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Is Your Life Fragrant Like Spikenard?
While the king is at his table, My spikenard sends forth its fragrance. —Song of Solomon 1:12 NKJV
A crisp wind shears through the souk, the open air market in Jerusalem, where merchants and buyers haggle over shekels for their choice meats, seeds, and spices. The young bride wraps her shawl tighter, pulling her veil closer to her face as she scurries through the narrow, twisting streets, in search of the last few provisions for Shabbat.
“Finally,” she whispers to herself, moving away from the other women dickering in the same stall, “the perfect pomegranate.”
Across the road from the noisy chatter where a blacksmith’s hammer clangs and a carpenter’s saw screech, a melodic voice tugs her attention away from her shopping.
“Like you.”
Turning slowly, her gaze falls on a wrung-out dishcloth of a blind man, curled up beside the dirt road, clutching his few belongings. “What was that?”
“Ahhhh, I would know that heavenly fragrance anywhere. Spikenard, an aroma so genuine and pure. It fills my nostrils with the memories of years gone by.” He sighs and smiles.
“You must come from a wealthy family. An aroma that rich must cost a year’s wages.”
“Oh, no, sir. I am from the poor village on the east side of town. It was a gift from my bridegroom. He is a wonderful man,” she says beaming.
“A bride-to-be,” he says smiling widely. “The softness of your voice speaks of youth. How old are you, young one?”
“Thirteen,” she responds.
“Are you as fair and beautiful as you sound?”
She blushes, unable to speak.
“Kind sir, do you have any place to spend Shabbat?”
“No, I do not. Neither do I have enough to buy what I need.”
Taking him by the hand, she leads him toward a cluster of mud homes off in the distance, where wisps of smoke, rising from the cooking fires, silhouette the autumn sky. “It would be my honor to have you as a guest in my father’s house.”
Spikenard comes from a very rare plant that is usually blended with olive oil for anointing in acts of consecration, dedication, and worship. The root word for spike- nard in the Greek means genuine or pure.
In John 12:3, the Bible tells how spikenard was used to anoint Yeshua, the pure and spotless Lamb, just days before His death and burial: “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Yeshua, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” (NKJV).
Mark 14:3 tells us of another woman who came, having an alabaster flask of very precious oil of spikenard, and she broke the seal and poured the oil on Yeshua’s head. Some of the disciples were very indignant with the “waste” of costly oil, as it may have cost this woman as much as a whole year’s wages. But Yeshua rebuked them and said she had done a good work, preparing Him for His death. For her deed would be remembered wherever the gospel would be preached.
As we desire to become the spotless bride of Messiah, we must walk in purity and love, burying our sins at the cross. With His life broken, He doesn’t leave us alone to “waste away.” Instead, the oil, symbolic of the inner working of the Ruach Ha Kodesh, has been poured out for us, so we can live a life that is rich with a sweet, heavenly fragrance. The compassion the bride showed for the blind man is a scent we should all emit. For it was the downtrodden the Adonai lavishly poured out His grace upon. Even others who may be spiritually blind will sense our adoration and reverence for our Bridegroom and experience a deep awareness of His presence.
And Yeshua said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. (Mark 14:6–7 KJV)
Cedarwood Essential Oil History and Use
by Rebecca Park Totilo
For more about the biblical essential oils, please visit http://HealWithOil.com.
Cedarwood has been used for over 5,000 years by the Egyptians and the Sumerians for ritual purposes. Other uses included embalming, a disinfectant, and other medicinal purposes.
Cedars of Lebanon is the highest in sesquiterpenes (98%) which oxygenates the brain and supports clear thinking. The Scriptures record that Solomon built the Temple and his palace out of the Cedars of Lebanon—which may be why Solomon was the wisest man to ever live.
Spiritually, Cedar is symbolic of strength and serves as a hedge of protection. In Song of Solomon 1:17, it speaks about the boards of Cedarwood: “The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.” A bride’s trousseau or “cedar chest,” which holds her treasures, protects her valuables from moths, silverfish, and other infestations. A believer’s heart is where God’s treasure is. Yeshua reminds believers to guard their hearts from the enemy, who wants to come in and steal their joy and peace.
For practical purposes, this oil serves well as an insect repellent. Its scent stays in the wood for a lifetime, even after the wood has been made into furniture—and it is this same fragrance which inhibits the growth of bacteria.
Therapeutic/Medicinal Uses
Cedarwood is effective against hair loss, tuberculosis, bronchitis, gonorrhea, urinary infections, acne, and psoriasis.[1] It also helps in reducing the hardening of the artery wall and stimulates the pineal gland to release natural melatonin for deep sleep.[2] Cedarwood clears the mind and eases ADD.[3]
The thumb and big toe are trigger points for clearing fears of the unknown and mental blocks against learning.[4] The big toe is also a point for clearing addictions and complusive behavior. The scent of Cedarwood helps to clear buried emotions, including pride and conceit
Rose of Sharon Essential Oil and its Use
by Rebecca Park Totilo
For more information, please visit Rebecca’s website http://HealWithOil.com.
In ancient times, the Cistus Ladanifer, also known as the “rock rose,” was believed to be the Rose of Sharon. As goats and sheep roamed through the brush, this flower became entangled in their coats. While caring for their sheep, the shepherds would collect it from their wool and rub the resin on their cuts and wounds to soothe them.
This multi-petal flower is found in the fertile plain called Sharon between Jaffa and Mount Carmel in Israel. It has a honey scent from an aromatic gum that exudes from the plant.
The Hebrew word sharon means “meadow-saffron, crocus, and rose (place of pasture).” It is a derivative for Sarai, which means “princess.”
Think of how the thornless Rose of Sharon beautifully mirrors Yeshua’s tender love, as spoken of in Song of Solomon 2:1: “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” The Scriptures tell believers that they are the sheep of His pasture and feed among the lilies.
