THE HEALING WONDERS OF KIGELIA AFRICANA

March 7, 2024March 6, 2020 by Daniel Linsangan

The Healing Wonders Of Kigelia Africana

WHAT IS KIGELIA AFRICANA

The Kigelia Africana, commonly known as the Sausage Tree, is a popular ornament and a typical roadside tree in Africa, India and most of Southeast Asia. Native to the drier regions of Africa, the Kigelia Africana is considered as a curiosity and garden oddity. However, this unique tree holds a myriad of medical wonders that are beneficial in treating various ailments.

Kigelia Africana is a tropical tree native to Africa which is the sole species of its genus (family Bignoniaceae). It is a hardy tree that can withstand frost and temperatures down to 4°C. This tree grows well in sunny environments and can survive droughts and intense 40°C heat. The Kigelia Africana tree grows to between 20 and 40 feet tall and bears fruit resembling coarse sausages (hence the name Sausage Tree). These brown elongated fruits hang down long stalks measuring a foot or two. They can weigh up to 22 kilograms and could fall on unsuspecting animals and have been known to occasionally fall on people as well. Ouch.

Flowers are large and their colour is a stunning deep and dark red-purple with yellow veins. Flowers remain in bloom at night and are strongly scented to attract bats for pollination purposes, feeding on the nectar and pollen – it is also open during the day like the photo of the tree below at Newstead House in Brisbane (though, it usually just lasts within 24 hours).

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic

Kigelia Africana contains excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Research conducted by Binutu and Namita discovered that salves with Kigelia Africana extract help soothe and relieve pain. In Africa, many different parts of the tree are used in a variety of different ways, including:

Powdered bark, leaves, stems, twigs and fruits from Kigelia Africana are used to clean and dress wounds and sores.
Topical treatments and infusions containing Kigelia extracts are used as antiseptic to reduce infection.
The bark, stems, twigs, leaves, and fruits are infused and taken orally or applied as ointments to relieve rheumatism, sprains, hematoma, and bruising.
Boiled Kigelia Africana fruit and bark is gargled to relieve toothaches.
Kigelia Africana fruits, stems, leaves, and bark can be rubbed onto some snakebites as an antidote.
Decocted Kigelia Africana fruit effectively relieves swelling and pus build-up of leg wounds.

Arianrhod’s Sausage Tree Gel is a powerful solution to common skin inflammation as it contains Kigelia Africana’s anti-inflammatory properties that relieve irritation, swelling and other skin complaints. Kath has nothing but high praises for this product in her review:

“I purchased this for my husband to try for his shaving rash and the skin irritation/inflammation he often gets as his whiskers are growing back. He loves it, and he uses it all the time … which is a miracle in itself. His skin responds quickly to all the healing goodies in the gel, and you can actually observe the angry red blotches calming down. It’s brilliant. Thanks for making such an amazing product.”

Treatment of Skin Ailments

Kigelia Africana is a wonder in treating a wide range of skin ailments. Research by Owolabi, Omogbai, and Obasuyi claims that Kigelia Africana stem bark possesses antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that relieve fungal infections, boils, psoriasis, and eczema. The roots, bark, and leaves of the Kigelia Africana contain a concentration of beneficial kigelinone, vernolic acid, kigelin, iridoids, luteolin, and 6-hydroxyluteolin. Iridoids contain antibacterial properties.

These antibacterial and antifungal ingredients are found in Arianrhod’s Sausage Tree Cream. Jonathan Howell praises the cream’s healing properties in his review, “Have been using it sparingly on my psoriasis for a decade now and wouldn’t be without it.”

