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Once upon a time, a donkey made history. Yes, a donkey, in 1922 during Sir Howard carter’s expedition to Egypt, the donkey of the young water boy Hussein Abed El Rasoul hit a step which led to the greatest discovery in the 20th century, unveiling the tomb of the golden king Tutankhamun. Photo credit: Valley of the king - Ministry of antiquities - Egypt. I have always loved the history lessons in school, documentaries about ancient Egypt, and the books written by Egyptologists. But since I started my aromatherapy journey I was always searching for botanical history and research. Nigella sativa - Black seed oil & seeds are stable in the Egyptian and middle eastern cultures, it is used in food, folk medicine, topical applications, soaps, and a lot of skincare products. The common name and genus name Nigella is derived from the Latin niger, meaning “black.” The term nigellus is a derivative that means “blackish” or “dark.” The species name sativa, meaning “cultivated[1] Nigella Sativa was mentioned in Howard Carter's diaries and journals, the first excavation season in the tomb of Tutankhamun.[2] “At the request of Dr. Howard Carter, I undertook the examination of a number of specimens from the tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, with a view to their identification botanically. The specimens include samples of seeds, fruits, leaves, and pieces of wood, and it was found that considering the age of the material, the preservation was remarkably good, except for damage to a certain proportion of the seeds and fruits by small beetles, the dead bodies of which were found among some of the samples, it was found in one sample ”TAA i.3.2.22 16a The historical references to these seeds are also found in some of the oldest religious and medical texts. For example, it is referred to as ‘Melanthion’ by Hippocrates and Dioscorides, while the Bible describes it as the ‘curative black cumin’ (Isaiah 28:25, 27 NKJV). [3] Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) highlighted the amazing benefits of Nigella, he said “The black seed can heal every disease, except death.” In his book Black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds, Dr. Mohamed Ramadan [4] “Nigella sativa seeds have an increasing number of applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. Black cumin is used worldwide in traditional medicine for the treatment of several diseases. It is a key textbook for pharmaceutical and functional food developers as well as R&D managers working in all sectors using plants and vegetable oils.” The effect of topical application of black seed oil is amazing, many PubMed articles covered researches and analysis of the seeds [5], have two kinds of oil, fixed and essentials,[6] also contain other things such as proteins, alkaloids, and saponins Much of the biological activity of the seeds has been shown due to the presence of thymoquinone , [7]which is the major component of the essential oil but also present in the fixed oil. For use in cosmetic products, the European Commission Health and Consumers Directorate lists “Nigella Sativa Seed Extract” for perfuming and skin-conditioning functions, and “Nigella Sativa Seed Oil” (fixed oil expressed from the seeds of N. sativa) for emollient, perfuming, and skin-conditioning functions.[8] Nigella sativa has been used for centuries for the treatment of many skin conditions, for dermatological disorders, and in cosmeceutical formulations : 1-Help with Skin inflammation and skin pigmentation effect.[9] 2-Help Reduce pain associated with knee osteoarthritis[10] 3- Help reduce atopic dermatitis.[11] In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies “black cumin (black caraway), Nigella sativa L.” as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use as a spice, natural seasoning, or flavoring. [12] Hopefully one day, Nigella sativa would be a potential herbal remedy to be assessed under clinical trial for numerous conditions. With love Raghda [1] Marzell H. Wörterbuch der deutschen Pflanzennamen. 3. Band. Stuttgart/Wiesbaden, Germany: S. Hirzel Verlag/Franz Steiner Verlag; 1977. [2] Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation. Howard Carter's diaries and journals. The first excavation season in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Part 1: October 28 to December 31, 1922, Griffith Institute, Oxford OX1 2LG Concept and direction: Jaromir Malek Transcript: Sue Hutchison Editing: Elizabeth Fleming, Diana Magee, Ana I. Navajas Jimenez, Jaromir Malek Scanning: Hana Navrátilová Image editing: Jenni Navratil [3] Padhye, Subhash et al. “From here to eternity - the secret of Pharaohs: Therapeutic potential of black cumin seeds and beyond.” Cancer therapy vol. 6,b (2008): 495-510. [4] Black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds: Chemistry, Technology, Functionality, and Applications, Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021- ISSN 2661-8958 [5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28926201/ EF, Bayomy NA, Abdelaziz EZ. Effect of Topical Application of Black Seed Oil on Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-like Lesions in the Thin Skin of Adult Male Albino Rats. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2018 Jan;301(1):166-174. doi: 10.1002/ar.23690. Epub 2017 Sep 23. PMID: 28926201. [6] Ahmad A., Husain A., Mujeeb M., et al. A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: a miracle herb. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2013;3(5):337–352. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60075- [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [7] rah Harzallah H., Kouidhi B., Flamini G., Bakhrouf A., Mahjoub T. Chemical composition, antimicrobial potential against cariogenic bacteria and cytotoxic activity of Tunisian Nigella sativa essential oil and thymoquinone. Food Chemistry. 2011;129(4):1469–1474. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.05.117. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [8] Cosmetic Ingredients and Substances (CosIng®) Database. European Commission; 2017. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/. Accessed April 16, 2017. [9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5735686/#B7 [10] Chawla, Ruchi, and Amit Chauhan. "Transdermal delivery of Nigella sativa oil for topical application in 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis in rats." Journal of PharmaSciTech 6 (2016): 51-59. [11] Chawla, R., & Chauhan, A. (2016). Transdermal delivery of Nigella sativa oil for topical application in 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis in rats. Journal of PharmaSciTech, 6, 51–59 [12] Food and Drug Administration (FDA). § 182.10 Spices and other natural seasonings and flavorings. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 (21 CFR). Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office; 2016:474-475.

Autumn is so full of positivity, happiness, and goodness. May this season bring you more glory and joy. Wishing a very Happy Autumnal Equinox It is so great that the Fall Equinox falls this year on the same day as . To all the amazing, brave, and outstanding business Women YOU ARE THE BEST. With all our busy schedules and hard work we need to be pampered, what is best than a good Skin Care routine? ‘Facial skin care is more a matter of discipline than anything else. A facial skin care routine is what you need (and you need to follow the facial skin care routine with complete seriousness). So let’s check what comprises an effective facial skincare routine. Well, very simply, a facial skin care routine can follow the following 4 steps: Cleansing Toning Exfoliating Moisturizing Cleansing is the first thing in a facial skin care routine. Cleansing helps in removing dust, pollutants, grease, and extra oil from your skin, thereby preventing damage to your skin. Just spot your face and neck with a good cleansing lotion or cream and gently massage it into your skin using upward strokes, my favorite cleanser is 3 oz Castile Soap 4 drops Vitamin E 0.5 oz Lavender Hydrosol 0.5 oz Honey 3 drops Lavender essential oil Lavandula angustifolia - Great as antiseptic and analgesic 2 drops Tea Tree essential oil Melaleuca alternifolia - helps as an Anti-inflammatory Combine all together and use a soft face tissue or cotton wool to wipe your face in a gentle patting fashion (do not rub). Cleansing should be done at least twice a day i.e. morning (as part of a complete facial skincare routine) and evening (on a standalone basis). Toning is the next in a facial skin care routine. However, this is the optional part of the facial skincare routine. Mostly, proper cleansing can compensate for toning. Toning helps remove all traces of dirt, grease, and excess cleanser. Instead of making it part of your daily facial skin care routine, you can use toning occasionally i.e. when you have been exposed to a particularly harsh environment/pollution. According to Suzan Cathy is Rose Hydrosol is a great toner, it acts as a humectant, retains moisture, and stabilizes the skin. Exfoliation is again, kind of, an optional step in everyday routine for facial skin care. However, exfoliation is necessary at least once a week (or twice, depending on the skin type and the environmental conditions). Exfoliation finds its place in the facial skin care routine because of the natural tendency of skin to replenish the skin cells every 3 or 4 weeks. As a facial skincare technique, exfoliation helps in removing the dead skin cells that block the pores, thus assisting the skin in the natural process. However, excessive or harsh exfoliation can cause damage to your skin; so you need to balance it out. My favorite recipe is 1/2 cup sugar 2 TBS ground coffee 2 TBS honey 3 drops Lavender essential oil Lavandula angustifolia - Great as antiseptic and analgesic Moisturizing is the last step. In fact, moisturizing is the most important part of the facial skincare routine. Moisturizers prevent your skin from getting dry. Dry skin is really undesirable since it causes the upper layer of skin to break, leading to dead skin cells. Again, use light upward strokes to make the moisturizer more effective. Moisturizers work the best when applied to warm and damp skin. So do not try to remove all the moisture in the previous steps of the facial skin care routine. A simple yet very effective moisturizer Jojoba oil Simmondsia Chinensis Enjoy the routine :) Love Raghda