Therapeutic/Medicinal Uses
Rose of Sharon has been studied for its therapeutic effect on cell regeneration according to Dr. David Stewart, author of “Healing Oils of the Bible.”[1]
Rose of Sharon has been used for bronchitis, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, wounds, and wrinkles. It is also known to be anti-infectious, antiviral, and antibacterial. Rose of Sharon helps to reduce inflammation and acts as a powerful anti-hemorrhaging agent. The Essential Oils Desk Reference reports that it also helps strengthen the immune system.[2]
Rose of Sharon helps to quiet the nerves and elevate the emotions during prayer. Studies revealed that people taking antidepressant drugs found this oil to be mood-elevating by rubbing it on their bodies or just inhaling it.[3]
Ancient Uses for Perfumes (essential oils)
For more information about therapeutic grade essential oils, please visit http://HealWithEssentialOil.com.
In ancient times, essential oils and other aromatics were used for religious rituals, as well as for the treatment of illness and other physical and spiritual needs. According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference compiled by Essence Science Publishing, “Records dating back to 4500 B.C. describes the use of balsamic substances with aromatic properties for religious rituals and medical applications. The translation of ancient papyrus found in the Temple of Edfu, located on the west bank of the Nile reveals medicinal formulas and perfume recipes used by the alchemist and high priest in blending aromatic substances for rituals performed in the temples and pyramids. As well, Hiero-glyphics on the walls of Egyptian temples depict the blend-ing of oils and describe hundreds of oil recipes. Within these writings tell of scented barks, resins of spices, and aromatic vinegars, wines and beers that were used in rituals, temples, for embalming and medicine. Thus, the Egyptians were credited as the first to discover the potential of fragrance and were considered masters in using essential oils and other aromatics in the embalming process. They created various aromatic blends for personal use, placing them in alabaster jars – a vessel specially carved and shaped for holding fragrant oils. In fact, when King Tut’s tomb was opened in 1922, 350 liters of oils were discovered in alabaster jars. Amazingly, because of the solidification of plant waxes sealing the opening of the jars, the liquefied oil was in perfect condition.
In the upper region of Egypt, a sect of Jews, called Essenes, were known for their healing arts and use of essential oils. Both Philo and Josephus writings indicated that at the period in which John the Baptist and Jesus were born, the Essenes were scattered over Palestine, numbering about four thousand souls. The Essenes or Therapeuts (used interchangeably) refer primarily to the art of healing which these devotees professed, as it was believed in those days that sanctity was closely allied to the exercise of this power, and that no cure of any sort could be imputed simply to natural causes. (Source: http://sacred-texts.com, http://bopsecrets.org)
The Holy Scriptures record over 1,035 references to aromatics, ointments, savors, fragrances, plants and incense-most implying essential oils. Twelve of the most highly-praised fragrances in the world mentioned in the Bible include: Frankincense, Myrrh, Spikenard, Hyssop, Cypress, Myrtle, Aloes, Sandalwood, Galbanum, Cinnamon, Cassia, and Onycha. Many were in the prescribed preparation of the Holy Anointing Oil and Holy Incense for Temple services, as well as for anointing and healing the sick. The people of the ancient world understood the importance of maintaining wellness and physical health, as well as the oils’ ability to enhance their spiritual state of worship, prayer, and for the purification from sin. King David alluded to this in Psalm 51:7 when he wrote, “Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” While David’s Psalm may have been speaking of a “spiritual purification” from his own sin of adultery with Bathsheba, today we know that the chemical constituents of essential oils including hyssop are able to penetrate the cell wall and transport needed oxygen and nutrients to the cell nucleus. Most essential oils can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled into the lungs where they then make their way into the bloodstream. The sense of smell affects the limbic region of the brain, which controls emotions, memory and the hypothalamus, which regulates the pituitary, which in turn balances the entire hormonal system of the body.
What is Galbanum in the Holy Incense (Temple Incense)?
For more information about the biblical fragrances, please visit my website http://RATW.org or http://HealWithOil.com.
Resembling a giant fennel plant, Galbanum (Ferula galbaniflua, member of the carrot family) was used in the ancient world as incense. Native to the Middle East and grown in the Mesopotamian area and West Asia, Galbanum had to be imported in biblical times. Today it is cultivated in Iran, Turkey, Lebanon and Afghanistan.
Galbanum, also called “Mother resin,” is discharged from the roots and lower trunk of this small wild plant. It is harvested by slitting its stem a few inches above the ground, allowing the milky substance to flow out and harden. Its balsamic tears are round, yellow to brownish-yellow, translucent, and not larger than a pea. It has been valued for its complex green, woody, balsam-like fragrance. At one time it was used in pharmaceuticals, but now it is mostly used as a food flavoring and as a perfume fixative. The Egyptians imported Galbanum resin in vast amounts, as it was a most treasured incense ingredient. In addition, Egypt used it for embalming and cosmetics.
The Jewish Talmud suggests that Galbanum, a bitter, earthy gum resin from an Asiatic plant was included in the Holy Incense because “Every communal fast that does not include the sinners of Israel is not a fast.” This was because the Temple incense included spices with beautiful fragrances, but was considered incomplete without a less-than-fragrant aromatic such as Galbanum. Described by some modern Bible commentators as having a pleasant smell, Philo praises Galbanum, comparing it to air and calling it sweet smelling and says its smoke drives away serpents.
This sharp, biting pungent resin could be equated with some of the unpleasant things we need to pray about. We are required to examine ourselves carefully as we meditate on the Holy Scriptures,
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Yeshua Ha Mashiach is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (II Corinthians 13:5)
A genuine self-examination can be a very unpleasant experience. The Jewish Talmud say, Chelbenah alludes to complete sinners. Like a Tziporen-fingernail, they are smooth and unblemished on the inside, and only darkened on the outside.
In Hebrew, Galbanum is Chelbenah. The Hebraic root is Cheleb, which means “the fat or the richest part” and Chalab, which means “milk.” Of the animal sacrifices in Scripture, the fat was reserved for God and burned as a soothing aroma to Him (Genesis 4:4, Leviticus 3:14-16).