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Inhibitor

Research from Saini, Kaur, and Verma reveals that extracts from the stem bark and fruits of Kigelia Africana destroy melanoma cells and other skin cancer cell lines. The antibacterial activity of Kigelia Africana is related to the traditional use of its bark and fruit extracts to treat ailments caused by microorganisms and as a remedy against skin cancer. Iridoid-related compounds of norviburtinal and naphthoquinone isopinnatal are responsible for their antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

Saini, Kaur, and Verma further claim that Kigelia Africana’s constituent known as lapachol is effective in treating solar keratosis (scaly skin caused by sun-damage), skin cancer and Kaposi Sarcoma (an HIV-connected skin disease). Dilutions containing ethanol and extracts of the stem bark and fruits of the Kigelia Africana inhibit four melanoma cell lines and a renal cell carcinoma line. These properties make Kigelia Africana an ideal remedy for sun-damaged skin and a possible inhibitor for some forms of melanoma and skin cancer.

Kigelia Africana in Cosmetics

Research by Dampeirou C. claims that Kigelia Africana fruit extracts contain steroidal saponins and the flavonoids luteolin and quercitin useful for developing the bust and firming breast collagen fibers. Another Hussain and Krohn claims that creams and oils made from the fruit extract remove sunspots on the face and the hands.

Arianrhod’s Kigelia Oil (Majik Oil) is a wonderful example of this oil as its high concentration of Kigelia extract relieves sunspots.

Kathryn M. raves about this product in her review:

“This is the most amazing thing. I’ve had a sunspot on my nose that nothing seemed to help. I’ve been using this oil twice a day for a couple of weeks now and it’s actually starting to disappear. Can’t believe it. Majik indeed!”

Cosmetics and creams made from Kigelia Africana reduces wrinkle depth and smoothens fine lines leaving skin smooth and tight. These cosmetics lighten pigmentation, reduce skin blemishes, deep cleanses and eliminate skin impurities. Eye creams with Kigelia Africana tighten the delicate skin around the eyes reducing puffiness and darkening.

Digestive Benefits

Kigelia Africana is an excellent remedy for stomach-related ailments. Research by Peter A. Akah claims that Kigelia is an excellent laxative and emetic. In Africa, Kigelia Africana roots, bark, leaves, stems, twigs and fruits are crushed and boiled, then taken internally to treat gastric infections and chronic to acute digestive disorders. Concoctions and remedies containing Kigelia Africana fruit extract soothe constipation and relieve hemorrhoids. The leaves of the Kigelia Africana can be crushed and boiled and then used as a general tonic to improve general digestive health. Traditionally, the fruit is boiled and prepared as a wash or rub to promote weight gain in infants. Have you got diarrhea? Kigelia Africana can help calm upset stomachs.

Treatment of Venereal Diseases

In Africa, Kigelia Africana is used to treat several venereal diseases. Further research by Akah and Nwambie claims that when applied externally, Kigelia Africana is beneficial in treating gonorrhea. Salves made from the roots, bark, leaves, stems, and twigs of Kigelia Africana can also be taken orally to relieve further complications of venereal diseases. In West and Central Africa, Kigelia Africana bark is dried and ground and taken as a cure for syphilis. Its decocted bark can also be used as a drink and wash to treat children with venereal diseases.

Treatment of Gynecological Ailments

Kigelia Africana is highly beneficial to women with gynecology-related issues. For example, the roots, fruits, and flowers of Kigelia Africana can be boiled and administered orally or made into a paste as a pessary to treat vaginal infection. The fruits and bark can also be used to reduce swelling and inflammation of the breasts of developing women. When taken orally, the fruits increase lactation in breastfeeding mothers. As needed, the bark and leaves are decocted and used as an abortifacient, much like a morning-after pill.

Considering its many medicinal benefits, Kigelia Africana has a bright future in the medical and cosmetic world. There is enormous scope for research and investigation to unlock its uncharted potential. Pharmacological investigation of this wonder plant is warranted, and more studies continue to reveal the many benefits nature has provided this tree with its funny-looking fruit.

For a complete guide on Arianrhod’s Kigelia Africana products, click this link.

