Membership is open!

If you work with herbs, essential oils, carrier oils, or any combination of these, this is the place you can come to get the information you need on all of them.  

One thing I have learned (and mentioned in prior blogs) is that when I'm creating new blends, EVERY ingredient needs to be chosen with the purpose of the blend in mind.  Blends are much more effective when the herbs, EOs, and carrier oils are chosen based on coordinating the therapeutic benefits each provides.

This may sound like, and should be, a simple thing.   Often, it is simple because I use oils and herbs that I've studied and that are quite familiar to me.  Other times, I  spend hours researching in multiple books, websites, and courses to find and learn about herbs, EOs, and carrier oils that are new to me.  I have bookshelves filled with notebooks and binders with all the notes I've written, all the printouts from courses I've taken, and all the recipes I've developed.  I have stacks of notecards I created for quick reference.  The hunt from one source to the next to the next in order to get and/or verify the details of each ingredient in a new blend can take a great deal of time.

This became the reason for the creation of the membership portion of this website.  I've created datasheets that include the important information that takes a ton of time to find.  These datasheets are designed to be printed and saved for quick, thorough reference and will be updated periodically with any new information that comes to light.

There are currently 20 Herb Datasheets, 20 Essential Oil Datasheets, 21 Carrier Oil Datasheets, and 12 Chemistry Datasheets (5 Each for EO and carrier oils, and 2 for herbs).  Three more herb chemistry Datasheets will be added this week.  That means 73 datasheets today and 76 by this Friday!  At least one new datasheet for each category plus datasheets on specific safety topics will be added every month.  In addition, you'll have access to topical and edible recipes.  

Future plans for the membership include short "how to" videos, chemistry videos, and blending process videos.  I will also set up a members-only, private Facebook page for discussions and questions.  All of this is included with your membership!

The cost is $30 for a monthly subscription or $300 for an annual subscription.  (That's approximately a 17% savings over a monthly subscription.)  Once created, individual video classes will run from $34.95 - $149.95 for non-members, but will be included free in your membership!   

So, why is membership a good deal for you?  

To get all of this information, you would need to purchase separate memberships with herbal sites, aromatherapy sites, and carrier oil sites.  These memberships, on average, cost around $25 - $50 monthly or $250 - $500 annually.  

With this website, you get all three fields of study plus the chemistry, the safety, the recipes, and a whole lot more!  Your savings will be at least $1,000 a year!    

To celebrate the launch of the membership section, I'm offering an additional 15% off the price of your monthly or annual membership.  That means you'll only pay $25.50 for your first monthly subscription or $255 for your first annual subscription! 
This special promotion is good until midnight on September 30, 2019.

To join today, simply go to the Membership section on Home & Store page and choose your option.  Then enter Coupon Code Welcome when prompted.

I'm going to give you a preview of what you'll get with your membership.  Below is one of the Carrier Oil Datasheets you'll find in the membership section.  

Carrier Oil Datasheet
by Karen Dragoo    Updated August 18, 2019

Oil:  Neem Oil

Latin Name:  Azadirachta indica    

INCI:  Azadirachta indica (Neem) Seed Oil

INCI Soap:  Sodium Neemate

Other Names:  Indian Lilac, Nim, Margosa

Plant Family:  Meliaceae (Mahogany family)

Related to:  Mahogany
 
Where it’s grown:  Native to India.  Now grows in tropical areas of Africa and Asia.
 
Plant Part:  Seed
 
Method of Extraction:  cold pressed

Therapeutic Properties:  antibacterial, antifungal, antihistiminic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-parasitic, antipyretic, antiseptic, antiviral, cicatrisant,  emollient,  skin cell regenerative

Traditional & Common Uses:  
Integumentary:  (skin, hair, nails): ​  acne, Athlete's Foot, burns, cold sores, dry skin, eczema, fungal conditions, improve elasticity, insect repellent, irritated skin, itchy skin, lice, mature skin, moisturize, prevent free radical damage, prevent moisture loss, nail fungus, protect and restore the skin barrier, psoriasis, rashes, reduce redness, rejuvenate cells, ringworm, salves, scars, smooth pigmentation, soaps, warts, wrinkles, wounds
Skeletal:
Respiratory:
Digestive: 
Circulatory:
Immune:  boost the immune system, may help protect against certain kinds of cancer (more studies need to be done)., protect against Malaria
Endocrine:
Lymphatic:
Neural:
​Organs:  
Female: 
Male:  
Other:  Insect repellent -- for both skin application and/or to spray an area.  Keeps                                                                       mosquitoes and flies away!
           Safe to spray around the house to keep bugs out. 
           Safe to spray in the garden, and around children and pets.
           Bedbug treatment that is effective, safe, and natural.
           Pets -- get rid of fleas, mites, other parasites, and soothe skin issues.
           Room spray -- use as part of an all natural spray when people in the house are sick.