In the Greek, Galbanum is simply a borrowing of the Hebrew word, so there is no chance of error in translation from Hebrew to Greek. It is mentioned in the Egyptian papyri and only once in the Old Testament as an ingredient of the sacred incense and once in the Apocrypha (Sirach 24:15).
Onycha in the Holy Incense (Bible – Temple Incense Series)
Mystery and debate surrounds what is known as Onycha. Some believe it to be of plant origin, while others believe it to be from the finger-like operculum, or the closing flap of certain snails. Rashi, a great Jewish scholar, believed Onycha to be a kind of root that grew from the ground. Some suggest it is extracted from a Styrax benzoin, a type of resin used in the Tabernacle for incense in ancient biblical times. The Encyclopedia of Bible Plants (F Nigel Hepper 1992) agrees that onycha is more likely to be a plant resin. Rabbi Gamaliel (whom the Apostle Paul studied under) believed it to be part of the plant species and said, “The balm of Onycha required for the incense exudes from the balsam trees.” The Jewish Talmud, whose Hebrew is of a later date than the scriptures, refers to the substance as tsiporen, which means fingernail and seems to be related to sh’chalim, meaning cress, a type of plant.
The Hebrew word for Onycha is tl,xev. Shecheleth and refers to a resin with a nail-like shine, claw or hoof. For this reason, others believe it is an aromatic from the operculum of a shell fish, i.e., the claw or nail of the strombus or wing-shell, a univalve common in the Red Sea (the same mussel from which the blue dye for the Tzitzits (fringes) was obtained). The Greek word from the Septuagint ‘onyx’ also adds confusion. Onyx is an agate with a fingernail like opacity that has for some reason been associated with a claw shaped shellfish.
Onycha, as a plant derivative is highly aromatic and is credited as having great medicinal properties which seems to be the most likely ingredient for the sacred incense when considering the healing effect prayer has.
Tzori alludes to the Torah which is a balm that brings healing to the entire body. Onycha was valued anciently for its ability to speed healing of wounds and to help prevent infection.
The Ancient Art of Extracting Essential Oils & Making Perfumes & Today’s Methods
The Ancient Art of Extracting Oils & Making Perfumes
According to Miriam Stead, author of “Egyptian Life,” the process of distillation using steam was not known for the extraction of essences, but there were three techniques available for producing perfumes from flowers, fruits and seeds. She writes, “There was enfleurage, the saturation of layers of fat with perfume by steeping flowers in the fat and replacing them when their perfume was spent. In this way, the Egyptians were able to create creams and pomades.
The Original Coneheads
A popular form of pomade was the so called cosmetic cone which was worn on top of the head. They frequently represented in banqueting scenes, worn not only by the guests but also by the servants. The cone is usually white with streaks of orange brown running from its top. The colouring represents the perfume with which the cone was impregnated. As the evening progressed, the cone would melt and the scented oil run down over the wig and garment, creating a pleasing scent and, no doubt, a sticky mess. Throughout the course of an evening, it became necessary to renew the scent on the cones and the tomb scenes show servants circulating among the guests, replenishing the perfumed cream. A popular late-night comedy television show called, “Saturday Night Live,” use to include an skit of a family with coneheads. I am sure the writers of this routine thought they were being original, although ‘cone shape’ heads was all the rage in ancient Egypt.
The second process for creating perfume was maceration, that is dipping flowers, herbs, or fruits into fats or oils heated to a temperature of about 65 degrees Celsius. This technique is depicted in a number of tomb scenes. The flowers or fruits were pounded in mortars and then stirred into the oil, which was kept hot on a fire. The mixture was sieved and allowed to cool. It might then be shaped into balls or cones, or, if liquid, poured into vessels. An alternative process may have been to macerate the flowers in water, cover the vessel with a cloth impregnated with fat and boil the contents of the vessel until all the perfumes had evaporated, fixing them in the fat which was then scraped off the cloth. This technique is still used by peoples living near the source of the Nile.
Thirdly, there was the possibility of expressing the flowers or seeds. This process was borrowed from the manufacture of wine and oil. The material to be pressed was placed in a bag with a stick attached to each end. The sticks were twisted by a group of workmen. This technique was not used often, as most recipes specify either maceration or enfleurage.”
How Essential Oils Are Produced Today
Producing essential oils continues to take a lot of work. It takes sixty thousand rose blossoms to produce one ounce of rose oil, whereas lavender is easier to obtain and yields approximately 7 pounds of oil from two-hundred and twenty pounds of dried flowers. The Sandalwood tree must be thirty years old and over thirty feet tall before it can be cut down for distillation. Myrrh, frankincense, and benzoin oils are extracted from the gum resins of their respective trees. While citrus fruits such as orange, lemon and lime are squeezed from the peel of their fruits. Cinnamon essential oil come from the bark of the tree, and pine oil comes from the needles and twigs. Other flowers must be picked by hand early in the morning before the sun rises and heats up, evaporating the essential oil within its petals. Hence, you can understand the variation in pricing of various essential oils on the market.
There is a variety of ways in which essential oils are extracted. The most common methods steam distillation, solvent extraction, expression, enfleurage and maceration.
Steam distillation involves using steam to pull essential oils from the plant by suspending the plant material over water in a sealed container, which is then brought to the boil. The steam containing the volatile essential oil is run through a cooler, when it condenses, and the liquid is collected. The essential oil appears as a thin film on top of the liquid, as water and essential oils do not mix. The essential oil is then separated from the water by collecting in a small vial and the water into a large vat.
Solvent extraction involves using little heat, in order to preserve the oil which would otherwise be destroyed or altered during steam distillation. Plant material is dissolved in a liquid solvent of hepane, hexane, or methylene chloride as a suitable perfume solvent, which absorbs the smell, color and wax of the plant. After removing the plant material, the solvent is boiled off under a vacuum to helping to separate the essential oil. This can be achieved since the solvent evaporates quicker, which leaves a substance called, ‘concrete.’ The concrete is mixed with alcohol to aid in filtering the waxes. The next process is to distil the alcohol away, which leaves an ‘absolute.’ The word ‘absolute’ will appear on the label of some bottled essential oils, although they still contain 2-3 per cent of the solvent, thus not considered pure essential oil.