We work with nutrition and exercise to increase our energy, but we ignore the richest source of energy we possess—our emotions.” Karla McLaren, The Language of Emotions I am going to ask you something very weird right now. First of all, I want you to listen to your thoughts. Now tell me, what thoughts fill your head? Would you label them as positive, or negative? Now let’s say you are walking down the street with these thoughts. Do you think anyone who would meet you would be able to tell you what’s on your mind? The answer to number one is up to you. But, the answer number two can be pretty generic. Although people will not be able to tell you exactly what you think, they will more or less have an idea of how you are feeling. Thoughts are very powerful. They affect your general attitude. The attitude you carry reflects on your appearance, too – unless, of course, you are a great actor. And it doesn’t end there. Your attitude can also affect people around you. The type of attitude you carry depends on you. It can be either positive or negative. Positive thoughts have a filling effect. They are admittedly invigorating. Plus, the people around the person carrying positive thoughts are usually energized by this type of attitude. Negative thoughts on the other hand have a sapping effect on other people. Aside from making you look gloomy and sad, negative thoughts can turn a festive gathering into a funeral wake. A positive attitude attracts people, while a negative attitude repels them. People tend to shy away from those who carry a negative attitude. We can also define attitude as the way of looking at the world. If you choose to focus on the negative things in the world, more or less you have a negative attitude brewing up. However, if you choose to focus on the positive things, you are more likely to carry a positive attitude. You have much to gain from a very positive attitude. For one, studies have shown that a positive attitude promotes better health. Those with this kind of attitude also have more friends. projecting a positive attitude also helps one to handle stress and problems better than those who have a negative attitude. Aromatherapy is a great modality to help with keeping a positive attitude due to the affinity of the essential oils with the central nervous system My favorite essential oils that can help exhibiting relaxing effect are : Ylang ylang ( Cananga odorata) Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum ) Neroli ( Citrus x aurantium) Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana) A positive attitude begins with a healthy self-image. If you will love the way you are and are satisfied, confident, and self-assured, you also make others around feel the same way. A negative attitude, on the other hand, has, of course, an opposite effect. So, carrying a negative attitude has a twofold drawback. You feel bad about yourself, and you make others feel the same way. If you want to have a positive attitude, you have to feature healthy thoughts. This is probably very hard to do nowadays since, all around us, the media feeds us nothing but negative thoughts. A study shows that for every 14 things a parent says to his or her child, only one is positive. This is truly a saddening thought. Although it is impossible to keep ourselves from the negative things around us, you can still carry a positive attitude by focusing on the good things, the positive things in life. And this positive attitude you now carry can be of benefit to other people. Sometimes when other people feel down, the thing people mostly do is try to give them advice. But sometimes, all they need is somebody to sit by them, and listen to them. If you have a positive attitude you may be able to cheer them up without even having to say anything. If a positive attitude is lovely, why do people choose to adopt a negative attitude instead? One who carries a negative attitude may be actually sending a signal for attention. Before you get me wrong, feeling sad, angry, or gloomy is not wrong itself. But dwelling on these thoughts for far too long is not healthy either. There is a time to mourn. As always, if you are beset by troubles, even in your darkest hour, focus on the good things in life, you will always have hope. Problems become something you can overcome. You do not have much to lose by adopting a healthy, positive attitude. Studies show that such an attitude actually retards aging, makes you healthier, helps you develop a better stress coping mechanism, and has a very positive effect on all the people you meet every day. So, what’s not to like about a positive attitude? Adopt one today. With Love Raghda!

