Carrier Oil - Tamanu - Calophyllum inophyllum

Calophyllum inophyllum (Tamanu) is a large evergreen tree that grows to around 20 m in height.  It is native to East Africa, it grows from southern coastal India to Australia and is cultivated in many tropical regions, including several pacific islands. 

It is an ornamental plant with a crackled, dark bark, dark-green glossy leaves and white, fragrant flowers.  The fruit is a round, green drupe with a thick skin and a single thick-shelled seed about the size of a walnut.  The wood is hard and strong and it has been used in construction and boatbuilding.

The carrier oil is produced by cold-pressing the sun-dried fruit and seed together to produce a thick, dark green-brown oil.  The resins that are initially to be found in the oil are separated out.

The oil has a long history of traditional folk use.  It has been used by many Pacific island peoples for a wide range of skin disorders and conditions.  It is used for its analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious properties and has been found helpful for sciatica, shingles, eczema, psoriasis, neuritis, skin allergies, rheumatism, phlebitis, varicose veins, cracked skin, stretch marks and sunburn.

Len Price in his book Carrier Oils for Aromatherapy and Massage says that:

External use of this oil has been shown to be helpful for:

• various problems of the scalp and hair
• acne, eczema, psoriasis, scars (Muller 19930
• facial neuralgia
• shingles (Herpes zoster) a combination of tamanu vegetable oil and Ravensara aromatica essential oil has been used successfully as a treatment (Penoel 1981) and it has been shown effective for shingles by Cadwallander 1997 and Keville & Green 1995. 
• stimulating phagocytosis (Schnaubelt 1994).  Phagocytosis is the process by which the human body destroys dead or foreign cells)
• sciatica and rheumatism - due to the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

Kurt Schnaubelt says that one of the most effective remedies for the relief of pain in the case of shingles is to blend Tamanu and Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora ct. 1,8 – cineole) in a 50:50 synergy and apply as needed.

Jan Kusmirek, in his book Liquid Sunshine, Vegetable Oils for Aromatherapy says that in the South Sea Islands it has been used to alleviate pains due to leprosy, sciatica and rheumatism, and as a cure for ulcers and bad wounds. He also says that Tamanu oil is an excellent raw material for protective formulations such as soothing creams, lotions and balms; and as after-hair-removal creams, after-sun milks, or for sores and minor stings and bite preparations.  He says that it is not suitable for massage or diet and should be used as a formulation ingredient and for spot topical applications.

While this thick sticky oil might not be the one you would reach for for your regular skin care routine, it has a long tradition of being effectively used in cosmetic products and it is certainly an oil that I have seen used, in combination with Ravintsara, very effectively for several different cases of shingles.

Contraindications: for topical use - none.

When properly stored in cool dry place and out of direct sunlight, Tamanu Oil has a shelf life of up to 5 years. It is ideal to store the bottle of Tamanu Oil you are frequently using between 70° F (21° C) and below 125° F (52° C) and out of direct sunlight.

Upcoming Events

November 3.  Free Introduction to Spiritual PhytoEssencing at Natural Comfort Wellness Centre in Tsawwassen at 7.30 pm.

November 20.  Last scheduled Reiki Level 1 class for 2011.  In 2012 the Reiki classes will be offered the same way as all the other workshops, by arrangement.

Contact me if you are interested in attending either of these.

Halloween in Essential Oils

As usual time seems to be slipping by really quickly and it occurred to me this morning that if I would like to have a special blend that reflected the "Spirit of Halloween" I'd better get on with deciding what I'm going to blend so that everything has a little time to mellow and meld nicely together.

Halloween was not a holiday I had ever celebrated before coming to Canada.  As a child growing up in South Africa, the only 'trick or treating' I knew about came from the movies, and even when we moved to Germany it was not something that was celebrated.  So in order to create a blend that really captures the 'spirit' and 'soul' of the season I thought that I'd first do a little research on its origins.  Is there something special behind all the Halloween traditions practiced in North America or is it just a 'commercial holiday' celebrating chocolate?