Citrus oils is expressed rather than distilled. Within citrus fruits such as orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit, the essential oil is located in little sacs just under the surface of the rind. The oils need to be squeezed out or expressed from the peels and seeds, and this is achieved by letting the fruit roll over a conveyer that has small needles coming out, piercing the little oil pockets in the citrus rind. The oil runs out and is caught and filtered.
As mentioned before, enfleurage is an ancient method of extracting oils that is rarely used today because its long, complicated, and expensive process. Fragrant blooms were placed upon sheets of warm animal fat (or long sheets of vegetable fat), which absorbed the essential oil. As flowers are exhausted, they are replaced with fresh blossoms. This process is repeated until the sheet of fat is saturated with fragrance and is separated with solvents, leaving only the essential oil.
Macerated oils are not pure essential oils as they are ‘carrier’ oils. Plant material is gathered and chopped, then added to either sunflower or olive oil. The mixture is stirred for a while, then placed in the sunlight for several days. This process transfers all of the soluble components in the plant material, including the essential oil, then is carefully filtered. This process leaves a carrier oil infused with essential oil.
For more information about the biblical essential oils, please visit my website http://HealWithOil.com. I am offering a free online “Art of the Apothecary” course. Sign up today!
Spiritual Significance of the Holy Incense (Qetoret)
In an article entitled, “The Spiritual Significance of the Qetoret (Incense) in Ancient Jewish Tradition,” author Rabbi Avraham Sutton describes the momentous archeological discovery of the Holy Incense:
“In March 1988, Vendyl Jones and his team of Bnei Noah volunteers found a clay juglet about five inches in height in a cave in Qumran, just west of the northern end of the Yam HaMelach (Dead Sea). The juglet contained a reddish oil. It is believed to be the only surviving sample of the balsam oil that was prescribed in the Torah for anointing the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and its vessels, as well as the Cohanim-Priests and Kings of Israel. The oil, when found, had a honey-like consistency. The juglet in which it was found was wrapped in palm leaves and carefully concealed in a 3-foot deep pit which preserved it from looting and the extreme climatological extremes of the area.
In April 1992, Vendyl and his team discovered 600 kilos of “reddish-brown organic substance” in a carefully sealed rock silo in another part of the Qumran cave complex. Subsequent palynological analysis determined that this reddish-brown substance contains traces of at least eight of the eleven spices that were used in the manufacture of the Pitum HaQetoret (Incense Mixture) and burned in the Temple.
In 1994, the incense spices were presented to Rabbi Yehudah Getz of blessed memory, late Chief Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Places in Israel. A sample was also given to Rabbi Ovadiah Yoseph. Rabbi Ovadiah had his own chemist analyze the mixture to confirm its organic nature. Then both rabbis requested that Vendyl Jones “burn” some of the incense for scientific purposes (not with fire but with hydrochloric acid). At their suggestion, he had the spices combined together with the Sodom Salt and Karshina Lye which were also found stored separately in the cave in Qumran.
The results were astonishing. Although the spices had lost some of their potency over the two millennia since their burial, it was still powerful. The residue of its fragrance lingered in the vicinity for several days following the experiment. Several people present reported that their hair and clothing retained the aroma. More amazing, the area in which the spices were burned changed. It had been infested with a variety of flies, ants, moths and other insects. After the Qetoret was burned, no sign of these pests was seen for quite a while. This is reminiscent of the Mishnah in Avot (5:5) which states that there were no flies in the area of the Temple, nor was a snake or scorpion ever able to harm anyone anywhere in Jerusalem as long as the Temple stood.
Rabbi Avraham Sutton stated he work with Vendyl Jones in 1995 and met Avraham Sand of Tiferet International Aromatherapy, a master perfumer who was able to authenticate and obtain nine of the original eleven incense spices and reproduce them in the form of essential oils. In essence, Sand was able to parallel Vendyl’s discoveries of both the Anointing Oil and Qetoret in Qumran. His work was supervised under the rabbinical guidance of Rabbi Menachem Burstein, the foremost Jewish authority on the botany and chemistry of Temple artifacts. This was done in order to sidestep the strict prohibition against experimentation with the various plant materials in their original form. Rabbi Burstein advised him that there is no prohibition whatsoever against enjoying the essential oil extracts of these same botanicals.
“By getting back in touch with the mystery of the Qetoret, and unearthing its ancient secrets,” Rabbi Avraham suggests, “we can awaken something else in ourselves that is sorely needed at this time.”
For more information about the biblical essential oils and fragrances of the bible, please visit my website http://HealWithOil.com or http://RATW.org. Rebecca at the Well Foundation is a Judeo-Christian organization devoted to preparing the bride for the Messiah’s return. Rebecca Park Totilo is available to come and speak with your group on the Qetoret: The Fragrance of Prayer or another topic. Please contact her today.
Biblical History of Essential Oils – Egyptians – Temple of Edfu – Perfumes – Hieroglyphics
For more information about the biblical essential oils, please visit my website http://HealWithOil.com.
Ecclesiastes 9:8, “Let thy garments be always white: and let thy head lack no ointment.”
In ancient times, essential oils and other aromatics were used for religious rituals, as well as for the treatment of illness and other physical and spiritual needs. According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference compiled by Essence Science Publishing, “Records dating back to 4500 B.C. Describes use of balsamic substances with aromatic properties for religious rituals and medical applications. The translation of ancient papyrus found in the Temple of Edfu, located on the west bank of the Nile reveals the medicinal formulas and perfume recipes used by the alchemist and high priest in blending aromatic substances for rituals performed in the temples and pyramids. As well, Hieroglyphics on the walls of Egyptian temples depict the blending of oils and describe hundreds of oil recipes. Within these writings tell of scented barks, resins of spices, and aromatic vinegars, wines and beers that were used in rituals, temples, for embalming and medicine. Thus, the Egyptians were credited as the first to discover the potential of fragrance and were considered masters in using essential oils and other aromatics in the embalming process. They created various aromatic blends for personal use, placing them in alabaster jars – a vessel specially carved and shaped for holding fragrant oils. In fact, when King Tut’s tomb was opened in 1922, 350 liters of oils were discovered in alabaster jars. Amazingly, because of the solidification of plant waxes sealing the opening of the jars, the liquefied oil was in perfect condition.