Spring was celebrated in Ancient Egypt since 2700 BC in the third dynasty of the old kingdom. One of the most distinct astronomical phenomena was the position of the sun setting on the right shoulder of the Sphinx 0n Spring Equinox. Egyptologists think it was deliberately selected, based on astronomical calculations and cardinal directions. Photo credit to ministry of antiquities Spring was and still all about creation and renewal in Ancient Egypt, the celebration was called The Feast of Shmo (The revival of life), it is still celebrated until today, however the celebration is now linked to Easter holidays in Egypt and is celebrated by all Egyptians and is a national holiday. All Egyptian feasts were celebrated by rituals, offerings to God and food Fish was and still abundant in Egypt it was a symbol of fertility to the ancient Egyptians fertility, you can see a lot of fish drawings on the temples walls in Luxor and Aswan. Eggs were decorated and hung in temples or they write their wishes on these eggs, place them in baskets made of palm strips or hang them on trees or the roofs of their houses, hoping that the God will answer their wishes. One of the pharaoh’s daughters was extremely ill until a priest gave her onion, her condition and the day was declared the day an official celebration in honor of onions. From that day forward, people would roam the city of Menf each year, offering onions to their dead. Spring in Egypt is one of the most magical seasons of the year, the breath is pleasant, and the weather is amazing, imagine the blue skies, the Nile and the crops coming back to life. Spring is the season of distilling all the amazing botanicals in Egypt especially in the Delta Region. · The amazing oils distilled from the Citrus aurantium tree Neroli, Bitter Orange and Petitgrain. · The beautiful Blue Chamomile Matricaria Chamomilla · The Aromatic green Parsley Petroselinum Crispum · The mighty Cumin Cuminum Cyminum · The Sunny Tagete tagetes minuta l. References: · Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians, W.W. Lane wrote in 1834: " · Egyptian ministry of antiquities · Silverburg R (1966). The Dawn of Medicine. Putnam Publishing, New York

The Great queen Hatshepsut a symbol of female power, spirituality, determination, and success, the queen was born at the beginning of a sublime time of Egyptian majestic force and success, properly called the New Kingdom, a rule of 22 years full of power and political stability. Hatshepsut is notable for her aspiring structure projects in Egypt especially the few Obelisks' at Karnack temple and her funerary Temple at Deir el-Bahri. One of her greatest achievements is the expeditions to Punt “Queen Hatshepsut sent her fleet to Punt, which is the country on the southwestern side of Bab al-Mandab, south of the Red Sea. For trade and to bring incense, myrrh, and aromatic trees from the country, in addition to bringing ebony wood, ivory and rare animals to Egypt. When the expedition ships arrive to punt, the Prince of Punt and his wife and their followers appear behind them, greeting and welcoming the leader of the journey. Egyptian ships were loaded with the products and goods of Punt. Of ivory, ebony, fragrant woods, leopard skin, gold, incense, and monkeys, as well as some of the inhabitants of Punt who came with their children to Egypt, and the accompanying text mentioned: “No such thing has been brought to any king who has existed since eternity.” Some of the incense trees, which were transported with their roots in pots, were planted on both sides of the entrance to the Deir al-Bahari temple, and some parts of them remain in their places until now. It was not common for a Queen to be a ruler or a GOD in this time in Ancient Egypt Hatshepsut had to support her reign with both social and religious legitimacy The queen was a beautiful woman, however she was wearing men cloth and fake beard in all religious ceremonies. In addition to that she took for herself the five royal titles according to the inherited Egyptian royal traditions : 1-Hor (Horus): Wirte-kao means strong companion. 2- Nabati (the two ladies): Wedgat-rabbut, meaning flourishing for years. 3- Hor Nabu (Horus the Victorious): Nirat-Khao, meaning the sanctification of sunshine. 4- Nesu Betty (King of the South and North): Maat-Ka-Ra, which translates as Adalah Qurain Ra 5- Sa Ra (Ibn Ra): Ghanemat-Amun Hat-Shepsut which is her personal name and translates to merging with Amun, the introduction to the Nobles Ancient Egypt is full of magic and powerful females, this month will be dedicated to all the beautiful queens of Egypt, so stay Tuned! With Love Raghda

“Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing in the ears, but it also can sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It may be soft or loud, high pitched or low pitched. You might hear it in either one or both ears. Roughly 10 percent of the adult population of the United States has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year. This amounts to nearly 25 million Americans “(1) https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/tinnitus As an Aromatherapist I am always searching for ways to improve the overall emotional well – being also find alternatives ways to help with the symptoms, I was very curious to read about the treatments used for tinnitus from a historical perspective, we have to keep in mind that Aromatherapy is not a substitute for treatments offered by health care professionals My Go- To historical books were: 1) Ebers papyrus, one of the most complete and most comprehensive medical texts from ancient Egypt written in the 18th Dynasty (sixteenth century B.C.) and includes many treatments, in paragraph 678 there is a treatment mentioned for a 'Bewitched Ear' which describes the treatments as infusion of Balanites aegyptiaca and frankincense oil together with two other unknown ingredients into the ear. 2) The Canonon one of the major medieval medical textbooks written by Avicenna or Ibn-Sina (980-1036) the amazing Persian physicians, he mentioned at least five types of tinnitus, one of them was related to the brain and his prescription was “comforting of the brain with myrrh and administration of the oil of almonds to the ears. However, internal use of aromatherapy is not something we promote but it was interesting to see Frankincense and Myrrh in the treatments and their approach in treating the symptoms. After watching this Video “ The Journey of the sound to the Brain” , understanding the anatomy of the ears , reading the MIT research about “you hear what your brain hears”, learning about the auditory nerve ( cochlear nerve) which is responsible for carrying the electrical signals to the brain . knowing that all nerves and brain cells are interconnected inside our body, my approach was to work with oils on the psychological aspects to keep the brain active, healthy calm and focused and at the same time work on the inflammations and Cortisol the stress hormone. I was looking for a synergy that can be balancing and work on many different levels therapeutically and energetically, my intention was to help the Tinnitus patients calm down, work on their nervous system, and help to enhance the signals inside the brain with the following selection of essential oils to be used in an inhaler. 1- Bergamot Citrus bergamia Therapeutic properties: Antimicrobial Energetics : Harmonizing – Emotional stability 2- Helichrysum Helichrysum italicum Therapeutic properties: Anti-inflammatory Energetics: Harmonizing and restorative 3- Lavender Lavandula angustifolia Therapeutic properties: Anti-inflammatory Energetics: Balancing, uplifting, and nourishing 4- Basil Ocimum basilicum Therapeutic properties: Nervine Energetics: Clarity and strength 5- Frankincense Frankincense Carterii Therapeutic properties: Nervine Energetics: Relaxing, revitalizing and stimulant 6- Rosemary 1,8 cineole Rosmarinus officinalis Therapeutic properties: Free Radicals scavenging activity Energetics: Stimulant and restorative The reason I like personal inhalers is that it is very personal, and it has the fast and greatest impact on our emotions, stress levels and memory. With Love Raghda All information, content and product descriptions are for reference and educational purposes and is not intended to substitute advice given by a pharmacist, physician, or other licensed health-care professional. Information and statements regarding Ebers School of Aromatherapy products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health condition or disease. References 1- The Journal of Laryngology and Otology October 1984. Vol.'98. pp.'963-972Department of Audiological Rehabilitation Royal National Throat. Nose and Ear Hospital. London. Paper read at the meeting of the British Tinnitus Association. London. 6th November. 1982. 2- https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/ The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) 3- BRYAN, CYRIL P., ed. Ancient Egyptian Medicine: The Papyrus Ebers. Chicago: Ares, 1974. 4- Pormann, Peter E.; Savage-Smith, Emilie (2007). Medieval Islamic Medicine. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. The videos in this lesson were obtained from http://youtube.com and may be copyrighted material of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in an effort to advance the understanding of essential oils, which we believe will enhance your studies and believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

