Have you had your cup of hibiscus tea today?

image by Jayson Delos Santos

Drinking hibiscus, roselle, sorrel, or whichever-name-you-prefer-to-call-it  tea has gained popularity in recent years for many reasons. Some studies have concluded that making a tea from the calyces (sepals) of the hibiscus flowers, and drinking it at least once a day can do everything from lowering high blood pressure to easing constipation. With its multitude of benefits, and bright-zippy cranberry/lemony flavor, no wonder it’s so popular.

Here’s a list of some other aliments that have made hibiscus tea so popular for a mild remedy:

• Loss of appetite,
• colds,
• constipation,
• irritated stomach,
• fluid retention,
• heart disease,
• nerve disease
• Warms and unblocks all the chakras
  
• Helps one to feel passionate and excited about life
  
• Promotes feelings of Inner Peace and that “All Is Well”
  
• Helps to harness one’s creative abilities
  
• Excellent for both women and men in regards to sexual issues of all sorts including helping to release trauma due to abuse Excellent for creative visualization and stimulating the imagination
  
• Helps one to come into vibrational alignment with that which is desired
  
• Positive direction of the life force so that one is not over or under active in daily life
  
• Attracts more Beauty and Abundance into one’s life
  
• Excellent for Prosperity and easing fears that one will not be supported or taken care of by Life and The Universe
  
• Attracts much attention to both you personally and your life’s work in very positive ways
  
• The flowers of the Hibiscus only last about a day which also indicates that their essences can help you move through things rapidly as well.
  
• Hibiscus plants may appear to be dying off and yet suddenly they spring back to life again. This indicates that their essences can also help you “revive” situations or circumstances that have great value to you.

What other names is Hibiscus known by?

Ambashthaki, Bissap, Gongura, Groseille de Guinée, Guinea Sorrel, Hibisco, Hibiscus Calyx, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Jamaica Sorrel, Karkade, Karkadé, Oseille de Guinée, Oseille Rouge, Pulicha Keerai, Red Sorrel, Red Tea, Rosa de Jamaica, Roselle, Sour Tea, Sudanese Tea, Thé Rose d’Abyssinie, Thé Rouge, Zobo, Zobo Tea.

http://www.medicinenet.com/hibiscus/supplements-vitamins.htm

Click here to learn how to make this beautiful iced tea hibiscus beverage called fresca de jamaica.

Hibiscus tea is the infusion made from the calyces (sepals) of the Hibiscus sabdariffa flower, an herbal tea drink consumed both hot and cold by people around the world. It is also referred to as roselle (another common name for the hibiscus flower), flor de Jamaica in Latin America, karkadé in Egypt and Sudan, Chai Kujarat in Iraq, bissap or wonjo in West Africa, sorrel in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, red sorrel in the wider Caribbean, and other names in other regions. Hibiscus tea has a tart, cranberry-like flavor, and sugar is often added to sweeten the beverage. The tea contains vitamin C and minerals and is used traditionally as a mild medicine.
Hibiscus tea contains 15-30% organic acids, including citric acid, maleic acid, and tartaric acid. It also contains acidic polysaccharides and flavonoid glycosides, such as cyanidin and delphinidin, that give it its characteristic deep red colour. http://primatea.com/

pink sorrel iced tea ,or hibiscus iced tea

Here’s another lovely iced sorrel tea recipe:

Paraben-Free

Reblogged from The Zen Lily's Blog:

What Are the Benefits of Paraben-Free Body Products?

If you’ve ever tried reading the ingredients on your body products and bath gels, your tongue has probably been twisted by methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben or butylparaben. These and other parabens are all common additives. A few places you can find them include:

• Bath Gels.
• Lotions.
• Moisturizers.
• Cosmetics.
• Shampoos, conditioners and other hair products.

Read more… 464 more words

Here's an excellent post on parabens from a great writer...

Links and a Helpful List of Books for Natural Perfumery

I love my natural perfumery group. They are so helpful and chock full of useful info… I was looking up something and saw this post today for a newbie and thought this would really be beneficial for those who are interested in the wonders of natural botanicals and creating scent blends with them…

Books
The Scent Trail by Celia Lyttelton
Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin- Arctander ( This book is wicked pricey)
The Art of Perfumery by Septimus Piesse
The Rogue Perfumer by Dr. Bobbie Kelley ( This is a book by the perfumer of Paragon Perfumes, not entirely natural)
The Secret of Scent (science and history of smell) by Luca Turin
375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols by Jeanne Rose

Links/Info sites
http://bojensen. net/  one of my fav sites, it goes into the chemical makeup of different botanical ingredients

http://hausofwaft. com/generalized- aromatics- and-ingredients- list/  a very basic list of things used in aromatics

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=VJuR9dmRH5Y  Boris the Perfumer ( Wonderful late perfumer Alec Lawless)

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=KwVcFczU6i4

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=BUj6jpnXh3I& feature=relmfu  Alec Lawless on the Adulteration of essential oils, this is a 3 part interview

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=jbRFmIx3Vpo& feature=channel& list=UL  This a BBC documentary on perfume, I think its in about10 parts,very interesting.

