Copaiba EO

Copaiba has long been used in traditional and folk medicine. In Panama, the Yaviza people mix the resin with honey and give it to newborns to impart knowledge and ward off hexes.

The balsam and its oil are used as fixatives in soap, perfumes and fragrances.
Copaiba is also used by artists especially in oil paint recipes and ceramic decoration. Mineral painters use a medium of copaiba, turpentine and lavender to mix with minerals for adhesion to ceramic vessels before kiln firing. Copaiba helps with both adhesion and quality of shine.

The balsam may be steam distilled to give copaiba oil, a colorless to light yellow liquid with the characteristic odour of a balsam and an aromatic, slightly bitter, pungent taste.

The thick, transparent exudate varies in color from light gold to dark brown, depending on the ratio of resin to eo. The stimulant oleoresin (essential oil and resin) is obtained from the trunk of several pinnate-leaved (arranged on each side of a common axis) South American trees (genus Copaifera).  It is used in making varnishes and lacquers.

Copaiba is curently being investigated as a source of biodiesel, due to it's high yield of 12,000 liters of oleresin per hectare. The resin is tapped from standing trees, with an individual tree yielding 40 liters per year.

The health benefits of copaiba come from the powerful, active components  consisting mainly of terpenes, which are hydrocarbons -organic mixture of hydrogen and carbon. These have significant effects on the functioning of the body. The effects of the terpenes found in copaiba are extremely beneficial to our health.

Consumption of this potent oil should be supervised by a 'professional' or it can cause stomach issues. Fortunately, allergies or sensitivity are rare. It can be used topically and diffused. 

Skin: it is astringent, it’s active components literally tighten the skin and even strengthen it which prevents lesions or wounds as the body ages, it reduces the appearance of wrinkles, which can make one look younger!

Not only does it protect and physically change the skin, it also heals and infuses the body with powerful nutrients and organic compounds that given a little time, eliminate blisters, marks, and pimples. It is often topically applied to scars to speed healing and reduce visibility.

Respiratory Health: When inhaled, the anti-inflammatory, soothing nature of the oil, is famed for easing discomfort. It loosens tensed muscles and glands which can cause irritation. As well as having soothing qualities which can ease pains caused by coughing, it is expectorant which uses said coughing  to rid the body of mucus.

Pain Relief: This wonderful analgesic, when applied, reduces pain, loosens muscles, eliminates joint pain, and even eases headaches and migraines.

Eliminate Infection: Strongly antibacterial copaiba is a major boost for the immune system. It acts as a shield for the skin, protects wounds from developing infection and can protect and buffer internally, by eliminating harmful bacteria and micro organisms from the inside!

Anxiety and Mood: it is often used to lighten the spirits and improve mood. There aren’t many essential oils with such a sweet, pleasant, rich honey aroma. The combination of scent and its gentle effects on hormonal balance can significantly improve your day.

Diuretic: Can cleanse and detoxify the system by stimulating urination. This diuretic effect can help everything from incontinence to bed wetting

Antifungal: eo effective as an anti fungal agent are rare, the unique terpene structures in copaiba eo significantly speed up the healing process and protect against future infections of athlete’s foot or any sort of (nail) fungus.

Lowers Blood Pressure: boosts heart health, reducing one's chances of a heart attack or stroke. It's anti-inflammatory, soothing nature can relieve tension and strain in blood vessels, allowing blood pressure to drop and the strain to disperse from the cardiovascular system. This helps prevent atherosclerosis, one of the leading causes of strokes and coronary heart disease.

Adding copaiba to any aromatherapy or eo regimen is a very wise choice.

Generally, this essential oil is very safe, it is also one that Indiginous peoples recommend for internal use – Please always consult a knowledgeable practitioner

Essential Oils (EO)

'An EO is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. An oil is "essential" in the sense that it contains the "essence of" the characteristics of the plant from which it is derived.'

Pure essential oils (EO) are commonly used in perfume and beauty products, also in the manufacturing, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The average citizen is widely palmed off with inferior, manufactured, synthetic substitutes.

EO can influence the atmosphere. It has been scientifically proven that EO affect humans on energetic, physical, emotional, spiritual, mental and aesthetic levels. Using EO is a means of regaining control of an important, possibly nebulous but tangible aspect of your personal space.

The destruction of our natural environment and multinationals (e.g. Monsanto) attempts to control natural resources threaten our access to these gifts of nature.

It is most important to note than only 100% pure EOs have any medicinal properties. 99% nature identical oils may smell fantastic however they have no healing properties whatsoever! Pure EO can be used in the home to replace many if not all; household, cleaning, beauty and health products.