Block Odour, Not Sweat – Why Aluminium-free Deodorant Is Best for Your Underarms?

May 14, 2020January 3, 2020 by Daniel Linsangan

Block Odour, Not Sweat - Why Aluminium-Free Deodorant Is Best for Your Underarms?

Changes in our body mechanisms are noticeable as we grow old. One such change is our body odour (BO) – which we usually only notice when it becomes an unpleasant smell. Healthline.com states “Changes in body odour can be a normal part of development, such as when an adolescent is going through puberty. During puberty, sweat glands and hormones become more active, which can cause BO. If you’ve been working out, excessive sweat may be the culprit. If you don’t wear antiperspirant or practice healthy hygiene habits, sweat can mix with bacteria, causing an unpleasant smell.” Usually, we blame sweating as the culprit for BO. But this is not actually the case. Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down as we become more active in our daily activities. “Apocrine glands work primarily under stress, secreting an odourless fluid. This fluid begins to develop an odour when it comes into contact with bacteria on your skin. These glands don’t start working until puberty, which is why that’s usually the time we start to notice body odor.¹” Thus, sweat is not the culprit but rather the bacteria that is on your body during stressful activity. Besides, perspiration is a good indicator that our body is doing enough exercise to burn calories and that’s always a good thing.

So how do we avoid BO when sweating is such an essential part of cooling down our body?

Aluminium-based antiperspirants have become popular commercially in preventing excessive sweat, so much so that almost every antiperspirant you buy in a supermarket will contain aluminium. Typically, antiperspirants work by temporarily blocking your sweat glands and keeping you from perspiring. They also add a pleasant scent to cover up any existing odors. So, if you are working or exercising this prevents sweat and thereby blocks. While this product can help avoid body odour, it doesn’t do much about the real cause of the problem: the bacteria that is causing the bad smell. In reality, what these aluminium-based antiperspirants are actually doing is preventing your body from cooling itself down by blocking the natural mechanism of producing sweat.

Studies have found that aluminium in antiperspirants can be absorbed into the skin as part of the temporary plugging process and cause an oestrogen-like hormonal effect.² While more research is needed to confirm the effects of aluminium, researches have suggested that aluminium does build up in breast tissue and could cause genomic instability, interference with oestrogen and iron metabolism, and oxidative damage to cellular components.³ Research in these areas is ongoing, but already there is more than enough cause for concern over the long-term impact of spraying aluminium onto your skin.

Arianrhod Aromatics has been addressing this concern with aluminium-based deodorant for over a decade by providing an organic, completely natural, aluminium-free deodorant that allows your body to sweat naturally, minus the potential unpleasant body odour. Rather than blocking up your sweat glands and pouring chemicals on your skin, the Arianrhod aluminium-free deodorants work by using colloidal silver, a 100% naturally occurring anti-bacterial agent. This helps to remove the bacteria on your skin before you start sweating. Iamme added other natural ingredients like the anti-fungal Australian hemp seed oil and sodium bicarbonate to help keep you dry without the potentially harmful side effects of aluminium. Australian hemp seed oil is well known to act as an antibacterial and antifungal agent, part of what makes our aluminium-free deodorants so popular. Even without the aromatic addition of the essential oils in our scented varieties, you will find that our aluminium-free deodorants work very effectively at preventing bad body odours.

Why should you use a natural deodorant? Mainstream underarm products use a combination of chemicals that may not be good to our body. In addition to aluminium, these chemicals may include but not limited to parabens (artificial preservatives), propylene glycol (neurotoxin), TEA & DEA (can cause allergic reactions) and triclosan (artificial antimicrobial chemical). Remember that what goes on your body can end up in your body. There are also questions about the impact of these chemical-based products on your skin in the long run. So while they might solve your BO in the short term, what might be happening to your body that you can’t see right now?