Natural Perfumery Notes on Tinctures and Enfleurages

I love making natural perfumes. And have made hundreds over the years. The unique scents that each essential oil will carry can be exalted, or diminunized for very different results and lovely aromas are achieved.

Over the years there is much I have learned on my own as well as through research and sharing with like-minded groups.

Here’s a clip from my natural perfumery group I thought was pertinent to share about tinctures and enfleurages for those that are interested in making their own perfumes from essential oils, and natural elements. :

In NaturalPerfumery@ yahoogroups. com, “miraculousbeads1@ …” <miraculousbeads1@ …> wrote:
>
> I just made two batches of perfume which contain infused oil and enfleurage alcohol (carefully strained)
> The oil separated from the alcohol (I didn’t add water)
> Does anyone know what caused this to happen?
>
> Stumped,
> Margo

The oil you used for your infusion or maceration will not mix with alcohol and will separate. Use that oil for oil based perfumes and your alcohol tincture for alcohol based perfumes. Essential oils are not the same as carrier oils (almond oil, coconut, FCO, jojoba, etc.) . They will “dissolve” in high proof alcohol while your carrier will not.

Are you sure you are preparing an enfleurage and not a tincture? In an enfleurage the plant material is not saturated with the fat. The plants are laid on top of the fat (usually a soft solid) tray, recharged daily until the fat absorbs the odor molecules and then the fat is “washed” with alcohol.

If you put the plants directly in alcohol that is a tincture. Bear in mind that a tincture will also extract water from a plant and become diluted. As a result, it’s best to tincture with fully dried plant matter, if you would like to control the alcohol content. There are gauges you can use to measure the percentage of water in your alcohol. The more water, the more likelihood your essential oils will separate and your blend will become subject to spoilage if the alcohol content is too low and you will need a preservative.
Maggie

— In NaturalPerfumery@ yahoogroups. com, Johanna Knox <johanna.knox@ …> wrote:
>
> Hi – I’ve been reading with interest and have a question about all this.
> The 33% diluted absolutes from white lotus (diluted in fractionated coconut
> oil) seem to mix in with alcohol fine. I’m wondering why they do, but
> other oils don’t so much?
>
> Is it all about ratios? Types of oil? How fast you add one to the other?
> Or whether there is water involved as well?
>
> I’m trying to understand!
>
> Best wishes
> Johanna

Hi, Johanna:
Fractionated coconut oil absorbs water so there is no water content when you mix it with the alcohol.
I always add the oils slowly to the alcohol while stirring
Best Regards,
Margo
>u

Join GROUP for natural perfumes on yahoo here.

Learn more about production of perfumes here.

Full Swing Spring! Natural Remedies for Allergies; Immune Boosting Essential Oils, Allergen Home Spray Recipe, and Allergy Relief Blend Recipe

Spring with all it’s glory is in full swing and what better way to revel in all it’s beauty than to lace up your tennis shoes and take a morning walk. Not only does it do your mind, body and spirit wonders; it really puts a smile on your face and gives you that extra bounce in your step the rest of the day…

This article may help those that suffer (especially this time of year) from allergies that can cause us to stay indoors instead of enjoying the fine, fine weather we’ve been having.

Natural Remedies for Allergies; Immune Boosting Essential Oils, Allergen Home Spray Recipe, and Allergy Relief Blend Recipe http://voices.yahoo.com/natural-remedies-allergies-immune-7940992.html

Full Swing Spring! Natural Remedies for Allergies; Immune Boosting Essential Oils, Allergen Home Spray Recipe, and Allergy Relief Blend Recipe

Spring with all it’s glory is in full swing and what better way to revel in all it’s beauty than to lace up your tennis shoes and take a morning walk. Not only does it do your mind, body and spirit wonders; it really puts a smile on your face and gives you that extra bounce in your step the rest of the day…plus it helps shed a few extra winter pounds for swimsuit season which is right around the corner. Read this article too for great ideas on that.

Check out This article .. it may help those that suffer (especially this time of year) from allergies that can cause us to stay indoors instead of enjoying the fine, fine weather we’ve been having.