Here is a sampling of what I found.  It is said that Halloween began in Ireland, originating in Pagan times.  The traditions that have been celebrated around this holiday are somewhat different but in many countries they appear to be traditions that honour the spirits of the dead.  For instance in Austria bread, water and a lighted lamp are left out to welcome dead souls back to earth, while in Belgium it is the custom to light candles on this night in honour of their dead.  In Czechoslovakia, chairs are placed around the fireplace, one for each living family member and one for the spirit of each of their family members who have passed on.  In some parts of Germany, apparently people put away their knives to prevent harm to, or from, the returning spirits. In Hong Kong October 31 is known as "Yue Lan" (Festival of the Hungry Ghosts) and is a time when it is believed that spirits roam the world for twenty-four hours.

Apparently the English stopped celebrating Halloween in 1517 when Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation began to spread.  Some time after 1605 they started celebrating Guy Fawkes day on November 5, to remember the Catholic Plot to blow up the Protestant English Parliament.  Bonfires were lit across the country. People made lanterns from carved out turnips and children went begging for "a penny for the guy".  The pennies were collected in order to buy more wood for the bonfire upon which Guy Fawkes was to be burned alive. So I learned something new to me as I certainly remember celebrating Guy Fawkes Day on November 5th with lots of fireworks, until fireworks were banned for sale because they were considered to be too dangerous.

One of the origins of "trick or treating" appears to refer to the practice of souling - going from door to door on or about All Souls Day to solicit gifts of food in return for prayers for the dead which is said to have evolved from a pagan ritual that was practiced all over Europe, possibly as early as the 10th century. Failure to supply the food would result in practical jokes being played on the home owners.

So enough about the history, which essential oils am I going to choose from for my 'Halloween Blend'?

The first oils that come to mind are the spicy ones of Cinnamon and Nutmeg that remind me of Pumpkin and Pumpkin Pies, but I also want to include oils that would honour 'souls of the departed'.

Here are three of the Rubrics I've chosen from Dr. Berkowsky's Spiritual PhytoEssencing Repertory to build the blend from.

Death-Rebirth Miasm: Cinnamon, cacao
Fear, of ghosts: camphor; cedarwood; cypress; eucalyptus; helichrysm; hemp; jasmine; lemon; mastic; oakmoss; parsley; patchouli; peru balsam; rosewood; sage; tarragon; turmeric; vetiver; yarrow.
Talks - Dead people, with: bergamot; buchu; carrot seed; catnip; celery seed; orris root; tarragon; tea tree.

My oils for the Halloween Synergy are:

Bergamot - In Spiritual PhytoEssencing the theme of 'Light and Darkness' are central On a Subtle level, Bergamot opens the Heart Chakra and allows love to radiate. It is uplifting and eases grief. Bergamot can help release relationship stress both with others and yourself. When one has guilt over past actions, meditation with Bergamot may hep give one insights into the situation and help one to learn and grow from the experience.

Cinnamon - In Spiritual PhytoEssencing,the cinnamon type, has, in a broad-sense, undergone a rebirth in his life in that he felt compelled to remake his image in his own eyes. He struggles with might and main to effect the "death" of his doubt-filled self, so that he may be reborn as an individual who is secure in his self-worth. On a Subtle level, Cinnamon can help transform sorrow into happiness.

Lemon - On a Subtle level, Lemon clears and cleanses the room. It helps to alleviate fears of emotional involvement and promotes joy. It helps one to receive and understand intuitive information. It can be warn during the Full Moon to attune with its energies.

Sage - Sage has often been associated with longevity and even immortality. On a Subtle level, Sage cleanses and purifies and is also thought to connect one to Ancestral memories.

My final synergy of 5 parts Bergamot;  1 part Cinnamon;  5 parts Lemon;  3 parts Sage, is made up, mellowing nicely and will be ready for October 31.

What oils are you going to add to your Halloween Synergy? 

Upcoming Events

November 3.  Free Introduction to Spiritual PhytoEssencing at Natural Comfort Wellness Centre in Tsawwassen at 7.30 pm.

November 20.  Last scheduled Reiki Level 1 class for 2011.  In 2012 the Reiki classes will be offered the same way as all the other workshops, by arrangement.

Contact me if you are interested in attending either of these.

