bargains that seem too good to be true, or suppliers who do not have enough information available about their product.
Consumers can safeguard the quality of the items they purchase by asking potential suppliers a few simple questions.Some questions to ask when purchasing herbs:
*Where did the herbs originate from? Regional differences are often very apparent in harvested herbs; their scent, strength, and even color can vary by region. The potential supplier should be willing and able to state what country, or at the very least what region, the herbs originated from.
*Are the herbs pesticide and herbicide free? This question is of particular importance since those chemicals are not something a person wants to ingest, burn, bathe in, or fragrance their home with. This is also important to environmentally conscious consumers since roughly 90% of pesticides and herbicides run off into the ground water leading to increased pollution. If the supplier can not guarantee that the herbs are pesticide and herbicide free then consumers should not buy them.
* Have the herbs been irradiated? This is important because irradiation can leave chemical traces in the product that are unwanted. If the supplier can not state that the herbs have not been irradiated then consumers should not buy them.
Questions to keep in mind when buying oils:
*Where did the oils originate from? Just like herbs the essential oils home region can affect its scent, potency, and even color.
*How were the oils extracted? Oils that have been extracted using solvents are called absolutes and are not suitable for ingestion. Distilled and expeller pressed essential oils are suitable for ingestion. This is very basic information; if a supplier can not give this information consumers should most certainly avoid them.
*Are the fragrance or essential oils pure and uncut? Consumers should make sure that the oils have not been cut with DPG or Carrier oils. Cut oils, while suitable for wearing on the skin, are not suitable for crafting purposes because they do not smell strongly enough. These oils are also not meant for consumption.
* Are the oils fragrance or essential? Each type of oil has its uses and both can be beneficial, but it is very important that the consumer knows what they are buying. The strength of the oil determines how much of it they should use, and whether or not they can get any alleochemical benefits from the oil. Fragrance oils are also not meant for ingestion; they are synthetic renditions of essential oils and are only suitable for use as fragrance.
One way a consumer can find potential suppliers is to spend some time on aromatherapy or herbal message boards and forums and read through any existing threads about suppliers. Consumers can also start their own topic listing all of the materials that they need. If they pick a well populated board they will get lots of responses. These responses will be particularly helpful because of the responders' personal experience with the suppliers they are recommending. Consumers can also check their local health food, and crafting stores for materials.
The last, but very important, step that a consumer can take is to check every potential supplier's record with the Better Business Bureau. Suppliers who have numerous unresolved complaints should be regarded as not trustworthy enough to purchase herbs or essential and fragrance oils from. With a little caution and inquisitiveness it is easy for the average consumer to find a trustworthy supplier for all of the herbal needs.
I have found Mountain Rose Herbs to be an excellent source of high quality herbs and essential oils. www.mountainroseherbs.com
The difference between essential and fragrance oils
I wrote this peice to help laypersons learn about the differences between essential and fragrance oils. In addition to the many differences they have, they also have different uses that they are suited for. The jury is still out over wether essential or fragrance oils will suit the making of ritual oils. Many purists claim that essential oils are neccessary. I tend to think that unless the oil, or preperation will be ingested, a high quality fragrance oil will do nicely. I believe this because the use of oils and herbs in rituals and spellwork is primarily a form of sympathetic magic and its real power is the effect that it has on the practitioner. Scents have profound effects on our bodies due to our sense of smell being hardwired to many parts of our brains. A high quality fragrance oil that smells true to the scent it is attempting to emulate effects our psyche just as much as an essential oil. With that said enjoy the rest of the piece!
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What is the difference between essential and fragrance oils? This question is frequently posed by those new to aromatherapy and herbalism. There is a lot of debate surrounding this subject.
Fragrance oils and genuine Essential oils have many similarities but they also differ in fundamental ways. Genuine essential oils are pure distillations of a flowers, herbs, roots, or resins that have not been cut with any kind of carrier oil. These oils are often expensive, and they are prized for their potent fragrances as well as their medicinal benefits.
