Plant Extracts

Plant Description

History and Origin

Clove tree is an evergreen medium-sized tree native from the small volcanic islands of the Moluccas, Indonesia. Clove buds have long been known from the Chinese (you had to chew one to speak to the emperor) and around the Mediterranean Sea.  Imported in Europe in the Middle Age, clove used to be extremely expensive. Its origin remained secret at first and, just like for cinnamon and nutmeg, only the Portuguese and Dutch colonization brought about large scale harvesting and exportation activities towards Europe.

Energetic and Emotional Effect

Plant Description

History and origin

Edible coconut flesh is also known as copra. Copra oil is extracted from the flesh of the nut, or coconut oil, which has a solid texture at room temperature because of its high levels of saturated fatty acids. Copra oil is mainly used by the food industry for making pastries, candies and for frying, and it is also sometimes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated, which makes it even more solid.  The word "coco" appeared in the language at the beginning of the 16^th century. It comes from the Portuguese and Spanish word "coco" which means approximately bogeyman, monkey, dwarf or ghost, by referring to the fact that the shell reminds of a hairy face. The word "copra" comes from English and Portuguese, borrowed from Tamil dialect, "koppara". It refers more specifically to shelled and dried coconut. Green or immature, the nut contains about half a litre of a milky liquid (coconut water or albumen). This liquid becomes flesh as it matures. The flesh is usually dried with sun or heat to be sold under the name of copra. Commercial coconut milk and cream are made from this flesh ground with water, then filtered. Coconut oil (or coconut butter as it is solid at room temperature) is extracted from copra or fresh flesh. 

Plant Description

History and origin

The generic name Cupressus is the Latin name of the common cypress. This name comes from "Cyparissus", a figure from Greek mythology, son of Telephus, who was transformed into a cypress tree by Apollo. Cypress are trees or bushy shrubs, sempervirents, which can reach from 5 to 40 meters in height.

Romans and Egyptians dedicated this tree to the god of death. The mention "always green" in its name would remind of "still alive". Is it why cypress trees were planted in cemeteries?

Plant description

History and Origin

Eucalyptus radiata is a tree with a bluish grey trunk which may reach 30 to 50 meters in height. The flowers are grouped by 11 to 20 and are cream white. Australian aboriginals used the fresh leaves to heal their wounds. They already knew well its great antiviral and immune system stimulant properties. Eucalyptus radiata is part of all the pharmacopoeia throughout the world.

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.