Natural Remedies for Allergies; Immune Boosting Essential Oils, Allergen Home Spray Recipe, and Allergy Relief Blend Recipe http://voices.yahoo.com/natural-remedies-allergies-immune-7940992.html

Outlook for 2012; Taking the Hard Road

Outlook for 2012; Taking the Hard Road -

2012 a year for big changes

2012 is finally here, and as so many of us do this time of year… making resolutions for ourselves and families isn’t always the easiest thing to stick to. We may have the best of intentions, and start out with a bang, but so many give up or don’t give ourselves the chance to make them work. And some don’t even make an attempt thinking they’ll never stick to it anyway, so why bother.

But this year is different. …especially since  there are so many big prophecies and talk that 2012 will be a deusey of a year…. maybe even the end of life as we know it…let’s make our best efforts to take all of our aspirations and wishes and put them on the front burners. All of those dreams you’ve stashed away in the back of your minds and hearts are dying to be released and realized. Give them a chance!

With such a tumultuous world surrounding us, changes are about the only thing that are certain, and so many of us are lost and feeling a bit hopeless; that we will never find our purpose in life, or whatever we may be searching for.  It seems everyone I run into these days has been through major life changes with their lives being turned upside down. Some see it as good, and others as a horrible thing, but either way, change is inevitable. So we might as well embrace the changes with an attitude of  positivity… that these things are happening for reasons unknown to us but are part of our ultimate destiny.

My hopes for this year are simply that everyone finds what they are looking for. …whatever that may be.

 

Love and light to you all!!

DIY Aromatherapy Pinecone Wreaths

Reblogged from Earth Elixir:

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The humble pinecone has always been a powerful symbol of regeneration and enlightenment.

The pinecone has a long symbolic history. Some of the earliest records are from Ancient Sumerian palace carvings that date back to 713-716 BC which depict winged gods holding pinecones and using them to pollinate the tree of life.

Sumerian god Marduk/ Dionysus

The pinecone is also found on the Egyptian staff of Osiris, which depicts two intertwining serpents, like the caduceus symbol of medicine in the West, that rise to meet a pinecone on the head of the staff.

Read more… 1,038 more words

love these!

Chakra Three; solar plexus or belly chakra; help empower eachother

EMPOWER EACH OTHER
Take what’s rightfully yours in life

PHYSICAL EFFECTS: jaundice, shingles, gall bladder problems, liver conditions, fevers, low blood pressure, anemia, poor circulation, arthritis, stomach troubles, indigestion, nervous stomach, heartburn, dyspepsia, ulcers, gastritis, lowered resistance to diseases, allergies, hives, kidney troubles, hardening of the arteries, chronic tiredness, nephritis, pyelitis, acne, eczema, boils, rheumatism, gas, sterility, spastic colon, abdominal cramps, pancreatis, ulcers.

 

AREAS AFFECTED: gall bladder, small intestines, lymph circulation, kidneys, ureters, adrenal and supra-renal glands, spleen, pancreas, duodenum, stomach, liver, solar plexus, blood, gall bladder, common duct.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: problems in this area are difficult and not always obvious as most problems are internal. In general, physical armoring can show up as weight gain or loss. Look for protruding or collapsed. Note areas of pain, tension and discomfort.

PERSONALITY TRAITS: People who have trained themselves not to express difficult emotions will often overcompensate and display extremely fragile and gentle personality characteristics. They generally have a quiet, sensitive style in relating and will seldom engage in forceful or violent acts. They are sometimes thought as “gutless” and they rarely can “stomach” things.

HEALING SUGGESTIONS see more at world tantric association

 

CHAKRA THREE: SOLAR PLEXUS, POWER ISSUES, DIGESTION

The belly is the feeling center, the place where many of our emotions and passions originate. When something happens in our lives that creates emotions, these emotions seem to “grow” out of our guts and spread out through out bodies and psyches to whatever path is appropriate for their expression. Emotions are energy in motion and once created they will attempt to release themselves unless restricted by conflicting beliefs and mechanisms. Unexpressed emotions, such as anger, when repressed may stick in your “gut” and the tension may become stuck, creating a chakra block. EMOTIONAL RESPONSE: Fear, wanting to stop the process, felt a lack of love as a child, defeated, a feeling of “what’s the use, it won’t work anyway, anger, burning up, bitterness, hard thoughts, condemning, prideful, gripping, undigested ideas, prolonged uncertainty, feeling of doom, dread, anxiety, griping and grunting, denying your own power, criticism, disappointment, failure, shame, childlike reacting, unresolved anger, chronic complaining, justifying, fault-finding to deceive self, feeling bad, wallowing in the gummed mire of the past, rejection, a belief of not being good enough, anxious to please.     Empower Eachother!