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Aromatherapy – a look at Frankincense - the gift of kings!! December 9th, 2022 Frankincense – Boswellia sacra By Melanie Dean Treasured since ancient time and considered to be a gift of kings. How much better could the credentials for an essential oil be? Frankincense, (sometimes referred to as olibanum) is renowned for its ability to heal the mind, body and soul. Burnt on altars and temples and used to drive out evil spirits, Frankincense continues to play an important role in prayer and meditation today. It is particularly helpful when used in a diffuser to help reduce stress and anxiety given its ability to slow and deepen the breath. How is Frankincense produced? The sacred Frankincense trees of North Africa love their dry climate and rocky soil. Once ready for harvesting, small incisions are made in the bark of the tree to release the sap. This is left to dry and then collected, sorted and cleaned. A slow process of hydro distillation is used to extract the fragrant Frankincense oil with its [...]

ROSEMARY – Rosmarinus officinalis By Melanie Dean Unleash your Rosemary and consider its importance as the ‘wonder herb’!! Not just used in food!! Perhaps you think of Rosemary as a perfect accompaniment to food – or you may have the dried needle like leaves stored deep inside your spice drawer. Its strong flavour and slight bitter taste compliments fatty foods like lamb and oily fish but it is also used to enhance cakes and desserts. The aromatic leaves and flowers can be used to make a tea, which can be helpful for the relief of headaches, colds, colic and depression. It is blessed with cleansing, calming and balancing properties. But did you know that it also has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, which is used as a traditional herbal remedy for wounds, eczema, asthma and poor appetite. Origin and growth This small, evergreen tree is native to the Mediterranean where it flourishes as the ground dries in the long, hot summers. The longer the period of drought, the stronger and [...]