Best Dry Skin Care: Shea Butter’s Moisturizing Power

Dry skin craves the best dry skin care, and PHYTO5’s Swiss-made skincare delivers with shea butter, a hero ingredient from the African shea tree. Known as karité, this nutrient-rich fat from the tree’s nuts deeply moisturizes and heals. Here’s how shea butter transforms dry skin with unparalleled hydration.

Why Shea Butter Excels in the Best Dry Skin Care

Shea butter, extracted from the nuts of the tropical African shea tree, is a cornerstone of the best dry skin care for its superior moisturizing properties.

Cold-pressed without chemicals for purity, its ~50% fat content mimics the skin’s natural sebum, delivering intense hydration.

Rich in vitamin A, it heals dry skin, rashes, and wounds, making it ideal for sensitive skin.

High in vitamins E and F, shea butter enhances skin balance, elasticity, and tone, ensuring the best dry skin care results. Its lipid content reduces inflammation, supports tissue regeneration, and boosts microcirculation, revitalizing dull or thinning skin.

Within weeks, shea butter brightens grayish complexions, smooths rough textures, and reduces wrinkles from sun exposure.

PHYTO5’s Swiss-Made Shea Butter Formulas

Crafted in Fleurier, Switzerland, PHYTO5 includes shea butter in:

• Cleansing Milk: Gently cleanses while hydrating dry skin.

• Biostimulant Face Cream: Restores luster with vitamin E.

• La crème soleil Face Cream: Sun protective and restorative.

• Eye Cream: Moisturizes, brightens and tones delicate areas around eyes.

• Zen Body Exfoliation: Gently smooths rough skin.

• Perfection Cream: Brightens dull complexions.

• PHYTO Peel: Softens and hydrates.

• Nourishing Cream: Deeply nourishes dry skin.

These Swiss-made products deliver the best dry skin care with shea butter’s moisturizing power.

Shea Butter’s Healing Legacy

Known as the “Tree of Life” in African pharmacology, shea butter has served as a staple for centuries, healing dry skin, rashes, and burns.

French dermatologists documented its remarkable effects on various skin conditions over 10 days to five months, as recognized by the French Ministry of Health.

With 21 uses (see endnotes), from eczema to stretch mark prevention, shea butter is a versatile hero for the best dry skin care:

Choosing Quality Shea Butter

Low-quality shea butter, often called “lotto butter,” may contain lead, mercury, mold, or bacteria, risking skin health. PHYTO5 uses only certified premium grade A shea butter, tested for purity without added fragrances to mask rancidity. This ensures the best dry skin care with safe, effective hydration.

Best Dry Skin Care: Shea Butter’s Moisturizing Power

Shea butter is a hero ingredient for the best dry skin care, deeply hydrating and healing dry or sensitive skin. PHYTO5’s Swiss-made formulas nourish skin to radiant perfection. Experience the best dry skin care with PHYTO5’s shea butter products today.

Sources:

Goreja, W. G. Shea Butter: The Nourishing Properties of Africa’s Best-Kept Natural Beauty Secret. New York: Amazing Herbs, 2004. Print.

“Benefits of Shea Oil to Mankind.” soliditytrade dot com. N.p., 3 Dec. 2010. Web.

Endnotes:

1. dry skin

2. skin rash

3. skin peeling after tanning

4. blemishes

5. wrinkles

6. itching skin

7. sunburn

8. during shaving

9. skin wound healing

10. cracking of the skin

11. tough or rough skin especially on feet

12. protection against cold weather

13. frostbite

14. stretch mark prevention

15. insect bites

16. muscle aches, fatigue and tension

17. skin allergies

18. skin poisoning from poison ivy or oak

19. eczema

20. dermatitis

21. burns

Best Dry Skin Care: Apricot Kernel Oil’s Moisturizing Benefits

Dry skin craves the best dry skin care, and PHYTO5’s Swiss-made skincare delivers with apricot kernel oil, a hero ingredient for deep hydration. Pressed from Prunus armeniaca kernels in Fleurier, Switzerland, this oil aligns with the Wood element of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), promoting vitality and moisture balance. Discover how apricot kernel oil transforms dry skin with unparalleled nourishment.

Why Apricot Kernel Oil Is the Best Dry Skin Care Solution

Apricot kernel oil is a star in the best dry skin care, delivering intense moisture for dry and mature skin.

Its high vitamin E content, an antioxidant, supports hydration by protecting skin from moisture loss. Vitamin C, a water-soluble antioxidant, shields skin cells’ watery areas, ensuring the best dry skin care by preventing dehydration and damage.

With nearly 90% polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omegas 6 and 9, including gamma-linolenic acid or GLA), apricot kernel oil maintains moisture balance and strengthens skin for lasting hydration. Omega 6 reduces inflammation to soothe dry, flaky skin, while Omega 9 supports a healthy inflammation response, enhancing the best dry skin care routines.

Vitamin A and beta-carotene boost skin’s moisture retention and elasticity for a supple feel.

Light and non-greasy, apricot kernel oil hydrates without residue, making it ideal for facial serums and moisturizers in the best dry skin care regimens. Its vitamin B, potassium, and other minerals nourish skin, locking in moisture for a vibrant complexion.

PHYTO5’s Swiss-Made Formulas with Apricot Kernel Oil

Find apricot kernel oil in these PHYTO5 skincare products:

• Ageless Cleansing Mousse: Gently cleanses while nourishing dry skin.

• Ageless Eye Serum: Smooths fine lines around delicate areas.

• Ageless Five Secrets Facial Serum and Cream Kit: Hydrates and rejuvenates mature skin.

• Wood Yogi Body Gel: Purifies oily skin and blackheads, lightens hyperpigmentation and stimulate svital energy flow.

• Fire Yogi Body Gel: Soothes, cools and calms irritated sensitive skin. It reduces excess redness.

• Earth Yogi Body Gel: Clarifies blemished skin and acne, stimulates the energy of lymph, detoxifies impurities and reducs enlarged pores.

• Metal Yogi Body Gel: Protects skin against dryness, oxygenats, mineralizes and brightens skin, decongests puffiness, eliminates impurities and plumps fine lines.

• Water Yogi Body Gel: Firms and tones mature and sun damaged skin as it improves water circulation.

These Swiss-made products deliver the best dry skin care by harnessing apricot kernel oil’s moisturizing power.

Moisturizing and Soothing with Apricot Kernel Oil

Apricot kernel oil enhances the best dry skin care by deeply moisturizing and soothing dry or mature skin.

Its high vitamin A and E content rehydrates and softens, while iron supports oxygen delivery for a radiant, hydrated complexion. Gentle and fast-absorbing, it’s ideal for sensitive skin, soothing eczema and irritation as part of the best dry skin care solutions.

This oil revitalizes sallow or oily skin, forming a barrier against dehydration. It calms inflamed, itchy skin and acts as an anti-inflammatory, supporting hydration for all skin types.

When mixed with a carrier oil, apricot kernel oil nourishes the scalp, restores shine to dry hair, and tames fly-aways, extending its moisturizing benefits.

Cultural Legacy of Apricot Kernel Oil

For centuries, apricot kernel oil has served as sacred remedy in TCM, used in longevity tonics to treat tumors, ulcers, and digestive issues.

In the Himalayan region, particularly among the Hunza people of Kashmir, known for living past 100, handpicked apricot kernels (gutti ka tel) are a beauty secret for radiant skin.

PHYTO5 sources premium apricot kernel oil — a luminous, orange-yellow oil with a nutty, bitter almond-like aroma, delivering time-honored benefits in modern skincare.

Why PHYTO5 for the Best Dry Skin Care?

Apricot kernel oil is a cornerstone of best dry skin care, offering anti-aging, hydrating, and soothing benefits for all skin types. PHYTO5’s Swiss-made formulas deliver to you all kinds of plant-based natural hero ingredients to balance skin and elevate your wellness beauty. Transform your complexion with PHYTO5’s apricot kernel oil products today!

Sources:

Michalun, M.Varinia, and DiNardo, Joseph C. Milady Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary. United States, Cengage Learning, 2014.

Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Fruits and Vegetables. United Kingdom, Elsevier Science, 2020.

Touhami, Ramdane, and de Taillac, Victoire. An Atlas of Natural Beauty: Botanical Ingredients for Retaining and Enhancing Beauty. United States, Simon & Schuster, 2018.

Photo by Tariq Sulemani from Getty Images via Canva

Lavender Essential Oil for Skin Benefits: Discover Quantum Energetic Skincare with PHYTO5

Lavender essential oil benefits for skin can transform your skincare routine.

Lavender essential oil for skin benefits has been cherished for centuries across cultures. At PHYTO5, we elevate this timeless ingredient in our Fire element line, crafted using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles. Our quantum energetic products, infused with lavender’s soothing properties, offer a high-vibrational skincare experience. But while lavender essential oil benefits for skin are exceptional, how PHYTO5 uses lavender in our Fire line is revolutionary.

The Historical Power of Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender’s enduring appeal, and especially used so widely in cosmetics, stems from its versatility, with archaeological evidence of its use dating back to ancient trade routes.

Derived from an evergreen fragrant shrub in the mint family, its name comes from the Latin lavare, meaning to wash or cleanse[1].

Ancient Egyptians incorporated it in mummification. And in Elizabethan times, the peoples scented clothes and linens with lavender when bathing was uncommon[2].

• Ancient Egypt (c. 3000 BCE): Lavender was used in perfumes, cosmetics, and mummification. It was prized for its scent and antiseptic qualities, often included in oils for embalming or rituals.

• Ancient Greece and Rome (c. 1000 BCE–500 CE): Greeks used lavender for its calming effects, burning it as incense or adding it to baths. Romans used lavender in bathing rituals for its purifying effects, now recognized as antiseptic and disinfectant qualities[3]. Romans used lavender to heal wounds, treat skin conditions, and scent clothing and homes clothes, and homes.

• Medieval Europe (500–1500 CE): Monasteries cultivated lavender for medicinal gardens. They used it to treat ailments like headaches, insomnia, and infections. And they strew lavender on floors to repel pests and mask odors.

• Renaissance and Early Modern Period (1400–1800 CE): Lavender became a staple in European herbal medicine, used for its antiseptic and calming properties. It was a key ingredient in perfumes and plague remedies, like “Four Thieves Vinegar.” Queen Elizabeth I reportedly used it for migraines.

• Victorian Era (1800s): Lavender was a popular scent in perfumes, soaps, and sachets. It symbolized purity and was used in aromatherapy to promote relaxation.

Cultural and Symbolic Uses: Across history, lavender represented purity, devotion, and serenity. Christian traditions linked lavender to the Virgin Mary. In folklore, it warded off evil spirits or attracted love.

Practical Uses: Beyond medicine and fragrance, lavender was used to deter moths in clothing storage, as a culinary herb in some regions, and as a dye in textiles.

Lavender Essential Oil Benefits for Skin

• Soothing irritation: Reduces redness making it ideal for sensitive skin[4] — the target of PHYTO5’s Fire skincare line.
  • Antiseptic properties: Combats acne-causing bacteria for clearer skin[5].
  • Hydration support: Enhances moisture retention, promoting a radiant complexion[6].
  • Emotional calm: Lowers stress, supporting the mind-skin connection [7].

These qualities make lavender a cornerstone of PHYTO5’s Fire element line, designed to soothe, cool and calm body, mind, and spirit.

Lavender essential oil’s calming properties align beautifully with our quantum energetic approach and synergize with a numer of other essential oils in the same Fire line.

PHYTO5’s Fire Element Line: Quantum Energetic Innovation

PHYTO5 blends TCM principles with quantum energetic to create a truly unique brand of holistic skincare. Our 5-Element lines vibrate at frequencies that remarkably balance both skin and vital energy[8].

PHYTO5 stands out by integrating science with time honored holistic wisdom. 

Our truly holistic philosophy nurtures skin, mind, and spirit, setting PHYTO5 apart in the essential oil skincare industry.

Transform Your Skincare Routine with PHYTO5

Lavender essential oil for skin benefits offers a holistic path to radiant, more balanced skin. Many of PHYTO5’s Fire line products are infused with lavender essential oil benefits for skin. Explore phyto5.us to experience how lavender essential oil for skin benefits can elevate your routine. Embrace the vibrational power of PHYTO5 and transform your skincare journey today.

…

References
1. Oxford English Dictionary. (2023). Etymology of Lavender. Oxford University Press.
2. Lawless, J. (2013). The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils. Conari Press.
3. Cavanagh, H. M., & Wilkinson, J. M. (2002). Biological Activities of Lavender Essential Oil. Phytotherapy Research, 16(4), 301–308.
4. Zu, Y., et al. (2010). Activities of Ten Essential Oils Towards Propionibacterium acnes. Molecules, 15(5), 3200–3210.
5. Peana, A. T., et al. (2002). Anti-inflammatory Activity of Linalool and Linalyl Acetate Constituents of Essential Oils. Phytomedicine, 9(8), 721–726.
6. Koulivand, P. H., et al. (2013). Lavender and the Nervous System. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 681304.
7. Gerber, R. (2001). Vibrational Medicine: The #1 Handbook of Subtle-Energy Therapies. Bear & Company.
8. Maciocia, G. (2005). The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Cypress Essential Oil Benefits

Cypress essential oil benefits are extremely versatile for health, beauty and vitality. Enjoy remarkable upgrades for skin, body and well-being when you use products enhanced with cypress essential oil.

Cypress essential oil (Cupressus sempervirens) comes from the Mediterranean coniferous Cypress evergreen tree. Essential oil producers steam distill the leaves, cones (cypress nuts) from the tree.

Ancient cultures have long used this tree for its many health benefits. Hippocrates himself referred to uses of cypress oil in his healing notes.

Scripture celebrates the cypress tree as symbol of strength, security and prosperity. The bible spoke of cypress as the wood to use for building, trading and crafting weaponry.

Phoenicians and Cretans utilized cypress wood to build ships and houses. The Greeks used cypress to create statues of their gods.

Like all plant essential oils, cypress is rich in many terpenes—the phytochemical that gives the plant color, scent and flavor. Terpenes pinene, camphene, sylvestrene and cymene are components of cypress essential oil. They’re also the terpenes associated with all evergreen fragrances.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural bxeauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique holistic beauty tips and offers.

Cypress essential oil benefits skin beginning to show signs of aging by fighting free radicals.

Cypress essential oils tones and firms skin. It actually mitigates and delays skin aging symptoms of wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin.

Cypress essential oil efficiently hydrates and moisturizes skin to help keep it supple and younger looking.

Cypress essential oil benefits include cooling and soothing to overheated or sun damaged skin.

This is why cosmetics formulators use it in shampoo, face cream, skin toner and bath additives.

PHYTO5’s cooling products Fire element Shampoo with cider vinegar, La crème soleil Face Cream and Fire Element Skin Toner also possess cypress essential oil benefits.

(A complete list of PHYTO5 products containing cypress essential oil is listed at the end of this article.)

Cypress essential oil benefits skin suffering from puffiness, imbalanced blood flow and/or water retention and even cellulite.

Cypress essential oil is strongly astringent and supports red blood and water flow in the body. Out-of-balance blood flow and water retention cause varicose veins and cellulite.

Cypress decreases swollen blood vessels.

Cypress essential oil reduces cellulite because its diuretic function increases urination helping you eliminate fats through the urine.

The contracting action of cypress essential oil tightens skin, muscles, gums and hair follicles—all desirable as you age. 

Cypress essential oil benefits Winter immunity from colds and flu and calms spasmodic activity.

There are several essential oils that should be stockpiled and placed in the home wellness cabinet. One of my favorite essential oils to rely on during the cold and flu season of winter is Cypress. This essential oil has inherent properties that allow it to be used as a decongestant, which will definitely come in handy as the season progresses. —Ann Sullivan in Cypress Essential Oil Benefits, Properties, Applications, Studies and Recipes

Cypress essential oil works to clear up congestion and phlegm in the respiratory tract and lungs.

An anti-bacterial, cypress essential oil fights respiratory infections brought on by bacterial overgrowth.

Cypress essential oil benefits respiratory function helping to alleviate asthma and bronchitis.

Cypress essential oil is a much safer alternative to antibiotics. A 2004 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reports the terpene camphene in cypress essential oil inhibited the growth of nine bad bacteria and all yeasts they studied.

