THE BENEFITS OF MANGO LEAVES EXTRACT: A Complement to the great smell and taste of Mangoes

 

 'The King of Asiatic fruits'

If you enjoy the smell of mangoes and eating them as a juicy fruit any time of the day, you’ll be delighted by the healing benefits of mango leaf. I was in Florida when I was inspired by the beautiful mango tree in the backyard of our Temple when I decided to seek out more information about Mango leaves.  Many black and indigenous people in the West have grown so detached from natural plant remedies that is may seem odd to drink mango leaves as a tea or to consume it any other way.

But believe it or not, just like soursop leaf cured the Jamaican woman of cancer, the benefits of mango leaves are worth looking into! See for yourself if you want to try African Mango Extract. 

Mango, Mangifera indica, meaning “the great fruit bearer” has also been called 'The King of Asiatic fruits' , "apple of the tropics, king of fruits, and fruit of the Gods" It is the most popular fruit in the tropics and African mango extract is gaining popularity in the North America. However the extracts of mango leaf seem to be going under the radar.

A mango leaf herb is thick and shiny in appearance and leathery in texture with a pointed tip. Mango leaves grow between 6 to 16 inches long. Mango leaves are high in vitamins A, B, and C. It also has papins similar to those found in papaya that aid in digestion.

Mango leaf extract shows a definite improvement in diabetes mainly due to the healing qualities of the leaves compounds on the blood vessels in and around the pancreas. The tender leaves contain tannins called anthocyanidins and are used either in an infusion or powder form to treat early diabetes and related blood vessels (angiopathy) and eye problems.

Mango Infusions are made by soaking the fresh leaves overnight and then in the morning the water is squeezed out of the mango leaves and filtered. It is taken every morning. The young leaves can also be dried in the shade and grounded to be preserved as powder. Half a teaspoon of the powdered mango leaf is taking once in the morning and then in the evening.

It is also recommended to drink 1 cup of pure mango leaf infusion once a day to resolve hypertension as the leaves help strengthen fragile blood vessels that lead to hypertension.

Natural mango leaves are also used to treat dysentery. Once dried in the shade and powdered, ½ teaspoon is taken with water 2-3 times per day to stop it.

Mango leaf tea, taken three times a day for three weeks as a blood pressure tea, helps to lower blood pressure. To prepare mango leaf tea, boil mango leaves in water for 15-20 minutes. This tea can also be used as a mouthwash to reduce inflammation of the gums and relieve toothache. Be sure to rinse your mouth well and spit.

Mango leaves are high in vitamins A, B, and C.

A decoction is also made to relieve coughs by boiling 40 grams of mango leaves in 400 grams of water and drank with 2-3 spoons of honey.

Mango leaves break down and remove kidney and gall stones. For this, 10 grams of the shade dried leaves are taken with water from a glass tumbler kept overnight.

Fire burns are treated with burnt mango leaf ash and applied to the skin burn to give fast relief. Avoid inhaling the burning fumes as they are said to be toxic and may irritate the eyes and lungs.

Avoid using mango leaf if you have experienced poison ivy or poison oak contact dermatitis as mango leaf may cause mango latex allergy. Interestingly enough, I may have just experienced first hand what mango latex allergy is. Our Temple is now in an area filled with poison ivy and poison oak and after coming into contact with one of the two, I decided to buy a box of mangoes. Let’s just say, I was ill for three days!

Other things to consider about parts the Mango tree are:

• In Indonesia and the Philippines, the immature mango leaves are cooked and eaten. 

• Mango juice killed viruses when poured into a test tube.

• Mango stem/bark extracts may be a natural treatment for herpes and to relieve arthritis pain.

•  A teaspoon of the powdered mango seed kernel applied inside the vagina cures leucorrhoea and vaginitis. This same application is also done half an hour prior to conjugal union to give the vagina a virgin feel and act as a safe contraceptive. It tightens the vaginal wall that has been relaxed due to multiple pregnancies. It has been used with good results.

