What is Kukui Nut Oil?

Aleurites moluccans

Kukui; a stately tree, with origins in Asia, was introduced to Hawaii's fertile soil by sea faring polynesians hundreds of years ago.  Historically speaking, Kukui trees quickly became invaluable to the natives of Hawaii and revered by the islands chieftans known as the Ali'I.  The Ali'I wore leis of highly polished Kukui nuts showing their spiritual and social status. The oil rendered from the nuts of this tree (Kukui Nut Oil) was used to waterproof the boats and canoes of these sea faring peoples.  In the late 1800's this oil also became highly reviered in a "surf building ritual" and would be used to oil down the surf boards prior to putting them into the water.  But the Pacific Islanders also loved this oil for it's benefits for the skin, hair, and body. It was consider the oil of choice by the Ali'I , who were massaged, sometimes for hours at a time, with Kukui nut oil.

Kukui Nut

This oil in recent years has begun to make a name for it's self outside of the Hawaiian Island chain. Kukui nut oil is used to moisturize and protect the skin from the external environment. Sun, saltwater,  and wind are no match for the moisturizing ability of this fine oil.  It works great in reducing the inflammation of sun burn as well as other types of burns.  Currently Kukui nut oil is being tested in Hawaiian hospitals to see how well it helps reduce to symptoms related to radiation and chemo burns.

This oil is known for leaving the skin soft and supple.  By nature it is non greasy making application easy and mess free. It contains skin protecting vitamins such as A, C, and E who's antioxidant properties are known to help fight free radicles.  Also containing essential fatty acids (EFA's) linoleic and linolenic acids. Essential fatty acids keep the skin looking youthful.  Young skin is full of plump water filled cells.  As we age our skin looses it's ability to retain water causing sagging, dull, and "crepe" skin.  A healthy skin cell has a healthy membrane, keeping the good things such as water and nutrients in and allowing the cell waste to leave the cell.  And low and behold essential fatty acids are what make for a healthy cell membrane, hence a healthy, vibrant skin cell.

Kukui Nut Oil

Dried Kukui Nuts

 Uses of Kukui Nut Oil:
*Hair and Scalp treatments
*Babies Skin
*Reducing Dry Skin
*Reducing Dandruff
*Minor Burns, Cuts, Wounds
*Exposure to elements
*Radiation/Cheomo burns


This oil needs to be expeller pressed at cool temperatures to maintain the quality and health giving properties.  As always make certain the the oils you choose come from reputable sources.

We would love to hear about your experience with Kukui Nut Oil!  Please like, comment, and share to insure that we are able to keep presenting you with quality information.

Thank you and until next time,
Recherche Organics

2:3 Herbs for Skin Health: Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis; Rosemary

  This herbacious evergreen plant hails from the Mediterranean however now can be found the globe over.  Rosemary belongs to the mint family, a family that includes other common plants such as basil, lavender, myrtle and sage.  

Rosemary in Bloom

This plant has been used for centuries for medicinal, culinary, and beauty regiem purposes. It is said that in the 13th century, Queen Elizabeth of Hungary (who had suffered from debilitating gout and rheumatism) claimed at age 72, that drinking rosemary infused water helped her regain back both her strength and beauty over the years.

Rosemarinic acid (property of rosemary) is known for it's ability to kill bacteria, fungi, and various viruses on the skins surface.  This makes it an ideal helper in wound healing, acne, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.  The extract or essential oil of rosemary as well as rosemary tea, helps stimulate cell renewal, supports healthy creation of collagen, increase skin tone and fights free radicals.  Free radicals damage the support structure of skin cells, leading to wrinkles, sagging and uneven skin texture and color.

This plant is found in many skin cleansers, soaps, masks, creams and shampoos and conditioners. It is effective for many skin types but especially for oil or acne prone skin. It improves micro circulation within the dermal layers of skin.  This means that it helps  bringing in fresh oxygenated blood filled with nutrients to all the cells.

Rosemary is also great for hair care.  When used on a regular basis, it stimulates the hair follicles, making hair grow longer and stronger.  It is also said to help slow down premature hair loss and the graying of hair. It helps improve scalp conditions such as dandruff and balances your hairs secretions of sebum (oil).

 *Like most essential oils do not apply directly to the skin.  It is better to use diluted in a carrier oil or mixed into a product.

DIY BEAUTIFUL SKIN:

 *1 small sized cucumber (or 1/2 a med. large) peeled and either juiced or pulverized into liquid with food processor 

 *Add 15-25 drops of rosemary essential oil

 *Add 3-4 tbs of clay (any type) kaolin white, pink, french green, cambrian blue, rhasoul

 *Allow mixture to sit for 5 or so minutes while the clay absorbs some of the moisture.

      your mixture should be that of a paste

 *Apply to facial skin for 10-15 minutes and gently remove with warm water and a wash cloth. 

 * ENJOY~

OIL: cold pressed, expeller pressed, & chemical extractions

Information below brought to you by Recherch'e Organics:

OILS: 

We have all heard the terms cold pressed, expeller pressed and chemical extractions used in conjunction with the oils we buy.  What do all of these terms mean? Which are healthy and to what degree? In these next few paragraphs I am going to try and break down just what is going on in each individual process.  If you have read any of my other numerous posts about individual oils, these terms should be at least somewhat familiar (if only by sight). 

Expeller Pressing Oils:

     Expeller Pressed Oils:

An expeller pressed oil is an oil that has come about by means of chemical free, mechanical or physical methods.  The raw material (usually nuts, seeds and occasionally algea) is pressed, squeezed, and or crushed under high pressure until oil begins to seep out from the "parent material".  This is the method that oil has been extracted for centuries world wide. The temperature reached during this crushing and pressing process often depends on the hardness of the object being crushed. The harder the seed/nut the more friction, thus heat, is created. There is no external heat added in expeller pressed oils only what is generated by the friction of material being pressed.  Expeller pressing will only remove approximately 65-70% of the oil within the raw material, often being seen as a down fall to this method of extraction.

Cold Pressed:

 Cold pressed oils are a form of expeller pressed oils.  These oils follow the same guidelines of no chemicals used in the process and extracted only by mechanical or physical means.  The difference being, that Cold Pressed oils can not be brought to a temperature over 120 degrees F (approx. 49 degrees C).  This method preserves all of the delicate phytochemicals that make the nut or seed oil truly beneficial. All of the nuances of flavor (if using for cooking) are preserved, nutritional values, color, natural odor are all held intact. It is important to note that Europe has rigorous standards in place when it comes to using the words "cold processed" with oils.  California is another place the upholds the value of the wording in labeling, however not all places are as stringent as the two above mentioned places.  It is wise to know where your oils are coming from and look into the companies "policies" about their product.  

Expeller Pressed Oils

Chemical Extraction and Conventional Methods of Oil Extraction:

Solvent or Chemical extraction methods are by far the most popular oil rendering method of today.  Often a chemical called hexane is used in this process, which is known as a toxic substance.  Other chemicals often used are heptane, octane, or pentane, all four of which are types of naptha or petroleum distillates.   This chemical method has found it's popularity by how inexpensive and time efficient it is.  Using hexane and other chemical solvents allows a company to recover about 99% of the oil from the parent material.  In order to rid the oil of hexane, it is heated to very high temperatures, thus destroying most or all of the beneficial constituents naturally occurring with in the oil.  Not only are the natural beneficial properties of the individual oil destroyed but trace amounts of the chemical are allowable with in the food grade oil.

REMEMBER: 

Your skin is the largest organ of your body! What you put on the outside will certainly have effect on the internal workings and health and well being of the rest of your organs.