Our aluminium-free deodorants are made using organic ingredients that are known to be very safe for use on your underarms. There is no chemical that traps the sweat, preventing your body from cooling itself. Instead, our deodorants prevent the smells by eradicating the bacteria that combines with sweat and causes body odour. Currently, we have five aluminium-free deodorants with fragrances to suit you!

Block odour, not sweat. Arianrhod Aromatic champions clean living with natural products that don’t break the bank.

Try our aluminium-free deodorants today.

Essential summer guide for healthy, vibrant skin

December 2, 2019October 28, 2019 by Daniel Linsangan

Skin Care Without Nasties - Your essential guide in keeping your healthy and vibrant skin this summer!

Are you prepared for the long-awaited summer vacation? Before you head to the beach, we have handpicked a list of essential items that will help protect your skin using natural and where possible, organic, products made in Australia. This blog is not just your “Instagram worthy guide to the essentials of summer getaways” posts. But also, the definitive guide for skin-worthy products you can use while having fun at the beach. Yes, we can have fun and be worry-free at the same time! Are you ready for a hot summer at the powdery white sand of Queensland’s Whitehaven Beach or pristine waters of Western Australia’s Turquoise Bay?

Protect Your Skin with Natural Sunscreen Lotion

We get it – nobody goes to the beach and hides under a tree forever. Whether it is to enjoy the cool waters, sun-bathing for the perfectly tanned skin or taking photos with your friends, you will be outside most of the time.

Your skin is your body’s first line of defence, and it is constantly exposed to the environment. Sun exposure can take its toll on your skin pretty quickly and can lead to different forms of skin damage, including cancer. One of the most common effects of sun exposure is premature ageing¹, but perhaps the most concerning impact is melanoma and other skin cancers. Melanoma alone is the third-most-common skin cancer diagnosed in Australia² and the number one most common cancer in under 29 year-olds³.

Australia and New Zealand have the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world, and 2 out of 3 Australians will be diagnosed with some form of it, so protecting your skin while you are out in the sun is so important. The problem with traditional sunscreens, though is that they are full of chemicals that are harmful to your body⁴ and damaging to coral reefs⁵.

There are natural ingredients available like shea butter and silk amino acids that have natural sun-blocking properties⁶.

While there is no evidence to suggest these are a complete replacement to a broad-spectrum sunscreen, especially if you are out in the sun all day, it is worth combining them into your morning routine. On days where you will be out in the sun but perhaps not in the water, the sun protection these ingredients provide may be more than enough.

Our Sativa Lush Whipped Butter has ultra-rich, moisturising properties and anti-ageing protection for all skin types – all year round! This ‘crème de la crème’ is made with richly moisturising ingredients such as sausage tree extract, hemp seed oil, cupuacu butter, mango butter combined with shea butter and silk amino acids that both contribute to moisturisation but also offer some protection for your skin from the sun. Feel the lushness of this therapeutic blend of floral and citrus fragrance which leaves your skin feeling like silk and smelling like royalty even under the hot sun.

Enjoy swimming with Recycled-origin Swimwear

It’s the bikini buying season, and we all want to have fun in the sun. An essential product, of course, is your swimwear. While popular brands might be on top of your list, check out these swimsuits made from recycled fishnets. You heard it right! And no – these products don’t resemble any fishnets you’ve ever seen.

Ghost fishing nets, which are lost and left in the ocean, make up 10 per cent of plastic waste in the sea and these nets take about 600 years to decompose.⁷

As the Seapia brand puts it “One of the biggest improvements in fashion these days is transparency and accountability – what price are we paying to look and feel good? Using a fabric produced from recycled fishing nets and other post-consumer plastic waste, designed and made in Sydney and using organic packaging and sustainable products throughout the process, our hope is to leave as small a footprint on our beaches as possible⁸.

Le Bun’s, another Australian swimwear brand, is famous for it’s no-waste attitude to manufacturing. It was featured in Fashion Journal Australia, amongst many others, on the topic of sustainable production⁹.