Mango leaves should not be taken for too long as continuous intake of the leaves may be fatal.

I can also provide you with African Mango Leaf powder for free or donation at Temple. Please make a donation anyway if you would like this article or learned something that can benefit your life in some way!

LIME TREE LEAF FOR ORAL HYGIENE by Natturly

Lime tree (Citrus aurantifolia) leaf helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. One of the most prominent oral benefits of lime leaf is that it triggers the production of saliva in your mouth just by smelling the gently crushed leaves. The saliva helps dissolve any food particles in your mouth as well as aids in digestion.

It is packed with vitamin C and for this reason, helps prevent the deficiency in this nutrient that can lead to tooth decay, pyorrhea as well as scurvy. Scurvy and pyorrhea can have similar noticeable effects on the teeth and gums. Some of the symptoms of pyorrhea include inflammation of the gums and teeth sockets and may cause loose teeth. Scurvy can cause poor oral health, cracked lips and corners of the mouth, ulcers in the mouth or on the tongue, along with bleeding, swollen, or even spongy gums.



Lime leaf is available in powder and capsule form or as an essential oil. It can be purchased as whole leaves online or you may be able to obtain them from Thai or other Asian supermarkets. You may also consider growing a lime tree from seed to get a fresh supply of lime leaves by planting seeds from a Key lime or the Kaffir lime often used in Thai cuisine. 

When purchasing lime leaf essential oil, look for regular lime leaf essential oil or for an added aromatic and medicinal effect, get Kaffir lime leaf oil (Citrus hystrix) for Kaffir lime leaves health benefits.

If you cannot find limes with seeds in your grocery store and you really want to obtain lime leave by growing them yourself, you can also order  Kaffir lime seeds or regular lime seeds online. 

Just one lime tree can provide the average family with it oral hygiene benefits. The Kaffir lime tree may be the best option for you to choose if buying the plant or growing from seed because it produces about double the amount lime leaves compared to other lime trees. This is important to consider if you will be using lime leaves you grow yourself on a regular basis, to ensure you have an adequate supply.

To use lime leaf as an herbal remedy for good oral hygiene and to prevent scurvy you can use several methods:

·         Try rubbing fresh lime leaf on your teeth and gums for an easy daily regime.

·         You can take lime leaves internally by taking capsules as recommended on the bottle.

·         Crush ten (10) young leaves into a powder and consuming three times per day.

·         Chewing lime leaves helps cleanse the teeth as well as prevents nausea, upset stomach and vomiting.

·         Alternatively, you can make lime leaf tea by bringing water to a boil, then pour the hot water over 4-6 leaves and let steep. Sweeten with raw cane sugar to taste or enjoy the natural taste of lime leaf tea as is.

·         Lime leaf essential oil is another great way to add this herb to your dental hygiene routine. Dilute a few drops of lime tree leaf essential oil into carrier oil or sea salt to make a natural herbal tooth cleanser.

There are no known or reported side effects associated with using lime leaf oil. However, it has been stated that Kaffir lime leaves used in excess can cause too much acidity.

OATMEAL BATHS AND HOW THEY WORK by Natturly

Oatmeal baths are not just delicious to eat for breakfast! They are also very soothing in a bath especially if you, your child or someone you know has dry, itchy skin. Oatmeal baths are also very comforting and relaxing even on a regular basis if you don’t suffer any dry, or itchy skin.

How Oatmeal Works

Bathing in food may seem strange but oatmeal has soap-like chemical compounds in it called saponins. The saponins found in oatmeal cleanse the skin by soaking up dirt, oil and odor and absorbing them away from the body.

The finely powdered oatmeal functions as a colloid because the molecules spread through the water and permanently change its consistency, meaning that no oatmeal particles should sink to the bottom of the bathtub or be left floating at the top of the water.  An oatmeal bath acts to draw heat away from the top layers of skin while sealing in the skin’s natural oils.