In the upper region of Egypt, a sect of Jews, called Essenes, were known for their healing arts and use of essential oils. Both Philo and Josephus writings indicate that at the period in which John the Baptist and Jesus were born, the Essenes were scattered over Israel, numbering about four thousand souls. The Essenes or Therapeuts (used interchangeably) refer primarily to the art of healing which these devotees professed, as it was believed in those days that sanctity was closely allied to the exercise of this power, and that no cure of any sort could be imputed simply to natural causes. (Source: http://sacred-texts.com, http://bopsecrets.org)
The Holy Scriptures record over 1,035 references to aromatics, ointments, savors, fragrances, plants and incense-most implying essential oils. Twelve of the most highly-praised fragrances in the World mentioned in the Bible include: Frankincense, Myrrh, Spikenard, Hyssop, Cypress, Myrtle, Aloes, Sandalwood, Galbanum, Cinnamon, Cassia, and Onycha. Many were in the prescribed preparation of the Holy Anointing Oil and Holy Incense for Temple services, as well as for anointing and healing the sick. The people of the ancient world I believe understood the importance of maintaining wellness and physical health, as well as the oils’ ability to enhance their spiritual state of worship, prayer, and for the purification from sin. King David alluded to this in Psalm 51:7 when he wrote, “Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
The Art of the Apothecary
Thomas EdisonFor more information about the biblical essential oils, please visit my website http;//HealWithOil.com.
How Essential Oils Work
For more information about biblical essential oils, please visit my website, http://HealWithOil.com. If you would like to purchase pure, therapeutic grade essential oils, please visit http://HealWithEssentialOil.com.
Clinical research has discovered that essentials oils have the highest frequency of any natural substance. Electrical properties and charges of essential oils carry electrons or negative ions, which are healing and healthful.[1]
A healthy human body ranges from 62 to 68 MHz. The air breathed, food eaten, and other factors cause frequency levels to drop. Examples of the Taino Technology study reveal:
At 58 MHz cold and flu symptoms may appear.
At 55 MHz diseases like Candida and arthritis may take hold.
At 42 MHz cancer may set in.
At 25 MHz death begins.[2]
The essence or life-blood of the plant carries a live frequency—ranging from 52 MHz to 320 MHz.
Using therapeutic grade essential oils on a daily basis keeps body frequencies at a healthy level, prevents disease, and even reverses damage.
Research has shown that the number one cause for depression is the loss of oxygen around the pineal and pituitary glands. They have also discovered that with careful application of these oils to the soles of the feet, it enables the oil to reach every cell in the body within 20 minutes.[3] This may be why people in biblical times lived so long.
Principal essential oils contain various constituents, including these three compounds: phenylpropanoids, sesquiterpenes, and monoterpenes.[4] These three constituents are unique to essential oils and are produced naturally by the plant with the intelligence and capacity to do the following:
Phenylpropanoids - cleanse the receptor sites.
Sesquiterpenes - erase the incorrect information in the DNA or cellular memory.
Monoterpenes - reprogram the cellular intelligence back to God’s original plan with correct information.
Sesquiterpenes carry oxygen to the brain and stimulate the pineal and pituitary glands. Three of the four oils in the world with the highest known concentration of sesquiterpenes are biblical oils: Cedarwood, Sandalwood, and Spikenard
[1] Researchers used a biofrequency monitor from Taino Technology to measure the biofrequency of essential oils.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Vabener, Dr. Seminar Course. University of Izmir in Turkey. 1996.
[4] Stewart, David, Ph.D., D.N.M. Healing Oils of the Bible. Care Publications. 2003. Page 30-31.
Frankincense Essential Oil Properties & Uses
For more information about the biblical essential oils, please visit our website http://HealWithOil.com. If you are interested in purchasing 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils, please visit our e-store http://HealWithEssentialOil.com.
Medicinal Properties: Expectorant, Antimicrobial, Immunity-stimulant, and Antidepressant
Traditional Uses: Frankincense is considered the holy anointing oil of the Middle East and has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years. It has been used to treat every conceivable illness known to man, which caused it to be more valued more than gold in ancient times. Researchers today have discovered that Frankincense contains sesquiterpenes, which help to stimulate the limbic region of the brain (the center of emotions), as well as the hypothalamus, pineal and the pituitary glands. The hypothalamus is the master gland of the human body, controlling the release of many hormones including the thyroid and growth hormone. Frankincense is being used therapeutically in European hospitals and is being studied for its ability to improve the human growth hormone production.
Other Uses: Frankincense may help with allergies, asthma, depression, ulcers, snake and insect bites, bronchitis, cancer, respiratory infections, diphtheria, headaches, hemorrhaging, herpes, high blood pressure, inflammation, stress, tonsillitis, typhoid, and warts. Because it contains sesquiterpenes, it has the ability to go beyond the blood-brain barrier and helps to elevate the mind in overcoming stress and despair, as well as support the immunity system. It also increases the activity of leukocytes in defense of the body against infection.
Application: Diffuse or apply topically.
Note: Frankincense contains monoterpenes which can reprogram cellular memory and promote permanent healing.
Aromatherapy: Essential Oils For Romance In Your Marriage
by Penny Barker
Aromatherapy consists of using different aromas to affect a person’s mood or behaviour. In the practice of aromatherapy, each essential oil is believed to possess unique specific properties that positively affect different areas of a person’s life. Some are used to soothe physical ailments, while others can increase concentration, stamina or energy, and possibly jumpstart your libido. The use of aromatherapy essential oils in sexual practices and rituals has been around for centuries and spans many cultures. It is said that the famous seductress Cleopatra indulged in the practice of aromatherapy, using the intoxicating scents of cinnamon, cardamom and rose to bewitch and entice Marc Antony.