Cypress essential oil benefits heart, vessels, red blood and lymphatic circulation to flush toxins from skin.

To flush out toxins and achieve radiant youthful looking skin you need good fluid circulation. Cypress provides a strong toning action for veins and helps keep blood and lymph moving.

Cypress essential oil is a diuretic so it increases sweating and perspiration, in turn flushing out toxins.

It can help prevent acne caused by toxic buildup. Cypress oil alleviates sores, pimples, pustules and skin eruptions.

Cypress essential oil benefits wound healing.

Cypress essential oil has excellent antiseptic and wound healing properties. It slows down bleeding from wounds.

Cypress essential oil benefits muscles strains and sprains and the pain of rheumatism and osteoarthritis.

Cypress essential soothes and relaxes. It reduces pain of sprains, strains, muscle pulls, joint pain and long-term back pain.

It works against carpal tunnel syndrome by reducing fluid retention, one of the main reasons for carpal tunnel. It helps the condition by encouraging blood circulation and lessening inflammation.

Many people find cypress essential oil effective in calming restless leg syndrome.

Cypress essential oil may also reduce the swelling associated with edema.

Cypress essential oil benefits women during menses.

Cypress essential oil eases cramps in menstruating women.

It evens out blood flow during menstruation and reduces cysts in the ovaries.

Cypress essential oil benefits include invigoration because of its fresh, clean woody scent.

Combine the fragrance of cypress with its antibacterial properties and it will prevent bacterial growth and body odor.

Add ten drops of cypress essential oil to your laundry to make clothes bacteria-free and smelling super fresh.

Cypress essential oil uplifts the spirit. More than toning to skin, it’s mentally toning as well. It helps calm nerves and stress. Cypress lifts feelings of weariness and anxiety. It alleviates restlessness and insomnia.

On the other hand, cypress essential oil possesses sedative effects. It calm and relaxes. It helps cases of emotional stress, trouble sleeping, and reaction to trauma and shock.

Cypress essential oil benefits the liver.

It encourages liver health by controlling more balanced bile discharge from the liver. The oil’s anti-infectious property also safeguards the liver from infection.

…

Important note: Don’t use cypress essential oil without a carrier oil like sweet almond, jojoba, apricot kernel, coconut or olive oil. It’s too potent to use by itself and will create enormous discomfort if you don’t use it properly.

PHYTO5 harnesses cypress essential oil benefits in the following products:

Clarify oily skin, lighten spots and stimulate blood flow and vital energy for a matte finish:

• Wood element Skin Toner

• Wood element Phyt’Ether serum

• Wood element Yogi Body Gel

Clarify oily scalp and hair. Stimulate blood flow and vital energy in scalp.

• Wood element Shampoo

Soothe irritated sensitive skin, reduce excess redness, cool and calm skin.

• Fire element Skin Toner

Reduce excess redness in scalp. Cool and calm scalp. Balance circulation for healthier scalp and hair.

• Fire element Shampoo

Detoxify impurities, balance blemishes and acne, reduce enlarged pores.

• Earth element Phyt’Ether serum

• Earth element yellow Clay Mask

Detoxify scalp and promote soft supple hair.

• Earth element Shampoo

Eliminate impurities, decongest and brighten dull skin, smooth fine lines.

• Metal element Skin Toner

Mineralize, nourish, soften and deeply hydrate brittle hair and dry scalp.

• Metal element Shampoo

Anti-age nourishment for skin

• Ageless La Cure Nourishing Cream

• La crème soleil Face Cream

• Hand Cream

Soothing and relaxing

• Yin Massage Oil

• Algae-Essence Bath Additive

…

Sources:

Valnet, Dr Jean. The Practice Of Aromatherapy. United Kingdom, Ebury Publishing, 2012.

Curtis, Susan, Pat Thomas, and Fran Johnson. Essential Oils: All-natural Remedies and Recipes for Your Mind, Body, and Home. NY, NY: DK, 2016. Print.

Rubin, Jordan. Essential Oils: Ancient Medicine for a Modern World. Place of Publication Not Identified: Destiny Image Pub, 2017. Print.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15186116

Sullivan, Ann. Cypress Essential Oil: Benefits, Properties, Applications, Studies and Recipes. N.p., CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017.

What Is Buckwheat Good for in the Body? It's a Magic Beauty, Health and Longevity Seed.

The extract of buckwheat (also known as beech wheat) has nothing to do with wheat at all because it’s neither grain nor grass. It’s naturally gluten-free and a relative of sorrel, knotweed and the rhubarb plant.

Buckwheat’s not a grain at all. The buckwheat fruit seed produces starchy seeds. It gets its name from its triangular seeds which resemble the much larger seeds of the beech nut tree and. It also gets is name because the seeds can be ground and used a lot like how we use wheat in cooking.

It’s a superfood with a mild nutty flavor. When toasted, we call buckwheat seeds kasha.  

Buckwheat is believed to have been introduced from Manchuria where it grows wild. A  native of central Asia and originally cultivated in China from the tenth to thirteenth centuries buckwheat was then introduced into Europe by the crusaders.

In terms of buckwheat for health only, its unique nutritional profile makes it important for health conscious consumers. High quality protein, fiber and minerals make this gluten-free seed an overall excellent health food.

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What else is buckwheat good for in the body?

A powerhouse of nutrients, buckwheat is one of the healthiest foods you can consume internally or topically on the skin or hair.

We see buckwheat for health but very much also for beauty and longevity.

“People who love buckwheat live long.” —Tanveer Bilal Pirzadah and Reiaz Ul Rehman in Forgotten Crop for the Future: Issues and Challenges

You can grow buckwheat greens from sproutable seeds. They’re a plentiful source of chlorophyll, enzymes and vitamins. Buckwheat seeds, high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, support skin's elasticity.

This is why we formulate many of our quantum energetic Water element products for more mature skin with buckwheat extract. We do that because of buckwheat’s elasticity encouraging action.

The flavonoids(1) in buckwheat amplify the action of vitamin C and act as antioxidants. This is another easy why buckwheat for health is also for beauty. The extract of buckwheat is an important anti-aging ingredient in skincare.

PHYTO5’s Water element line is very much designed for mature skin and anti-aging. And buckwheat extract is an important ingredient in many of the line’s products.

Buckwheat for health stakes its main claim to fame: Its Rutin or vitamin P Content

Rutin is a natural anti-inflammatory bioflavanoid which protects against skin damage from the sun and environment. Rutin also blocks free radicals which in turn slows the effects of aging and promotes longevity.

Rutin in buckwheat supports blood circulation so important for skin’s healthy youthful glow and strengthens and repairs small capillaries in the skin.

Buckwheat’s high magnesium content also works alongside rutin to relax blood vessels and promote circulation and skin’s glow. This factor also helps to improve circulation in cold hands and feet.

Vitamin B in buckwheat benefits skin, nails and hair enormously. It also helps reduce skin damage caused by sun and environmental factors.

Buckwheat’s high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids helps enhance skin’s elasticity.

And buckwheat’s zinc and magnesium content is very important for skin and hair condition as well as healthy sleep. Buckwheat extract can be used externally for skin eruptions, inflammations and burns.

Buckwheat is 75% complex carbohydrates, a feature exceptional for proper growth of hair. Rich in vitamin A, B-complex vitamins and zinc, buckwheat for health promotes hair growth. Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine is vital for hair growth and health.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

Besides beauty benefits, what is buckwheat good for in the body?

In addition to skin and hair health, think ‘buckwheat for health’ in general.

Buckwheat also contains vitamin E,  riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic acid (B5), thiamine (B1), B6 and folate all important for everyone and especially people with liver disorders.

What is buckwheat good for in the body? Here’s a good list.

• Its saturated fat content combined with high protein and fiber content aids in appetite suppression and weight loss. Buckwheat’s very high quality proteins and all eight amino acids help lower cholesterol; its amino acid composition surpasses all cereals.

• Buckwheat consumption may lower the risk of fatal stroke and heart attack because it helps balance blood pressure, circulation and vascular integrity.

• A certain type of antioxidant in buckwheat called lignans assists post-menopausal women by helping to prevent breast cancer and other forms of cancer related to hormone imbalance.

• The high levels of vitamin E and magnesium present in buckwheat protect against childhood asthma.

• Because buckwheat is high in insoluble fiber it helps prevent gallstones by facilitating the movement of food through the intestines.

• The manganese in buckwheat helps form healthy bones and connective tissue and can help prevent osteoporosis. 

• Buckwheat also facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses and assists in energy production.

• The amino acid tryptophan in buckwheat elevates mood.

• Less acid forming with a well balanced mineral composition (phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese) combined with a high flavonoid(1) content, buckwheat assists us to combat colds and flu.

When it comes to health and beauty buckwheat is hands down a vital ingredient for your diet and anti-age skincare regimen.

…

Endnotes:

(1) Flavonoids are phytonutrients responsible for the vivid colors in fruits and vegetables and are potent antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits.

…

Sources:

Murray, Michael T., et al. The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods. Time Warner International, 2006.

Pitchford, Paul. Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition. North Atlantic Books, 2009.

Verheyen, Yes. Enjoyvity, Your Full Spectrum of Life. Verheyen Consulting, 2010.

Pirzadah, Tanveer Bilal, and Rehman, Reiaz Ul. Buckwheat: Forgotten Crop for the Future: Issues and Challenges. United States, CRC Press, 2021.

Photo by Sage Kirk on Unsplash

Antioxidant Ingredients in Skin Care: Superstars To Help You Slow Down Aging

Antioxidants slow the aging process. That’s a well-established scientific fact. Researchers estimate that 80 to 90 percent of all degenerative diseases involve age-causing and accelerating free radical activity. This makes including antioxidant ingredients in skin care a primary goal for smart cosmetic formulators.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

Antioxidants lessen the damage that free radicals cause in the body and skin. They help prevent the onset of disease. Some can even slow or reverse the progress of disease already underway.

We can very easily find a plethora of antioxidants in colorful fresh produce. If your dinner plate is devoid of color, you’re not consuming many antioxidants. Consuming a diet rich in fresh produce is key to slowing signs of aging.

Consider your diet your first form of skin care. You can get many antioxidant ingredients in skin care that directly comes from your diet.

Recognizing this fact, many cosmetics companies also formulate antioxidant ingredients in skin care products.

PHYTO5 is all about formulating antioxidant ingredients in skin care.

Benefit from natural antioxidant ingredients in skin care in PHYTO5’s Ageless La Cure, Metal and Water element lines of skincare. Antioxidation is integral to the mission of Ageless La Cure.

What are free radicals?

Free radicals are incomplete unstable molecules. They are waste produced by various chemical reactions in our bodies’ cells. When free radicals build up, they harm the cells of the body.

Here’s how it works.

1. Electrons hold molecules together. Normal molecules have pairs of electrons.

2. When a molecule loses one electron from a pair of electrons, the molecule becomes a free radical. This makes the free radical molecule unbalanced and extremely reactive with other molecules.

3. Electrons are compelled to be in pairs. So they scavenge the body searching for another electron to pair up with once again.

4. This action damages cells, proteins and DNA and leads to disease and symptoms of aging.

We generally call this process oxidative stress.

How do we develop free radicals in the body?

The Huntington's Outreach Project for Education at Stanford University says we ingest substances daily that generate free radicals thereby creating oxidative stress.

We find these damaging substances in the food we eat, the medicines we take, the air we breathe and the water we drink.

Just a few examples are fried foods, alcohol, tobacco smoke, pesticides and air pollutants.

In the 2010 article, Methods of Molecular Biology, researchers report that no officially recognized symptoms of oxidative stress exist, however generally recognized symptoms include:

• fatigue

• headaches

• noise sensitivity

• memory loss and brain fog

• muscle and joint pain

• wrinkles and gray hair

• compromised vision and

• lowered immunity.

What are good sources of natural antioxidant ingredients in skin care and in food?

There are probably thousands of substances that can act as antioxidants.

The most familiar and most used antioxidant ingredients in skin care and naturally existing in food are vitamins C and E (D-alpha tocopherol, beta-carotene and other related carotenoids. Many minerals also function like antioxidants including selenium and manganese.

You can find many of these vitamin and mineral antioxidant ingredients in skin care products.

The plant-based diet is based on high intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-rich plant foods. These foods naturally work to reduce risk of oxidative stress-related diseases and aging symptoms.

In the very comprehensive Antioxidant Food Database we learn a key fact: Plant-based foods deliver significantly more antioxidants to the body than non-plant-based foods.

“A plant-based diet protects against chronic oxidative stress-related diseases. Dietary plants contain variable chemical families and amounts of antioxidants. It has been hypothesized that plant antioxidants may contribute to the beneficial health effects of dietary plants.”— Monica Carlsen et al, The Total Antioxidant Content of More than 3100 Foods, Beverages, Spices, Herbs and Supplements Used Worldwide

The study goes on to report:

“The results demonstrate that there are several thousand-fold differences in antioxidant content of foods. Spices, herbs and supplements include the most antioxidant rich products in our study, some exceptionally high. Berries, fruits, nuts, chocolate, vegetables and products thereof constitute common foods and beverages with high antioxidant values.”

Examples of Antioxidant Ingredients in Skin Care and In Food (In fact, they’re superstars.)

• Allium sulphur compounds: leeks, onions, garlic

• Anthocyanins:(1) blue and blue-black foods like eggplant, grapes, blueberries, blackberries, forbidden rice, black lentils, black currants. PHYTO5’s quantum energetic Water line of skincare formulates many products in the line with these antioxidant ingredients in skin care.

• Beta carotene: pumpkin, mangoes, carrots, apricots, spinach, parsley

• Catechins:(2) matcha green tea,(2) other teas, red wine, cocoa, coffee(3)

• CoQ10 also known as ubiquinone

• Copper: beef liver, avocados, buckwheat, olives, sunflower seeds, lentils, almonds, dark chocolate and asparagus

• Glutathione is made up of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. It’s the master antioxidant of the body.

  • The human body synthesizes glutathione so it’s present in most mammalian tissue. Glutathione directly scavenges a whole range of oxidants.

  • It also catalytically detoxifies a host of toxins. It protects cells from oxidants by recycling vitamins C and E. The reduced glutathione supplement has a direct reputation for mitigating symptoms of  aging.

  • Glutathione also brightens skin when you take it as a supplement to your diet. Clinical tests have demonstrated the effectiveness of oral glutathione. A Penn State College of Medicine study shows oral supplementation is quite bioavailable while the body is able to store the nutrient.

• Hydroxytyrosol is found in olive leaf and olive oil. It just may be the most powerful super-antioxidant discovered to date.

  • Hydroxytyrosol has an exceptionally high ORAC(4) value of 68,576. It’s 15 times higher than that of green tea and three times higher than CoQ10. Hydroxytyrosol is very bioavailable.

  • Several assays show significant benefits for cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It’s not only a potent antioxidant, it reduces inflammation as a significant anti-inflammatory.

• The organic compound alpha lipoic acid has gained a great deal of attention as a super anti-aging agent in recent years.

  • The human body produces alpha lipoic acid naturally but only in small amounts. This is why many older people turn to supplements which pack up to 1,000 times more bioavailable alpha lipoic acid in one capsule than they can naturally get in their daily diet.

  • Research suggests alpha lipoic acid plays a role in weight loss, diabetes, lowered blood sugar levels, reduced inflammation, improved nerve function and slowed aging of skin.

  • Animal products like red meat and organ meats contain alpha lipoic acid. Plant foods like broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, and brussels sprouts also contain fairly good amounts of alpha lipoic acid.

• Licorice root extract

• Witch hazel water; enjoy this antioxidant ingredient in skin care in PHYTO5’s Skin Toner in the Ageless line.

• L-arginine amino acid; also an effective hydrator

…

Endnotes for this article:

1) Anthocyanins are blue, violet, or red flavonoid pigments found in plants; from the Greek, antho means flower; cyan means blue.

2) Catechins are naturally occurring plant chemicals with well-demonstrated antioxidant activity; the particular catechin concentration in matcha green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

EGCG is proven to reduce melanin secretion and production in melanoma cells.