In folk remedies, it is most popularly known for its use to relieve poison ivy. Of course, Western, white supremacists who call themselves doctors don't know why oatmeal is an effective remedy for poison ivy. In the case of a poison ivy rash, the skin reacts to a chemical called urushiol found in the plant. Some studies have shown that it is chemicals in oatmeal called avenanthramides and phenols that reduce the inflammation caused by the skins reaction to urushiol.

Oatmeal is also commonly used for other skin complaints such as insect bites, sunburn, eczema, psoriasis, chicken pox, allergies and dry skin. If you have itchy dry skin, you more than likely have an increased skin pH level. Oatmeal baths will help to balance the pH level of your skin, soothing itchiness and protecting it from further irritation as well. You should notice your skin feeling softer and more moisturized, which is a sign that a moisture barrier has been sealed by the oatmeal.

Common uses for Oatmeal

Oatmeal has long been used in beauty and skin treatments as it is a skin protectant, protecting and soothing the skin of irritations that may be dry and painful. Over-the-counter oatmeal products, commonly used to heal skin conditions such as chicken pox are known as 'colloidal' oatmeal, or known by its Genus Species name, Avena sativa L. While it is known as '(oat) kernel meal' when used in cosmetic and beauty products. Neither of these types of oatmeal are foodgrade and therefore should not be eaten.

What to Expect When Making and Oatmeal Bath

Oatmeal baths are easy to prepare and can be customized to your specific skin condition using essential oils or other natural products.  You can use regular whole oats, but it is preferable to use oatmeal that is ground up into a fine powder. When purchasing oatmeal to make your own colloidal oatmeal, you may want to avoid the type that says ‘instant’ on the package, though they should all work fine.

Grind up 1-2 cups oatmeal for adults or 1/3 a cup for babies in a coffee grinder, blender, food processor, mortar and pestle or a mill to get your desired consistency. You may want to grind up an entire package of oatmeal, store it in an air tight container and keep it in your bathroom to make it more convenient to use.

You can test the colloidal properties of the oatmeal you grinded by stirring 1 tablespoon of the powder into a glass of warm water.  If you’ve powdered it fine enough, the oats should absorb the water and give off a milk-like look and silky feel. Oatmeal that is too coarse and isn’t ground fine enough will sink in the water and not act as a colloid.

You can also purchase oatmeal specifically for bathing under the name colloidal oatmeal, but this will be more expensive, than grinding it yourself using what you have at home. Either way you choose powdered oat meal should stay suspended in the bathwater, coating your skin as you enter and bath, as opposed to whole oats that will sink.

Preparing an Oatmeal Bath

Consider whether you be using essential oils, flowers, herbs or bath salts and have them on hand as anything you add to an oatmeal bath, including the oatmeal should be added while the water is running.

Step 1: To prepare an oatmeal bath, add 1-2 cups of colloidal, or powdered, oatmeal to a bowl. Make sure there are no clumps by pressing down the oatmeal into the bowl with the back of a spoon.  If you do not have anything to grind your oatmeal up with you can still achieve a colloidal bath treatment by pouring the whole oats in the bowl into coffee filter, cheese cloth or piece of muslin. Tie or seal the sachet with an elastic band if you want to avoid having oatmeal left behind in the bath tub.

Step 2: Add any extra ingredients to the oatmeal or you can add it to the water while it is running. You may want to skip adding anything extra if you are suffering from extremely inflamed skin as they may aggravate your skin more.

Step 3: Use tepid water especially for dry skin, chicken pox, poison ivy or allergic reactions. Bathwater that is too hot will draw moisture away from your skin or inflame already irritated skin. Add the oatmeal while the water is flowing to allow even distribution.

Step 4 (Optional): If you haven added any extras to the oatmeal, and you wish to, now is the time to add in a few drops of essential oils, now, that you’ve researched your skin condition, plus any acceptable herbs or bath salts such as ¼ Cup Epsom salt.