Your swimmers provide protection from the sun, for the areas they cover, and choosing an option like Seapia or Le Buns, can help make a difference for our oceans while looking after your skin at the same time.

Keep rehydrated with water!

Most mature adults lose about 2-3 litres of water per day from their internal body water supply. This water loss may increase, especially during hot weather or summer days.

As a large portion of our bodies are made from water, we must have enough of it to function at an optimal level. Our body uses water in so many ways! Water helps regulate our body temperature, remove toxins through perspiration and regulate bowel movements. Water is also vital for lubricating joints and protecting the brain. Drinking water plays an important role in our daily functioning. Keeping hydrated can relieve fatigue, naturally, relieve headaches and improve the skin’s complexion. It is believed that up to 80% of Australians are chronically dehydrated¹⁰.

Drinking water will keep you hydrated and promotes good skin circulation. If swimwear and natural lotions protect your skin from the summer heat, water helps you maintain a healthy and pro-active body.

If you love the beach, the pool or any other summer sports, you will need to remember that water is the most powerful resource to keep yourself active. Plus, water is a natural suppressant for hunger. Perhaps vital if you are trying to lose weight this summer and struggle with the temptation of sumptuous beach BBQ.

Avoid Lip Dryness with Rejuvenating Lip Balm

It is essential to keep your lips soft, smooth, hydrated and healthy during the summer and protect them from sun damage. Surprisingly though, 70 percent of beachgoers who lather sunscreen onto their skin will overlook one spot on the body: their lips¹¹. Without protection, your lips can get burnt, crack and become very sore. Continually drinking water is vital to healthy lips, and applying a hydrating lip balm will help to keep the moisture in and soothe any soreness.

Dry, cracked lips can be hard to repair. They are one of the most vulnerable parts of our body, especially under the summer heat. You put on a hat to protect your head – don’t forget to put on lip balm for your lips.

Our Manuka Lip Balm is excellent for summer days – for those painful, dry, cracked lips you hate to have. It is a rejuvenating balm packed with jojoba oil and calendula oil. Keep those smooth lips all summer days. For vegans, we recommend our Vegan Hemp Lip Balm. A rich lip balm with water repellent properties to soothe and moisturise dry and chapped lips. Add gloss to protect your lips from any harsh environment and be sure of the quality. Again, look for ingredients that provide natural sun protection where possible.

Soothe your Skin with Natural After-Sun Body Lotion

Lip balms are essential for sunburnt lips, but what about the rest of your skin?

“We all know how important it is to protect our skin from the sun. But what about the role of after-sun care? It gets far less attention – but it’s essential to healthy skin. And while using a broad-spectrum sunscreen is vital, we shouldn’t rely on sunscreen alone to give our skin all the protection and care it needs from the sun”, said Jurlique’s Ultimate Beauty Expert, Rebecca Nicholls. So, how do you give your skin the after-sun care it needs? Have a cool shower or bath. This helps to soothe your skin and prepare it for the next step. Apply a nourishing and comforting after-sun lotion to help keep your skin moist and supple.

Our Sativa Nourish After Sun Body Lotion soothes away sunburn with its cooling Aloe Vera and Cucumber blend. The added Meadowfoam oil and silk amino acids provide a barrier that prevents loss of moisture and provides some protection against small amounts of further sun exposure. Next, the Kigelia extract breaks down the build-up of melanin to go a long way in counteracting the damage done by the sun’s rays. These natural ingredients help to protect and soothe your skin after the effects of overexposure to the sun.

At Arianrhod Aromatics, we use only the best quality ingredients with proper regard for the environment and most importantly, our products do the job they claim they will do on the label.

