Peace And Clarity For The Fall Equinox
The autumnal equinox – from the Latin equi (equal) and nox (night), meaning that days and nights are equally long – is happening in 2018 on Saturday, September 22nd. In pagan traditions, the celebration is called Mabon: it represents the moment of harvest, and the end of summer, but also a time of gratitude and…
Essential Oil Allies: Goldenrod
Goldenrod essential oil is steam distilled from the flowering tops of Solidago canadensis of the Asteraceae family. As the specific epithet (canadensis) indicates this gem is native to North America and often grown and distilled in Canada for its essence. S. canadensis is one of over 100 species of Solidago1 and may be identified by…
Aromatic Support For Back To School
September is almost here and soon school will be in session! Parents are ready to send their children off with crisp loose-leaf paper, brand new pencils and erasers, and book bags filled with everything they need. Teachers are ready to begin assessments and reviews. BUT WAIT, kids have had several months of a relaxed schedule….
Medicinal Plants and Their Edible Flowers
There are many ways to benefit from flowering medicinal plants in aromatherapy: use the distilled or expressed essential oil, the hydrosol, make an infusion in hot water, in a carrier oil, or enjoy the smell of the plant and its olfactory properties. Different parts of the plants may also be useful: leaf, roots, seeds… and…
Cannabis: Plant, Industry, and Ideology
Cannabis, from the latin Cannabis sativa L., is a member of the Cannabaceae, a small family of flowering plants containing hemp, hops, and hackberries. Cannabis means “cane-like,” while the genus name sativa refers to that which is “planted or sown,” meaning that the plant is propagated from seed as opposed to perennial roots. The…
Essential Oil Allies: Carrot Seed
Carrot seed essential oil is distilled from the dried seed of Daucus carota subsp. carota which is commonly known as wild carrot, bird’s nest or “Queen Anne’s Lace.” It is grown and distilled for its seeds in France, Holland, and Hungary. Sometimes classified as a noxious weed by some states in North America1, it has…