Step 5: Soak for 10-20 minutes. BE CAREFUL when entering the bath tub as it may be slippery and do not let it get into your eyes! If you sealed your oatmeal into a sachet, gently squeeze the bag to release oatmeal onto your body and into the bath. Otherwise soak in the oatmeal infused bath and gently massage the oatmeal into your skin if tolerable.

Step 6: Rinse with tepid water if you feel sticky. BE CAREFUL when standing up as the bath tub may be slippery! If you still feel like scratching your skin after drying off, be sure to follow this step and rinse off.

Step 7: Pat yourself dry with a towel—being sure not to rub your skin, which may cause more irritation.

Oatmeal baths can be taken up to three times per day to relive itchy, inflamed, dry skin. Alternatively, you can bath with a bar of oatmeal soap and/or wash your hair with a colloidal shampoo for dry scalp that will provide the similar benefits. Just make sure not to get it in your eyes and that there are no perfumes, dyes, or other harsh chemicals in the bar of oatmeal soap or shampoo.

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YLANG-YLANG I, II, & III? by Natturly

Choosing the best products with Ylang-Ylang in them can be tricky! There are diffent grades of ylang-ylang essential oil which depends on when the oil was extracted in its lengthy process of distillation.

Today, I noticed that one company was charging the same price for the best quality ylang-ylang as they were for another, although not to be considered less inferior essential oil. I have noticed this activity with some other aromatherapy supplies before, but not with essential oils of this calibre.

There are generaly three grades of ylang-ylang essential oils; I, II, and III. There is also a grade called Extra and another distillation process called VOP, which stands for 'Very Old Process' which is an ancient method of oil extraction not used in the conventional three step process that renders the other oils.

Instead, the VOP method is one long process where the end result consists of all the qualities of the other grades of ylang-ylang essential oils. So, in other words the VOP gives you a more elaborate, broad-spectrum, quality oil. Only problem, this quality ylang-ylang oils is not always readily available and can be harder and more costlier to obtain.

You have a better chance of getting your hands on one of  the other ylang-ylang grades, but it won't be considered as 'complete' an oil as one extracted as described above. Although, if you've only ever used a product with ylang-ylang #2 essential oil, for example, you would be just as in love with it's scent as any other rendition.

To be clear, the order of preference, not considering price for ylang-ylang essential oil is VOP, extra, #1 or I, #2 or II, #3 or III, where VOP would be a sole and extration. In conventional distillation practices, extra would be the first extraction, I the second, II the third, and III the forth. And still, you can mix grades 1, 2, and 3 for a more complete ylang-ylang essential oil--which likely cost more than the VOP and Extra mothods combined! As you can tell, it can be a bit confusing.

So when I was shopping around for some ylang-ylang essential oil Today, I noticed that ylang-ylang III and exta were the same price at the same company. So, which one do you think I would choose? Of, course the ylang-ylang extra! I will be using it to make a traditonal hair oil with some other quality ingrediants to add to my body care line that I will offer.

As the average individual looking for the best quality products with ylang-ylang essential oil it them, it would be better to know that your aromatherapist took the time to make sure you got the highest grade of essential oils when necessary. Thats what I would want for myself, so I thought I would share that with you so you know what you are getting when you use my aromatherapy products.

HOW AROMATHERAPY WORKS by Natturly

From and ethereal perspective, every bottle of essential oil has an aura that attracts us before we even open it. From the general perspective, as the name denotes, aromatherapy initially works through our sense of smell. In this way, essential oil molecules connect with receptor cells in the nasal cavity or by entering the skin through aromatic baths or massages and other cosmetic applications such as body sprays, applying lip balm and so on.