“Together, these results suggest that EGCG might be used as a cosmetic ingredient with positive effects on skin hydration, moisture retention, and wrinkle formation, in addition to radical scavenging activity and reduction of melanin generation.” — Eunji Kim et al in “Skin Protective Effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 19,1 173. 6 Jan. 2018, doi:10.3390/ijms19010173

3) Coffee is a potent source of healthful antioxidants showing more antioxidant activity than the two antioxidants green tea and cocoa. Researchers believe chlorogenic acid, an important antioxidant found almost exclusively in coffee, helps prevent cardiovascular disease. Note: while green coffee beans have high levels of antioxidants, roasting is necessary to destroy the harmful compound acrylamide present in green coffee beans.

4) Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity defined as the ability to absorb cell-damaging free radicals.

Sources:

Carlsen, Monica H, et al. “The Total Antioxidant Content of More than 3100 Foods, Beverages, Spices, Herbs and Supplements Used Worldwide.” Nutrition Journal, BioMed Central, 22 Jan. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2841576/.

Miller, Dr. Bruce. Antioxidants: Your Answer To Over 60 Degenerative Diseases Involving Free Radical Activity. Oak Enterprise Publications, 2015.

Palmieri, Beniamino, and Valeriana Sblendorio. “Current Status of Measuring Oxidative Stress.” Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.), U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20072906.

Yashin, Alexander, et al. “Antioxidant and Antiradical Activity of Coffee.” Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), MDPI, 15 Oct. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4665516/.

Watanabe, Fumiko, et al. “Skin-Whitening and Skin-Condition-Improving Effects of Topical Oxidized Glutathione: a Double-Blind and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial in Healthy Women.” Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, Dove Medical Press, 17 Oct. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4207440/.

https forward slash x2 pdfs dot semanticscholar dot org slash cf75 forward slash f70fd56fc31c55081ba2018217139eee575e dot pdf

Vilaplana-Pérez, Cristina, et al. “Hydroxytyrosol and Potential Uses in Cardiovascular Diseases, Cancer, and AIDS.” Frontiers in Nutrition, Frontiers Media S.A., 27 Oct. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4428486/.

Weiss, David J, and Christopher R Anderton. “Determination of catechins in matcha green tea by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.” Journal of chromatography. A vol. 1011,1-2 (2003): 173-80. doi:10.1016/s0021-9673(03)01133-6

Kim, Eunji et al. “Skin Protective Effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 19,1 173. 6 Jan. 2018, doi:10.3390/ijms19010173

Eby, Myra Michelle, and Gazella, Karolyn A.. Return to Beautiful Skin: Your Guide to Truly Effective, Nontoxic Skin Care. United Kingdom, Basic Health, 2008.

Quartz in Skincare: Revitalize Skin with Crystal Quartz Infused Cosmetic Clays

Quartz is a mineral and fossilized resin. It’s one of earth’s strongest materials. What makes quartz in skincare valuable in skincare is its silica content. Silica is one of the largest components of collagen, the main structural protein in skin and other connective tissues and important factor in skin soft, supple and moisturized skin.

Quartz in skincare helps remove dead skin cells.

The most common form of quartz is silicon dioxide or crystalline silica.

Silicon is very important for skin health which is why it’s more and more formulated into cosmetic clays.

All six ever-moist cosmetic clays created by PHYTO5 contain quartz which is specifically prepared for cosmetic use. The clay masks gently remove dead skin cells and perform these specific functions:

• Wood element green Clay Mask encourages vital energy flow and helps balance oily skin.

• Fire element red Clay Mask soothes sensitive, irritated red blotchy skin and balances blood circulation.

• Earth element yellow Clay Mask helps detoxify skin with acne, blemishes and enlarged pores. It encourages flow of lymph which bathes tissues of toxins carrying them out through the bloodstream.

• Metal element white Clay Mask mineralizes, oxygenates and decongests puffy dull skin with fine lines. It helps balance micro-circulation.

• Water element black Clay Mask deeply hydrates skin and encourages elasticity, tone and water balance in the skin.

• Ageless soothing pink Clay Mask improves circulation, helps regenerate skin and by strengthening collagen fibers and skin’s elasticity.

Quartz in skincare is best in certain cosmetic applications.

This very hard mineral proves stable in all types of cosmetic formulations including those that are water-based. But because quartz can be difficult to maintain in suspension PHYTO5 primarily uses quartz crystal powder in its thicker cosmetic clay formulations.

Cosmetic ingredient formulators have to precisely prepare quartz to make it suitable for face exfoliation. They grind quartz down to extremely tiny particles with a gently rounded shape. No radiation or chemical process is involved.

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Quartz in skincare offers skin many glowing benefits.

Completely natural and pure quartz provides many benefits for skin including exceptional exfoliation.

When finely pulverized quartz is added to cosmetic clays it naturally and precisely exfoliates skin.

Synthetic polyethylene micro-beads are most commonly used in exfoliating skincare. But PHYTO5 finds finely pulverized natural quartz crystal powder superior in helping to remove layers of dead skin cells.

It buffs old skin cells to reveal new softer more illuminated skin.

Quartz in skincare also encourages better micro-circulation—the circulation of blood in the tiniest blood vessels. In this process it helps renew the stratum corneum or outermost layer of the epidermis. This action leaves skin refreshed, rejuvenated, healthy looking and beautifully flushed.

Quartz indirectly helps improve skin strength and elasticity. It helps your body synthesize collagen and activate detoxifying enzymes.

Expertly prepared quartz in skincare encourages skin regeneration by smoothing the epidermis. It does this without affecting skin’s hydrolipidic film.(1)

Of all minerals, quartz might be the most energizing. It’s well known for its calming, comforting and protective properties.

Quartz in skincare can support your vital energy flow. Known to generate light, it can bring light to your skin on a subtle level.

Benefit from quartz in skincare with PHYTO5 quantum energetic ever-moist Clay Masks.

They’re easy to apply and enjoyable to use:

• You can do it with your hands but using an application brush is best.

• After completely covering face and neck, leave the ever-moist mask on for 10 to 15 minutes.

• Next, wet your hands lightly and with your fingertips gently massage the mask in small circular motions over face and neck. This further promotes the exfoliation effect.

• Finally, rinse well with warm water to remove the clay.

Along with helping create a peel effect the quartz and other other clay and essential oil hero ingredients in the clays help oxygenate skin. This gives skin a healthy glow.

The regenerating and age-mitigating effects offered by quartz in skincare goes back many thousands of years.

The ancient Egyptians believed quartz could slow the aging process so they often applied a powdered form to the skin.

Egyptian and Roman women made rose quartz face masks to clear facial congestion and, of course, look younger.

…

1. The hydrolipidic film is a a protective film which helps skin retain moisture and the prevent harm from environmental aggressions.

Sources:

Yukami. “Quartz Mineral: Facts, Properties, and Commercial Uses.” PT Yudian Kawan Mineral, 13 June 2023, www.yukami.co.id/what-is-quartz-mineral/.

Araújo, Lidiane Advincula de et al. “Use of silicon for skin and hair care: an approach of chemical forms available and efficacy.” Anais brasileiros de dermatologia vol. 91,3 (2016): 331-5. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20163986

Juniper Oil Benefits for Skin

Juniper berry essential oil (Juniperus communis) is excellent for skin health and promoting radiance in more mature skin. Juniper oil benefits for skin include improved circulation, cleansed skin and blood and inflammation reduction.

Juniper berry essential oil works to keep moisture balanced in skin. For all these reasons juniper berry essential oil is a hero ingredient in many of PHYTO5’s Winter quantum energetic skincare products.

Crisp, fresh and woody notes give hints of juniper oil benefits for skin

Juniper is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to most states in North America. Their cones and foliage are usually quite aromatic.

Juniper boasts a rich history dating back to ancient civilizations. The Greeks, Romans, and Native Americans have revered both the berry and the tree for their curative properties.

Resembling blueberries, juniper berries take two or three years to ripen. Only blue ripe berries can be picked to make the essential oil through steam distillation. Juniper berry smells distinctive, crisp, fresh, woody and herbaceous with a hint of sweetness.

If juniper smells a bit like a cocktail to you, it’s because juniper berries are used in gin.

Swedish bitters, known for their health benefits, often include juniper berry in their concoctions. So does the famous Jaegermeister bitters alcohol beverage. The Swedish bitter beer Drikke (or Gotlandscdricka) also combines both juniper boughs and berries with malt, hops, yeast, water and sugar to make the brew.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

The sweetest most lovely oil comes from the berries of the tree. Essential oil producers harvest a less potent juniper oil from the needles and twigs. 

You can forage for juniper berries quite easily in the U. S. Find the berries within two feet of the branch tips. 

There’s a time-honored way to pick the berries: Place a sheet underneath the shrub, grasp a berry-laden branch and gently shake. The blue ripe berries will fall off easily. Don’t take green berries because they'll rot before they have a chance to dry.

Wild foraged juniper berries have long been used in food, beverages, and medicine. Norwegians home brew juniper berry tea, for example.

In medical applications, juniper berry helps treat respiratory and urinary tracts. The berry works to fight cold, congestion, cough, arthritis, and gout.

Juniper Oil Benefits for Skin: Purifying and Cleansing

Juniper essential oil is very purifying. Juniper berry essential oil works to eliminate dirt, germs and dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. This purifying action yields a natural glow and a clearer complexion.

• PHYTO5’s formulates Water element black Clay Mask with juniper berry essential oil for its purifying action.

Juniper aggressively works to balance excess oil production.

With antiseptic qualities associated with purity, juniper oil is particularly beneficial for acne and blemishes.

In addition to its antiseptic action, Juniper oil benefits for skin include counteracting toxic acne by detoxifying blood.

And even though fighting acne requires a great deal of strength, juniper oil is still gentle on the skin. 

Juniper Oil Benefits for Skin: Toning

Juniper oil’s natural astringent properties aids in minimizing pores and toning skin. It effectively minimizes the appearance of pores.

• Juniper berry essential oil is a hero ingredient in PHYTO5’s Metal skin Toner.

Juniper Oil Benefits for Skin: Soothing

Anti-inflammatory juniper oil calms red, irritated sensitive skin.

The oil is very effective for inflamed skin like dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and long unhealed wounds.

• Juniper berry essential oil in PHYTO5 Hand Cream works to heal dry hands suffering from eczema. 

It’s obvious to enjoy juniper oil benefits for skin topically in skin care. But you can also enjoy its benefits =in your diffuser at home. Juniper oil can help promote a sense of inner tranquility. Psychologically, juniper berry essential oil strengthens and uplifts the spirit.

Juniper supports the nervous system and the emotion of the Water element according to traditional Chinese medicine. That emotion is fear and left unbalanced may lead to stressful reactions and more negative emotions.

• All of PHYTO5’s five element lines (Water is one of the five) are quantum energetic. This means all the products in those lines are capable of helping balance emotion.

Juniper Oil Benefits for Skin: Antioxidant Age Mitigating Powerhouse

The blue-black juniper berry indicates it’s high in highly potent anthocyanin antioxidants which fight age-causing free radicals in the body.

Juniper oil benefits for skin encompass the powerful defense against free radicals that wreak havoc on the skin. Free radicals cause premature aging but juniper works to neutralize this oxidative stress. Any time you can effectively accomplish this action, you’ll notice your skin looks more youthful and rejuvenated.

These same antioxidants in juniper oil help protect skin from environmental insults too.

Juniper Oil Benefits for Skin: Balancing Skin Conditions Caused by Hormone Imbalance

Juniper berry essential oil effectively treats skin conditions caused by stress reaction and hormone imbalance.

Stress initiates the production of more cortisol in the body. When the body produces too much cortisol, sebaceous glands begin producing more oil in skin. Excess oil contributes to acne and can worsen acne that already exists.

Prolonged and chronic stress and increased cortisol production causes inflammation in skin. It can contribute to or worsen conditions like eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.

Skin’s natural protective barrier function suffers when cortisol levels raise. This causes irritated dry skin unable to maintain its own moisture balance. This is a key reason why juniper berry essential oil is a key ingredient in many Water element line products.

Juniper oil benefits for skin include balancing excess oil, reducing inflammation, and strengthening skin’s natural barrier function.

Juniper Oil Benefits for Skin: Circulation Promoting

Juniper promotes elasticity of blood vessels, thus improved blood circulation.

Juniper Oil Benefits for Skin: Balancing Moisture Retention

Juniper berry essential oil works to balance dehydrated scalp and dandruff. It can help strengthen and hydrate hair and create conditions that support hair growth. 

• Enjoy the benefits of juniper berry essential oil in Water element Yogi Body Gel and Selextreme alpine exfoliating salts.

• Another product from the Water line, Day Cream, also utilizes the power of juniper to help balance water retention in skin.

• This essential oil is a unique ingredient in PHYTO5’s Water element Shampoo that works to restore hydration, volume and luster to hair.

Juniper Oil Benefits for Skin… and Body

Juniper berry essential oil offers still more health benefits.

People have long found juniper berry to have purifying and healing properties. They used the berries to fight the spread of plagues and contagious diseases. During a smallpox epidemic, hospitals in France burned juniper wood to stop its spread.

Juniper berry also helps cleanse the liver and improve its health and function. Especially if you have or are at risk for fatty liver, juniper berry may benefit.

Essential oil of juniper berry works to detoxify not just skin but the colon, kidneys, and lungs.

Juniper oil benefits for skin and body also include:

• enlivens dull skin

• tones skin naturally by unblocking pores and balancing oily and blackhead- and acne-prone skin

• provides relief for psoriasis and eczema when applied in diluted form

• smooths stretch marks and scar tissue

• helps reduce orange peel appearance just under skin (lipolytic properties)

• soothes skin eruptions when used in a cool compress; an anti-irritant

• regulates oiliness of the hair 

• helps treat dandruff when used in a hair rinse

• lessens varicose veins

• acts as antibacterial and antiseptic; a disinfectant for ureter and bladder infections but not for acute kidney infections

• can serve as a diuretic

• improves cartilage elasticity

• offers sore muscle relief and joint support

• soothes rheumatic and arthritic pain

• helps ease cramps from menstruation and assists in regulating the menstrual cycle

• treats yeast infection and vaginitis

• alleviates symptoms of cystitis by adding a few drops of juniper berry oil in a warm shallow bath

• relieves chronic gas trouble

• lessens kidney stone discomfort when placing a compress with juniper berry oil on the lower back

• stimulates sluggish body functions

• supports digestive function; helps balance metabolism

• improves elimination

• helps heal ulcers

• purifies and detoxifies the blood

• alleviates varicose veins

• reduces unwanted water retention

• helps shrink varicose veins and hemorrhoids

• an actual tonic, helps tone muscles and tissues

• promotes nerve regeneration after injury

• enhances the filtration action of kidneys

• combats free radicals

• speeds healing

• normalizes acid-base reactions in the body

• provides relief as expectorant for bronchitis, colds and coughs when its fragrance is gently inhaled

• helps recovery from influenza

• offers respiratory support

• purifies the air, repelling insects

• eases mental exhaustion and nervous tension acting as a sedative

• acts as a grounding agent for anxiety

• helps sharpen memory when used in aromatherapy

• dispels negative emotions of guilt, loneliness and insecurity

• helps release suppressed anger and negativity when used in aromatherapy or during meditation

• helps relieve irritability and an out-of-balance stress response; mentally stimulating

Juniper oil benefits for skin indicate it’s non-toxic and is generally non-sensitizing.

Some people do have a reaction to the essential oil, so be cautious when using. Make sure you do a skin patch test first. Apply a diluted drop on your arm and see if any reaction occurs.

Concerning precautions or contraindications, Dr. Joseph Mercola says this about juniper berry essential oil:

“Because it can stimulate the uterine muscle, juniper berry oil should not be used during pregnancy. I do not recommend this essential oil to nursing moms and very young children as well… Those who suffer from any type of kidney or liver disease should refrain from using juniper berry oil.”

From its antioxidant-rich nature to its soothing effects, the myriad juniper oil benefits for skin make it a must-have in your skincare arsenal. Whether you're looking to combat signs of aging, banish blemishes, or simply pamper your skin, juniper oil can deliver excellent results. Embrace the power of juniper oil and unlock the secret to radiant, healthy skin.

…

Sources:

Curtis, Susan, et al. Essential Oils: All-Natural Remedies and Recipes for Your Mind, Body, and Home. DK Publishing, 2016.

Rector-Page, Linda G. Linda Page's Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-healing for Everyone. California: Traditional Wisdom, 2000. Print.

Calisto Media, Inc. Essential Oils for Beginners: The Guide to Get Started with Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. Berkeley: Althea, 2013. Print.