EO are generally extracted by distillation, often by using steam. Other processes include expression, solvent extraction, absolute oil extraction, resin tapping and cold pressing. They are used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps and other products, for flavouring food and drink, and for adding scents to incense and household cleaning products.

The earliest recorded mention of the techniques and methods used to produce EO is believed to be that of Ibn al-Baitar (1188–1248), an Andalusian physician, pharmacist and chemist' 

 Most (internet) research dates EO use back to 4500 B.C.E. amongst the Egyptians. They included aromatic herbs in religion, cosmetics and medicines and were renowned for their knowledge of cosmetology, ointments and aromatic oils. The most famous of their herbal preparations “Kyphi” was a mixture of 16 ingredients that could be used as incense, perfume or medicine.

'However it is important to realize that almost without exception the apparatus, substances, and procedures of this art originate before the Arab alchemists of the Middle Ages and even before the grand synthesis of Alexandrian alchemy. The apparatus used in Neolithic (and in some cases Paleolithic) Mesopotamian cooking, perfumery, ceramics, and metallurgy include all kinds of containers, sieves, ovens, furnaces and fires, also mortars, pestles and grinders of all types. Along with these apparatus were an enormous range of procedures including distillation and sublimation.'

 'EOs were used medicinally in history. Medical applications proposed by those who sold/sell medicinal oils range(d) from skin treatments to remedies for cancer often based solely on historical accounts of the use of EOs for these purposes. Claims for the efficacy of medical treatments, and treatment of cancers in particular, are now subject to regulation in most countries.

As the use of EOs has declined in evidence-based medicine, one must consult older textbooks for much information on their use. Modern works are less inclined to generalize; rather than refer to "EOs" as a class at all, they prefer to discuss specific compounds within an oil, e.g. methyl salicylate, rather than the 'whole oil' in this case "wintergreen".

Interest in EOs has revived in recent decades with the popularity of aromatherapy, a branch of alternative medicine that claims that EOs and other aromatic compounds have curative effects.'

There is an increasing amount of scientific research and evidence which has proven the efficacy in a range of treatments of individual EOs e.g. the work done by Gattefosse in the second world war using lavender oil particularly, to treat wounded soldiers, I found 7 different scientific documents on the on cinnamon oil alone*.

Oils are volatilized or diluted in a carrier oil and used in massage, diffused in the air, heated, or burned as incense.

Some oils (I have been taught, also in my opinion and personal experience) can be safely ingested. The general consensus though, is that they are only for external use.

EO can ease a wide assortment of ailments and relieve the discomforts of many health problems; aches, pains, and injuries. Many of the oils have powerful anti viral, anti fungal, antibacterial and antibiotic qualities and unlike pharmaceutical drugs, they leave no dangerous toxins in the body.

My empirical belief is that EOs can be relaxing, uplifting, calming, pain relieving, sedating and/or stimulating. They restore physical and emotional well being. There is at least one EO that can affect anything the human body experiences. 

Almost all EO can be used safely if properly diluted as necessary. Having knowledge is the key to safe usage.

Concentrated substances are rarely intended for use “as is” and EOs are no different. There is rarely a time when you would not want to dilute the potency of an EO, by adding a drop (or more) to a carrier (oil). This provides a good medium to absorb the oil into the skin and spreads the oil over the skin effectively. It is also possible to inhale EO. The perfume tone* used will dictate how frequently it would need to be repeated. EO can also be diluted in hydrosol/flower waters, pure or mixed with colloidal silver and/or plain water (I live in the NL so our tap water is excellent and unadulterated – check the quality of your tap water and use bottled or filtered water if in doubt)

.25% Dilution (1 drop per 20mls of carrier oil) – for sick children between 6 months and 6 years you may increase up to.50% if needed. For children under 2 hydrosols and/or herbs are usually the best choice.

1% dilution (1 drop per teaspoon (5mls) of carrier oil; 5-6 drops per 30 mls 1 fl.oz) – for children over age 6, pregnant women, the elderly, people with sensitive skin, compromised immune system, serious health issues. Also for massaging over a large area of the body.

2% dilution (2 drops 5mls of carrier oil; 10-12 drops per 30mls) – ideal for most adults and in most situations. A good dilution for daily skin care.