Inhalation and absorption of essential oils affect us physically, ethereally, spiritually and emotionally. When we smell or breath in essential oils, some aroma molecules are inhaled into the upper nasal cavity which contains olfactory receptor cells. The olfactory receptor cells stick out through the mucus where they attach to the essential oil molecules. The amount of mucus you have in your nasal cavity likely affects how receptive you are to aromatherapy. So if you cannot smell or do not appreciate essential oils, you are probably suffering from some sort of disease that may be causing or caused by a build up of mucus in the olfactory area.

The rest of the essential oil molecules that bypass the olfactory receptor cells are absorbed into the lungs. When inhaled into the lungs, essential oil molecules enter into the tiny air sacs in the lungs called alveoli. From the alveoli sacs, essential oil molecules are transported into the bloodstream. When you take aromatic baths or receive aromatic massages, you get the benefits of both lung absorption and skin penetration.

Note: Aromatherapy also stimulates deep breathing and should be used daily to promote breathing oxygen deeply into the lungs with the added benefit of essential oil that will pass the 'air-blood barrier' of the alveoli in the lungs.

When used in massage, essential oils are absorbed into the skin and are usually diluted in carrier oils such as sweet almond oil. Some base oils enable essential oils to penetrate deeper into the skin and at a quicker rate than they would without use of that specific carrier oil. Regardless of the rate of absorption, essential oils penetrate all the deep layers of skin tissues and flow into the capillaries (tiny blood vessels) into the bloodstream--Unlike synthetic cosmetics, which do not all penetrate the deep skin layers and often require penetration enhancers to your detriment.

Once in the bloodstream and bodily fluids, essential oils can influence the different organs or bodily systems. The affect a particular essential oil have on the various organs depend on the properties of the specific essential oil. Some essential oils may benefit the heart more than the lungs or the liver more than the kidneys, for example.

Depending on your individual body, essential oils can take up to 30 minutes to be absorbed and perform their unique function before being excreted out the body. Even after being absorbed and excreted out the body, the affect of essential oils can last for several hours afterwards. You shouldn't necessarily use an essential oil consistently for more than two weeks. On reason for this is because after a while you get used to that scent and don't notice it as much. This natural biological mechanisim may transcend to the affects that essential oils have on the organs or bodily systems, whereby there effect is diminnished over longterm use of the same oil. The Mother Goddess that created nature has also provided recourse for this by creating other essential oils that overlap in their end results. You can alternate the essential oils you use with another one that preforms the same fuction.

Not surprisingly, our sense of smell is not fully understood by European scientists. For this reason, we should not use synthetic fragrances created by them nor rely on their explanation of the sense of smell or anything to do with it such as aromatherapy and essential oils. We have to use and seek out the truth about aromatherapy and how it works for us and what it meant to our ancestors and the potential it has in our life now as melanated people.

What these scientists tell us is that they don't really know, but they believe essential oil molecules attach to different receptors cells. These scientists are also started to believe that some receptor cells have morphogenic abilities and can adapt to fit the shape of unique or non-specific scent molecules.  When the scent molecule does fit into the right cell receptor, a message is recognized and scent through the olfactory nerves, straight to the brain's limbic system, We immediately like or dislike a scent in response to the message perceived and this is one way, all we can really tell as ethereal beings is that essential oils work immediately if your body is working!

Furthermore, the limbic system influences the sex drive, memory, and emotions along with being relating to the sense of smell. In this way, essential oils trigger positive or negative feelings in people. If you dislike a certain essential oil, your body probably doesn't need that one. Follow your intuition, and choose one that your like and addresses your particular needs.

It's also important to note that the limbic system deals with our instinctive responses, so beware of fragrances which are synthetic and may be made to manipulate or natural instincts, and in turn dumb us you down. Don't be fooled by scents of 'rainbow', 'baby's breath' and so on, with the label "Aromatherapy" on it! Chances are that these cheap synthetic oils are triggering adverse reactions in you brain including turning off receptors in your cells that are necessary to your survival and ability to thrive as an natural born, melanated, carbon rich, individual. Please Donate some resources if you liked this post!