Lis-Balchin, Maria. Aromatherapy Science: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London: Pharmaceutical, 2006. Print.

Wilson, Roberta. Aromatherapy: Essential Oils for Vibrant Health and Beauty. Avery, 2002.

Fischer-Rizzi, Susanne. Complete Aromatherapy Handbook: Essential Oils for Radiant Health. United States, Sterling Publishing Company, 1990.

Ananieva, Lyudmila. Essential Oils for Your Health and Beauty: Part 2. Italy, Tektime, 2017.

Worwood, Valerie Ann. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Revised and Expanded: Over 800 Natural, Nontoxic, and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health, Beauty, and Safe Home and Work Environments. United States, New World Library, 2016.

Essential Oils Natural Remedies: A Complete Guide to Nature’s Gifts. N.p., Norwalk Publishing LA, 2019.

Rubin, Jordan, et al. Essential Oils: Ancient Medicine for a Modern World. United States, Destiny Image, Incorporated, 2017.

Essential Oils Reference Guide for Healthy Skin: How to Use Essential Oils to Cure Acne, Remove Scars, Achieve Smooth Skin. N.p., Erika Robinson.

Combs, Dawn. “Juniper Berries: How to Find, Harvest, and Use Them.” DIY Natural, 26 Oct. 2017, diynatural [dot] com [forward slash] juniper-berries

Damask Rose Benefits: Exceptionally Skin and Health Enhancing

Damask rose is very skin enhancing and rejuvenating. In the world of essential oils, damask rose benefits skin so much it’s revered the queen of all essential oils. Damask rose oil is unrivaled in both fragrance and healing properties. PHYTO5 takes advantage of these damask rose benefits and formulates it as floral water or essential oil in many skincare products:

• Ageless soothing pink Clay mask

• Firming Eye Serum

• Perfection Cream for hyperpigmentation

• Five Secrets facial Cream

• Skin Toner

Ancient Egyptians knew about damask rose benefits for beauty.

Deriving its name from Damascus, Syria, this rose didn’t originate there. Many believe the damask rose originated in Asia, but the damask rose goes back all the way to ancient Egypt.

The ancients found damask rose benefits remarkable for health but the flower was somewhat scarce. So the damask rose became highly prized in ancient times and still is today.

Archeologists have discovered the damask rose in Egyptian tombs. Historians believe damask rose entered Egyptian culture during the reign of Ramses the Great (1279-1213 BCE).

As time went on, people discovered even more damask rose benefits.

A photo of rosa damascene by atulvi at Unsplash

They used the rose water as a cure for all ills, an aphrodisiac and complexion treatment. People who could produce damask rose water and oil never lacked for business.

The damask rose requires good irrigation. So the Near East eventually became the perfect cultivating ground for the rose. They invented equipment to manufacture damask rose water. Then they branched out into producing the oil, called otto in the essential oil industry.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

Damask rose benefits encompass natural inherent beauty and health.

Almost everyone finds the fragrance of rose exquisite. The fragrance of the variety damask rose (Rosa damascena), and in particular its essential oil, is even more sublime.

Symbol of spirituality and mysticism, romance and allure, damask rose benefits are near countless. The rose oil or water works to balance the nervous system, ease emotional shock and grief, and open the heart.

Associated with the Venusian(1) concepts of beauty—especially no makeup beauty—damask rose benefits skin by conditioning it to create a beautiful foundational skin canvas.

A photo of rosa damascene by firexion7 at Unsplash

Prepared as floral water, damask rose benefits skin by toning and hydrating it. It acts as a natural antiseptic. This excellent skin tonic rejuvenates tired skin, helps balance skin conditions and works to heal wounds.

Damask rose benefits cell and tissue regeneration so important for dry and mature skin.

As an essential oil, damask rose is a versatile therapeutic oil.

Skincare formulators use it for its sweet floral and slightly spicy fragrance alongside its impressive skin health benefits.

Damask rose benefits dry skin, broken capillaries and mature and sensitive skin. It’s also an excellent antibacterial and antiviral. One study shows damask rose effective against 15 different strains of bacteria.

Traditional Chinese medicine uses rose to cool and clear moist heat and inflammation. Chinese medicine finds that damask rose benefits the body’s yin energy and combats anxiety and depression.

Damask rose benefits include:

• rejuvenation of skin

• skin damage prevention

• reduction of the appearance of fine lines

• lessening of the appearance of broken capillaries on the skin

• softening of the appearance stretch marks

• sun-damaged skin repair

• soothing of dry, itchy skin

• clearing of acne

• bacteria fighting

• easing of poor circulation

• reduction of high blood pressure

• boosting liver and gall bladder functions

• alleviation of symptoms of asthma and hay fever

• regulation of digestive problems and stomach upsets

• nausea relief

• constipation relief

• decongestion and strengthening of the liver and gall bladder

• cooling hot inflammation and swelling

• heightening feelings of vitality

• lessening of grief

• creating a sense of well-being

• bringing calm into stress-related situations

• toning of the uterus and easing of painful menses

• minimizing of the effects of premenstrual syndrome.

With a strong presence of the phytochemical and antioxidant lycopene, damask rose benefits skin and body by helping prevent many diseases and conditions free radicals cause.

According to the scientific study, “Pharmacological Effects of Rosa Damascena”(2), damask rose has:

“an anti-HIV, antibacterial, antioxidant, antitussive, hypnotic, anti-diabetic, and relaxant effect…”

You can even get damask rose benefits for beauty by consuming damask rose petals.

All rose petals are edible as long as they’re organic. Damask rose benefits include anti-age action because of its high amount of antioxidants. Damask rose promotes more youthful skin and body.

If you use rose petals in food preparation, remove the bitter white base.

Float rose petals in beverages, desserts and salads. Flavor jams and vinegars with rose petals.

Use dried rose petals and buds in herbal teas. It makes the tea more fragrant and provides a calming and mildly diuretic action.

Damask rose benefits are greater than any other rose variety.

Damask rose produces the highest quality essential oil and floral water.

Petals of rosa damascena by hasanalmasi at Unsplash

It takes about 60,000 roses or 200 pounds of petals to make one ounce of rose otto.

There are two types of essential oil derived from the damask rose: otto and absolute.

They offer slightly different in potency damask rose benefits because of two different methods used to produce them.

• Absolute is solvent-extracted and is thick and very concentrated. Though thicker than otto, the absolute is still viscous. It is amber colored and somewhat less costly.

• Rose otto is the essential oil derived from the petals and no other part of the flower. It’s produced by the more costly method of steam distillation. It’s clear or pale yellow. The otto is rich and intense and a better quality of oil than absolute. Though it’s more expensive than absolute, less otto can be used than absolute to achieve the desired effect.

The most damask rose crops are grown in the Valley of the Roses, Bulgaria.(3) In the world of essential oils, Bulgarian damask rose produces the finest quality attar (fragrance).

“Ounce for ounce, the ‘liquid gold of Bulgaria’ is nearly as expensive as gold.” —Audra Avizienis in Essential Oils: Essential Oil and Aromatherapy Recipes for Wellness, Beauty, and a Healthy Home

When and How Damask Rose Is Harvested Determines the Quality of the Damask Oil.

The damask rose grows as a deciduous shrub about six feet tall and wide. The rose grows on long bowing stems with stout curved prickles and stiff bristles.

The stems bear heads of loosely cupped light to moderate rose pink petals. The shrub sprouts pinnate of five-petaled leaves.

The essential oil content of damask rose depends on how mature the bloom is.

The rose offers a higher more valuable health promoting terpene content when the petal whorl (pattern of spirals) is harvested just as the petals begin to open.

(Terpenes are vibrantly fragrant molecules that occur naturally in plant life. They’re chemicals that  provide pigment, scent and flavor.)

When harvesting begins in the Valley of the Roses, more than 50,000 harvesters painstakingly collect the roses by hand. They harvest the roses during a short window of time when the rose’s essential oil is at its highest volume. This optimum time period is the cooler hours of the morning before sunrise.

This time of harvest also helps ensure the greatest damask oil benefits to skin and health.

Bulgarian rose pickers harvest the rose just like they’ve done for centuries—by hand, one rose at a time. It’s labor intensive but they pick the flowers by hand so they don’t lose the potential oil of the flower.

The damask rose petals are very delicate so they steam distill the flower the same day they harvest. Waiting too long to distill will not only cause loss of the prized essential oil, it will reduce the myriad and potency of damask rose benefits when formulated in products.

All the steps of the harvesting method ensure a maximum quality essential oil yield.

Damask rose benefits come from the seeds too.

The seeds of the damask rose also yield a nourishing oil.

Rose seed oil is excellent for treating broken capillaries, sun damage, redness, scars, stretch marks, acne, acne rosacea, enlarged pores, loss of elasticity, fine lines and overall aging of the skin.

It’s a rich source of essential fatty acid omegas 3 and 6. Rose seed oil helps regenerate cell membranes and tissues and is a good source of natural vitamin A.

Damask rose benefits emotional well-being.

The ability to embrace the myriad of damask rose benefits  is as individual as ourselves.

When we come into contact with rose, our olfactory system and the brain connect and communicate. Based on past memories and feelings, we identify an attitude the rose expresse to us in the moment.

Damask rose benefits importantly include its ability to uplift our state of consciousness. We immediately notice it stimulates a well-being response within us. Our response may be love, tenderness, wistfulness, serenity, or joy. And our bodies may spontaneously respond to and align with its healing energy as we absorb all the damask rose benefits, energies and frequencies.

We make the myriad of damask rose benefits for health, beauty and skin simply by partaking of a few drops of oil or water. We align to its healing properties, become enlivened, often even healed by it.

…

Endnotes and Sources:

1. Aphrodite, later known as Venus was the goddess of love, beauty, sex, fertility, and prosperity. Yet, it is her representation of beauty that she is most well known for. Painters and sculptors have personified her, embodied her and epitomized her. “Physical Beauty, Venus - Google Arts & Culture.” Google, Google, artsandculture.google.com/usergallery/ggKCrztJLXu0KQ.

2. Boskabady, Mohammad Hossein et al. “Pharmacological effects of rosa damascena.” Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences Vol. 14,4 (2011): 295-307.

3. The damask rose originated in Damascus, Syria, Persia, Alexandria and sixteenth century Europe. Damask rose is currently also cultivated in Europe, Iran, Turkey, Russia and India.

Sources:

Harkness, Peter. The Rose: An Illustrated History. Buffalo, NY: Firefly, 2003. Print.

Avizienis, Audra. Essential Oils: Essential Oil and Aromatherapy Recipes for Wellness, Beauty, and a Healthy Home. United States, Printers Row, 2019.

Das, Kuntal. Essential Oils and Their Applications. India, New India Publishing Agency, 2013.

Houghton, Marlene. Essential Oils & Aromatherapy: Your Personal Guide. United States, Wellfleet Press, 2018.

Kynes, Sandra. Llewellyn's Complete Book of Essential Oils: How to Blend, Diffuse, Create Remedies, and Use in Everyday Life. United States, Llewellyn Worldwide, Limited, 2019.

Mojay, Gabriel. Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit: Restoring Emotional and Mental Balance with Essential Oils. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts, 1999. Print.

Curtis, Susan, et al. Essential Oils: All-natural Remedies and Recipes for Your Mind, Body and Home. United States, DK Publishing, 2016.

Neals Yard Remedies. Essential Oils. 1st ed. N.p.: DK, 2016. Print.

Godfrey, Heather Dawn. Healing with Essential Oils: The Antiviral, Restorative, and Life-Enhancing Properties of 58 Plants. United States, Inner Traditions/Bear, 2022.

Gailing, Stephanie. The Complete Guide to Astrological Self-Care. United States, Wellfleet Press, 2021.

Curtis, Susan, et al. Natural Beauty: Natural Makeup, Soothing Therapies, Homemade Preparations. United Kingdom, DK Publishing, 2015.

Verbena Essential Oil and Flower Water: Most Excellent in Skin Cleansing and Anti-Age Formulations

The verbena flowering plant has an incredibly rich history of healing and well-being properties. Verbena has historically been used in folk medicine to treat everything from headache to heart failure. It helps firm and tone skin and is an excellent anti-age agent. PHYTO5 makes organic verbena essential oil a unique ingredient in many products of PHYTO5’s Earth element and Ageless lines of skincare.

Origins of verbena’s distinctly lemony fragrance

Lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora) starts with a refreshing, pronounced lemon-like scent that gradually transforms into a sweet, fruit aroma. It smells so lemony it would remind you of lemon sherbet.

Verbena gets its fragrance from the terpenes(1) geraniol, neral and limonene.

• Geraniol is an anti-age free radical fighter, an anti-inflammatory and an acne fighting antibacterial. It’s also quite mentally relaxing.

• Limonene is also antioxidant and anti-inflammatory with the added benefit of reparative action.

• Neral aids in acne prevention. It helps purify, soothe and tone skin.

Researchers believe the terpene content of the plant helps calm people suffering from anxiety.

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Verbena essential oil and the flower’s extract offer very many health benefits.

“Behind the sunny, uplifting scent of lemon verbena lies some serious healing properties. It has a toning and strengthening effect on the nervous, digestive, respiratory, and immune items. Its antiseptic action aids healing, while anti-inflammatory properties restore tired postworkout muscles.” —Susan Curtis et al in Essential Oils: All-Natural Remedies and Recipes for Your Mind, Body, and Home

For the skin

• helps soften and tone the skin

• reduces skin puffiness and inflammation

• tightens the skin because of astringent properties

• cleansing to the skin; very beneficial for acne prone skin

• slows aging of skin because of antioxidant richness

• helps heal eczema and other skin disorders because of antiseptic properties

• speeds wound and sore healing

PHYTO5 products containing verbena essential oil and/or flower water are anti-age products in the Ageless line: Cleansing Foam, Perfection Cream, soothing pink Clay Mask, and Nourishing Cream.

Earth element Day and Night Creams provide toxic skin with verbena’s healing and cleansing properties.

For the body

• supports immunity

• soothes irregular digestion

• promotes good liver function

• helps relieve fever by encouraging perspiration

• fights colds and flu

• loosens congestion in sinuses and lungs

• eases irritating coughs

• tones muscles and relieves buildup of lactic acid

• lowers abnormally high breathing and heart rates

• encourages repair of weak connective tissue

• speeds healing of joint-related injuries

• lessens pain of arthritis

• increases mobility

• relieves upset stomach and nausea

• alleviates menstrual cramps

For the mind and psyche

• alleviates lethargy and apathy

• stimulates creativity and concentration

• improves study retention 

• grounds the receiver to the present moment

• eases feelings of panic and calms nerves

• offers pleasant aphrodisiacal properties

• bolsters the spirit when dealing with stressful situations

• assists with insomnia

Verbena’s centuries long history demonstrates how powerful a healing cleansing agent the flower is.

Very interchangeably called vervain, verbena goes by many other names.(2). The name verbena comes from the Celtic term ferfaen. Fer means to drive away and faen means stone. The Celts gave the flower this name because they found the flower effective for treating kidney stones.

Vervain was historically also named Tears of Isis. As legend has it, wherever Isis’ tears fell as she grieved over the murder of Osiris, vervain grew.

Historical lore recounts places verbena growing at the foot of the cross where Jesus was crucified. Many believe verbena flowers were pressed into Jesus’ wounds to stop the bleeding. This is why verbena is also called Herb of the Cross.

Hippocrates himself applied verbena flower to wounds and prescribed it for fevers and nervous disorders. 

The ancient Egyptians and Chinese believed vervain to have hidden powers.

The magi, the mystic sages of Persia, used verbena as an herb to help them see the future and the unseen.

Cleansing detoxifying verbena has long been used in purification rituals. King Solomon cleansed the temple with verbena and the Romans placed it on altars to honor Venus and Diana.

The Druids’ highly revered verbena. They utilized it in divination practices, consecrations, and ritual cleansing of sacred spaces. 

Priests and heralds carried verbena with them everywhere. Heros and poets wore head wreaths and garlands made of the flower.

Roman soldiers carried verbena with them into battle for good luck and protection. They sprinkled their homes and temples with verbena petals to keep out evil. They buried verbena in their gardens to bring them prosperity.

The polymath and herbal healer Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179) prescribed a decoction(3) of vervain and vermouth for toxic blood infections and toothache.

