Plant Description

History and Origin

This sub shrub can reach up to 50 cm in height. Its long green three-lobed leaves with reddish veins are highly indented and velvety. The buds are pinkish; the small flowers white or purple, with five petals of which two have red striations. Geranium is now very common for its aesthetic appearance and ability to repel insects. Furthermore, this ornamental plant is well-known for its low maintenance. Today, there are hundreds of geranium species. They are spread throughout the world, in China, Morocco, Egypt, Madagascar and Réunion Island.

Geranium essential oil is used in dermatology since many years. It is particularly recommended for acne problems.

Associated to the planet Venus, geranium was often used to dilute rose oil to lower its costs. 

Plant Description

History and Origin

There are many kinds of chamomile not to be confused: German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) and Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium). German chamomile grows along roads and in field edges. It has scented flowers with white petals and yellow hearts. For peoples of Northern Europe, the yellow disc of the flower represents the sun. Its Latin name Matricaria comes from "matri" which means mother because the plant was mainly used to treat "women’s problems".

Plant Description

History and Origin

There are numerous species of this plant, over a hundred. These grow in a wide variety of environments, and that characterizes the landscape of St. Lawrence Valley and North America in general. Goldenrod easily spreads owing to its prolific downy fruits (between 15 000 and 20 000 by plant). Once planted, goldenrod finds its way with its rhizomes. Goldenrods are also numerous and abundant in Europe. They are sometimes even considered as a weed plant, just like in North America. Numerous measures are taken in order to eradicate it. Goldenrod species are abundantly used by native people. Therapeutic uses are numerous. To name only a few, the plant is used as a liver stimulant, antipyretic and antidiarrheal. The Meskwaki people would also use it in children having difficulty starting to speak or laugh.

Plant Description

History and origin

Citrus paradisii is a very popular citrus in the market. It is a large fruit that ranges in diameter from approximately 10 to 15 cm, with a yellow or pink peel when ripe. However, the fruit is very much smaller than the pomelo fruit, Citrus maxima syn. Citrus grandis. When discovered in the Antilles around 18th century, the pomelo was considered as a mutation of Citrus grandis. Then, in 1847, James Mac Fayden, in his book Flore de la Jamaïque, gave it its botanical name Citrus paradisii. From 1948, one started to suspect that pomelo was in fact a hybrid of Citrus maxima x Citrus sinensis, i.e. a hybrid of grapefruit and orange. Moreover, its botanical name appears more and more often written in order to reflect this hybrid status: Citrus x paradisii.

Grapefruit tree is mainly grown in North America (Florida, California, Texas), in Brazil, in the Antilles an in Israel. Pink grapefruit is a cross between pomelo and sweet orange. Its fruit, with a thin yellow to pink peel is an edible berry slightly sweet made of a dozen of sections. It grows in bunches, hence its English name "grapefruit".

Aromatherapy 

Plant Description

History and Origin

Italian Helichrysum or Everlasting is a perrenial plant. Helichrysum comes from the greek words "helios", sun, and "chrysos", gold, because its flowers look like little gold suns. It is found almost everywhere around the Mediterranean area and in Corsica, by the sea and inland. It is used for its particular biochemical compounds.

Plant Description

History and Origin

Italian Helichrysum or Everlasting is a perrenial plant. Helichrysum comes from the greek words "helios", sun, and "chrysos", gold, because its flowers look like little gold suns. It is found almost everywhere around the Mediterranean area and in Corsica, by the sea and inland. It is used for its particular biochemical compounds.

Plant Description

History and Origin

Ho Wood is part of the cinnamomum family, just like ravintsara. Its complete botanical name is Cinnamomum camphora (ct. linalool), very close to ravintsara. Ho Wood essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the bark, and also called Ho Leaf or Shiu Rosewood. Ho Wood essential oil is considered as a twin of rosewood, known to be very efficient and very well tolerated by the skin.

ENERGETIC AND EMOTIONAL EFFECT

Ho Wood is used for meditation and as a preparation to healing. It is closely related to the crown chakra. It opens the inner ear and prepares to compassion. It stimulates creativity and helps dissolve internal conflicts. It soothes the feelings of abandonment and loneliness.

Plant Description

History and origin

Jojoba is a shrub native to South American desert (Arizona, Mexico), it lives at least 100 years and jojoba fruit contains the seeds used to produce the oil.
Jojoba oil is particularly close to sebum naturally secreted by our glands. Its ability to penetrate the skin is extraordinary. It is a perfect vector in aromatherapy. It is a stable oil, that does not get rancid at all (it has a good oxidation and heat resistance). Native-Americans, who considered it had magical properties, used jojoba as a remedy to heal the wounds, a restorer and a conditioner for hairs, food, a medicine and as a protector for the skin against high solar radiations of the desert.

Plant Description

History and origin

In North America, Labrador tea is transcontinental. It tends towards boreal and arctic regions. This indigenous species is mainly found in bogs and sites populated with black spruce. It is a medium-sized evergreen shrub with alternate and oblong leaves. Native Americans drink infused Labrador tea to treat certain respiratory, digestive and renal problems, rheumatisms, scurvy and headaches. They also use it as a blood purifier and as a parturition aid. Besides, the infusion was used as a wash for wounds, insect bites and skin rash and to prepare a dark brown tincture used to color wool and wood

Energetic and Emotional Effect Labrador tea has a remarkable effect on emotions. It helps dissolving energy blockages (with the massage of the stomach and liver region). It also favors self wakening. Applied on the throat chakra, it helps expressing the truth; on the forehead chakra, it facilitates knowledge and understanding. Combined with bergamot zest, it helps spiritual healing.

Plant Description

History and Origin

Bay laurel natively grows as a shrub around the Mediterranean Sea. During Antiquity, laurel was the very symbol of victory and prestige. Associated to the divinity of the Greeks Apollo, Romans and Greeks used to crown their leaders and elite members with its leaves. The classic image of Jules Cesar is associated to laurel.

The use and reputation of laurel is well established, yet, today, its culinary use often offsets its therapeutic properties.

Herbalists used to advise laurel in cases of mild nervous disorders, atonic amenorrhea, chronic bronchitis and breakdown. As an herbal tea, it was also used to treat loss of appetite and atonic dyspepsia. Crushed leaves were applied to cure ulcers and disinfect wounds.

Plant Description

History and Origin

True Lavender is a subshrub growing on the dry and sunny hillsides of southern France and other countries around the Mediterranean Sea. It comes with a long-standing reputation as a popular remedy. Known since Roman Antiquity as a perfume and aromatic, Lavender was named from Latin term lavare (meaning “to wash”). Not only using it to perfume linen, Romans also used it in private and public baths. But lavender was also known as a popular remedy against digestive disorders as well as a cosmetic care and insect repellant.

Plant Description

History and Origin

Lemon verbena is a small shrub of the verbenaceae family originating from South America. It is cultivated for its delicious lemon-scented leaves and for its properties in phytotherapy. It can flavor some dishes, drinks and infusions for its calming and digestive virtues. Lemon verbena is also known to fight against depression and insomnia. It is also called Aloysia triphylla in Latin.

Aromatherapy 

Energetic and Emotional Effect

Lemon verbena has an energizing effect. It stimulates energy and reduces nervous fatigue, while helping find back the joy to live and self-esteem. It helps strengthen concentration abilities. Lemon verbena enables to turn the page on the past and to manage the present. It is very useful to fight against depressions and to help overcome grief. Lemon verbena prepare for the future with joy and confidence.

Uses