Working with Essential Oils
You want to buy real steam distilled essential oils and not perfumed or fragrance oil. Essential oils are made by collecting bulk plant matter and putting it into a copper still. The copper still is heated and as water boils underneath the plants the steam passes through the plant matter and drips out the aromatic waters and oil. The oil floats to the top of the water, which is called the hydrosol, and they are separated. Hydrosols are fascinating and wonderful in themselves and you can buy them online. We are going to confine our lesson to essential oils only and ones that are easily obtained. I can not recommend the book "Aromatherapy Anointing Oils: Spiritual Blessings, Ceremonies, and affirmations" by Joni Keim and Ruah Bull enough. For any Sancista who wants an in depth study of anointing oils for mental, emotional, and spiritual well being pick up a copy.
Synergy / Anointing Oil / Body Oil
A synergy is when you select two or more essential oils and blend them in a carrier oil. As an example you would take tea tree essential oils and put 10-20 drops into a one ounce bottle of almond oil. Thus you would have a small bottle of oil to use on candles, objects you wish to bless, or put into a spiritual bath. If you made body oil you would take a large bottle, 4 to 8 ounces, and increase the amount of essential oil. You would use it as a massage oil or after shower oil.
Lotion
Today you can buy premade plain organic lotions and body butters in a tub to add essential oils to and bottle yourself. You do not want cheap unscented lotions with synthetic ingredients containing alcohol in them. Websites like Essential Wholesale and Labs, or a company like them, have “ready” lotions for you to buy with vegan all natural ingredients to purchase. Making lotion is a lot of work and it is just as simple to buy a quality mixture and add your own herbal oils and essential oils.
Bath Salt / Salt Scrub
You can go to the pharmacy and buy a bag full of epsom salt or get online and buy a large bag of course seal salt for bath and body. Then after putting the salt into a container of choice add a few drops of essential oil or your synergy for a ready to go cleansing spiritual bath. You can also add dry herbs to your bath salt. You make a salt scrub just like making a bath salt but you add oil to it until the salt and oil make a paste.
Salve / Ointments
A salve is a balm that is made with a combination of liquid and solid oils, butters, wax, and essential oil.
Philip’s Salve Recipe
You will need a double boiler for this recipe. In the double boiler you will place the Candelilla wax, Shea butter, MCT oil, hemp seed oil, and vitamin E. Heat until you have a silky consistency. All the wax and butter should be completely liquified, no flakes. Remove from heat and pour the hot mixture into your screw top tins. Now add the essential oil and stir in the container. Do not add the essential oils in while the mixture is on the stove. Let the tins sit until the salve has firmed back up and cooled. Place the lid on your tin and you are all set. Put the salve on your Boveda or Divisional altar and call the spirit who you want to charge it. Repay your spirit with an offering or gift.
MCT oil (½ cup)
Hemp seed oil (½ cup)
Wax (2 heaping tbsp)
Shea butter (4 heaping tbsp)
Vitamin E ( ½ tsp)
10 drop of essential oil in each tin
This will make a batch of tins and you should get about 15-20 tins out of it.
Directly into baths
You can put drops of essential oils directly into a bath. To be honest when I am making a spiritual bath I will turn on the water to start to fill my tub and as the water rises I will cast in the ingredients while making my incantations. That’s the easiest way to make a bath for me but then again I am kind of lazy! Essential oils safety Not all essential oils are safe to be applied directly to the body. And some have health contraindications for women who are pregnant or nursing. After the description of the medicinal use and magical use of the oil is listed there will also be any warnings.
The Essential Oils
These oils are meant for topical use only. Essential oils are highly concentrated when undiluted. It is best not to apply directly to the skin when starting out. If there is an allergic reaction may cause rash, redness, and discomfort. Always recommend a small test on a non sensitive part of the skin, such as the hand, to ensure there are no reactions.
Anise
Pimpinella anisum
Medicinal: Can be used to treat a runny nose, it’s an expectorant to increase a productive cough. Can be an appetite stimulant.
Spiritual: Purification, protection, healing, clears mental confusion, dispels limiting thoughts, helps you let go of old beliefs. Allows messages from higher level spirits to be received clearly.
Allspice
Pimenta dioica
Medicinal: Can relieve gas, bloating, and upset stomach. Has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Can ease menstrual cramps.
Spiritual: Stenghtens aura. Bergamot Medicinal: Antispasmodic, antiseptic, analgesic pain relieving.