Enjoy the sun this summer, but make sure you are taking care of your skin so it can continue to take care of you for many years to come! Remember:

Sunscreen – Choose based on your sun habits, natural options are better, but if you are in the sun a LOT, choose an appropriate SPF rated sunscreen.
Swimmers – They do protect your skin from the sun and can be good for the environment too.
Hydration – Drink lots of water!
Lip protection and recovery – Use a good quality lip balm to lock in moisture, protect from the sun and help your lips recover after sun damage has occurred. Browse our lip balms.
After-sun recovery – Give your skin the best chance to recover from sun damage with natural ingredients like Kigelia with our Sativa Nourish After Sun Body Lotion.

Scar Diminishing Oil

June 2, 2021March 20, 2009 by iamme

What an absolutely fabulous oil this has turned out to be.

I had been asked many times if I had anything for scars, or did I have rosehip oil. I started selling rosehip oil in a 15ml dropper bottle while at the same time I felt there was more I could do.

I had read about Tamanu Oil and had thus purchased a trial bottle which had been sitting on the shelf gathering dust. I was driven to make Scar Diminishing Oil using both tamanu oil and rosehip oil with hemp seed oil thrown in for its own anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, thinking that it could only boost the effectiveness of the tamanu oil.

Tamanu oil fades stretch marks with incredible results. It also works miracles on scar tissue, making scars look less unsightly.BioScience Laboratories conducted a study of Tamanu oil’s ability to improve the appearance of scars. Six subjects with obvious scars aged for one year or more participated in the test. Subjects were not allowed to use moisturizers on their scarred areas for seven days before the test or throughout the nine-week test period. Scars were rated for roughness, length, width and degree of difference from surrounding normal skin. Measurements of darkness and redness were also taken for scarred and surrounding normal skin. Digital photos of scars were taken prior to initial application and at the end of week nine. Tamanu oil was applied to the scarred area twice daily for nine consecutive weeks. There was significant improvement in appearance of scars after six weeks, and improvement continued through week nine. Scar length was reduced by an average 0.28 centimeters, and width was reduced by an average 0.12 centimeters!

Tamanu Oil is credited with being a remarkable topical healing agent, with skin healing, antineuralgic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibiotic and antioxidant properties.

Tamanu oil possesses a unique capacity to promote the formation of new tissue, thereby accelerating wound healing and the growth of healthy skin. This process is known as cicatrization. For this reason, it is a widely used traditional topical aid. In Pacific island folk medicine, tamanu oil is applied liberally to cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites and stings, abrasions, acne and acne scars, psoriasis, diabetic sores, anal fissures, sunburn, dry or scaly skin, blisters, eczema, herpes sores, and to reduce foot and body odor. Tamanu oil is also massaged into the skin to relieve neuralgia, rheumatism and sciatica. Tamanu oil is employed by Polynesian women for promoting healthy, clear, blemish-free skin, and is also used on babies to prevent diaper rash and skin eruptions.

For Arianrhod’s Scar Diminishing Oil I decided to blend Tamanu Oil, with Hemp Seed, Rosehip, Avocado for it moisturising and skin softening abilities, Infused Carrot Oil for it Beta Carotene properties and natural Vitamin E as an added boost for the skin.

Although I had thought about this oil for a while I had felt no rush or inspiration to put it together until one Friday it became imperative. I thought as I made it “there must be going to be a person come to the stall on the week-end, needing this oil.”

Sunday night rolled around and I hadn’t sold any of it. Oh well, thought I, it is ready for when it will be needed.

You can imagine my gratitude that I had it ready to go when, on Tuesday morning, the phone rang and it was a customer who had done some serious damage to her leg on oyster shells. She was actually after evening primrose oil but I knew straight away that I had made the Scar Diminishing Oil blend for her. Below is a note I received from Loki.