Plants and the essential oils derived from them contain alleochemicals-chemicals that have affects on the human body. Sometimes these effects are good and sometimes they are bad depending on the plant matter used. This is why it is particularly important to familiarize yourself with the herbs and oils that you use. Those new to the art should take the time to use additional resources, and speak with their doctor before using any herbal preparation that they are not familiar with.
Some of the prized effects of certain essential oils are: skin and hair softening, skin moisturizing, rash / eczema / psoriasis relief, youthful looking rejuvenation, anxiety dissipation, tension relief, stress relief, pain relief, migraine relief, and enhancement of overall feeling of well being.
Essential oils have drawbacks as well as benefits. Many essential oils are incredibly expensive - an example of this is Rose Otto Essential oil. It is said that it takes a thousand Rose petals to make a mere drop of this oil. A fluid ounce costs, on average, $200 dollars. The pure scent of the oil is heavenly, and a small amount of the oil will go a long way. However, the expense is something that few can afford to indulge on a regular basis. This reason alone is often enough for many people to choose fragrance oils which are much less expensive.
Another drawback of some essential oils is that both their quality and scent varies depending on the crop. Essential oils can also vary by region due to variations in the plant matter used, conditions grown in, etc.
This makes it difficult for craft makers to keep their finished products consistent. For people simply making items for personal use this is not usually significant unless the person is very particular about their fragrances, but for crafters making items for sale this can pose a very large problem. Many crafters opt for fragrance oils instead to keep their finished product consistent.
Finally, sometimes an essential oil that smells really good, is not so good for health if the plant matter is poisonous or an irritant to the human body. This extremely limits the oils aromatherapy applications. Fragrance oils provide a way to avoid any unpleasant side effects of but still benefit from the scent of normally dangerous, or irritating herbs.
Those characteristics: the definition, benefits, and disadvantages of essential oils along with information about why fragrance oils are a viable alternative are a good start but its important to define what a Fragrance oil is.
Fragrance oils are almost always synthetic; they do not contain the true floral essence so their contribution to aromatherapy is simply fragrance. Some fragrance oils aren't synthetic, these oils are blends of essential oils cut with a carrier oil. If you plan to use fragrance oils for crafting incense, bath and body products, etc. it is important to use concentrated, synthetic oils.
Fragrance oils that are really essential / carrier oil blends have been diluted too much and their scent is not strong enough to be used for crafting purposes. Save the essential / carrier oils blend for use directly on the skin, hair, or candles.
Finally, Fragrance oils are beneficial even though they are synthetic because their aroma can help encourage peace of mind, and alleviate the blues. However, they are never to be taken internally unlike genuine fragrance oils. They are also much more affordable with the average person being able to use some every day.
Ultimately whether a fragrance or essential oil is appropriate depends on the application, and the crafters budget.
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What is the difference between essential and fragrance oils? This question is frequently posed by those new to aromatherapy and herbalism. There is a lot of debate surrounding this subject.
Fragrance oils and genuine Essential oils have many similarities but they also differ in fundamental ways. Genuine essential oils are pure distillations of a flowers, herbs, roots, or resins that have not been cut with any kind of carrier oil. These oils are often expensive, and they are prized for their potent fragrances as well as their medicinal benefits.
Plants and the essential oils derived from them contain alleochemicals-chemicals that have affects on the human body. Sometimes these effects are good and sometimes they are bad depending on the plant matter used. This is why it is particularly important to familiarize yourself with the herbs and oils that you use. Those new to the art should take the time to use additional resources, and speak with their doctor before using any herbal preparation that they are not familiar with.
Some of the prized effects of certain essential oils are: skin and hair softening, skin moisturizing, rash / eczema / psoriasis relief, youthful looking rejuvenation, anxiety dissipation, tension relief, stress relief, pain relief, migraine relief, and enhancement of overall feeling of well being.