Spiritual: Protection, prosperity, happiness, confidence and courage. Trust in God’s protection. Helps those dealing with grief, loss, sadness. Releases energetic blocks.
Balsam of Peru
Myroxylon Pereirae
Medicinal: This wonderful aroma helps soothe out-of-control emotions, calms nervous tension, and can promote a tranquil environment. It can be used during times of respiratory congestion to help you breathe easier.
Spiritual: Allowing the heart to open and trust. Protects from emotional, mental, and physical disturbance.
Bay Rum
Pimenta racemosa
Medicinal: Properties: Clarifying for the skin. Must be diluted.
Spiritual: Clarity. Purification. Used in baths for cleansing, used as an offering to spirits.
Black Pepper
Piper nigrum
Medicinal: Relieves aches and pains, has antiviral properties, eases feelings of anxiety and reduces cigarette cravings. It’s a detoxifier.
Spiritual: Courage to face uncontrollable anger. Makes someone receptive to spiritual guidance. Fearlessness, motivation, spiritual strength, cleansing, protection, purification.
Cannabis
Cannabis sativa
Medicinal: Antimicrobial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Good for the nervous system and aids in relaxation.
Spiritual: Enhances sex magic, protection, and healing.
Cedarwood
Cedrus atlantica
Medicinal: Improves mental clarity, is a deodorant, repels insects. Prevents mildew, increases cerebral activity, relaxes the body. Enhances concentration, decreases hyperactivity.
Spiritual: Good fortune, protects children. Use when feeling weak or need help making decisions. When needing to talk to someone about a serious topic. To heal emotional wounds.
Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
Medicinal: Digestive upset, indigestion, nausea, gas. Wound healing including ulcers and sores. Anxiety relief. Skin conditions like eczema or rashes. Anti Inflammation and pain relieving. Promotes restful sleep.
Spiritual: Money and love spells. Helps with diplomacy, soothes feelings of loneliness.
Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum
Medicinal: Alleviates aches, pains, and stiffness in the muscles and joints. Increases circulation and nourishes the skin.
Spiritual: Being spiritually alert, money drawing, helps you accomplish your goals. Accessing old memories. Helps to be more assertive, supports will power. Good luck spells, draws money.
Clary Sage
Salvia sclarea
Medicinal:Antibacterial properties, natural antidepressant, helps relieve symptoms in menopause, reduces menstrual cramps. Relaxing, stress reduction.
Spiritual: Helps with clairvoyants, channeling, divination, getting through emotional difficulty or painful situations. Better perspective. Fights apathy.
Clove
Syzygium aromaticum
Medicinal: Antimicrobial, kills bacteria. Pain reliever. Use for digestive upset. Aids respiratory conditions like coughs and asthma.
Spiritual: Psychic enhancer, aphrodisiac, releases old thoughts and patterns, energy work, distance healing, motivation, helps accomplish a goal.
Copaiba
Copaifera
Medicinal: Anti-inflammatory, wound healing, pain relief. Treats infections from parasites. Can be used as an aphrodisiac.
Spiritual: Balancing, grounding, protective, uplifting, good for meditation introspection tranquility, beings focus, heals emotional wounds.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus globulus
Medicinal: Antiseptic, cleansing and purifying agent, muscle and nerve pain relief, dental hygiene, treatment for respiratory ailments, fevers, cold, flu, and asthma. Mental clarity.
Spiritual: Balance, reduces chaos. All healing spells. Purification. Helps when feeling overwhelmed or disillusioned. To help prioritize a matter.
Frankincense
Boswellia
Medicinal: Expectorant, clears nasal passages, alleviates congestion. Enhances mood. Diminishes feelings of stress, anxiety. Improves concentration and memory.
Spiritual: Blessing oil for the dead, funerals, rites of passage, good luck, protection. Use when feeling spiritually depleted. Encourage generosity in others.
Ginger
Zingiber officinale
Medicinal: Detoxifier, boost digestion, eases discomfort in the stomach and bowels, enhances appetite, clears respiratory tract, reduces inflammation.
Spiritual: Mental clarity, aphrodisiac, abundance spells, when feeling trapped, when needing confidence.
Grapefruit
Citrus × paradisi
Medicinal: Appetite suppressant, promotes weight loss, improves mood, has antibacterial and antimicrobial effects. Helps reduce stress, lowers blood pressure, is an astringent that can help treat acne.
