The cacao bean is the source of perhaps the most magical and beloved foods on Earth because it is the source of chocolate. Even the cacao tree's official name, Theobroma cacao, recognizes the long-standing love most of us have for the fruit of this tree. Theobroma comes from the Greek language for "food of the gods." And while chocolate is the most popular and favorite of these foods from the cacao bean, an even healthier choice is raw cacao powder. How Is Cacao Powder Made? To produce raw cacao powder, raw cacao beans are simply cold pressed to remove the fat, and the remaining solids are ground into a fine powder. Cacao vs. Cocoa: What's the Difference? Cacao powder contains all the beneficial nutrients and beneficial compounds of the raw cacao bean minus the fat. In contrast, cocoa powder is made from roasted cacao beans. And even if they look alike, the two are different. In making cocoa powder, up to 90% of the nutrients and beneficial compounds in raw c
Did you ever wonder why roses are cherished as a gift of love, especially on Valentine's Day?
Legend has it that the red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the
Roman goddess of love, and throughout the ages, the rose has not only
symbolized love, but magic, passion and beauty.
It turns out there is a scientific basis for this passion for roses.
The essence of rose contains over 3,000 biochemicals, making it the most
complex of aromatic oils. It has been prized throughout the ages as a
way to calm the emotions, soothe stress, cool frustration, and cultivate
love.
Roses and their Medicinal Uses
As old as civilization itself, the rose was cultivated in India some
5,000 years ago. It was first appreciated for its sweet taste and
curative powers, and later for its beauty and fragrance.
Only one rose is used in ayurveda, called the Shatapattri
rose, which means "thousand petals." The petals of this rose are used
for their cooling and nourishing properties, making a powerful tonic for
the heart. Interestingly, the Latin name for this rose, Rosa
Centifolia, also means thousand petals.
According to ancient ayurvedic texts, Rosa Centifolia balances Sadhaka Pitta, the aspect of the physiology that governs the emotions and their effect on the heart. The mind-body operator Pitta
governs heat, digestion, and metabolism in the body and can go out of
balance more easily in the summer months, when the weather is hot and
humid. Rose cools Pitta dosha, soothing the emotions. It also balances
the coordination between mind and emotions.
Yet although the rose is cooling, it enhances agni, the
digestive fire. This is a unique quality which makes it balancing for
all three doshas. These medicinal properties are not lost on modern
researchers, who are investigating the effect of the rose in balancing
hormones and creating overall well-being. Essential rose oils used in
aroma therapy are also being investigated for their anti-bacterial,
anti-inflammatory, and anti-hemorrhagic properties.
In Maharishi Ayurveda, the rose is used in many rasayanas,
the herbal formulas that promote overall health and longevity. It is
also used in rose water, in aromatherapy, and in tonics made from mixing
rose paste, water, and spices. Cold poultices with rose and sandalwood
paste are sometimes recommended to cool any burning.
The rose has long been an important ingredient in luxurious beauty
treatments. Local applications (such as in creams and poultices) cool,
moisturize, and tone the skin. When used over time, the essence of rose
pacifies the heat in the blood, and thus keeps imbalances in the skin
from erupting. Massaging the body with rose and sandalwood augments the
glow and complexion.
The rose enlivens inner beauty, helps the skin to radiate inner glow, and enhances all seven dhatus (body tissues.)
Gifts for the Heart
This Valentine's Day, shower your loved ones with a bouquet of roses
or other rose-like gifts. Or treat yourself to your own rose-inspired
heart therapy.
For Your Valentine
- Sprinkle rose petals on a heart-shaped cake for a special Valentine's Day treat.
- Dine by candlelight using Red Pink Candles For Valentine's Day Party.
- Make your loved one a Valentine's Day DIY Soap Flower Gift Rose Box
For Your Own Rose-Inspired Heart Therapy
- Create a sweet ambiance in your home with Blissful Heart, a therapeutic aroma that contains rose essence and is aimed to uplift the heart.
- Suffering from the winter blues? Reach for the nearest rose. Schedule a morning of at-home, deeply rejuvenating, rose aroma-spa therapy. Start by adding a few drops of pure rose oil to your massage oil for a luxurious, heart-warming oil massage. Draw a warm bath and add six drops of rose absolute essential oil. Use Grandpa's, Face & Body Bar Soap, Purify, Rose Clay to complete your rose-inspired spa therapy and you'll feel uplifted and content.
- Are you waking up in the early morning unable to fall back asleep? According to Maharishi Ayurveda, this type of sleep problem is due to an imbalance in Pitta dosha, and often Sadhaka Pitta, which governs the emotions, is involved. To remedy this situation, start going to bed at 9:30, before the Pitta time of night begins. Create a sweet, sleep-inducing influence with Cooling Pitta Aroma Oil, which contains roses, while you sleep. Soothe your heart and sleep deep by drinking a cup of warm milk sweetened with a teaspoon of Organic Rose Petal Spread. You'll not only feel cooled, soothed, and uplifted, but you might find yourself dreaming sweet dreams of the heart as well.
- Cool your skin and uplift your emotions with our pure Organic Rose Water. You can spritz your face before or after your facial. It also helps moisturize the skin at bedtime, or before and after exposure to the sun. With its pleasant aroma, Organic Rose Water spray enhances mood and is cooling and toning, enhancing the glow and appearance of the skin.
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