In the Middle Ages, the people used vervain as a treatment for acne. They found it so effective they began to use vervain to treat other skin problems.

The 17th century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper found many medicinal purposes for verbena.  He prescribed to cleanse toxic skin cleanser and to lessen dandruff by mixing with vinegar. Culpeper used verbena to treat many serious conditions: jaundice, gout, cough, bleeding gums, shortness of breath, fever, kidney stones, congestive heart failure and even the plague.

The Aztecs used mashed verbena roots as a diuretic.

In 18th century Spain, the Jesuits prescribed vervain as remedy for headache, jaundice, and other ailments.

During the Revolutionary War, military physicians used vervain for pain relief and to induce vomiting.

Many Native American tribes found all sorts of medical treatment and curative uses for verbena. They used verbena for fever, gastrointestinal problems, stagnant circulation, headaches, insomnia and hepatitis.

Many modern day people of Mexico use verbena tea to treat bad colds and flu.

“Contemporary herbalists recommend vervain as a tranquilizer, expectorant, menstruation promoter, and treatment for headache, fever, depression, seizures, wounds, dental cavities, and gum disease.” –Michael Castleman in The New Healing Herbs: The Essential Guide to More than 125 of Nature’s Most Potent Herbal Remedies.

…

Endnotes:

• Terpenes are vibrantly fragrant molecules that occur naturally in plant life, especially in conifers, bearing pigment, scent and flavor.

• Other names for verbena include Dragon’s Claw, Tears of Isis, Herba Veneris (herb of Venus), Persephonion, Demetria, Pigeon Grass, Simpler's Joy, Altar Plant, Herbe Sacrée, Holy Plant, Herb of the Cross and Herb of Grace.

• A decoction is the liquor resulting from concentrating the essence of a substance by heating or boiling, especially a medicinal preparation made from a plant.

…

Sources:

Curtis, Susan, Pat Thomas, and Fran Johnson. Essential Oils: All-Natural Remedies and Recipes for Your Mind, Body, and Home. New York, New York: DK, 2016. Print.

Castleman, Michael. The New Healing Herbs: The Essential Guide to More than 125 of Nature's Most Potent Herbal Remedies. Emmaus, PA: Rodale, 2009. Print.

Bonyani, Atousa et al. “Anxiolytic effects of Lippia citriodora in a mouce model of anxiety.” Research in pharmaceutical sciences vol. 13,3 (2018): 205-212. doi:10.4103/1735-5362.228941

The Fine Pure Salt Crystals of the Bex Salt Mines Are Switzerland’s White Gold

Switzerland is famous for its Alps, beauty, exacting purity and manufacturing standards and wealth. These factors play a big role in Switzerland’s lesser known salt Bex (pronounced bay) salt mines. The Bex salt mines have actually played a major role in the development of Switzerland. They provide valuable premium salt for chemical and pharmaceutical companies all over the world. And Bex salt (Le Sel des Alpes) hugely contributes to Switzerland’s own wellness tourism industry. Swiss-based PHYTO5 chooses Bex salt the main wellness ingredient for its five element Selextreme exfoliation products. PHYTO5 takes Le Sel des Alpes and perfectly saturates it with high grade essential oils. This process creates five exquisite exfoliation products, each with a specific mission:

• Wood Selextreme for vital energy support and skin lightening.

• Fire Selextreme for calming and soothing sensitive, irritated skin.

• Earth Selextreme for detoxification and encouraging circulation of lymph.

• Metal Selextreme for mineralization and blood circulation support.

• Water Selextreme for improved hydration and balance of water retention.

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“The history of Swiss Saltworks goes back over 450 years. Salt embodies typical Swiss characteristics such as innovation, tradition, reliability and quality.”—houseofswitzerland.org

Salts from the mines of Bex are considered Switzerland’s impeccable white gold.

How Did the Alpine Salt Form?

When the planet was born many billions of years ago, salty oceans covered the planet. Between 200 to 60 million years ago, the present Rhône Valley was a shallow sea. As continents began to form, the sea withdrew from the land. Salt layers up to 330 feet thick formed in northwestern Switzerland, the Jura and Central Plateau.(1)

In the area that is now Switzerland, rock which eventually formed the Alps trapped the salt within. There the salt remained pure and protected from all pollution for at least 200 million years. The salt deposits of Bex come from the sea where the Rhone Valley exists today.

The Tiny Town of Bex Is Now Famous Because of Its Salt.

In the Alpine valley of La Gryonne, a train runs through. It connects the tiny village of Bex to the slightly larger Aigle, five and half miles south.

The entire region would be historically unremarkable without the discovery of Switzerland’s only working salt mine.

“A steep road, but practicable for chars-à-banc,(2) leads through most beautiful scenery to the entrance of the mines. The salt is obtained either from the brine-springs, six or seven of which, of various degrees of strength, burst forth in different parts of the interior of the mountain, or from the rock salt…” —John Murray in the 1838 book, A Handbook for Travelers in Switzerland and the Alps of Savoy and Piedmont

The Swiss had to rely on expensive imports of salt all through the Middle Ages. They bought salt mainly from Franche-Comté, a cultural and historic region of eastern France.

This Is the Legendary Story of the Discovery of Bex Salt In Switzerland

But then came the discovery of their own salt supply.

The legendary discovery happened in the fifteenth century when the shepherd Jean du Bouillet pastured his goats one day. He took his goats to Panex and also to the Fondement just North of Bex. Du Bouillet noticed his goats preferred water from these two springs at these sites.

He tasted the water and found it salty. The farmer filled a cauldron full of this water, boiled it and let it evaporate. Du Bouillet noticed a pinch of salt at the bottom of the pot after evaporation. And so the discovery of salt at Bex was nearly complete. Nearly.

In the mid-sixteenth century, the original merchant family Zobel from Augsburg purchased the land. They mined salt only from the brine-springs(2) in Bex.

Aware of health benefits of the brine, the region opened wellness brine baths. These baths attracted people from all over the world.

But around the year 1823 the brine-springs began to fail. The German-Swiss geologist Jean de Charpentier got involved. He suggested driving shafts and galleries into the mountain to search for rock salt. By doing so they discovered a very large and rich vein of salt within the mountain.

For centuries ownership of these salt mines meant wealth and power. Today, ‘les Mines de Sel de Bex’ belong to the canton(4) of Vaud.(5)

How Is Le Sel des Alpes Extracted?

A 30+ mile labyrinth of passages and tunnels yields 30,000 tons of salt per year. 

Mine operators at Bex extract rock salt by means of evaporation or leaching. They use the latest technology and green energy to preserve the environment’s delicate balance.

They drill holes 160 to 1300 feet deep and pump in crystal clear Swiss mountain water. Next, they pump the salt solution (brine) created back to the surface to heat it. As the water evaporates, a pure fine salt crystallizes.

The mountain also holds a number of reservoirs of briney water. Miners harvest salt from these reservoirs, too, through a process called graduation.

The salt mines of Bex give us many beautiful minerals. These minerals include very clear crystals of selenite(6), muriacite(7), and anhydrite.(8)

42 valid minerals have been detected in the salt residues of the Bex salt mines.

Le Sel des Alpes is very elevating to well-being. It naturally offers perfect amounts of iodine and fluorine to the human body.

Bex Salt Mines Offers Unique Tours.

The Bex salt mine Le Bouillet(9) offers a museum and a two hour long tour. An audiovisual display shows visitors the evolution of salt mining techniques from 1684 to today.

A long underground narrow-gauge train takes visitors into the low-lit subterranean world for firsthand observation. The train also transports visitors to the inner mountain restaurant located 1300 feet below the surface. 

Le Bouillet contains a gallery driven horizontally into the bowels of the mountain. The gallery travels a distance of 6636 feet, seven and a half feet high and five feet wide. 

Tours offer subterranean on-foot treks into the mines and tunnels that still exist to this day.

Over the centuries, the Salt Mines of Bex have been visited by many illustrious guests.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau visited in 1754 and Alexandre Dumas visited the mines in September of 1832. Dumas wrote an epic and now famous report on his experience. Napoleon’s second wife, the Empress Marie-Louise, also toured the mines. Le Grand Reservoir was named after her.

#####

Endnotes:

1. The Swiss Plateau or Central Plateau is one of the three major landscapes in Switzerland, lying between the Jura Mountains and the Swiss Alps. 

2. Chars à banc: horse drawn carriage or early motor vehicle

3. Brine meaning salty water

4. Canton: A state of the Swiss Confederation; a subdivision of a country established for political or administrative purposes. 

5. Vaud is a mountainous district in western Switzerland bordered by Lake Geneva to the south and France to the west. Lausanne, the capital, is known for its medieval cathedral and Olympic Museum in Ouchy port. 

6. Selenite: Also known as moonstone, selenite is a form of gypsum occurring as transparent crystals, sometimes in thin plates.

7. Muriacite: Also known as halite, muriacite is a term applied to the crystalline varieties of anhydrous sulphate of lime; sodium chloride as a mineral, typically occurring as colorless cubic crystals; rock salt.

8. Anhydrite is a white mineral consisting of anhydrous calcium sulfate. It typically occurs in evaporite deposits.

9. Named for the shepherd who discovered the salt; story above.

#####

Sources:

Murray, John. A Handbook for Travelers in Switzerland and the Alps of Savoy and Piedmont, Including the Protestant Valleys of the Waldenses. Germany, John Murray & Son, 1838.

Teller, Matthew. The Rough Guide to Switzerland. United Kingdom, Rough Guides Limited.

Tourismus, Schweiz. “Mines de Sel de Bex.” Switzerland Tourism, www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/salt-mines/. Accessed 6 Aug. 2023. 

“Notre Histoire.” Notre Histoire | Schweizer Salinen, www.salz.ch/fr/notre-histoire.

“Salt – the Raw Material from the Swiss Alps.” House of Switzerland, 22 Apr. 2020, houseofswitzerland.org/swissstories/history/salt-raw-material-swiss-alps.

Bergamot Essential Oil: Powerful Skin Purifier, Conditioner and Balancer

Bergamot essential oil (Citrus bergamia) is an oil widely used in cosmetics not just because of its cooling and refreshing nature but because of the wide array of skin and health enhancing benefits it offers. On the physical level, bergamot makes skin resistant to microorganisms that can compromise skin’s purity. This is one reason why PHYTO5 has formulated bergamot essential oil into Earth element Yogi Body Gel. On the mental/emotional level, bergamot is nervous tension relaxing. For this reason, bergamot essential oil can be enjoyed in PHYTO5’s organic certified Yin Massage Oil.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

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Bergamot is a type of orange although its exterior color is not orange at all. The fruit looks more like a lemon or lime than an orange. It is three to four inches in diameter and has a uniquely distinct scent and flavor—a combination of lemon and bitter orange. According to Alan Davidson's The Oxford Companion to Food (2nd ed.), unlike its other orange cousins, bergamot is too bitter to be eaten raw.

The essential oil of bergamot is a greenish to yellow clear thin and viscous liquid. It has a sparkling citrusy sweet green and fruity-floral odor. It’s cold expressed from the pericarp or peel of the fruit of the dwarf variety of the Seville orange tree.

Bergamot blossoms during the Winter and grows naturally in northern Italy in the Lombardy region but it’s commercially grown in the southern Italian region of Calabria. There are many small cultivators of bergamot throughout the world but more than 90% of the world’s production occurs in Calabria. Argentina and Ivory Coast production are a distant second and third to Italy.

Among all the citrus peel oils, bergamot essential oil is the most valuable.

Bergamot is almost exclusively grown for the production of essential oil and not for juice consumption although the fruit is an ingredient in traditional Mediterranean cooking.

Bergamot essential oil serves as flavoring for sweets, tobacco, Curaçao liqueur, teas (Earl Grey), baked goods, desserts, chewing gum and soft drinks.

More than 200 chemical constituents have been identified to make up bergamot oil including very many terpenes.(1)

For example, the terpene linalool in bergamot offers analgesic action while promoting relaxation and stress relief. This is in addition to linalool’s calming fresh, floral fragrance.

Bergamot essential oil is an excellent skin conditioner and soothing agent. It fosters healing and regeneration of skin and is all around beneficial to skin.

It is best suited for oily and acne prone skin because it makes skin resistant to microorganisms killing facial bacteria before skin has a chance to create blackheads and pimples. It also controls excess oil production. Conversely, bergamot will stimulate or balance sebaceous gland production if skin is too dry.

Because of its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, bergamot is utilized in the pharmacopoeia of a number of countries. The pharmaceutical industry also uses bergamot essential oil in sanitary preparations.

Bergamot essential oil has been successfully used to treat conditions like nicotine addiction, acne, ringworms, depression, out-of-balance stress response, urinary tract infection, fever, headaches, muscle aches, anxiety, insomnia, constipation, scars, body odor, cracked heels, wounds, coughs and colds (antiviral properties).

Bergamot essential oil is known to help fight skin conditions of acne, eczema,(2) cold sores, herpes, shingles, psoriasis, dark spots, dull and dry complexion, dandruff, seborrhea, and excessive perspiration.

The properties of bergamot are many:

• analgesic

• antidepressant (also helps relieve anxiety and unbalanced stress response)

• antiseptic (mouth rinses that contain bergamot essential oil are especially beneficial to combat bad breath and infection)

• slightly astringent

• antispasmodic

• cicatrisant (reduces or prevents appearance of scars)

• digestive

• deodorant

• expectorant

• febrifuge (fever inducing)

• vermifuge (worm killing)

• vulnerably (wound healing)

• sedative

Bergamot essential oil should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, children or persons with sensitive skin or sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Since bergamot makes skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light (phototoxic), bergamot accelerates tanning of the skin as do all citrus oils.

Bergamot as Spiritual and Emotional Healing Agent

A study with animals showed bergamot essential oil to affect hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity by reducing the corticosterone(3) response to stress. Bergamot essential oil was found to create a balancing effect on the activity of the hypothalamus gland.

The hypothalamus gland is the center of our more intense emotions such as terror and rage. This gland works in synchrony with the pineal and pituitary glands to help regulate and balance hormonal cycles including natural sleep and wake cycles. It is believed that bergamot’s ability to balance natural sleep cycles may make the essential oil helpful for relieving symptoms of jet lag.

Bergamot Essential Oil and Lymph(4)

Bergamot essential oil helps reduce swelling in tissue by stimulating improved flow of lymph. It is very decongesting.

Earth element skincare by PHYTO5 has a primary function to support flow of lymph in the action of detoxification. This creates skin that is purer, normalized and more radiant.

“Metaphysically, the lymphatic system and immune system are related to a strong sense of self-worth and a feeling of ‘I can do it.’ When you doubt your ability to take care of yourself and lack confidence, your immune function can be affected. Energetically, your psychic defenses to protect against foreign invaders are lowered. Bergamot oil may be helpful for building morale and self-esteem and can help you to rebuild strength and regain self-confidence.” —K. G. Stiles in The Essential Oils Complete Reference Guide: Over 250 Recipes for Natural Wholesome Aromatherapy

Two Precautions When Using Bergamot Essential Oil

Never consume bergamot or any essential oil without it being properly diffused by a carrier oil.(5) Good carrier oils include fractionated coconut oil, apricot kernel or sweet almond oil. You must also know how to use bergamot essential oil in the right proportion to the carrier oil and this really should be left in the domain of a cosmetics chemist. This is because essential oils are highly concentrated. Bergamot essential oil is not only highly concentrated, it’s highly photosensitive.

Most essential oils that can be ingested—and bergamot essential oil is one of them—must be infused with a carrier oil and then only in very small and appropriate amounts. Any essential oil applied or consumed without delivery by means of a carrier oil may cause a healing crisis or at best, very uncomfortable symptoms. Essential oils are very potent and not all of them can be taken internally.

High grade and natural essential oils perfectly and precisely mixed in PHYTO5 skin and body care is a safe way to enjoy many of the benefits of a whole array of essential oils. The amount of bergamot essential oil in Earth element Yogi Body Gel and in Yin Massage Oil is determined by PHYTO5 expert chemists who know the proportions and manner of formulation to safely and healthily achieved the desire effect.

Because of adverse reactions called berloque dermatitis experienced by a number of people since the 1950s, much bergamot essential oil used today in the cosmetics industry is synthetically produced. Berloque dermatitis is a phototoxic reaction on the skin created by exposure to long-wave ultraviolet (UVA) radiation on bergapten, the only photoactive component of bergamot oil. This combination of exposure induces an intensification of both hyperpigmentation and melanin production in the skin.

