December 2022 Newsletter

By: Meredith Murdock, Registered Aromatherapist , Master Herbalist

Writing this newsletter is a way for me to always keep up on the newest research that is coming out in the world of Herbalism and Aromatherapy. For this December's newsletter, I wanted to bring the holiday season into it. While searching I found some very interesting research products and papers regarding some important biblical history in the world of our plants. In this brief article, I will give key tokens of information that I found. If you would like to see the actual research papers, let me know by emailing meredith@myfaeve.com and I will send them to you. Some of them are so large the attachments will bury my email service. 

December is filled with traditional religious holidays that span across the globe. Many of these holidays are based on religion from a book commonly known as the Bible and Torah. The Old Testament is laden with plants and oils that we work with now and many that we don’t. From a plant based healing perspective, it is incredibly interesting to us to see what past meanings and current meanings of these plants have in today’s society.

Common Name: Cinnamon

Botanical Name: Cinnamomum zeylanicum

Bible Mentions: Song of Solomon 4,13: “Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard, and saffron, calamus and Ceylon cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloe and all the finest spices.” Moses made an anointing oil with two different types of cinnamon. 

Energetic qualities: In Aromatherapy, cinnamon is used in times of grief to warm the heart and to bring joy in times of great despair. Also known as an oil of safety. Cinnamon was also used in embalming by the eAncient Egyptians. The herb has been thought to enhance psychic abilities, spirit, success and energetic healing. 

Therapeutic qualities: A new study came out in November touting the possibility of cinnamon oil to assist in the relieving of anxiety. Both the oil and the herb have been known for its digestive qualities and as a warming tonic and oil, bringing heat to the area therefore possibly alleviating pain from inflammation and various types of arthritis. 

Common Name: Coriander

Botanical Name: Coriandrum sativum

Bible mentions: Exodus 16:31: “The house of Israel named it manna, and it was like coriander seed, white, and its taste was like wafers with honey.”

Energetic qualities: This herb and oil have been used for centuries because it was believed to hold the secret to happiness. This plant was used quite a lot in funerals in Greek and Egyptian cultures. This plant is known for its rejuvenating and refreshing qualities. 

Therapeutic qualities: Coriander is usually the seed of the plant, it’s leaves are known in common terms as cilantro. This is an herb to have in your repertoire for digestive issues and used in natural plant detoxing. This herb is also said to assist in the support of assimilating other nutrients into the body. As an essential oil, we like using this plant with lime for an amazing energetic response from the Central Nervous System. 

Common Name: Juniper

Botanical name: Juniperus communis

Bible Mentions: Isaiah 41:19 “I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and cypress together”.

Energetic qualities: Used to guard against negative energy, the line in Exodus could be used as a protection against evil spirits. Known throughout history energetically to dispel negative energy. 

Therapeutic qualities: Another herb that is helpful to the digestive system, Juniper is also known for use as what one would call an immune boosting plant, being used many centuries ago against plague and other contagious diseases. It’s a wonderful plant to support conditions and symptoms from arthritis and joint pain. Also used in essential oils for wound healing and the berries are also known for supporting autoimmune, gastrointestinal and diabetes. 

Common Name: Cypress

Botanical Name: Cupressus sempervirens

Bible Mention: Isaiah 44:14: “He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress oak. He let it grow among the trees of the first, or planted a pine and the rain made it grow.”

Energetic qualities: Typically used in energetic practices to revitalize one's energy, promote clearer thinking and emotional strength and stability. 

Therapeutic qualities: Used by all types of healers throughout the world, cypress is known for its respiratory benefits and supporting circulation. Oil and herb are both used in female menstrual support. More and more studies are coming out on this plant. Note that the oil is much more popular than the herb due to different species. 

Common Name: Black Cumin Seed, Black Seed 

Botanical name: Nigella Sativa

Bible Mention: Isaiah 28:25: “When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cumin”.

Energetic qualities: Known for its qualities to create and stimulate the brain and improve memory. Used more on physical conditions than energetic conditions. 

Therapeutic qualities: Arabs used to call this oil “miracle cure” for almost everything. Today’s research reports support for inflammation, memory, immune system modulation and possible respiratory conditions. 

There are two companies that make this into essential oil. It is very costly, but the essential oil is used very much like the herb oil. 

Everyday herbs such as onion, garlic, cucumber and walnut have also been mentioned in the old testament. Oils such as Frankincense, Myrrh, Spikenard and Sandalwood have also been mentioned.

To know that plants and their materials have been around before biblical times and are still used in today’s society is nothing short of magical. Remember to add these “mystical plants” in your diffuser, food and even drinks as you prepare for your “reason of the season”.