3% dilution (3 drops per 5mls of carrier oil; 15-18 drops per 30mls) – for short-term use with a temporary health issue, se.g. muscle injury or respiratory congestion. Up to 10% dilution is fine, depending on the health issue, the age of the person and the oils

25% dilution (25 drops per 5mls of carrier oil; 125-150 drops per 30mls) – very occasionally would a dilution of this strength is warranted, for a muscle cramp, bad bruising, or severe pain.

Using oils “neat” (undiluted) – Lavender is one of a few EOs that can be used neat. A bug bite, burn, or sting, might be a good reason to use Lavender neat. Great knowledge and great caution need to applied before choosing to use EO undiluted, some individuals can experience irritation, sensitivity even burning with neat EO.

Edited from wikipedia, books by Julia Lawless, Valerie Ann Worwood, internet pdf's on essential oils and Mesopotamian Origins and the Material Discipline March 2009
* research conducted amongst others at the National Taiwan University.

Alwareness July 2016

Juli : Ontwaken
Ontwaken in het hier en nu. Wie ben ik, wat ga ik doen, wat kan ik voor de mensheid betekenen? Blijf ik wakker of ga ik weer slapen?

Who am I, What do I want to do or be? These are all questions that I have been busy with my whole life. Wat kan ik voor de mensheid betekenen? Was never a question that I bothered with. Why would I want to 'mean' or 'do something' for mankind? Man kind is for me an archetypal example of the 'White Mind World' operating, by defining everyone else by describing them self. Man type literally. That wasn't and isn't me, nor is it something I desire or wish to achieve. Cos the only thing that man kind has brought me was a distrust of my body, my thoughts and myself as having any value.

The Blijf ik wakker bit from this month's theme I found irritating, patronising and contradictory. Am I going to stay awake assumes that people already are, which implies that if you are not you should be. Of ga ik weer slapen says that you've been asleep, so how does that fit with the being awake part. So which ever it is I find them both wrong but not quite in the way that is intended perhaps. - Just a little Lennie point. Lets move on!

I can't tell you who I am, I can't tell you 'what' or 'how' it is to be big, physically overtly gender attributable, black, 1.73 or any of the things that most people react to. I can only tell you my experiences, my reactions or responses to those experiences and the conclusions I have drawn from all three.

Strangers tend to react to one's appearance. That is a great word, how you appear – to them. Which means that it is only an indicator of what people see and the conclusions they draw. Someone who is fat because they have dropsy or a thyroid issue will still be judged as greedy and lazy.

How do we find out who we are, if we are not prepared to accept the judgements, opinions, wishes that others make? How do you choose what to be or do, if you don't know who you are? Those are the questions that just about governed my life to around about a certain moment.

Since embracing the life philosophy of the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin lots of things have become much clearer and a helluva lot easier.

My function, the reason I was born - and by extension all of us, is to discover, accept and allow my unique talents, then find a way to live true to them and most importantly, to learn how to be happy (through doing this)*. A very specific kind of happiness – indestructible happiness, which is based on a solid life philosophy, in which wisdom and reality are fused within the individual allowing the Buddha state to manifest.

The attributes of the Buddha are; courage, compassion, wisdom, life force and joy. When the Buddha state is manifest, the attributes are unavoidable – I like all of the attributes.

The best thing about this philosophy is that the third part of the theme questions – that I never saw a need to recognise is also answered.

So, from this specific philosophical standpoint. I have the potential to be a Buddha, I am going to manifest that potential, the by-products of which are enlightenment, happiness, courage, compassion wisdom, life force and joy and by becoming happy and living true to myself, I give everyone around me permission to do the same. Not only that, but with the Buddha's attributes I have the ability to actively help all the people around me to achieve the same.

About the happiness bit. Indestructible happiness is not the absence of problems, issues and challenges it is the knowledge that one can overcome anything that the universe might choose to throw in one’s direction.

And as for the asleep awake bit – I sleep when I need to and whenever I can, cos it's nice to be able to sleep whenever one needs. As for the staying awake – Don't you know that that is a recognised torture?

*People say “Well that's all very well but what about the physcopaths and peoples who's talent is in killing”

Firstly, finally, quintessentially, the question(s), the focus, the locus of this philosophy I; In Lennie terms: “How the fuck is it your business unless you are one. Are you?”

The point is that every single, human entity being has the potential to be a Buddha (inside them) – this is the theory of the Ten Worlds http://myanimagodessblog.blogspot.nl/2016/02/the-ten-worlds.html

Percy Dens made a real great addendum to this piece when I read it (differently) on the radio tonight. In my own words (then followed by a quote from Minxy McNaughty).

Some may see joy as a destination, when in fact it is a motor for the journey

Share the joy!