Bergamot essential oil can easily be found on big box store shelves for aromatherapeutic purposes. But you may want to research if the bergamot essential oil you’re using is naturally grown and produced with integrity.

#####

Endnotes:

1. We have published two extensive articles on the topic of terpenes:

• The Terpene: Most Fundamental Flavor, Fragrance and Healing Component of Essential Oils

• Scent, Flavor and Healing Are Found In All Plants Because of Terpenes

1. for treating dry and not moist eczema

2. Corticosterone is a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex in response to stress.

3. Lymph is a colorless fluid containing white blood cells, which bathes the tissues and drains through the lymphatic system into the bloodstream.

4. A carrier oil is used to dilute essential oils and absolutes before they are applied to the skin in skincare applications, massage and aromatherapy. They carry the essential oil onto the skin. Diluting essential oils is a critical safety practice when using essential oils because of the very high potency of quality essential oils. Essential oils used alone are volatile because they begin to dissipate as soon as they are applied. The carrier oil slows the rate of dispersion which varies based on how light or heavy the carrier oil is. Carrier oils often do not contain a concentrated aroma and they do not evaporate like essential oil. Excellent high integrity skincare products will use carrier oils that are completely natural and free from adulteration.

#####

Sources:

Kinai, Dr. Miriam, Bergamot Essential Oil. N.p., Booktango, 2013.

Zulpa, Amy. Essential Oils - The Ultimate Resource: A Beginner's Guide to the Use of Essential Oils. N.p., Jela Properties LLC, 2014.

deGroot, AntonC., and Schmidt, Erich. Essential Oils: Contact Allergy and Chemical Composition. United Kingdom, CRC Press, 2021.

Keller, Erich. Aromatherapy Handbook for Beauty, Hair, and Skin Care. United States, Inner Traditions/Bear, 1999.

Stiles, KG. The Essential Oils Complete Reference Guide: Over 250 Recipes for Natural Wholesome Aromatherapy. United States, Page Street Publishing, 2017.

Davidson, Alan. The Oxford Companion to Food. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2014.

Perna, Simone et al. “Efficacy of bergamot: From anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative mechanisms to clinical applications as preventive agent for cardiovascular morbidity, skin diseases, and mood alterations.” Food science & nutrition vol. 7,2 369-384. 25 Jan. 2019, doi:10.1002/fsn3.903

Biosaccharide Gum-1: Beneficial Polysaccharide In Anti-Aging Skinca

Polysaccharides(1) are increasingly formulated into skincare products that are geared toward wellness and healing. They are used in cosmetics for film-forming, texture-enhancing, soothing, humectant (water-binding) and anti-aging properties for skin. PHYTO5 incorporates a number of polysaccharides into the five element Yogi Body Gel products (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) because of such excellent skin conditioning properties and benefits.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural bxeauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique holistic beauty tips and offers.

A saccharide is a carbohydrate or sugar biomolecule consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Carbohydrate chains come in different lengths and biologically important carbohydrates belong to three categories: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

A polysaccharide is a kind of carbohydrate or sugar ingredient created from vegetable substrates. The principle polysaccharide or assembly of sugars in PHYTO5’s Yogi Body Gels is known as Biosaccharide Gum-1 (trade name: Fucocert or Fucogel). It is obtained from brown algae by a fermentation process involving sorbitol.

Because it’s a ferment, Biosaccharide Gum-1 works synergistically with other well known ferments like  hyaluronic acid, inulin (a prebiotic) and xanthan gum.(3) Xanthan gum is not only a gelling agent, it’s a fermented sugar with its own moisturizing properties. Xanthan gum is also an ingredient in all five element Yogi Body Gels by PHYTO5.

Biosaccharide Gum-1 can also work synergistically with other actives such as collagen, aloe vera gel, many botanical extracts, certain types of vitamin C esters, niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3 and cell repair antioxidant), and panthenol (provitamin B5).

Biosaccharide Gum-1 is used as a moisturizing active that creates a biofilm or breathable screen to protect skin against dehydration while stimulating cell renewal. Its potent anti-aging activity is often compared to the similar action of hyaluronic acid. In fact, the gum helps to stimulate the production of skin's own hyaluronic acid.

Biosaccharide Gum-1 owes its biological effectiveness to its affinity for fucose receptors—a type of carbohydrate receptor site on the skin—and also from its unique ability to modulate skin sensitivity response through the ASIC (acid-sensing ion channels) pathway of the nervous system.(4)

With an innovative molecular structure the polysaccharide improves adhesion and interaction with other molecules, essentially forming a barrier over the skin and shielding it from exterior stressors that lead to aging of the skin. It very effectively limits penetration of damaging ultraviolet light and pollutants into the skin.

Biosaccharide Gum-1 works to bind water to the epidermis, creating that moisture-binding film on the skin to yield a soft smooth feeling.

Biosaccharide Gum-1 is now well known for being a catalyst for skin’s well-being. For skincare, it’s a comfort and softness boosting ingredient.

The manufacturer of Biosaccharide Gum-1 labels it a S.M.A.R.T. sugar meaning it is:

• Soothing

• Moisturizing

• Anti-aging

• Restructuring

• with a soft-to-the-Touch effect on the skin.

Soothing
Biosaccharide Gum-1 provides an anti-inflammatory response for irritation and sensitive skin. The manufacturer tested for its soothing properties in vivo by first creating an irritation on the skin using lactic acid. With a 3% solution of Biosaccharide Gum-1 applied to human skin, the irritation was decreased by 47%. Biosaccharide Gum-1 in Fire element Yogi Body Gel, for example, helps skin repair after superficial damage from sun exposure, cooling skin by keeping the skin moist.

Moisturizing
A kind of biofilm is created on the skin encouraging greater moisturization ability. The end result moisturizing effect of Biosaccharide Gum-1 is said to be quite similar to that of hyaluronic acid. While hyaluronic acid offers a quicker moisturizing effect within approximately one hour, a stronger hydration effect is observed from Biosaccharide Gum-1 three hours after application. After eight hours both hyaluronic acid and Biosaccharide Gum-1 become equalized in their ability to moisturize skin.

Anti-Aging
Biosaccharide Gum-1 helps protect skin cells from premature breakdown by stimulating the production of certain proteins like sirtuin-1(2) and collagen making skin firmer, stronger and younger. Ex-vivo tests conducted by the manufacturer showed Biosaccharide Gum-1 to stimulate a skin protein called sirtuin-1. This protein is known to help skin cells live longer and function better. 

Resurfacing/Restructuring
The stimulation effect of sirtuin-1 mentioned just above offers quicker cell renewal, a function that continues to occur in skin but which slows down as we age. This cell renewal leads to restructuring of the skin assisting in the regeneration of skin’s barrier function. This action is very beneficial for fragile and sensitive skin.

soft-to-the-Touch
Biosaccharide Gum-1 creates a very obvious and pleasant soft touch feeling.

Though you won’t be able to distinguish it in the Yogi Body Gel products, Biosaccharide Gum-1 is lightly viscous with a colorless to light yellow liquid. It’s non-sticky with a gel consistency and absorbs quickly and easily into the skin.

All five element Yogi Body Gels contain the polysaccharides Biosaccharide Gum-1 and xanthan gum however Metal Yogi Body Gel, whose primary purpose is to provide mineralization to skin, contains several unique polysaccharides as follows:

Saccharomyces/copper, -/iron, -/magnesium, and -/zinc ferment (glucose polysaccharides)
Minerals are converted by a yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae into a bioavailable, low molecular weight glycopeptide.(4) The yeast Saccharomyces provides the base onto which the metal is attached. The yeast is then removed so that the mineral peptide can penetrate the skin as a skin conditioning agent.

The Cleveland Clinic notes that studies have shown that copper peptides, in particular, act as antioxidants and promote collagen and elastin production.

All four mineral ferments (copper, -/iron, -/magnesium, and -/zinc) are used to promote good skin condition providing anti-aging, moisturization, and anti-inflammatory effects.

The ferment itself, even before a mineral is introduced, is also healing, protective and a good antioxidant. It acts as a stabilizer for other compounds, particularly enzymes and minerals. Because of its stabilizing activity and ease of use, it is increasingly utilized in the formulation of skincare products.

“Live yeast-cell derivatives have been shown to stimulate wound healing, but ‘much of what is known about yeast’s effects for skin is theoretical, and concerns yeast’s tissue-repair and protective properties.’”

— truthinaging.com

For more on the importance of certain minerals for skin, please read our article, The Best Ways to Mineralize for Skin’s Radiance and More Youthful Appearance, here.

#####

Endnotes:

1. Energy is stored in plants in form of carbohydrates, including sucrose (i.e., saccharose, a disaccharide) and starch (a polysaccharide).

2. Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) is member of seven protein families that function in the cellular response to inflammatory, metabolic, and oxidative stressors.

3. “Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide, a type of sugar that is made from a bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris, through a process of fermentation. Xanthomonas campestris infects a wide range of cruciferous plants, such as cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, causing diseases such as black rot and bacterial wilt. product does not contain any viable bacteria, so there is no risk of xanthan gum causing infections.” —medicalnewstoday.com

4. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) can detect a broad range of physiological pH changes during pathological and synaptic cellular activities.

5. A glycopeptide is an amino acid polymer (a substance that has a molecular structure consisting chiefly or entirely of a large number of similar units bonded together) consisting of one or more residues with sugar molecules covalently attached to some of the side chains.

Sources:

https://www.truthinaging.com/ingredients/biosaccharide-gum-1

Michalun, M. Varinia, and DiNardo, Joseph C.. Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary. United States, Cengage Learning, 2014.

“Xanthan Gum: Uses, Health Information, and Substitutes.” Medical News Today,www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320272#_noHeaderPrefixedContent. Accessed 19 June 2023.

“Sirtuin 1.” Sirtuin 1 - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/sirtuin-1. Accessed 19 June 2023.

Kweon, Hae-Jin, and Byung-Chang Suh. “Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs): therapeutic targets for neurological diseases and their regulation.” BMB reports vol. 46,6 (2013): 295-304. doi:10.5483/bmbrep.2013.46.6.121

Péterszegi, G et al. “Studies on skin aging. Preparation and properties of fucose-rich oligo- and polysaccharides. Effect on fibroblast proliferation and survival.” Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie vol. 57,5-6 (2003): 187-94. doi:10.1016/s0753-3322(03)00031-3

DiNardo, Joseph C., and Michalun, M. Varinia. Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary. United States, Cengage Learning, 2014.

Beech Tree Bud Extract of Everlasting Youth: How It Helps Mitigate Signs of Aging in the Ski

The powerful extract of the beech tree bud (Fagus sylvatica) found in Ageless La Cure’s firming Eye Serum is created from naturally fallen buds which occur at a precise point in the more than 200-year-old life of the beech tree. The beech tree, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America, is also known as the 'Tree of Everlasting Youth.’ Understanding the botanical aspects of beech assists us to understand why its extracts promote cell renewal and youth. This article primarily focuses on the extract of the beech bud only.

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The beech tree is a member of the Fagaceae family which includes oak and chestnut trees. Embodying strength and elegance, the height of this deciduous tree can exceed 115 feet. It reaches maturity at 60 years and can live up to two and half centuries. The beech tree can continue to grow almost all its long life and is able to prevail very well against all other species.

Beech tree actually shares its longevity genes with you when you use Firming Eye Serum. This is the science of nutrigenomics in action: the interaction of nutrition and genes, especially with regard to the prevention or treatment of disease and degeneration.

Taking this concept one step further, the relatively new understanding of a principle called xenohormesis asserts that certain molecules in plants when shared with the human body can have significant health- and longevity-enhancing effects that could possibly turn out to surpass anything current pharmaceuticals can achieve.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and it absorbs more than 60% of what we put on it. The ingredients of our skincare penetrate the body and join the bloodstream either nourishing or toxifying not just skin but body. It’s common sense that nutrigenomics and xenohormesis also apply to the ‘nutrition’ we topically provide to the skin and that beech tree bud extract has the potential to share its coded energetic, survival and longevity information with your genes. (Read our more exhaustive blog on the topics of nutrigenomics and xenohormesis here.)

The buds of the beech tree are highly energetic. This means they are full of alive vibrational potency. They can produce an abundance of plant material (leaves) as large as a 14-inch stem producing close to a dozen leaves. The buds grow alternately, one at a joint (not in pairs), on the twigs. Each bud is naturally arranged to ensure that every leaf that sprouts from it gets the maximum amount of sunlight.

It is because of this intense energy of growth and strength that its extract increases activity of skin cells.

Beech tree bud extract contains hydroxyproline(1)  that helps build collagen and elastin in the skin. In fact, beech tree buds’ hydroxyproline content is the primary reason for harvesting the buds for use in skincare.

The extract is vitamin-rich and contains powerful plant growth hormones. These hormones assist in active cell turnover and help to reduce wrinkles and fine lines which is why beech tree bud extract was chosen to be a unique ingredient in firming Eye Serum. The extract of beech tree buds improves cellular oxygen consumption and the synthesis of keratinocyte protein which strengthens the architecture of the epidermis.

Beech tree bud extract is found to perform equally as well, if not better than, niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 and cell repair antioxidant that has the potential to improve an array of skin concerns including acne and hyperpigmentation. This is not to infer that beech tree bud extract contains vitamin B3. It does not but it provides very similar skin repair actions to those of the vitamin.

Beech tree bud extract:

• improves cutaneous moisturization and is especially good for thirsty skin;

• helps prevent wrinkles and fine lines;

• reduces the depth of fine lines;

• revitalizes skin by boosting protein synthesis;

• firms and tones the skin by strengthening the epidermal structure;

• oxygenates the body and skin and fights free radicals critical for health and the natural slowing of aging;

• stimulates cell oxygen consumption increasing oxygen uptake (+71%);(2)

• soothes inflamed skin;

• inhibits the buildup of dead skin cells.

The famed youth-promoting buds are harvested for their intense concentration of polyphenols,(3) amino acids, and other primary metabolites (substances necessary for metabolism) that will enhance the effects of the extract.

The high energy actives, flavonoids(4) and peptides(5) found in the extract, are the key elements responsible for improving the epidermal structure of the skin that results in firmer, younger skin that presents a more even texture.

Beech tree bud extract also, and just as importantly as all of the above, has a large glutathione content. This antioxidant is a major part of the tree’s own defense mechanism. Glutathione is a master antioxidant and an ancient metabolite able to perform modern tasks in the body. (Antioxidants are responsible for fighting free radicals in the body that cause premature aging.) Glutathione is generally produced by the body, however its production does decrease with age. The beech tree’s gift of glutathione can be an important adjunct to your age-mitigating strategy.

#####

Endnotes:

(1) A metabolite of proline both of which are unique amino acids and comprise approximately one-third of collagen protein in the body.

(2) One beech tree alone can provide enough oxygen for 10 people for one year.

(3) Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds found largely in the fruits, vegetables, cereals and beverages. They are secondary metabolites (substance necessary for metabolism) of plants and are generally involved in defense against ultraviolet radiation or aggression by pathogens

(4) Phytonutrients (plant chemicals) found in all vegetation.

(5) Naturally occurring biological molecules found in all living organisms and playing a key role in all manner of biological activity.

Sources:

Wohlleben, Peter. Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World. Greystone Books, 2018.

Pandey, Kanti Bhooshan, and Syed Ibrahim Rizvi. “Plant Polyphenols as Dietary Antioxidants in Human Health and Disease.” Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, Landes Bioscience, 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835915/.

Wu, Guoyao, et al. “Proline and Hydroxyproline Metabolism: Implications for Animal and Human Nutrition.” Amino Acids, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2011, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3773366/.

Edelweiss Essential Oil: Signature Properties and Benefits In Anti-Aging Skincar

The extract of the alpine mountain flower Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum), which is part of the sunflower family, has been found to have incredible age-mitigating antioxidant power and it has attracted much interest from today's skincare industry. For this reason and many others, edelweiss essential oil is known as an anti-aging and regenerating oil, supporting skin’s elasticity.

Edelweiss essential oil can be found in Ageless La Cure Perfection Cream which works to reduce and eliminate brown spots associated with aging or sun damaged skin as well as inhibit melanin production that causes new spots to form. 

