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~detail: Castor oil comes from the seed of the castor plant (Ricinus communis), a broad-leafed flowering plant native to tropical Africa, which spread through pre-historic sea trade to India and the Indonesian islands. It has no close botanical relatives, but is distantly related to the poinsettia and the rubber tree. They are all members of the Euphorbiaceae botanical family, which they share with thousands of other species mostly found on the Indonesian islands. The Castor plant has a long history of medicinal use throughout the Old World, with a large number of uses prescribed particularly by the Ayurvedic system of...

~detail: Olive oil comes from the fruit of the olive tree (Olea europaea), a small evergreen tree native to Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean. It’s a member of the Oleaceae botanical family, which it shares with a famous tropical cousin, the Jasmine tree. Olive oil’s long and rich history in world culinary culture is legendary, but less well known is its equally long history of use in health treatments on the body. The same nutritious plant properties that make olives such a healthy dietary staple also make them beneficial for treating the body from the outside-in. Olive oil is incredibly...

~detail: Beeswax is produced naturally from the activities of honeybees. A member of the Apidae family of bees,honeybees originated in Southeast Asia and now thrive in habitats across the globe. They produce honey from flower nectar as a food store, and keep it packed away in honeycomb nests made of six-sided cells. These honeycomb cells are composed of pure beeswax. Human use of this produce from honeybees extends back to prehistoric times, with honey being one of the few sweeteners available to prehistoric peoples, and beeswax among a limited repertoire of available materials for constructing tools and art. As with...

~detail: Coconut oil is a fantastic natural skin moisturizer and softener, and is absorbed readily by the skin. This ability to deeply penetrate the skin also helps to enhance the effects of other healing plants, such as essential oils, because it carries these oils past the skin barrier into the body. Coconut oil is also soothing and anti-inflammatory, and has anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. It contains a high amount of lauric acid, which is known to be anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-oxidant. It is also full of other nutrients, such as Vitamin E, which is also a natural anti-oxidant. This means...

~detail: Aromatherapy in the air Essential oils used in the air provide delightful aromas and allow anyone who breathes in their presence to benefit from their effects. Aromatherapy Air Mists made from synergistic blends of essential oils can be used as natural air fresheners that spread good health as well as pleasant smells. Aromatherapy burners can be used with about 10 to 20 drops of a chosen essential oil to gently perfume the air.   Aromatherapy on the body Essential oils used directly on the body are absorbed into the skin. However, essential oils are highly concentrated so should be...