Dear Iamme,
Thank you for making such pure and wonderful skincare. I am currently in awe of the diminishing oil. I first used it on a large open cut from oyster shells. My wound has healed beautifully. Some of the scarring is not visible at all. I also used diminishing oil for our tick bites. The tick spots with diminishing oil did not inflame redden or itch. Wow. I use it on my dogs post flea spots and he stops scratching immediately and sleeps. The diminishing oil was also amazing for my two girls as they battled chicken pox. No itching, no scratching, and no pox marks. The great thing about diminishing oil is that it took the itch out the pox for the girls. It is a wonderful and powerful elixir.
sincerely
Loki de Jager,

Stokers Siding NSW

I originally thought this Scar Diminishing Oil was purely for scar treatment but this is not the case. It is brilliant for so many things. I have personally used it on school sores that my son contracted, on a wound inflicted with a sharp knife in the kitchen, it took the pain away and the wound healed within five days (I had taken the top layer of skin off). I have used it on cold sores, insect bites, embedded splinter….under the finger nail (ouch!!), it again took the pain away. Customers have used this oil on chicken pox, it took the itch away when calamine lotion irritated the skin and in one case healed the pox to such an extent that a young girl was able to appear in the eisteddfod.

I am frequently told stories of how this oil has helped, some of them are on the Testimonial page if you would like to read them.

Aromatherapy and Skincare, The Natural Partners

June 2, 2021February 13, 2009 by iamme

The use of 100% pure essential oils in skincare and other products offers a multitude of benefits to both mind and body. It is no secret that essential oils have been utilised in skincare, perfumes and cosmetics, since their discovery in early times. In this article we examine why this practice continues today and how using 100% pure essential oils in this manner contributes to health and wellbeing in so many ways.

First, lets take a look at the word ‘aromatherapy’. Dictionaries variously define it as “the use of fragrances to affect or alter a person’s mood or behaviour” and “the use of fragrant essential oils as a treatment in alternative medicine, often to relieve tension”. However, I think this word bears closer examination. One of the best-known ways aromatherapy works is with our sense of smell. But how does the olfactory nerve actually utilise and access the benefits of aromas?

The most obvious and best-understood way the nasal passage absorbs the aromas, is via inhalation of vapours that rapidly absorb into the bloodstream through the capillaries of the lungs, thereby imparting physiological benefits. A common example of this is the relief most people with respiratory congestion experience when they inhale eucalyptus oil vapour. In skincare, this offers a double benefit, as in the example of an essential oil scented body lotion that both nourishes the skin and is inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream.

However, there is also the psychological effect to account for. Two olfactory nerve tracts connect directly to the limbic system in the brain. This is the part of the brain is concerned with emotion and memories. Throughout history the folklore handed down to us has reported so many perceived effects of scents on our psyche such as rose, which has the reputation of being associated with love; beauty and spiritual depth. The associations between essential oils and the effect they have on the mind are now better-understood and often still ring true today.

But there is even more to aromatherapy and the therapeutic qualities of essential oils, we need not rely upon the nose alone. Essential oils also absorb into the skin and can enter the bloodstream via topical applications. The benefits of essential oils used in this manner include aiding circulation; relieving aching joints and muscles; boosting immunity, and clearing the respiratory system, just to name a few.

Plus of course, there is the therapeutic benefit essential oils impart to the skin itself, including but not limited to acting as an anti-fungal; anti-inflammatory; deodorant; antibacterial and parasiticide. Yet we have not even touched on probably best known use of essential oils in skincare: the soothing, hydrating, nourishing, cleansing and many other benefits they can impart to the skin.

The use of aromatherapy in skincare works on a myriad of levels. Psychologically to calm, harmonise, uplift and/or invigorate the mind. Physiologically to soothe, relieve, purify and boost immunity. Therefore, using pure essential oils in our skincare is one of the best ways to reap the advantages they offer on every level: you not only enjoy the aroma but also benefit from it. Plus you not only nourish the skin’s surface but the active properties absorb into the deeper tissues and circulate the bloodstream, where they can work their magic.

Aluminium-Free Deodorant

Hemp Cream

Hemp Cream with Kigelia

Kigelia Oil