“If you feel like you are insignificant, try spending a night with a mosquito in the room.” ~various They are hard to avoid, in nature and in the news, and they are a cause of annoyance at best, and of a serious health caution at worst. Mosquitoes, or to be more...
Photoxicity from essential oils is one of the most predictable and incontestable toxic reactions. So much so that even those who tried so hard to tell us that allergic reactions to essential oils were impossible, and were in fact signs of detoxification (they are...
I know I am not the only one puzzled by two seemingly contradictory properties that are claimed for Immortelle oil (Helichrysum italicum). Side note: you may know this as Helichrysum oil, but I am averse to co-opting a botanical name when there are several really...
There are several boswellic acids (BAs) found in some Frankincense species (notably Boswellia serrata and B. sacra), and the BAs are credited with possessing, among others, antitumoral properties, with 11-keto-β-boswellic acid being one of the most useful...
As you may know, the Tisserand Institute manages an Adverse Reaction Database where we collect mostly skin reactions caused by using essential oils. Anyone can submit a report, ideally with photos of the reaction. While we’re not trying to collect all adverse...
When you love essential oils, and you get more into the art and science of using them, one of the things you absolutely want to be sure of is that you are getting the good stuff, and hopefully from a good company. But how can you tell? There are a few basics to...
Among the many different species of Lavender, and one of the most interesting, is Lavandula stoechas subsp. luisieri (Rozeira) Rozeira, which is found only in Portugal and southwest Spain, and is often referred to as Seville Lavender. It is similar in appearance to...
The claim that Lavender essential oil has been linked to pre-pubertal breast growth in children has been making the rounds since 2007. The most recent publication of cases, in 2019, catapulted this claim back into the spotlight, unfortunately with more sensationalism...
…that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” says Juilet to Romeo, in defense of their love which is doomed because of their surnames. And sure, maybe names are not important, but maybe we should be clear about them to avoid confusion when we can...
by Robert Tisserand A field of roses in Syria, image courtesy of BioCham The supply-demand dynamic for essential oils has always been a delicate thing. Prices fluctuate, but generally trend upward. In the past 50 years, the price of Indian Sandalwood oil has...
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