Essential oils have drawbacks as well as benefits. Many essential oils are incredibly expensive - an example of this is Rose Otto Essential oil. It is said that it takes a thousand Rose petals to make a mere drop of this oil. A fluid ounce costs, on average, $200 dollars. The pure scent of the oil is heavenly, and a small amount of the oil will go a long way. However, the expense is something that few can afford to indulge on a regular basis. This reason alone is often enough for many people to choose fragrance oils which are much less expensive.
Another drawback of some essential oils is that both their quality and scent varies depending on the crop. Essential oils can also vary by region due to variations in the plant matter used, conditions grown in, etc.
This makes it difficult for craft makers to keep their finished products consistent. For people simply making items for personal use this is not usually significant unless the person is very particular about their fragrances, but for crafters making items for sale this can pose a very large problem. Many crafters opt for fragrance oils instead to keep their finished product consistent.
Finally, sometimes an essential oil that smells really good, is not so good for health if the plant matter is poisonous or an irritant to the human body. This extremely limits the oils aromatherapy applications. Fragrance oils provide a way to avoid any unpleasant side effects of but still benefit from the scent of normally dangerous, or irritating herbs.
Those characteristics: the definition, benefits, and disadvantages of essential oils along with information about why fragrance oils are a viable alternative are a good start but its important to define what a Fragrance oil is.
Fragrance oils are almost always synthetic; they do not contain the true floral essence so their contribution to aromatherapy is simply fragrance. Some fragrance oils aren't synthetic, these oils are blends of essential oils cut with a carrier oil. If you plan to use fragrance oils for crafting incense, bath and body products, etc. it is important to use concentrated, synthetic oils.
Fragrance oils that are really essential / carrier oil blends have been diluted too much and their scent is not strong enough to be used for crafting purposes. Save the essential / carrier oils blend for use directly on the skin, hair, or candles.
Finally, Fragrance oils are beneficial even though they are synthetic because their aroma can help encourage peace of mind, and alleviate the blues. However, they are never to be taken internally unlike genuine fragrance oils. They are also much more affordable with the average person being able to use some every day.
Ultimately whether a fragrance or essential oil is appropriate depends on the application, and the crafters budget.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
All about Gum Arabic (acacia)
Gum Arabic is an amazing substance, and though most do not know it nearly everyone either ingests or wears some of it every day because it is included in so many products. The resin is popular among pagans and other pursuing holistic lifestyles due to its use for many natural products and in herbal medecine. I wrote the following peice to highlight its history, harvesting process and uses.
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Gum Arabic is a highly prized resin used for a variety of purposes such as adding to cosmetics, lotions, paint, adhesives, soda, candy and marshmallows.
Gum Arabic resin is harvested from two species of Acacia trees, specifically Acacia seyel and Acacia senegal. The Acacia trees grow in several African countries, however the majority of Gum Arabic is harvested in Sudan. Sudan harvests roughly 60 % of the world's Gum Arabic. This figure represents a significant decline of Sudan's harvests since the 1990's.
Oddly enough Gum Arabic resin is produced by sick and or wounded trees. This happens because Acacia trees' production of resin is a defensive measure. When the trees are ill and their protective bark is damaged the trees produce a thick sap which fills the damaged portion of the bark. The sap oozes out and soon dries in teardrop shapes becoming quite hard.
The resin protects the tree from insects and pathogenic fungus that might otherwise invade the injured part of the tree bark.Gum Arabic is a precious commodity and materialistic owners of the trees are not content to wait for the trees to emit Gum Arabic resin naturally. Owners generally speed up the process by deliberately injuring the trees. This is done by workers who gouge holes in the trees' bark and or remove strips of bark from the tree forcing the tree to protect itself by producing sap.