Peppermint Personality and Soul Qualities

This morning as I had my morning coffee I was gazing out at my courtyard and enjoying the plants and colour still there.  I don't know how much longer I'll have the roses and other flowers to enjoy but for now it is still a welcome feast for my eyes.  When I was thinking about what to blog about today my eye lighted on my peppermint plant and even though I've grown it in a container this year, it has certainly flourished giving me both a beautiful and aromatic display and a medicinal and culinary plant right at hand.  I got to thinking just how much I've used and enjoyed this plant this year - from adding it to a floral display to bring into the house, to adding it to many recipes, to chewing on it to get a quick lift or reduce a  minor complaint.  It certainly has performed with great abundance for me this year.

I have blogged about peppermint essential oil before and if you check the archives you will find the mini profile of this oil both in the previous blogs and in the Articles Archives on the website.  Peppermint essential oil has traditionally be used for headaches and many digestive problems.  It is also a very cooling oil and is helpful for inflammation, fevers and hot flashes.  Menthol is a major constituent of peppermint essential oil and it has been shown to prevent the contraction of intestinal smooth muscle. It is thought that this is the component in peppermint oil that makes it good for indigestion and intestinal cramping.

Today I thought that I would share with you all two different ways of looking at Peppermint - one from the standpoint of Valerie Ann Worwod`s work Aroma Genera and the other from the standpoint of Dr. Bruce Berkowsky`s work Spiritual PhytoEssencing.  These are certainly two different ways of looking at personalities, but they do give clues as to the type of person who might benefit from using peppermint essential oil to support their personality and soul growth.  I hope you enjoy their viewpoints and that they give you some food for thought.

In her work,  Aroma-Genera, Valerie Ann Worword describes the Peppermint Personality Profile as follows:

The Peppermint personality is difficult to forget once you have met one as they cause an immediate reaction:  either you like them or you can't stand them.  There are no half measures.  Some timid souls find them brash and overpowering, but they are never dull.  Peppermint has an almost fearless spirit and this spills over into their relationships with people and animals... Peppermint's swiftness and quick thinking, combined with a good sense of humour, makes them witty.  Whatever the work, they are usually dynamic and if working for someone else will charm them with wit, agility and adaptability...  Peppermints are friendly people, who are quite concerned about the fate of others, even though they do like to be the centre of attention...Peppermints will be very loyal in relationships - no matter how stormy.

In his work, Spiritual PhytoEssencing, Dr. Bruce Berkowsky, describes elements of the Peppermint type as follows:

When the peppermint oil individual is frustrated in his quest for receiving love and by the lack of acknowledgment of his efforts to give love, he feels mightily oppressed. He alternately flares up with anger and restlessness, then simmers with despair. He needs ongoing communication established through intimacy and continual contact. Lacking this, he feels as if he cannot breathe deeply and looks outward, like a cornered animal, for an avenue of escape to a realm of open air and light. If he cannot establish at home the communication through language and touch that he constitutionally craves, then he may concoct elaborate fantasies regarding the discovery of these through travel. He is sexually charged, and like the element phosphorus, eager to combine, and so, may long for adulterous affairs. Yet in the long term, he can only be truly sexually fulfilled if his sexual relations are established within the context of honest communication and meaningful contact. on a soul-spiritual level is that the peppermint type urgently needs both to hear and be heard by those they are close to. If he does not “hear” genuine caring and respect in a partner or relative’s words, or his words fall on “deaf ears,” he becomes angry, restless and despairing and consumed with the idea of breaking free in order to find someone he can have a mutually satisfying exchange with.

If you too, have some Peppermint growing in your garden you might like to try this recipe for Fresh Mint Chutney to be found in  Lois Holes, Herbs and Edible Flower.
2 cups (500 ml) fresh mint leaves, firmly packed
1 medium onion diced
1/2 cup (125 ml) chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup (85 ml) lemon juice
4 Tbsp (60 ml) sugar
2 tsp (10 ml) salt
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) cayenne pepper
Add all the ingredients to a blender and grind till it forms a paste.  Scrape the sides of the blender to ensure even blending.  Serve with lamb.  Will keep in the fridge for 2 - 3 days.

I will be teaching the Reiki Level II Class this Sunday and I still have a spot or two open if anyone would like to join us here in Tsawwassen.  Pre-requisite is Reiki Level I.