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PHYTO5 has also formulated Face Gel with edelweiss essential oil as unique ingredient. And edelweiss extract is a unique ingredient in Face Gel Mask.

Edelweiss is known to strengthen skin’s natural barrier against the penetration of pollutants and it also supports epidermal water management protecting skin against trans-epidermal water loss.

Active compounds in Leontopodium not only help prevent or slow the signs of premature aging in the skin, they calm irritation and protect the integrity of blood vessels to impede the appearance of fine thread veins under the skin.

Edelweiss is one of nature’s most potent protectors against the harmful effects of too much sunlight since it has had to protect itself from intense mountaintop sunlight. The carotenoid and vitamin E content of edelweiss is part of what offers this protection, however there is far more to it than these as you will read throughout this article.

The benefits to skin which edelweiss offers are scientifically proven:

“The clinical test in vivo demonstrated that constant application of LACCE [(Leontopodium Alpinum callus culture extract] on the face and skin tissues improved anti-periorbital wrinkles, skin elasticity, dermal density, and skin thickness compared with the placebo.”

— Won Kyong Cho et al in Anti-Aging Effects of Leontopodium alpinum (Edelweiss) Callus Culture Extract through Transcriptome Profiling

The Physical Construct
Edelweiss has woolly white bracts(1) around its small flowers and downy gray-green leaves. The woolly bracteal leaves, acute and arranged in a star formation, serve to attract pollinating insects. The bright white color of the woolly petals is the result of thousands of microscopic air bubbles that reflect the light issuing an invitation for insects to pollinate.

The white fuzziness of the bloom also creates protection against evaporation, ultraviolet radiation and the harsh cold. In addition, the snow itself that falls at such high altitudes in the Alps also serves as a protective coat for the plant.

Edelweiss naturally grows in limey soils in broken and crumbly rock meadows from altitudes of between 3,300 to close to 11,500 feet. Edelweiss is in danger of becoming extinct in Europe's mountain habitats because of excessive collection and is now a protected species whose gathering is controlled but mostly forbidden. For the last twenty years, alpine edelweiss has been carefully and organically cultivated to compensate for this loss. Still cultivated in the Alps away from the busyness of human life, edelweiss plants are allowed to benefit from their unique Alpine environment free of pollution while they enjoy high soil terroir(2) and pure Swiss water irrigation.

The Leontopodium flowers bloom in the Alps between July and September. They are often cultivated and sold in pots for home and garden enjoyment however since they are cultivated differently at low altitudes for this purpose, they are usually taller, have little of their trademark woolliness and are not their natural beautiful white but are instead a greenish color. This is because the plant has no longer had to exert itself to survive in harsh conditions. It has no need to generate woolliness or its bright white color as alpine cultivated Leontopodium does for the myriad of reasons mentioned in this article.

We discuss this concept at length in our blog, Nutrigenomics and Xenohormesis: Two Recently Coined Scientific Terms Whose Understanding Is Vital to Our Quality Longevity.  In it we discuss the same concept that applies to the properties that edelweiss essential oil can pass on to you through your skin:

“A biological principle exists that explains how it is that we can derive health benefits from eons of plant stress response evolution: Environmentally stressed plants, through the ages, have produced bioactive compounds that can confer stress resistance and survival benefits to humans and animals that consume them…”

Against all odds, Edelweiss, which grows at great heights on cliffsides and in other dangerous areas, offers the benefits of centuries of stress response, namely, survival and regeneration to the skin in PHYTO5’s Face Gel Mask and Perfection Cream for hyperpigmentation.”

Uniquely, edelweiss produces its own antioxidants called leontopodic acids. In addition to their customary free radical fighting function, these acids exhibit a strong ability to protect collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin. They limit the degradation of vital macromolecules found in skin.

Often called the cloud flower, the name edelweiss is a mid-nineteenth century term from the German edel meaning noble and weiss meaning white.

The botanical name Leontopodium alpinum comes from the Greek leontos, the genitive of leon meaning lion and podion, a diminutive of pous meaning foot. We can translate the botanical name then as small lion’s foot which refers to the shape of the flower which might remind us of a lion’s paw. The specific epithet alpinum derived from latin quite obviously means from the Alps.

As the pictures in the slideshow above demonstrate, edelweiss has silvery white felt-like blossoms shaped like a star. The dense hairy texture of the bloom appears to protect the plant from cold, arid conditions and ultraviolet radiation. In fact, the ability of edelweiss to protect against ultraviolet radiation occurs, in part, by reflecting it. This ability is the plant’s signature.(3)

Its fleece also prevents dehydration and shields the plant against the cold.

Edelweiss is extremely rich in natural antioxidants that protect the skin from damaging age, sickness and disease-causing free radicals:

• Chlorogenic acid present in edelweiss cleanses as well as removes potentially damaging oxidizing agents. Chlorogenic acid is a natural compound that works in the body to help reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes and cancer, and it supports the circulatory and nervous systems.

• Luteolin, a common flavonoid and antioxidant that exists in many types of plants including fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various diseases such as hypertension, inflammatory disorders, and cancer. Having multiple biological objectives such as helping to reduce inflammation and allergic reactions, luteolin functions biochemically as either an antioxidant or a pro-oxidant as appropriate. It protects the skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

• Edelweiss contains antioxidant derivatives of the bisabolene (aromatic) sesquiterpene (a natural compound constituent of all essential oils). It offers a calming action to the skin. Sesquiterpene molecules deliver oxygen molecules to cells similar to the way hemoglobin does in the blood. Sesquiterpenes naturally delete bad information in cellular memory.

• Beta-sisterol, a plant sterol which appears to offer a number of overall health benefits and calms and soothes the skin, reduces the amount of free oxygen radicals in tissues which drive chronic, excessive inflammation and oxidation known to promote aging.

Evidenced pharmacological activities of edelweiss include:

• the capacity of extract of edelweiss to inhibit the migration of the cells responsible for inflammation such as leucocytes(4) and mastocytes(5) thus creating potential anti-inflammatory properties;

• antimicrobial properties, which have been proved, at least in laboratory, to combat pathogens such as enterococci, staphylococci and streptococci.

Other studies suggest the presence of substances in Leontopodium that might have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, stimulating synapse activity via one of its amino acids, acetylcholine, which acts as a neurotransmitter. This action could lead to potential memory improvement as well as applications for patients with dementia.

History
Historically, edelweiss extract has been used to treat a number of physical conditions such as abdominal disorders, heart conditions, bronchitis, rheumatism, fever and dysentery. It was cooked with butter and honey and used to treat respiratory ills.

Because of the wide array of active compounds found in the plant, edelweiss was and still is used today in traditional medicine of Alpine countries as an astringent, antitussive, anti-rheumatic, and anti-dysenteric. It is mainly utilized in powder form, as an infusion, as an alcohol-based tincture or simply as a preparation when boiled in milk and honey (or butter and honey).

An infusion of the plant was used during Summer in Eastern Europe to help protect skin from the sun. Many women washed theirs faces with the infusion for a healthy glow since the flower improved microcirculation in skin.

Because of its unique appearance, its typically high mountain habitat and its rarity, edelweiss has become the symbol of alpinism and mountains since around the year 800. It’s a symbol of the development of Alpine tourism and exploration. In two Alpine countries, Switzerland and Austria, edelweiss is practically the national symbol.

Many European clubs, associations and military troops have inserted the flower into their emblems. Its use in coats of arms and armorial bearings signify daring nobility, purity and immortality.

The name Edelweiss has been given to a plethora of restaurants, hotels and other tourist attractions not just in the Alpine region but all over the world.

Edelweiss is considered a symbol of boldness and courage and the conquest of great challenges. Greedy flower collectors have snatched edelweiss for use not just because of its symbolic value but because they have found that Leontopodium conserve their characteristics even if dried.

In Hanokotoba (the Japanese form of the language of flowers or floriography and a means of cryptological communication through the use or arrangement of flowers), the flower symbolizes courage and power.

In folklore, edelweiss is believed to provide powers of invisibility and bullet-proof protection. If you’ve seen the classic movie, The Sound of Music, you’ll remember how the Von Trapp family quietly sang the patriotic song, Edelweiss, during one of the final scenes of the film and were protected from the Nazis as if invisible. 

Leontopodium was also used for preparing love potions and was believed to gladden one’s heart and fill it with joy. People felt it had magical powers helping make dreams come true.

Conclusion
True Alpine edelweiss, having survived harsh weather and atmospheric conditions of very high altitudes, is well-equipped to help protect the skin from environmental stressors. It is the constant challenge to survive that lends edelweiss essential oil particularly important in shielding skin from environmental stressors and promoting its anti-aging action when it shares its longevity codes with us through the skin.
#####

Endnotes:

1. A bract or brachial leaf is a modified leaf or scale, typically small, with a flower or flower cluster in its axil. Bracts are sometimes larger and more brightly colored than the true flower as in poinsettia or edelweiss.

2. A terroir is the complete natural environment in which a plant is grown, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate.

3. In the plant kingdom, a signature is what deviates or is unique or special about the plant over other plants.

4. A leucocyte is a colorless cell that circulates in the blood and body fluids and is involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease; a white (blood) cell.

5. A mastocyte is a mast and resident cell of connective tissue that contains many granules rich in histamine (a compound which is released by cells in response to injury and in allergic and inflammatory reactions, causing contraction of smooth muscle and dilation of capillaries) and heparin (a compound occurring in the liver and other tissues which inhibits blood coagulation); it is a part of the immune and neuroimmune systems. A mast cell in connective tissue releases histamine and other substances during inflammatory and allergic reactions.

Sources:

Cho WK, Kim HI, Kim SY, Seo HH, Song J, Kim J, Shin DS, Jo Y, Choi H, Lee JH, Moh SH. Anti-Aging Effects of Leontopodium alpinum (Edelweiss) Callus Culture Extract Through Transcriptome Profiling. Genes (Basel). 2020 Feb 21;11(2):230. doi: 10.3390/genes11020230. PMID: 32098197; PMCID: PMC7074254.

Gabriel, Julie. The Green Beauty Guide. United States, Health Communications, 2008.

Morgan, Ned. In the Mountains: The Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Spending Time at Altitude. United Kingdom, Octopus, 2019.

Gregg, Susan. The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, Revised: A Practical Guide to Creating Healing, Protection, and Prosperity Using Plants, Herbs, and Flowers. United Kingdom, Fair Winds Press, 2013.

Vadhera, Shalini. Passport to Beauty: Secrets and Tips from Around the World for Becoming a Global Goddess. United States, St. Martin's Publishing Group, 2006.

Graves, Julia. The Language of Plants: A Guide to the Doctrine of Signatures. United States, Lindisfarne Books, 2012.

Handbook of Formulating Dermal Applications: A Definitive Practical Guide. Germany, Wiley, 2016.

Mazza, Giuseppe. “Leontopodium Nivale.” Monaco Nature Encyclopedia, 6 Oct. 2019, https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/leontopodium-nivale/?lang=en.

Millet Extract: Consumed or Applied Topically in Skincare Is a Potent Therapeutic Ingredient for Soothing, Purifying and Beautifying Skincare

Millet extract works to restructure skin and improve the skin barrier that protects skin from environmental insults. It lends radiance to skin and prevents trans-epidermal water loss.

Millet extract is a principal ingredient in many of PHYTO5’s Earth element line which is formulated to balance the Earth condition of toxicity, blemishes, acne, psoriasis, enlarged pores, and sluggish lymph circulation.

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The millet seed is known for providing many fundamental benefits to the skin:

• softening

• soothing

• nourishing

• stimulating

• revitalizing

Nutrient rich millet contains a high proportion of essential vitamins and is close to 90% unsaturated fatty acids.

Though millet is not actually a grain, it is considered one of very few alkaline grains. In truth, it’s a power packed starchy seed native to South America. Gluten-free millet is extremely nutritious and has a very rich protein and amino acid profile. At approximately 15% protein, millet contains lecithin and the essential amino acid methionine.

Millet is also high in silica which is quite beneficial for bones and connective tissue. Millet’s rich silicon content helps to rebuild connective tissue.

Read our blogs on the topic of silica: Probably the Most Underappreciated Nutrient for Skin’s Radiance and the Body’s Vitality: Silica and Silica Rich Horsetail: Very Beneficial for Anti-Aging Skin and Hair Care.

Millet is rich in vitamins E, B complex, niacin, thiamin and riboflavin. In addition, phenolic compounds in millet provide potent antioxidant activity and thus benefits such as slowing signs of aging.

Physiologically, millet is a digestive dynamo. It supports the digestive organs, in particular, the stomach and spleen, your energy battery, so to speak. Easily digestible, millet strengthens weak digestion and helps improve nutrient uptake. It removes unwanted excess acid and aggressively helps to inhibit the growth of fungus and yeasts such as Candida.

Millet is quite resilient being able to thrive even with a lack of water and can produce seed in conditions where other plants cannot grow. Millet is the seed which bears the highest mineral content some of which are iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.

Though history shows that millet was known for making hair, skin and nails beautiful, its positive beauty attributes have only been rediscovered relatively recently. With all of its nutritive attributes, millet actually motivates the skin to perform better. 

Millet extract is known to:

• support the skin’s natural functions

• beautify and smoothe the skin

• improve the structure of the skin

• contribute to radiant skin tone

Specific to skin, millet extract may also:

• Help reduce acne: Lipoic acid, an antioxidant found in millet, increases cell metabolism and blood circulation and is an anti-inflammatory, two actions which, when combined, help reduce acne.

• Improve elasticity and fight wrinkles: Amino acids L-lysine and L-proline help create collagen which provides structure skin tissue.

• Combat aging of the skin: The antioxidants in millet neutralize free radicals which cause aging. Millet assists to rejuvenate skin cells. The ubiquinone content in millet is a known wrinkle-reducer.

• Improve overall complexion: Millet is rich in complexion enhancing and antioxidant vitamin E which penetrates the skin’s layers and aids in natural wound healing. Millet forms a protective layer in the skin which can keep free radicals away from wounds. Millet also serves as a lubricant to the skin.

• Bring youthfulness to the skin: By consuming millet in the diet, we can assist the protection and strengthening of our cells and skin from the ravages of free radical damage thereby creating younger looking, more supple skin.

• Act as a moisturizing agent: Consuming millet assists us to retain the natural moisture content in our skin thereby reversing dull and dry looking skin to vibrant and healthier looking skin. Because of its ability to moisturize, it’s also beneficial for chapped lips.

• Reduce scarring: The antioxidant alium found in millet increases blood flow to scar tissue assisting the growth of new skin and minimizing scarring. Millet helps the skin to repair itself more quickly, and it protects and firms the skin.

• Protect the skin from sun damage: Millet’s selenium and vitamin C and E content are effective protectants against sun damage and skin cancer amplifying healthy fresh growth of new cells that bring youth to the skin and make it appear more radiant. It can assist to combat hyperpigmentation.

• Strengthen hair follicles: Protein rich millet is highly recommended for hair loss. Lack of protein is one factor which contributes to hair loss.

• Serve as therapeutic for scalp conditions: The magnesium in millet reduces scalp inflammation and is beneficial for treating eczema, psoriasis and dandruff. Consuming millet may help in pacifying metabolic syndrome, a health condition which causes premature balding.

• Stimulate the growth of hair: Millet promotes the circulation of blood circulation in the scalp and thus promotes hair growth.

• Reduce hair loss: Increased cortisol levels in the body may lead to significant hair loss however the magnesium in millet has been found to counteract it.

• Help prevent premature graying of the hair: The antioxidant content in millet effectively prevents tissue oxidation and may assist with premature graying.

…

Endnotes:

McKeith, Gillian. Dr. Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health: 12 Natural Superfoods to Transform Your Health. United Kingdom, Piatkus, 2000.

Underkoffler, Renee Loux. Living Cuisine: The Art and Spirit of Raw Foods. United Kingdom, Penguin Publishing Group, 2004.

Sweet Almond Oil: Soothing, Softening, Anti-Aging Skincare Miracle of Nature

In skincare, sweet almond oil is used both for its properties and as a carrier oil.(1) Sweet almond oil, found in Metal element Sweet Almond Oil Shampoo and also in Ageless La Cure by PHYTO5’s soothing pink Clay Mask, is obtained from the kernel of the almond. Not only does it have a wonderfully pleasant aroma, it has a very soft texture and is slowly absorbed into the skin. Sweet almond oil is derived exclusively from edible almonds and is the kind used in skincare. External application of the oil can prevent dehydration by reducing moisture loss from the skin, scalp and hair.