Once the sap hardens into tears it is manually harvested by workers who hand-pick it. Legend has it that the Moor's who used to harvest the tears could subsist on nothing but the very nutritious resin. After harvesting workers sort the tears according to quality. The quality of any piece of the resin is readily discernible from its color. White gum Arabic is considered to be the most potent and pure. Yellow and Red Gum Arabic resins are considered to be of medium quality, while brown resin is the lowest quality available.
Much of Gum Arabic's value comes from its nutritional content. Its nutritional value makes it a very desirable food additive. The resin is also useful for manufacturing food and cosmetics due to its ability to emulsify oil and water. Its ability to emulsify makes it a useful ingredient in creams, lotions and confections such as frosting. The resin is also used in the adhesive on the back of many stamps.
The availability of Gum Arabic has been reduced in recent years by the instability in Sudan resulting from the conflict occurring in Darfur. Many of the very valuable Acacia trees have been cut down by desperate, indigent people who sell the trees for firewood and timber. In 2007 Sudan's President also threatened to stop export of Gum Arabic in response to the threat of sanctions from the United States. At this time the future of Gum Arabic is very much in question.
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Gum Arabic is a highly prized resin used for a variety of purposes such as adding to cosmetics, lotions, paint, adhesives, soda, candy and marshmallows.
Gum Arabic resin is harvested from two species of Acacia trees, specifically Acacia seyel and Acacia senegal. The Acacia trees grow in several African countries, however the majority of Gum Arabic is harvested in Sudan. Sudan harvests roughly 60 % of the world's Gum Arabic. This figure represents a significant decline of Sudan's harvests since the 1990's.
Oddly enough Gum Arabic resin is produced by sick and or wounded trees. This happens because Acacia trees' production of resin is a defensive measure. When the trees are ill and their protective bark is damaged the trees produce a thick sap which fills the damaged portion of the bark. The sap oozes out and soon dries in teardrop shapes becoming quite hard.
The resin protects the tree from insects and pathogenic fungus that might otherwise invade the injured part of the tree bark.Gum Arabic is a precious commodity and materialistic owners of the trees are not content to wait for the trees to emit Gum Arabic resin naturally. Owners generally speed up the process by deliberately injuring the trees. This is done by workers who gouge holes in the trees' bark and or remove strips of bark from the tree forcing the tree to protect itself by producing sap.
Once the sap hardens into tears it is manually harvested by workers who hand-pick it. Legend has it that the Moor's who used to harvest the tears could subsist on nothing but the very nutritious resin. After harvesting workers sort the tears according to quality. The quality of any piece of the resin is readily discernible from its color. White gum Arabic is considered to be the most potent and pure. Yellow and Red Gum Arabic resins are considered to be of medium quality, while brown resin is the lowest quality available.
Much of Gum Arabic's value comes from its nutritional content. Its nutritional value makes it a very desirable food additive. The resin is also useful for manufacturing food and cosmetics due to its ability to emulsify oil and water. Its ability to emulsify makes it a useful ingredient in creams, lotions and confections such as frosting. The resin is also used in the adhesive on the back of many stamps.
The availability of Gum Arabic has been reduced in recent years by the instability in Sudan resulting from the conflict occurring in Darfur. Many of the very valuable Acacia trees have been cut down by desperate, indigent people who sell the trees for firewood and timber. In 2007 Sudan's President also threatened to stop export of Gum Arabic in response to the threat of sanctions from the United States. At this time the future of Gum Arabic is very much in question.
The history and uses of Myrrh resin.
Myrrh resin is highly prized. The resin has a rich history and has many uses both in mundane and in Pagan circles. This versatile herb is in many ways a staple of a witch's herbal. I wrote this peice to highlight the resins many uses.
Myrrh is a valuable resin produced by Commiphorra myrrha tree. Myrrh like all tree resin is actually hardened sap. The sap is secreted by the Commiphorra myrrha tree when its bark has been removed or penetrated. The sap protects the tree from invasion by fungus and insects. The sap leaks out of the damaged spots on the tree and hardens into oblong shapes generally referred to as tears.