Absorption:  absorbs into the skin easily

Comedogenic rating:  1 - 2 -- moderately low probability of clogging pores

Aroma:  strong and unpleasant -- like a mix of strong garlic and sulfur

Color:  light to dark green, yellow-brown to dark brown

Taste:  N/A

Freezing/Melting Point:    37° F       3° C

Flash Point:      392° F       200° C                      

Viscosity:  Depends on the level of refining and temperature -- unrefined is thick, refined has a low viscosity.  

Saponification Value:  194.5

Iodine Value:  65 - 85

NaOH Value:  0.142

KOH Value:  0.200

​Peroxide Value:  1.91

Unsaponifiable Portion (aka Healing Fraction):  
azadirachtin
beta-carotene
gedunin
kaempferol 
nimbidin
nimbidol
nimbin
quercetin

Shelf Life:  Kept in a liquid state (meaning at room temperature).  Note:  I have tried putting Neem Oil in my refrigerator.  From one supplier -- pure, unrefined Neem Oil -- no problem, the oil stays liquid.  From a different supplier, the oil turned solid, and when melted, formed deposits on the bottom and sides of the bottle.  

Fatty Acid Composition:
Example:  
C16:0 means a chain of 16 carbon atoms with no double bonds (saturated).  C18:1w9 means a chain of 18 carbon atoms with one double bond at the 9th carbon (Omega 9) from the methyl end of the chain

Oleic Acid                                       C18:1 n-9                     40 - 60 %                            
Stearic Acid                                    C18:0                           14 - 22 %
Palmitic Acid                                 C16:0                            14 - 19 %
Linoleic Acid                                  C18:2 n-6                      8 - 20 %
Arachidic Acid                               C20:0                             1 - 3.5 %
Myristic Acid                                   C14:0                             < 3 %
Lauric Acid                                      C12:0                              < 1 %
Alpha-Linolenic Acid                    C18:3 n-3                       < 1 %

Other Constituents:
Terpenoids  200 - 4000 mg/kg
carotenoids
Vitamins C, E

Cautions:  
Do not ingest.
Try a patch test on the inside of the wrist before using as there have been rare cases of contact dermatitis.
Dilute to 2 - 50 %.

Sources:
1. Parker, Susan M.,  Power of the Seed: Your Guide to Oils for Health & Beauty,      Process Media, Port Townsend, Washington, ©2014   pp.  154 - 155, 260, 284
2.  Janes, Damjan and Glavac, Nina Kocevar, et. Al. Modern Cosmetics:  Ingredients of Natural Origin, A Scientific View, Volume 1, Sirimo dobro besedo d.o.o., ©2018, pp. 119
3.  Saavedra, Karin, Comedogenic Rating of Carrier Oils and Butters, EverPhi, May 27 – June 13, 2019, https://www.everphi.com/2019/05/27/comedogenic-rating-carrier-oils/, Accessed August 17, 2019
4.  Penman, Tash, The Complete List of Comedogenic Oils, Holistic Health Herbalist, ©2019, https://www.holistichealthherbalist.com/complete-list-of-comedogenic-oils/, Accessed August 17, 2019
5.  The North Country Soapmaking Library, Iodine Values of Various Soap Making Oils, The North Country Soapmaking Library, Copyright © 1998-2019, http://www.northcountrymercantile.com/soapmakinglibrary/iodine-values-of-various-soap-making-oils/, Accessed August 17,  2019.
6.  Just Neem, 4 Ways Neem Oil Will Improve Your Skin, Just Neem, https://www.justneem.com/4-ways-neem-oil-will-improve-your-skin/, Accessed August 18,  2019
7.  Simply Health Today, 20 Benefits of Neem Oil, Simply Health Today, (c) 2019, https://simplyhealth.today/20-benefits-neem-oil/ utm_source=%2Bneem%20%2Boil&utm_medium=20BenefitsofNeemOil&utm_campaign=adw_us&msclkid=44577304d60a1051ded22e5dbe879dfb,     Accessed August 18,  2019
​

The information on this datasheet is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


The Datasheets are all set up in a similar manner so that you can easily find the information you're looking for and move on with your project.  

To join today, simply go to the Membership section on Home & Store page and choose your option.  Then enter Coupon Code Welcome when prompted.