Have you ever tried Fire cider ? If the answer is NO Then it is time to try it and get all this amazing benefits from the plants, spices ,herbs, vegetables and apple cider vinegar I was introduced to Fire Cider by my good friend Ginger Andro & then my  good friend  Li Wong  gifted me the amazing Rosemary Glad star Fire Cider book, Let me tell you that fire cider kept my healthy during the pandemic, a spoon a day was great to help boosting immunity. This year I decided to change the ingredients to make it more Egyptian :) Ingredients : 1 whole Orange 1 whole Grapefruit 1 whole Lemon 1/4 lb. fresh Ginger 2 Horseradish 6 cloves Star anise 1 tsp Chili peppers 1/4 lb. Hibiscus dried flowers  5 Cinnamon sticks 1/2 tsp Pepper corns 1/2 tsp turmeric powder  Punch of fresh Rosemary Punch of fresh Oregano Punch of fresh Sage Punch of fresh Lemon balm Lavender buds  Organic Apple cider vinegar unfiltered to cover the Jar   And lots of love Directions : Mix all the ingredients together, add the apple cider vinegar in the glass Jar. put a piece of parchment paper on top close tight, leave it for a month in a dry and cool place, shake it daily. After a month strain it with cheesecloth, add local honey and enjoy a teaspoon everyday to help boost your immunity This is the fire cider after mixing all the ingredients, look at the red color ! Be well and enjoy !

Java the amazing island complex with great antiquity, the heart of the Indonesian nation and the most populous islands in the world with over than 140 million people. A beautiful mix of cultural heritage from different historical eras and colonies that shaped the diversity of the island. Hindu & Buddhist kingdoms, Muslim kingdoms & Dutch colonization. Java is a volcanic region, it contains more than 112 volcanoes, forty-five of which are active. The mountains form a spine, which runs east to west in addition to limestone ridges and lowlands. The Essential oils production is located in different parts of the Island West Java Patchouli, Clove, Nutmeg, Turpentine, Citronella, Ginger, Lemongrass, Vetiver, Cajuput, Kaffir Lime East Java Patchouli, Clove, Turpentine, Citronella, Ginger, Cananga, Cajuput, Fennel, Kaffir Lime Central Java Patchouli, Clove, Nutmeg, Turpentine, Citronella, Ginger, Lemongrass, Cananga, Cajuput, Fennel, Vetiver Citronella oil Java - Cymbopogon winterianus Indonesia supply 30 % of the world’s demand,the Citronella grass grow best in the slopes, around 100- 700 meters above sea levels, it needs a lot of moisture and good drainage to grow. The roots of the plant are trimmed and the plant is cut back to 3-5 cm from the base, the plant produces a better yield between 2-4 years of its life span The annual Production is around 1800 MT/ year and takes 3-4 hours distilled through steam distillation. Citronella is rich in Monoterpene alcohols like Geraniol,Citronellol which are well known for therapeutic actions like Anti-inflammatory&sedative. Citronella has been known for ages as a main ingredient in bug repellent products. My favorite blend for a bug repellent spray is: 10 drops Citronella oil 3 drops Geranium Oil 2 drops Lemon Grass oil 2 drops Lavender oil 2 drops Ceder wood oil 2 drops Eucalyptus Oil 30 ml ( 1fl oz ) Neem oil Soybean oil or Castor oil Cananga Oil – Cananga odorata var.macrophylla Cananga is one of my favorite oils, it is tropical tree which produces flowers almost identical to those of ylang ylang. The flower is also known as the “Holy flower” people in Indonesia are using it for weddings and funerals. The flowers are collected from the residential areas of East Java, and families have an average of 1-3 trees in their gardens To collect the flowers the collector climbs a tree with a bamboo basket to gently knock the yellow flower from the 50 ft high trees The annual Production is around 5 MT/ year and takes 10-12 hours to be distilled through steam distillation. Kaffir Lime oil - Citrus hystrix The annual Production is around 3 MT/ year and takes 3-4 hours distilled through steam distillation. References 1-Marco Polo, Henry Yule, and Henri Cordier, Book of Ser Marco Polo, the Venetian, concerning the kingdoms & marvels of the East (New York: Scribner, 1903), 267 2-M. C. Ricklefs, A History of Modern Indonesia since c. 1300(Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Macmillan, 1993, ISBN 033357690X). 