Spiritual: Stops mental chatter/confusion, helps you hear your inner voice and develops intuitive powers. Psychic awakening. Cleanses aura. Use when processing emotions or feeling stuck.
Jasmine
Jasminum
Medicinal: Aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, antiseptic, anti-depressant, decrease the symptoms of menopause, as a sedative, reduces cramps due to menstruation.
Spiritual: Love oil, attraction, angelic connection, use when feeling agitated, helps when feeling creative. Juniper
Medicinal: Air purifier, detoxifying agent. Supports urinary and kidney function. Spiritual: Wish granting, curse breaker, and jinx removing. Clears your thoughts, protects against negativity, healing for spiritually caused sickness, stops damaging thoughts and beliefs, use when feeling stuck or trapped.
Lavender
Lavandula
Medicinal: Promotes relaxation, treats anxiety, fungal infections, allergies, depression, insomnia, eczema, nausea, and menstrual cramps.
Spiritual: Peace in the home, stops gossip , use when feeling unbalanced, use when feeling unable to forgive others.
Lemon
Citrus × limon
Medicinal: Antiseptic, astringent, calming, disinfectant and antifungal, detoxifying, refreshing and energizing.
Spiritual: Used for calling spirits in healing work, purifying, cleansing and protecting, use to feel more optimistic and positive.
Lime
Citrus × aurantiifolia
Medicinal: Antiseptic, good disinfectant, antibacterial, antiviral, astringent, anti-depressant.
Spiritual: To keep a partner faithful, when needing clarity, when a memory needs to be released and let go of. To move on.
Myrrh
Commiphora myrrha
Medicinal: Digestive discomfort, boost immunity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, boost mood, controls cough, treats insomnia, sore throat.
Spiritual: Guard against evil forces, use when dealing with feelings of resentment or to make a relationship cooperate.
Palo Santo
Bursera graveolens
Medicinal: Can treat headaches, depression, anxiety, emotional pain, inflammation, relieves common colds, flu symptoms, reduces stress.
Spiritual: Mental, emotional, physical and psychic healing. Energetic protection, removes negativity, spiritually purifying.
Patchouli
Pogostemon cablin
Medicinal: Deodorizers, soothes inflammation, fights water retention, relieves constipation, promotes weight loss, speeds healing process, stimulates growth of new skin.
Spiritual: Aphrodisiac, psychic enhancement, body acceptance, uniting the sensual and the spiritual.
Peppermint
Mentha × piperita
Medicinal: antibacterial, antispasmodic, disinfects, soothes inflamed skin, expectorant, breaks up congestion due to colds and flu, immune support.
Spiritual: Create positive change in one's life, healing, strengthens your magic, unhexing, use when needing more self esteem.
Rose
Rosa
Medicinal: Clears up acne, reduces the signs of aging, minimizes appearance of scars, helps treat eczema and rosacea.
Spiritual: Attracts love and affection, fertility spells, health, and protection magic. Helps heal heartbreaks, feelings of being disconnected or lonely, to create healthy boundaries. Connect with angelic forces, use when feeling apathetic.
Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Medicinal: Improves brain function, stimulates hair growth, relieves pain, increases circulation, reduces joint inflammation, helps concentration and focus.
Spiritual: Banishing oil especially combined with sage. Helps create appropriate boundaries. Strengthens faith. Us when redefining your values.
Sage
Salvia officinalis
Medicinal: Muscular and joint pain, bacterial infections, antispasmodic, detoxifier, promotes digestive relief, skin conditions like dermatitis and athlete's foot.
Spiritual: Divination and protection.
Sandalwood
Santalum
Medicinal: Treats physical and mental disorders including anxiety, bronchitis, diarrhea, fatigue, gallbladder problems, high blood pressure, insomnia, liver problems, low libido, urinary problems.
Spiritual: Healing, psychic enhancement, healing sexual wounds, improve self esteem, heals relationships, use when you don't trust yourself.
Spruce
Picea
Medicinal: Supports upper respiratory function, expectorant, helps fight against cough, congestion, and flu. Detoxifier promotes clarity and openness of mind.
Spiritual: Brings feelings of security, balances mood, helps overcome emotional barriers, brings intuition, grounds you when feeling chaotic and all over the place.
Tea Tree
Melaleuca alternifolia
Medicinal: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, treat athlete's foot, contact dermatitis, and head lice. Detoxifier. Also promotes healthy respiratory function, fights colds and flus, helps with asthma.