How to Use Aromatherapy Essential Oils
There are many ways to incorporate the benefits of aromatherapy into everyday life, and various methods of using essential oils. They can be applied to the skin, but must first be diluted with a carrier oil as they are too powerful in their undiluted form. You may prefer to inhale the oil scent by placing a few drops on a clean cloth or tissue and putting it near your nose, or you can use steam inhalation. It is also possible to put a few drops of oil diluted with a carrier oil in your bathwater. Just add your preferred scent to one ounce of carrier oil and mix well into the warm water. Aromatherapy essential oils can be added to lotions, massage oils, and shower products to help revitalize your mind and body, all the while providing you with a very sensual experience.
Carrier oils
Aromatherapy essential oils must be “carried” onto the skin by carrier oils as they are too concentrated to be applied directly on the skin. Carrier oils are also known as base oils or vegetable oils. Some popular carrier oils include sweet almond, grapeseed, jojoba, sunflower, avocado, and olive oil.
Scents to Raise the Libido
The use of aromatherapy essential oils can enhance almost any mood. A person’s sense of smell is tied to the area of emotion and memory in the brain; consequently, a particular pleasing scent can recreate wonderful feelings associated with a pleasurable past experience. Spicy scents can definitely make an individual feel energized, while light floral scents can put you in a sensual and relaxed mood. The aromatherapy essential oils can be placed in a diffuser to create a seductive atmosphere in the room, used to perform a sensuous massage or blended in a warm bubble bath for two! There are hundreds of scents used in the practice of aromatherapy. Here are a few essential oils known to produce positive results in the area of love and sexual relations:
Rose – A deeply floral scent that is relaxing and known to promote compassion, love and sensuality.
Vanilla – A subtly sweet aroma that induces feelings of security, compassion and love.
Jasmine – A comforting scent that is warm and floral. Indian women use it in their hair to entice their husbands into love-making.
Ginger – A woody aroma that provides feelings of warmth when used in a massage, and is known to increase endurance. Many brides of South Asia use this oil in creams on their wedding day.
Clove – A spicy, rich and penetrating scent with warming properties which is intoxicating to the senses.
Ylang Ylang – A very powerful scent, originally from China, which can be very enticing when mixed with other oils such as clary sage or geranium. Its floral and exotic odor can enhance stimulation.
Bergamot - A sweet and spicy aroma that produces intense refreshing effects.
Cedarwood – An intensely woody aroma that has soothing and strengthening properties that promotes inner strength and confidence.
Originally published on SearchWarp.com for Penny Barker Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Article Source: Aromatherapy: Essential Oils to Jumpstart your Libido
(ORAC) The Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity of Essential Oils Compared to Fresh Vegetables
The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) assay is a laboratory procedure developed in 1992 at the National Institute of Aging in Silver Springs, Maryland. It is used to measure the antioxidant capacities of many foods, juices, and oils. The higher the ORAC score, the more capable that particular food or oil is of destroying free radicals (Free radicals can cause disease and aging by changing the structure of the body’s cell walls, DNA, and protein, disrupting their important functions), thus retarding the aging process and preventing cancers and other diseases.
Foods with a high ORAC score may be able to protect cells and their components from oxidative damage. Oxygen radicals are chemicals that form naturally inside the body through the process of oxidation. Everyday functions such as digestion and physical activity produce oxygen radicals. Daily exposure to polluted air, rancid food and oxidizing radiation from the sun and electrical appliances also contribute.
An easy to understand example of oxidation is to imagine rust attacking metal. When the rust eats away at the metal, the metal starts to weaken and decay until it can no longer work. This is what happens to our body when free radicals attack it. Organs, cells and other parts of the body can be weakened by oxidation. This leads to diseases such as cancer, skin and heart diseases, senile dementia and osteoarthritis.
Studies have shown that eating foods with a high ORAC score will raise the antioxidant levels in the blood by around 10 to 25%. The ORAC figure suggested by experts is around 5,000 units per day to have a significant effect on plasma and tissue antioxidant levels. Eating eight to ten servings of brightly colored fruits and vegetables or dark greens will help achieve this level.
Here are some examples of ORAC scores:
Fruits and Vegtables Essential Oils
Carrots 210 Sandalwood (Aloes) 160
Oranges 750 Frankincense 630
Beets 840 Rose of Sharon (cistus) 3,860
Raspberries 1,220 Cinnamon 10,340
Strawberries 1,540 Spikenard 54,800
Blueberries 2,400 Myrrh 379,800
Wolfberries 25,300 Clove 1,078,700
Most essential oils score higher than most fruits and vegetables, as the two tables above suggest. In fact, essential oils have the highest ORAC scores of all substances in the world. An ounce of Clove Oil has the antioxidant capacity of 320 pounds of carrots, 28 quarts of blueberries, or 10 gallons of beet juice. The exceptionally high ORAC scores of essential oils partially explains why living with them in your daily environment – to breathe, eat, and apply to your body – can support all of your systems and contribute effectively towards long healthful living, even when used in very small quantities, and even when only inhaling them.
Article Source: Unknown (if you know the author of this article, please leave in the comments section, so we can give proper credit. We appreciate your help!)
For more informative articles on the healing biblical essential oils, please visit our website http://www.HealWithOil.com. Or, if you would like to purchase some essential oils, please visit our ecommerce store at http://www.HealWithEssentialOil.com.
Myrrh In The Book of Revelation – Smurna: Suffering Church In The Last Days
The Greek word for myrrh is “smurna,” which shares the same root name of the city and church mentioned in the book of Revelation. Smyrna was the second church of the seven churches of Asia John was instructed to write in Revelation 2:8-11. Interestingly, this church was distinguished as being persecuted and understood the bitterness of mistreatment for the sake of the Gospel.
Myrrh has been known to promote a feeling of security and acts as well as a pain-reliever, which is why the Romans added it to the sour wine and offered it to Yeshua on the cross.