3- IFEAT study tour 2011 The product statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Essential oils or aromatherapy products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Use of this page should not be considered medical advice and cannot replace medical consultation with a qualified health professional. Please consult with a qualified medical professional to address specific health concerns you might have. Pregnant or lactating women and persons with known medical conditions should consult a physician prior to the use of any aromatherapy product. The information contained herein is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Neither Ebers Consulting Oils nor its products are intended for the purpose of diagnosing, treating, curing, or preventing any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using these products

As a tea lover I always explore and enjoy a good cup of tea, during my last visit to Egypt and with the increase of the Syrian community presence in Cairo, I was introduced to Zohourat tea ( tea of Flowers ) the name Zohurat in Arabic means flowers , this tea a symphony of flavors and a legacy of traditional medicinal and herbal blend . Zohourat tea is well known in the middle east especially in the regions of Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, and according to each region the ingredients differs. For years and years the tea blend was known as an ethnobotanical heritage that has passed from generations to generations, In some recipes the tea has more than 71 ingredients of which 41 ingredients are spices,36 ingredients are medicinal . As an Aromatherapist I learned how to check the botanical names of the plants , search their families and from there know the therapeutics properties and importance , it is always interesting to dig deep in the botanical knowledge and the history of the plants . Some of the famous blends of the tea contains the following ingredients Aloysia citrodora - lemon verbena Althaea damascena - Marshmallow Ammi majus- Bullwort or Bishops weed Astragalus Borago officinalis- Star flower Carum Carvi- Caraway Citrus medica- Citron Elaeagnus angustifolia - Persian olive Jasminum officinale- Jasmine Lavandula angustifolia- Lavender Matricarica chamomila - Chamomile Melissa officinalis- Lemon balm Mentha x piperita- Peppermint Pimpinella anisum- Anise Pinus brutia- Turkish pine Pistacia palaestina- Zaatar Prunus dulcis - Almonds Psidium guajava - Guava leaves Rosa x damascena - Rose Saccharum officinarum - Sugar cane roots Salvia fruticosa- Greek Sage Salvia officinalis- Sage Sambucus nigra- Elderberry yzygium aromaticum- Clove Ziziphus jujuba Mill - Jujube It was used for centuries in the middle east and is still used for home remedy medicinal properties ,to address and help with digestive, respiratory and nervous system (sedative) conditions. Of course drinking the tea in a coffee shop in Cairo was not that sophisticated with all the 71 one ingredients , my best friend Maha is my partner is discovering different drinks and foods from different cuisines, it is always a quest of knowledge , discovery and memories and so much fun In March 2020 and before everything was in lockdown I enjoyed a cup of Zohurat tea with Maha . My tea was a blend of ( Roses- chamomile - Sage- Guava leaves and orange rinds ) I am sure if you try the tea once you will fall in love with it . The tea is available on Amazon and middle eastern stores in USA References : *A Survey of Plants Used in Jordanian Traditional Medicine Suleiman Al-Khalil *Traditional Lebanese Recipes Based on Wild Plants: An Answer to Diet Simplification Malek Batal, Elizabeth Hunter Computer Science, Biology, Medicine Food and nutrition bulletin -2007 *Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety, 7(3), 229–254. Salah, S. M., & Jäger, A. K. (2005) *Screening of traditionally used Lebanese herbs for neurological activities * Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 97, 145–149. Sincich, F. (2002). Bedouin traditional medicine in the Syrian steppe. Rome: FAO.