Spiritual: Clears away energy blockage. Protection, use when feeling stuck, use to understand someone else's perspective. Helps overcome resistance to change.
Ylang Ylang
Cananga odorata
Medicinal: Natural insect repellent, promotes wound healing, diminishes the appearance of scars on the skin.
Spiritual: Improved self esteem, to find employment, also an aphrodisiac, helps you embrace your sensuality, becoming more creative, experiencing new perspectives.
Bulk Oils, Wax, Salt, and Soap
Below is a list of the carrier oils, wax, salt, and liquid soap I buy to make my products. Bulk Apothecary and J Edwards International sell these oils in bulk. It is cheaper to buy a bottle of liquid coconut oil by the gallon than going to the grocery store. You can buy a gallon of unscented pure castile liquid soap also. You can also find any of these things being sold on Amazon. Let me tell you it’s worth being a prime member with two day guaranteed delivery and free shipping! I know I’m part of the problem.
Avocado oil
Persea gratissima
Almost 70% of avocado oil consists of heart-healthy oleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. This fatty acid is also the main component of olive oil, and believed to be partly responsible for its health benefits. Additionally, around 12% of avocado oil is saturated fat and about 13% is polyunsaturated fat. The application of vitamin B12 cream containing avocado oil has considerable potential as a well tolerated, long term topical therapy of psoriasis.
Castor Oil
Ricinus communis
The use of castor oil goes as far back as the ancient Egyptians, who used it to treat eye irritations and as a powerful natural skin care remedy. In India, castor oil has been prized for its skin-healing, digestive-soothing, antibacterial properties and is commonly used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine practices. As an unsaturated fatty acid, ricinoleic acid found in castor oil, has many healing abilities including increased circulation, helping to kill ringworm, abrasions and fungal infections, reducing itching and swelling on the skin. One of the major reasons castor oil has strong immune-enhancing effects is because it supports the body’s lymphatic system.
Coconut oil / MCT oil (Medium Chain Triglyceride)
Caprylic-Capric TG
Coconut oil is famous throughout the world, not only as an edible oil and hair tonic, but also as an excellent massage oil and to smoothen the skin. Coconut oil can also be used as a makeup remover. This is not common, but women have begun using it for removing the makeup of the face and eyes, without worrying about the harsh chemicals of other removers getting into delicate or sensitive areas. Predominantly, these saturated fats are medium chain fatty acids or triglycerides. When applied on the skin, they keep it smooth to the touch. Due to the presence of these fats, coconut oil also retains the moisture content of the skin, as the fats eliminate moisture loss through the pores on skin.
Some people have a severe coconut allergy. Ask before putting it into a client's product.
Hemp Seed oil
Cannabis sativa
As a superfood, hemp seeds are a complete protein and rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, omegas 3, 6, and 9. They are packed with potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium, and phosphorus. Hemp Seed oil's similar composition to skin lipids makes it an excellent natural emollient and moisturizer. It is especially useful for dry, tired or dehydrated skin and nails. It increases the skin elasticity, water retention capacity in tissues, and can be used to treat dry hair.
Jojoba oil
Simmondsia chinensis
This oil is extracted from seeds of the jojoba plant, scientifically known as Simmondsia chinensis, which are indigenous to the southern United States and northern Mexico. Jojoba oil is non-toxic, non-comedogenic and non-allergenic. This means that it will not clog pores and will not cause any allergic reactions. It is also not an irritant, so it can safely be used around the eyes and on the skin. Most bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and the fungus Candida albicans cannot reproduce and die when they come into contact with jojoba oil.
Shea nut oil
Vitellaria paradoxa
This oil is extracted from the shea nut, a plant native to West Africa. Shea nut oil has many of the same benefits of Shea butter as it may be useful in mitigating skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, and burns. Since the oil contains an abundance of oleic and stearic essential fatty acids, it provides many benefits for those who use it. During the expeller process for the butter, a small amount of fractionated liquid oil is extracted directly from the nut. This oil is thick and can be slightly cloudy because of the fat content. Shea nut oil has been used for thousands of years as a valuable ingredient to nourish skin and hair.
May be dangerous for people with severe nut allergies.