Did you know we are going to smell his coming? Psalm 45:8 says, “All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.” His garments will be scented with these fragrances!
In Biblical times, the Hebrews scattered fresh leaves, twigs, and stems of fresh mint, marjoram and other herbs on the dirt floors of homes and synagogues. By walking on these, the fragrant oils would be released into the air. This practice was also common in the temple, where they sacrificed animals where the scent acted as a disinfectant as well as an air freshener.
For more information about the Biblical essential oils and their healing properties, please visit our website http://HealWithOil.com. If you are interested in purchasing myrrh please visit http://HealWithEssentialOil.com.
The Story of Thieves Essential Oil
Editor Note: Here is an interesting youtube video on the story of Thieves essential oil (TM) of Young Living Oil. I found this historical information very interesting and thought you would too. We no longer carry or distribute YL essential oils because our personal calling and devotion is to the Bride of Christ and preparing her for the Messiah’s return. The Lord has placed it on my heart to prepare the bride as today’s priesthood and the importance of using the oils for anointing and healing. They must be pure and not profaned (treated common). We didn’t want our message or mission with Heal With Oil to be compromised with a MLM business and confuse folks with the mixture of religions. YL is a pioneer organization of the aromatherapy movement in the United States and for that I am grateful, but because they purpose is to sell to anyone/everyone whether they are wiccan, pagan, Mormon, Christian, etc. promoting new age ideas, we feel it necessary to find essential oils that are of the same therapeutic grade quality on our own, without the association of another beliefs. We believe essential oils work to heal the body but feel the calling of the healing arts must be returned to priesthood and all glory given to the Creator, who is the God that heals. We don’t worship the creation, but the creator of Heaven and Earth, Yahweh. Visit our website at http://www.HealWithEssentialOil.com or http://www.HealWithOil.com.
The Savor of Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood is known by its botanical name as Santalum Album and was a highly treasured oil by ancient cultures. It dates back 4000 thousand years to the Egyptians who built buildings and embalmed with it. Solomon used it in 1Kings 10:12 in the construction of the temple and the King’s house. It was popular up until the 30′s because of its antimicrobial properties and fell out of use as modern medicine took over. The oil has found renewed popularity as many have become educated in the use of aromatherapy.
Santalum Album is an endangered species, making it extremely expensive. It is native to the southern part of India and owned by the government. The harvesting is strictly controlled and the best Sandalwood comes from the Mysore Region. Because of over-harvesting, it now is only used to make essential oil.
Sandalwood trees take thirty to sixty years to mature to the point where essential oil can be made. The tree itself is an evergreen tree which grows up to thirty feet high. It is a parasitic tree, which means it will actually burrow its roots into another tree. It has a brown-gray trunk, many smooth slender branches, leathery leaves and small pink-purple flowers.
The wood is yellow, heavy and fine grained. The uniqueness of this wood versus others, is that it maintains its fragrance for decades. It is harvested and steam distilled to make the precious essential oil which is used by many aromatherapists. The oil is a colorless to pale yellow liquid. The aroma is a rich, balsamic sweet fragrance giving it the reputation as luxurious and exquisite.
For those who make perfume, its consistency is medium and has a striking base note. Sandalwood used in small measures in perfumes is a fixative and allows other fragrances to be enhanced. It is also used in body care products for the fragrance it provides.
Some of the symptoms Sandalwood essential oil is good for are: bronchitis, chapped and dry skin, depression, laryngitis, leucorrhea, oily skin, scars, sensitive skin, stress, and stretch marks. Since it is calming, it can aid while in prayer. It also is good for Urinary Tract Infections, acne, pulmonary infections and menstrual problems.
According to the Essential Oils Desk Reference:
Sandalwood is high in sesquiterpenes that have been researched in Europe for their ability to to stimulate the pineal gland and the limbic region of the brain, the center of emotions. the pineal gland is responsible for releasing melatonin, a powerful antioxidant that enhances deep sleep. Sandalwood is similar to frankincense essential oil in its support of nerves and circulation. It is always advisable if pregnant or under a doctor’s care to consult your physician before using.
This rare treasure is only available for a limited time, so don’t miss out, get yours today.
For more information, please visit our websites: http://HealWithOil.com and http://HealWithEssentialOil.com for purchasing sandalwood essential oil.
Myrrh Essential Oil – Symbolic of the First and the Last in the Bible – Alef and Tov – Alpha and Omega – The Beginning and the End
Myrrh is the first oil mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 37:25, when Joseph’s jealous brothers sold him into slavery to a caravan of Midianites (incense traders) that we on their way to Egypt. The Scriptures tell us that the caravan was carrying “balm and myrrh.” Years later during the famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food where they encountered Joseph as the Egyptian ruler. Interestingly, Jacob, their father (Israel), told his sons to bring gifts for the Prince and the Scriptures tells us in Genesis 43:11, they brought him “balm and myrrh”- the same two oils that accompanied Joseph into slavery.
Not only is myrrh the first oil mentioned in the Bible, it is also the last one mentioned in Revelation 18:13, which describes the destruction of Babylon when all of these wonderful fragrances and ointments will be no more. Myrrh is rich with symbolism and is mentioned 156 times in the Bible.
Myrrh was also one of the first gum resins/oil given as a gift to Yeshua as a child by the Magi. Matthew 2:11 tells us, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Certainly by no coincidence, myrrh was also the last oil offered to Yeshua at Golgotha when He was delivered to be crucified. In Mark 15:23 we read how they offered Him, “wine mingled with myrrh,” but He refused it. Yeshua refused the myrrh as a pain-reliever, because He agreed to come down in the form of man and drink from the cup of suffering and that He did. As the Alpha and the Omega – the Alef and the Tov – the beginning and the end – He identified with us in His pain and sorrow, so that we could have the courage to seek and know Him intimately through the fellowship of suffering.
For actual egyptian myrrh resins, please visit our website http://HealWithOil.com or http://www.HealWithEssentialOil.com. We also sell pure essential oils for you to blend your own anointing oil for ministry and healing.
