ingredients

plants as medicine. Plants have been used throughout history for medicine, food, clothing, and shelter. Plants provide a variety of active components including: fatty acids, essential oils, gums, resins, alkaloids, and steroids, all of which have found their way into medicine.

CONCRETE are extracts created by washing plant material with a nonpolar solvent, often hexane. The hexane is evaporated off, leaving behind a solid or semi-solid substance, which also contains plant waxes, pigments, and other larger molecules.

ABSOLUTE are made by washing a concrete with ethanol to dissolve and separate out the aromatic molecules. Some people are concerned about possible hexane residues from the concretes in these extracts, but ethical suppliers make a concerted effort to remove all of the hexane from their products. Most floral extracts, such as jasmine (Jasminum spp.), are only available as concretes or absolutes.

SUPERCRITICAL CO2 EXTRACT liquid carbon dioxide (CO2), under extreme pressure, is used to extract plant compounds. The CO2 is then allowed to return to its gaseous state, leaving the extracted compounds behind. Of all types of extracts, CO2 extract aromas are perhaps the closest, organoleptically, to their plant forebears. Although the CO2 extraction process has been around for a while, being used in the decaffeination of coffee, for instance, the use of CO2 extracts for general aromatherapeutic practice is relatively recent. As a result, these extracts safety is less-understood, but they offer many new opportunities, both for fragrance and therapeutic blending. note:mama moon botanicals doesn’t use.

ENFLEURAGE flowers infused into solid fat. The flower blossoms are replaced repeatedly until the fat has absorbed the maximum amount of volatile oil, creating a fragrant pomade. The fragrance is separated from the fat using alcohol, which then evaporates, leaving an absolute behind. This is extremely labor-intensive and produces very small amounts of product.

ESSENTIAL OIL all true essential oils are extracted using one or two processes: steam/water distillation or expression, sometimes inaccurately called “cold pressing.” Only three flowers produce essential oils: rose (Rosa spp.), bitter orange blossom (neroli) (Citrus x aurantium var. amara), and ylang ylang (Cananga odorata). All other flowers can only be used to produce enfleurage, concretes, and absolutes.

CARRIER OIL sometimes known as a fixed or base oil is a vegetable, nut or seed oil thatis used to dilute the essential oil and carry onto and into the skin and into the body. The carrier oils have their own therapeuti properties and are a good source of the oil-soluble vitamins such as A, D, and E as well as the essential fatty acids needed by the skin to maintain its tone and elasticity.

HERBAL OIL is a maceration of plant material in an oil (typically virgin olive oil or sunflower oil) that, over a period of time, absorbs the medicinal fat-soluble elements of the plant. This may include vitamins, fat-soluble plant constituents and essential oils. They are utilized for their unique therapeutic properties. They support and enhance the benefits of essential oils. Infusions of medicinal herbs most commonly in an olive oil or sunflower oil base. Typically, fresh or dried plant material is placed in a jar and then covered with the chosen vegetable oil. This mixture is then placed in the sun for 2-4 weeks or longer and then strained. These herbal infusions are then applied to the skin for a variety of therapeutic benefits, depending on the medicinal plant used. The 3 most common herbal infusions utilized are Calendula, St. John’s Wort, and Arnica.

CALENDULA Calendula officinalis | Sensory: herbaceous plant, medium-green leaves, fragrant stem, daisy-like flowers can be orange, yellow, or dark golden. It will flower all summer long and well into autumn. It is one of the easiest plants to grow. Therapeutics: effective antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and vulnerary herbal oil. Increases cell proifleration and encourages the granulation process of wound healing. Can be used for all doshas. Indicated: wound healing, tissue repair, inflamed skin, burns, insect bites, damaged tissue,

COCONUT OIL for hundreds of years, Philippine and Hawaiian women have been utilizing coconut oil to protect the skin and soften the hair. Coconut oil can be used to soften rough dry skin, reduce chronic skin inflammation, soothe skin rashes, and limit the damage to the skin from excessive sun exposure. Calms and cools the body, best for both Pitta and Kapha doshas, one of the best oils during the hot season of summer, warm for massage oil.

SWEET ALMOND Prunus amygdalis var. dulcis | Sensory: pale yellow/ light to no aroma / light texture | Therapeutic: protects and nourishes the skin. Helps relieve itching, soreness, and dryness, and inflammation of the skin, e.g., eczema. Goodfor all skin types particularly dry skin. Good for vata and pitta doshas. oleic acid

JOJOBA Simmondsia chinensis | Sensory: liquid wax from desert plant / golden to light yellow / light, fine texture, odorless. Therapeutics: used to support the skin’s natural pH balance. It has natural anti-inflammatory properties, making it helpful for eczema, psoriasis, and inflamed skin. Wonderful all around skin care oil. Indicated for oily, combo, or acne skin types. Good for all doshas.

SESAME Sesamum indicum | Sensory: dark yellow, heavier texture, strong smell. Therapeutics: useful for eczema, psoriasis, arthritis, rheumatism (stimulates muscular activity). Natural sunscreen, contains skin restructuring and emollient properties while also reinforcing the integrity of the skin. A free radical scavenging oil- used for the Vata dosha due to its warming quality. Sesame is particularly good in dry and/or oocldc climates becasue it is heavy and penetrates the skin- going deep into the tissues.

SUNFLOWER helianthus annuus | Sensory: pale yellow, light in texture. Therapeutics: good for all skin types, great texture for massage and skin care preparations. Sunflower is indicated for the Pitta dosha. It can reduce inflamed skin conditions. oleic acid

ROSE HIP Rosa rubiginosa | Sensory: very pleasant aroma, pinkish red color, emollient to the touch. Therapeutics: one of the best tissue regenerators for scars, skins burns, premature aging, high in essential fatty acids. Believed to be a tissue regenerator and has been used to help heal burns and sunburns, to improve acne scars, and to reduce wrinkles. Can be used on all doshas.