Sweet Almond Oil
Prunus dulcis
This is a mild hypoallergenic oil, it’s safe for sensitive skin. Absorption is best when the oil is warmed to body temperature before application. Probably due in large part to its antioxidative properties, sweet almond oil is known for protecting skin against UV radiation damage and keeping skin soft and supple. It can be used to gently dislodge debris from deep within skin pores and follicles, and also may help prevent future acne because of its vitamin A content. When you apply a few warm drops beneath your bottom eyelid before bed, you can expect to see brighter, less puffy eyes. Applied all over the face, almond oil can also delay general signs of aging as it renews the cells of your facial skin.
May be dangerous for people with severe nut allergies.
Vitamin E
gamma-Tocopherol
Vitamin E benefits skin by strengthening the capillary walls and improving moisture and elasticity, acting as a natural anti-aging nutrient within your body. Vitamin E also helps the healing process in the skin. It’s absorbed by the epidermis layer of the skin and can be used to treat sunburn, which is one of the leading causes of skin cancer, among other factors. Because it speeds up cell regeneration, it can be used to treat scars, acne and wrinkles; this makes your skin look healthier and younger. Aloe Vera Aloe vera produces two substances used for medicine: The gel is obtained from the cells in the center of the leaf, and the latex is obtained from the cells just beneath the leaf skin. Most people use aloe gel as a remedy for skin conditions, including burns, sunburn, frostbite, psoriasis and cold sores, but there is a host of other aloe vera benefits. Aloe vera is used for treating osteoarthritis, bowel diseases, fever, itching and inflammation.
Candelilla wax
Euphorbia antisyphilitica
Candelilla wax (plant based vegan wax) is a hard and brittle wax extracted from the wax-coated stems of Candelilla shrubs. The plant grows wild in Northeastern Mexico and the plains and foothills of the Chihuahuan desert. The plant has traditionally been harvested from the wild to extract the thick wax coating, originally used to make candles, giving Candelilla its name ‘little candle.’ Mass production for commercial uses began in Mexico in the early 20th century.
Shea Butter
Vitellaria paradoxa
Shea Butter aids numerous skin conditions such as blemishes and wrinkles, stretch mark minimization, muscle fatigue, dermatitis, and radiation treatments for certain medical problems. Because raw shea butter is extremely moisturizing and very hydrating, when applied to the skin, it provides immediate softness and smoothness.
May be dangerous for people with severe nut allergies.
Dead Sea Salt
Since ancient times, the waters of the Dead Sea, have been renowned for their therapeutic properties and healing qualities. People of long ago used it to naturally treat a variety of illnesses and skin conditions. What makes the Dead Sea special is its high salt content which is super rich in minerals. Dead sea salt contains a boatload of minerals, including magnesium, calcium, sulfur, bromide, iodine, sodium, potassium and zinc, which are easily absorbed by the skin. Because of its dense mineral content, dead sea salt is extremely bitter and isn’t edible but it does have amazing benefits for skin, hair and more. It promotes cell metabolism, speeds up healing of skin tissue, soothes damaged skin, protects skin from microbes that cause allergies, cleanses skin, relieves stiff & sore muscles, fights off skin cell degenerating free radicals, exfoliates dead cells, detoxifies skin. A number of studies have shown that dead sea salt has a tremendous healing effect on psoriasis. According to Everyday Health, people soaking in the Dead Sea get immense relief from a combination of the mineral-rich water, sunlight and oxygen-rich air. Give yourself a soothing dead sea salt bath by soaking in hot or warm water with about a handful of dead sea salt.
Castile soap
Sapo hispaniensis
Castile soap has been around for a very long time and was created just following the popular Aleppo, which is quite possibly one of the most important soap and household cleaning products ever made. An all-natural chemical-free soap, Aleppo was made from mixing oil from laurel (bay) trees with olive oil and soda. This is where Castile got its inspiration, however. Castile soap managed to establish such popularity because the Spanish city of Castile had an abundance of olive oil, which was a crucial ingredient used in the production of this high quality soap. While the original recipe for Aleppo soap required laurel oil, this type of oil was in short supply; however, the city of Castile had easy access to olive oil and that enabled the creation of a pure white soap that was very mild and effective. The whiteness was seen as purity, which made it very popular with Spanish royalty. As centuries went by, Castile soap made its way all over Europe, entering the British market during the mid-1500s by sea. Castile soap is very popular among vegans and vegetarians since it is plant-based. Also, it does not lose potency with time and is often seen in the form of liquid Castile soap or pure Castile soap as a bar.