Healing Essential Oils of Biblical Times
For more information about the biblical essential oils, please visit our website http://HealWithOil.com or to purchase pure therapeutic grade essential oils visit http://HealWithEssentialOil.com.
Essential oils have been revered for their therapeutic and beautifying abilities since the first human civilizations emerged. Oils and resins, as hard-to-obtain substances, have long had special roles in medicine and religious activities. In order to obtain an essential oil, an inordinate amount of the plant must be collected, making the end product highly valuable. Perhaps the most well-known documentation of aromatic oils being used in religious contexts is in the Old and New Testaments. The Bible recounts many uses of aromatic oils as objects of prosperity, kindness, health and worship. We see instances of herbs like spikenard being used to anoint Jesus and frankincense being turned into a precious incense for use in religious ceremonies. The Bible shows us that the use of essential oils and resins has always been a critical part of worship for Jews and Christians.
Steam distilling essential oils is a modern process that necessitates sophisticated technology and access to large amounts of water, two things that were unavailable in Biblical times in the Middle East. The oils we read about in the Bible were probably herbal infusions, where an aromatic plant is soaked for a long time in a more abundant oil, such as olive oil. While the exact substances may differ between what we use today and what was available 2,000 years ago, these oils still held the same cultural importance we attribute to medicinal oils. Spikenard, cassia and the other herbs mentioned in the texts were valued because of their inherent healing qualities and because they were hard to find. No matter how these oils were created, obtaining essential oils was not an easy endeavor.
We find about twelve essential oil plants listed in the Bible: juniper, myrtle, spikenard, frankincense, myrrh, galbanum, cinnamon, cedar, cedar and sandalwood, hyssop and cypress. One part of the puzzle that is unclear to modern scholars is whether all these plants were used as essential oils or if they were herbal plant remedies. Regardless, the Bible certainly makes reference to the Jews and Christians using these plants for anointing and also for medicine. There are varying interpretations of how many healing plants mentioned in the Bible were used for medicinal or sacred purposes. However, contemporary aromatherapy still recognizes these oils as important ingredients in the essential oil repertoire, and it is clear humankind has valued these plants for thousands of years.
The aromatic plants of the Bible reflect the dryness of the Middle East. These plants can survive harsh climates and little rainfall. Fortunately for humankind, this unforgiving environment has given birth to many of aromatherapy’s most well-loved plants. The oils of the Bible come from a variety of plants, most of which are hardy, desert-dwellers. Cinnamon is a bark from an aromatic tree that curls once it is removed and dried. Sandalwood, cedar, cypress and juniper are also all trees or shrubs found in the Mediterranean region. Historically, they were used for wood as well as medicine, aromatherapy and incense. Frankincense, myrrh and galbanum are resins derived from the barks of trees. They are often burned directly, also used in incense and retain their aromatic qualities for a long period of time. Modern aromatherapy often uses frankincense and myrrh for their abilities to connect us to higher planes of awareness. The frequently mentioned hyssop is an aromatic plant with purple flowers that is widely cultivated for use in cooking and herbal medicine. Myrtle, a flowering short tree or shrub, is a common aromatherapy plant as well that grows wild in these dry climates. Finally, spikenard, also called nard in the Bible, is a plant that is native to the Himalayan region of Asia. It was imported to the Middle East and used as an expensive perfume.
The Old Testament contains the most references to healing plants. One of the first of these plants to be mentioned in the Bible is cinnamon. In Exodus 30:23-29, God instructs Moses to create an anointing oil made from myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, cane and olive oil. He advises Moses to place the oil on all the implements used for worship in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, the portable alter created for worship during the Israelites’ 40-year journey in the desert. Through being anointed, the objects became transmuted into sacred vessels. The act of anointing objects and people with precious oils is carried throughout the Old Testament and can be found in the New Testament as well.
Jesus’s life history has a number of instances when essential oils were conferred on him as acts of faith and appreciation. The book of Matthew tells of the kings from the East that came to offer Jesus gifts at his birth, notably frankincense and myrrh. As we already learned, these two resins are often used in modern times to assist in spiritual work. Jesus also received gifts of spikenard from two women. The first woman cracked a jar of spikenard and poured it above Jesus’s head. The second gift-giver, Mary Magdalene, used her life savings of the same plant oil to anoint his feet. Using her hair, she then massaged the oil into his skin. These acts of faith and gratitude were seen as humble sacrifices as spikenard was a particularly expensive oil to obtain.
Today, the oils of the Bible are frequently used in aromatherapy for healing physical ailments, connecting with spiritual or meditative states and even as offerings in religious contexts. Many of these oils have been used in unison, such as frankincense and myrrh, for thousands of years. Their widespread cultivation and our appreciation for their medicinal qualities have traversed the globe as Jews and Christians have continued to respect and use these rare oils. While aromatherapy as it is practiced today is a relatively new field of medicine, the use of medicinal oils is actually as old as civilization itself. By learning how these plants were used during Biblical times, we can connect to traditions that have recognized the relationship between humankind, the plant world and spiritual awakening.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
About the Author:
Aromatherapy diffusers and burners are available at The Ananda Apothecary at www.anandaapothecary.com.
Aromatic Essential Oils Kill Deadly Bacteria
From the October 1998 issue of Prevention Magazine, pg 144
Oregano, thyme and rosewood oils appear to destroy the species of bacteria that can cause pneumonia. In a lab study of 74 different oils, researchers found that these three oils were the most effective against the bacteria strain S. Pneumoniae as well as several types of fungi. Read more about the science behind therapeutic-grade essential oils.
“We first investigated this because of a chance observation during an unrelated experiment,” says Diane Horne, PhD, professor of microbiology at Weber State University in Ogden, UT. “We noticed that pneumonia cells just fell apart when exposed to certain aromatic sprays.”
Although the research is still at a very early stage, it’s conceivable that aromatherapy with the three oils may eventually become a helpful tool for controlling pneumonia infections.
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There is scientific research all over showing us how effective essential oils can be, everything from uplifting our mood to combating some stubborn species of mold, germs and viruses.