Sweet almond oil, which can be used by itself, is a mild hypoallergenic oil which relieves itching and inflammation as it nourishes the skin with its oleic acid content (unsaturated fatty acids). It is well known for its ability to promote a more youthful complexion and overall skin health.

Sweet almond oil is rich in vitamins E and A, monounsaturated fatty acids, protein, potassium, and zinc.

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The vitamin E in sweet almond oil promotes suppleness of the skin, smoothing of fine lines and overall skin softness. Any almond oil that adds more vitamin E to a skincare product formulation would probably be utilizing synthetic almond oil since quality natural sweet almond oil already contains an abundance of the vitamin.

Vitamin E in almond oil also protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation. Most importantly, it is a powerful antioxidant which helps maintain your skin’s collagen layer.

Collagen lies under the skin in an even layer providing a kind of padding that keeps the skin taut and supple. When our skin begins to thin as we age, the collagen layer underneath the skin becomes uneven. This is when we also begin to notice the forming of fine lines. Almond oil is shown to play an important role in the delay of signs of aging, especially premature aging.

Because almond oil contains vitamin E in abundance, it can help repair some of the damage done to the collagen layer which is caused by oxidative stress.(2) The oil can also provide amino acids required for the formation of collagen because it is so rich in protein.

Vitamin A easily penetrates the skin working to cleanse it from embedded dirt and oil in the pores preventing blackheads and possibly acne from developing.

If your skin is oily, sweet almond oil is noncomedogenic meaning it is very unlikely to block your pores and it is excellent in the treatment of acne.

Sweet almond oil is also wonderful for hair and scalp to cleanse hair follicles because of its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties It softens hair, providing it the moisture it requires. It strengthens hair because of its biotin content. Sweet almond oil protects hair from sun damage. And together with zinc, it is also abundant in minerals magnesium and calcium which makes almond oil effective in controlling dandruff and loss of hair thus promoting hair growth.

Sweet almond oil helps hair develop a natural sheen.

The fatty acids in sweet almond oil work to heal chapped and irritated skin. Redness of the skin and inflammation can be calmed with sweet almond oil.

Because the oil is rich in zinc, it can be effective in the treatment of skin rashes and chafed skin.

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Endnotes:

(1) A carrier oil is used to dilute essential oils and absolutes before they are applied to the skin in massage and aromatherapy. They carry the essential oil onto the skin. Diluting essential oils is a critical safety practice when using essential oils because of the very high potency of quality essential oils. Essential oils used alone are volatile because they begin to dissipate as soon as they are applied. The carrier oil slows the rate of dispersion which varies based on how light or heavy the carrier oil is. Carrier oils often do not contain a concentrated aroma and they do not evaporate like essential oil. Excellent skincare products will use carrier oils that are completely natural and free from adulteration.

(2)Oxidative stress happens when the amount of destructive mutating cells or free radicals in our system exceeds the amount of antioxidants (a substance that removes potentially damaging oxidizing agents). This is when oxidation damages our cells, proteins and our DNA.

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Sources:

Worwood, Valerie Ann. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: over 800 Natural, Nontoxic, and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health, Beauty, and Safe Home and Work Environments. New World Library, 2016.

The Miracle of Myrrh for Radiant More Youthful Ski

Myrrh maintains healthy skin and tissues. A natural outcome of that action is myrrh’s ability to help mitigate visible signs of aging in the skin. For this reason, it's commonly added to many skincare products today, especially those that treat more mature skin. The botanical name for myrrh is Commiphora mukul and its extract is formulated in the facial serum inside PHYTO5’s Ageless La Cure Facial Serum and Cream kit for a 3-week cure.

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Antioxidant rich, myrrh is a natural choice for anti-aging, facial acne, redness, irritation, skin rejuvenation, and wound healing products. It encourages new cell growth and is effective in the prevention and treatment of facial lines. Myrrh offers skin nourishing benefits in hot dry climates.

Myrrh has been shown to improve circulation so vital for combatting signs of aging. Improved circulation creates an overall improved complexion with a healthy glow.

Myrrh essential oil, when added properly to a carrier oil and applied topically, can help ease muscle aches when experiencing a cold or flu or for aching joints not associated with these conditions. When used in a diffuser, it can help break up mucus associated with colds. 

Myrrh resin is a natural gum which seeps from the bark of the Commiphora tree once it is cut.

The word myrrh comes from the Arabic word "murr" which translates to “bitter.” Myrrh is actually one of many bitters that offers all kinds of health benefits from curbing sugar cravings to supporting liver function to encouraging healthy, radiant skin.

Myrrh essential oil is a safe essential oil overall but should be avoided during pregnancy because of its potency.

Myrrh as an essential oil is very powerful, its use dating back many centuries having been traded in the Middle East and North Africa for more than 5,000 years. Myrrh has a long history of medical use along the Silk Road from Arabia into China.

Myrrh essential oil has been part of medical practice in traditional therapies for millennia. It has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense and medicine. It was so valuable in ancient times that it was, at times, equal in weight value to gold.

Throughout time myrrh has been known to offer all manner of healing benefits for conditions like asthma, athlete’s foot, cough, candida, ringworm, eczema, gingivitis, gum infections, hemorrhoids, mouth ulcers, ringworm, wounds, wrinkles, and chapped or cracked skin.

• The enormously gifted Benedictine abbess and polymath Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179) included myrrh as a healing tool in her book of medicines.

• The Vedas, the large body of knowledge texts originating in the ancient Indian subcontinent from 1500 to 400 BC, prescribed myrrh for healing.

• The ancient Egyptians procured huge boat shipments of myrrh resin from the Phoenicians and used it in incense, insect repellent, salves for wounds and sores, and as a key ingredient in the embalming process. History indicates they also used it to treat hay fever and herpes. Even back then, Egyptian women abhorred wrinkles and aging skin and used myrrh oil as a rejuvenating facial treatment in their cosmetic preparations.

• An ointment of myrrh was carried by Greek soldiers into battle to counter infections.

Alain Touwaide, the Smithsonian’s scientific director of the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions, tells us the Greek physician Hippocrates known for revolutionizing the practice of medicine (c.460–377 BC), wrote about myrrh for healing more than any other plant substance. He relates that myrrh was also used as an antiseptic, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory agent and calls myrrh one of the “antibiotics of history.”

Today myrrh is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda and aromatherapy. Many natural toothpastes contain myrrh and there’s a reason for that: myrrh benefits dental and gum health and helps keep the mouth clean and gums free of infection. Many Egyptian skeletons have been found with teeth completely intact and archeologists and historians often point to the use of myrrh as a key factor.

Myrrh contains a high content of sesquiterpenes, a class of compounds that have a direct effect on the pituitary,(1) hypothalamus,(2)and amygdala in the brain.(3) Research has shown that sesquiterpenes have the ability to surpass the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain tissue. Research from the Universities of Berlin and Vienna show increased oxygenation around the pineal and pituitary glands when myrrh is used.

(Read more about terpenes and sesquiterpenes in our blog, The Terpene: Most Fundamental Fragrance, Flavor and Healing Component of Essential Oils.)

Myrrh is purifying, restorative, revitalizing, and uplifting and can be a supportive component used in meditation.

The properties of warm and spicy myrrh resin helps to calm stress and help bring us back to our center. 

Myrrh as an extract or essential oil is excellent to use in daily skin and dental care. It rejuvenates damaged skin, soothes skin irritation, supports clear breathing, and promotes emotional peace and tranquility.

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Endnotes:

(1)Pituitary: receptor of intuition and vision and the master gland of the body

(2)Hypothalamus: region of the forebrain that coordinates both the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary, homeostatic systems, and involved in sleep and emotional activity

(3)Amygdala: a roughly almond-shaped mass of gray matter inside each cerebral hemisphere involved with the experiencing of emotions

• Young, Kac. The Healing Art of Essential Oils: A Guide to 50 Oils for Remedy, Ritual, and Everyday Use. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2017. Print.

• Jacknin, Jeanette. Smart Medicine for Your Skin: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Conventional and Alternative Therapies to Heal Common Skin Problems. New York: Avery, 2001. Print.

• Butje, Andrea. The Heart of Aromatherapy: An Easy-to-Use Guide for Essential Oils. United States, Hay House, Incorporated, 2017.

• Photo courtesy of Madeleine Steinbach at Getty Images via Canva Pro

The Ancient Ginkgo Tree Passes On Its Knowledge of Survival and Longevity To You: Ginkgo Biloba Extract for Skin and Bo

Native to China, Ginkgo biloba is the oldest living tree species on earth. Since antiquity, the extract of its leaves has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of conditions. Ginkgo biloba extract is extremely beneficial for skin, especially skin in need of strengthening and moisturizing, and is therefore formulated in PHYTO5’s Water element Day Cream and Night Cream.

Ginkgo has a resilient ability to reduce inflammation, skin roughness and lines while increasing moisturization and smoothness of the skin.

Ginkgo biloba is very strengthening to skin because it stimulates collagen and elastin production in the skin by stimulating fibroblast cells(1).

Ginkgo biloba extract synthesizes the neurotransmitter dopamine in the skin.

“Dopamine is also involved in proper skin functioning and a healthy appearance as it supports an appropriate supply to the cells by increasing microcirculation through a noninflammatory mechanism(2) and improves recovery of the skin barrier.(3)” —Creating skin wellbeing by dopamine stimulation, Personal Care Magazine, September 2009

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As an anti-inflammatory, Gingko biloba is known to mitigate a couperose condition of the skin by exerting a protective effect on blood vessel walls.

Ginkgo is well known for its antioxidant properties as a free radical scavenger and is therefore a highly beneficial anti-aging ingredient in skincare.

As an effective blood vessel dilator, ginkgo acts as a tonic, supports overall body blood circulation, and stimulates oxygen consumption by the tissues.

Gingko’s neuroprotective properties leads to better memory and concentration, even reduced ringing in the ears of the elderly.

Though the gingko tree has existed for approximately three hundred million years, their fossils having been found all over the world, it is one species of the tree—Ginkgo biloba—that has survived the violent climate shifts on the planet at the end of the Paleozoic era.

This long living tree has no known parasites or diseases and it lives a thousand years or more even in polluted areas. It survived the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. It was the first tree to resurface on the barren inhospitable site less than a kilometer from ground zero.

Ginkgo is somewhat of a sexual curiosity.

“While some plants possess both male and female reproductive parts simultaneously, ginkgo do not – individuals are either male or female. The stinky seeds for which the tree is famous develop only on females, appearing in the fall and dousing the ground with offspring.” —Oak Spring Garden Foundation, November 7, 2017

Traditional Chinese medicine makes use of the female tree’s seeds to fight asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Compiled about 206 B.C. to 220 A.D., the Chinese book on agriculture and medicine plants, the Shen Nung Pen T’sao Ching was first to recognize Ginkgo biloba’s positive effect on blood flow.

And the Dian Nan Ben Cao, the Materia Medica of Southern Yunnan, A. D. 1370, compiled by Lan Mao, seems to be the first to discuss the beneficial use of gingko leaves in skincare.

Since the discovery in 1932 of gingkolides, the biologically active terpenic lactones(4) present in Ginkgo biloba, gingko has been utilized in Western medicine—mainly for blood circulation support and memory stimulation—and the trees’ growth proliferated.

It’s no wonder that ginkgo is such a versatile and stalwart holistic ingredient in anti-aging skincare and remedies when you better understand the history and function of the tree. Gingko biloba passes on its eons-long records of survival and longevity information to your body and skin through its extract.

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(1) A fibroblast is a type of biological cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen, produces the structural framework (stroma) for animal tissues, and plays a critical role in wound healing.[ Fibroblasts are the most common cells of connective tissue in animals.

(2) Shigetomi S., Fukuchi S. Recent aspect of the role of peripheral dopamine and its receptors in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Fukushima J Med Sci n° 40. 69-83, 1994.

(3) Fuziwara S., Suzuki A., Inoue K., Denda M. Dopamine D2-Like Receptor Agonists Accelerate Barrier Repair and Inhibit the Epidermal Hyperplasia Induced by Barrier Disruption. J Invest Dermatol n° 125. 783-789, 2005.

(4) Lactone: an organic compound containing an ester group —OCO— as part of a ring

T. K., Lim. Edible Medicinal And Non Medicinal Plants: Volume 3, Fruits. Netherlands, Springer Netherlands, 2012.

Tammaro A, Cavallotti C, Gaspari AA, Narcisi A, Parisella FR, Cavallotti C. Dopaminergic receptors in the human skin. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2012 Oct-Dec;26(4):789-95. PMID: 23241131

DiNardo, Joseph C., and Michalun, M. Varinia. Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary. United States, Cengage Learning, 2014.

de Taillac, Victoire, and Touhami, Ramdane. An Atlas of Natural Beauty: Botanical Ingredients for Retaining and Enhancing Beauty. United States, Simon & Schuster, 2018.

Photo by Mieke Campbell at Unsplash

Natural High Tech Compound Easyliance: On Contact Skin Tightener and Smoothe

Easyliance is a smoothing, firming and tightening agent derived from acacia senegal gum(1) and hydrolyzed rhizobian gum. The two ingredients together create a synergistic skin firming action. It offers a smoothing and visible lifting effect within five minutes. For this reason, Easyliance is often used in products dedicated to skin tightening and smoothing like the Five Secrets Cream in PHYTO5’s serum and cream kit duo for a 3-week cure .

The Ageless line of skincare by PHYTO5 reveals the five secrets to Ageless beauty and younger looking skin, one of which is the action of filling lines from within. Easyliance in Ageless Eye Serum not only works to help boost skin’s elasticity, resulting in firmer, younger looking skin, it just as importantly helps tighten skin so that fine lines and wrinkles begin to fade within minutes.(2)

Easyliance is particularly effective around the eyes and mouth since the skin in these regions is thinner, more delicate and more sensitive and therefore tends to be prone to developing crow’s feet, wrinkles and marionette lines around the mouth.

Once the Easyliance powder product is formulated into the Serum, it works by creating an elastic film that covers the surface of the skin. As the product dries, it retracts and tightens the skin so that fine lines and wrinkles seem less noticeable after several minutes, in most cases, five. Its effect leads to a visible and immediate decrease of wrinkle depth, thus causing skin to appear smoother with a fading of fine lines.

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In clinical trials composed of a panel of twelve volunteers, Easyliance was proven to significantly decrease lines around the eyes for 96% of those who participated.(4) Their skin appeared firmer and younger with a noticeable and significant smoothing of the skin after one hour.

Located in Vernier, canton of Geneva, Switzerland, Easyliance’s manfacturer is Givaudan Active Beauty, a company dedicated to innovating sustainable solutions while showing its love for nature. The Easyliance product is created by means of a nature-respecting, innovative, proprietary and patented process.

Rhizobian gum
Rhizobian gum has elastic properties which produce a quickly perceivable lifting effect when applied in the eye contour area. It also improves the smoothness of skin. This hydrolyzed biopolymer is naturally produced by a microorganism living symbiotically in sunflower roots.

Acacia senegal gum
Acacia gum is a dried exudate(3) obtained from the stems and branches of the sub-Saharan African Acacia tree. It has always been sustainably utilized by the local population in a wide range of applications and is vital to the region’s economy. Acacia gum is harvested using good practices for sustainable production alongside educational programs reinforcing respect of the environment while harvesting.

Acacia gum used in Easyliance is naturally purified, preservative-free and is the same gum sustainably harvested from the region mentioned.

Acacia gum is also known as gum arabic, a gum exuded by some kinds of acacia, used in the food industry to thicken soft drinks, frozen desserts and candies. It is also a component in glue, watercolor paints and incense.

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Endnotes:

1. Genus Acacia, family Leguminosae: numerous species, including A. senegal, which yields gum arabic

2. Among other unique ingredients, beech tree bud extract is formulated in Ageless Eye Serum—a powerful extract formulated from naturally fallen beech tree buds which occur at a precise point in the more than 200 year old life of the tree; it's anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, moisturizing, revitalizing, firming, and protecting

3. A substance secreted by a plant

4. Clinical trial information detailed above is obtained by a .pdf fact sheet provided by the manufacturer.