Peppermint is one of my favorite herbs and essential oil. Being born and raised in Egypt, mint is widely used in our Mediterranean diet; a fresh mint leaf in a cup of tea is our heavenly drink and fresh chopped mint leaves on our salads and marinades is a must, or the famous Egyptian lemon-mint cold drink, which become my neighbors' favorite drink here in USA. Peppermint was introduced to the U.S. in Massachusetts in the early 1800s. "The United States produces 70% of the world's supply of peppermint and spearmint, the majority of U.S. peppermint is cultivated in the Pacific Northwest. In 2017, 60,400 acres of land were designated for peppermint production, yielding approximately 4.228 million pounds of peppermint oil. Oregon leads the United States in production of peppermint, growing nearly 35% of the nation’s total. Peppermint is either planted in the late fall or in the spring, using specialty built mechanical planters Mint is harvested from late June to mid-August, m.int fields are generally left in for 3-5 years and replaced with another rotational crop (College of Agricultural Science Oregon university)." An acre of mint produces approximately 70 pounds of oil, remember that when you see the small bottle on the shelf and how powerful and concentrated the oil is. On the other hand, one drum of oil can be used to flavor about 5 million sticks of gum or about 400 thousand tubes of toothpaste. A major risk associated with peppermint farming is producing oil of poor quality; weeds harvested with the mint lower the quality of oil. The global market for peppermint oil is forecasted to reach USD $671 million by the end of 2022 due to the increase of usage in Aromatherapy. Here are the most known varieties grown in the United States: Peppermint - Yakima Yakima is the largest region for peppermint & spearmint oils in North America . Peppermint oil's characteristics in this region are: dry, sweet, and light. Menthofuran 0.75% - Menthone 25.24% - Menthol 39.47% Grown in: Yakima, Grant, Adams, Uamtilla (OR) Peppermint - Willamette Peppermint oil's characteristics in this region are: Sweet, floral, fruity, and clean Menthofuran 1.97% - Menthone 23.26 % - Menthol 39.95% Grown in: Marion - Linn, Lane (OR) Peppermint - Madras Peppermint oil's characteristics in this region are: Minty, smoky, and hay Menthofuran 1.51% - Menthone 20.32% - Menthol 43.95% Grown in: Wasco, Jefferson, Crook (OR) Peppermint - La Grande Peppermint oil's characteristics in this region are: Woody, green, and fresh Menthofuran 2.20% - Menthone 18.73% - Menthol 42.71% Grown in: Union, Baker (OR) Valley region located at the base of the blue mountain . Peppermint - Idaho Peppermint oil's characteristics in this region are: Herbal, sweet, and floral Menthofuran 3.15% - Menthone 22.08% - Menthol 39.93% Grown in: Adams, Gem canyin, Ada, Elmore, Owyhee, Twin falls (ID) Peppermint - Midwest Peppermint oil's characteristics in this region are: Earthy,sweet,heavy,mud Menthofuran 1.71% - Menthone 24.32% - menthol 37.78% Indiana - Michigan - Milwaukee This mint is growing in Muck soil and has distinct characteristics. Mint oil Adulteration Essential oil adulteration is a huge concern when it comes to Aromatherapy Synthetic adulteration is very common by adding synthetic menthol , that's why C 14 testing is essential , as a tool to screen “natural” peppermint oil for petrochemical-derived components. That's why buying from trusted distillers is a key factor in the supply chain. References : -Landing JE (1969) American essence : a history of the peppermint and spearmint industry in the United States. Kalamazoo Public Museum:244 pp. -Oregon state university https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/coarec -Perfumer and flavorist Authentication of Natural Peppermint Oil Feb 2019 edition -https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/resources2.aspx?title=Crop%20Production&category1=Crops&category2=Mint - #Aromatherapy #peppermint #ebrersconsulting #facts