Myrrh resin has been used in religious rituals both Pagan and Christian for millenia. It is perhaps most well known for its inclusion in the story of Jesus of Nazareth's birth. According to the Christian bible Myrrh, along with gold and frankincense, was one of the gifts brought to the child Jesus by three wise men. The time indicated in the account coincides with the height of Myrrh's heyday because the resin was widely used in Pagan religious practices.
The Commiphorra myrrha trees are native to parts of Somalia and Ethiopia. During its peak Myrrh resin sales helped Ethiopia flourish, thrive and become a great kingdom that sharply contrasts the famine stricken, third world Ethiopia of modern times.
Myrrh's decline, and also Ethiopia's, began with the advent of Christianity. As Christianity spread and many Myrrh loving Pagans were converted demand for Myrrh dropped dramatically. While not entirely responsible for Ethiopia's decline the drop in Myrrh sales contributed to it greatly.Myrrh is still used by some Christian sects in certain services. Demand for the resin is also rebounding slightly due to the rise of Wicca and other neo-pagan religions.
Myrrh resin is quite hard and is reddish brown in appearance. It is often ground and then used in incense blends. Small unground chunks of Myrrh resin are also used in incense, usually burned on charcoal discs. When Myrrh is burned it has a very smoky, earthy scent with a hint of sweetness. It is said to add depth to incense blends and perfumes.
Finely ground myrrh can be used a natural colorant in many personal care items. The resin is used in many bath products. It is antiseptic in nature causing it to be used in items such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and salves for wounds. The resin is used in both Chinese Medicine and Modern Herbalism.
Myrrh is not hypo-allergenic, however it has an excellent safety record and allergies to it are uncommon. However, the resin should not be used by pregnant women. One should consult a doctor before using any herb or resin.
Myrrh is a valuable resin produced by Commiphorra myrrha tree. Myrrh like all tree resin is actually hardened sap. The sap is secreted by the Commiphorra myrrha tree when its bark has been removed or penetrated. The sap protects the tree from invasion by fungus and insects. The sap leaks out of the damaged spots on the tree and hardens into oblong shapes generally referred to as tears.
Myrrh resin has been used in religious rituals both Pagan and Christian for millenia. It is perhaps most well known for its inclusion in the story of Jesus of Nazareth's birth. According to the Christian bible Myrrh, along with gold and frankincense, was one of the gifts brought to the child Jesus by three wise men. The time indicated in the account coincides with the height of Myrrh's heyday because the resin was widely used in Pagan religious practices.
The Commiphorra myrrha trees are native to parts of Somalia and Ethiopia. During its peak Myrrh resin sales helped Ethiopia flourish, thrive and become a great kingdom that sharply contrasts the famine stricken, third world Ethiopia of modern times.
Myrrh's decline, and also Ethiopia's, began with the advent of Christianity. As Christianity spread and many Myrrh loving Pagans were converted demand for Myrrh dropped dramatically. While not entirely responsible for Ethiopia's decline the drop in Myrrh sales contributed to it greatly.Myrrh is still used by some Christian sects in certain services. Demand for the resin is also rebounding slightly due to the rise of Wicca and other neo-pagan religions.
Myrrh resin is quite hard and is reddish brown in appearance. It is often ground and then used in incense blends. Small unground chunks of Myrrh resin are also used in incense, usually burned on charcoal discs. When Myrrh is burned it has a very smoky, earthy scent with a hint of sweetness. It is said to add depth to incense blends and perfumes.
Finely ground myrrh can be used a natural colorant in many personal care items. The resin is used in many bath products. It is antiseptic in nature causing it to be used in items such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and salves for wounds. The resin is used in both Chinese Medicine and Modern Herbalism.
Myrrh is not hypo-allergenic, however it has an excellent safety record and allergies to it are uncommon. However, the resin should not be used by pregnant women. One should consult a doctor before using any herb or resin.
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