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A BATH OF TIME AND PETITGRAIN by Natturly

I set it for them, but there wasn't enough time. They left. I had planned to bathe them first and then shower myself. Lately, I've been doing things I had not planned. Lately, I haven't been planning. But this bath, this time of escape was well needed. I rushed. Initially. I was next. They were coming back for me. I had to be ready. Really ready. They don't like to wait. I usually make them wait. I operate on a different time schedule. It just is.

But this bath was so incredible. I blogged in my head while I took this bath. I sunk into the water. I felt it cover me the more I slipped into it. The water. Warm. And I had put some petite grain essential oil into it just before entering. I put it in while the hot water was running to make the water warmer. It had been a while. I spilled most of my Dr. Sebi Tooth Power that was unopened by the sink. It was soaking in water too. I had to since they put water in it and it hardened. I liked it better in liquid form. Now, I only have a little left. I don't mind. I'll get more or use something else. Not regular toothpaste. I can't stand it anymore.

The bath. Why don't I take them more often? I don't make the time. I should. I should have at least one bath a week. All that showering gets boring. Doesn't it? It does. I used that water and set in it. It set in me. I made me in tune with it. Then I made it in tune with me. I made it wash me. I made it tell me its secrets. I bathed in that water.  I let it wash away all the mess, all the confusion, all the pain. All the hurt, all the lies, all that the rain missed.

Then I washed on the love. I washed on the resilience that I am one with. I washed on the petite grain essential oil. I washed on time. I didn't think I would have so much, but I washed it on anyway. I needed it. I was out of water for too long. I splashed in it. The bath expanded for me. Now I am bathed. I will bathe again. Then they came. I left bathed. Smelling like petite grain.

LEARN ALL YOU CAN ABOUT AROMATHERAPY by Natturly

If you ever wanted know more about aromatherapy, Valerie Ann Worwood's "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy" is a must have!  This was one of the first books I bought to learn about aromatic oils and remains as one of my favorite references.


When I saw it at a thrift store for under five dollars I knew who ever got rid of it didn't know the value this book has to offer. My premonitions were confirmed when I attended the Whole Life Expo 2009 and saw the book there for sale for about $30.00. This book is actually a must read for any aspiring aromatherapist!

I often refer to Worwood's book, among others, when I need to check to see which ingredients are best for use in the spa products I make and I am using it as one of my references to build my aromatherapy website. Overall, this book is arranged in an easy to read manner and covers almost every area where essential oils are used.

The beginning of the book starts with a very import "Warning" on which scented oils to avoid, followed by an emergency kit listing which oils you should use for preventative and therapeutic needs, such as cuts and burns. Next there is a section on essential oils for travel, which has recommendations that fit in to everyone's life whether you travel or not, such as bug repellants.

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy also cover recipies for beauty, hair care, skin care, mature skin, men's health, women's health, children's heath, for the work place and more.

To make navigation even easier when reading The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, there are charts at the back of the book detailing the uses for each essential oil. For example, one chart lists the uses for aromatherapy for beauty.

This book is extremely useful as a reference when your clients make special requests for custom products or when you are purchasing essential oils online. One of the most useful things I get out of this book is it's quick outline of what essential oils not to use, which is conveniently placed in the front of the book, unlike other books where you have to dig to find which oils are hazardous.

Having a quick and easy to use reference of what essential oils are not safe for domestic use in vital for the armature aromacrafter since most online store may not inform their clients in an attempt to make money.  The online essential oil distributor that I purchase from sells many of the oils that are not suitable for even some experienced aromatherapist and they do not disclose this. In fact, it was only after I bought calamus essential oil that I noticed in Worwood's book that the calamus essential oil was could potentially lead to cancer.

So get the book! You'll be glad you did. Luckily Barns and Nobles sells it for a reasonable price--$14.08 and under! I wanted to recommend this book a long time a go! Here it is, get ready learn so much about aromatherapy! Click the link here...

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